#corvettecentral

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     We at Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals are here to offer another opportunity for the elite group who have made the commitment to restore and show the very best reference level Corvettes. For those who have achieved the NCRS Top Flight ® or NCRS 4 or 5 Star Bowtie® and Bloomington Gold Certification®  or Bloomington Survivor® status we offer what many consider the ultimate achievement:  The Triple Diamond Award.

Bob & Connie Donnolly, MA

1967 Chevrolet Corvette

MCACN 2025 Triple Diamond Invitational Sponsored by Corvette Central

My wife and I were out for a ride on our motorcycle on a Sunday afternoon in the country approximately 10 years ago. I noticed a convertible top through a window in a garage and I told my wife that’s a corvette. I thought about going back to see what year it was.. So we went looking and couldn’t find the house. After looking on three separate occasions we finally found the house and stopped to talk with the owner for a while and asked if he would be willing to sell the car. He said no. I asked if I could keeping in touch with him and he said sure and we swapped phone numbers. I called several times and stopped by a few times over the next several years.

Finally one day I asked again if he would consider selling the car and he said its hard because he said he had the car longer than his wife. You see he purchased the car from a local guy in 1971 and I did finally but it on June 25, 2022 which was my birthday. The car was bought new from a local Chevrolet dealer in Massachusetts and the first owner had it for four years and the second owner had it for 51 years and the car only had 63K miles. It took me approximately six years keeping in touch with him and he finally said yes.

I decided to restore the car late in 2023. I did most of the work other than the body prep work and painting. Finally completed the restoration in April of 2025. We love the car.

@corvettecentral.original

@dlc_lum

[carphotographygta]

#corvette #corvettecentral #corvettelifestyle #coevettenation #corvettec3 #corvettec3stingray #corvettefamily #corvettelife #corvettephotos #corvettephotography #carphotography #carphotographer #corvettetoronto #corvetteontario #torontocars #mississaugaphotographer https://www.instagram.com/p/CASzfjmJELQ/?igshid=1hvatdkn7lb08

[hobbycarcorvettes]

1973 RED CORVETTE STINGRAY FOR SALE 4SPD PRICE: $19,999 TRANSMISSION: MANUAL MILEAGE: 4000 ON DASH DETAILS Numbers matching, L48/350 engine, 4 speed manual transmission, 8500 miles on dash, black interior, power steering, power brakes, power windows, tilt and tele steering column, A/C, AM/FM radio, rally wheels, factory side pipes exhaust, luggage rack, Moon Roofs, Hurst shifter, LT-1 style GM performance angle plug heads with 2.02 valves, screw in studs, valve guides, Edelbrock aluminum intake, Holley carb, and much more. The last gentlemen owned this corvette for over 23 years. Always garage kept and well maintained. This corvette is a lot of fun to cruise around in. We changed the oil and filter, rear end grease and additive, and checked and lubed the chassis. We replaced the upper control arm bushings, lower control arm bushings, upper ball joints, idler arm, emergency brake cable, sway bar links, front shocks, tail shaft seal, tongue bushing, 2 outer U joints, fuel pump hoses, spark plugs, spark plug wires, distributor cap and rotor, points, rebuilt the Holley carb, and much more. 1973 marked the end of the chrome bumper corvette era with rear chrome bumpers replaced by a rubber bumpers in 1974. The 1973 was a one-year-only body design. GM also did away with the vacuum operated wiper door this year in favor of a longer hood to hide the wipers, and dropped the removable back window in favor of a glue-in window. #corvettettop #corvette #corvettesweden #corvetteesofinstagram #corvettecentral #corvetteforsalesweden #corvetteforsalefrance #corvetteforsalekuwait #corvettefamily #corvetteforums #corvettefrenzy #vette #1973redcorvette #redstingray #redcorvette #forsale #hotrod #ontheroad #summertimefun #summer (at Hobby Car Corvettes)

[thecasketman]

1973 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray For Sale (Not Mine) #chevy #chevrolet #corvette #chevycorvette #corvettestingray #c3 #c3corvette #ttops #4speed #sportscar #sportscars #gm #vette #73corvette #performancecar #musclecar #classicchevy #classiccorvette #corvettecentral #carspotting #classiccarspotting #classiccarsforsale #americanmuscle #americanmade #carsofinstagram #corvettesofinstagram #soloparking #carswithoutlimits

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#2

Corvette_116's Avatar Corvette_116 , 05-30-2002 11:25 AM

Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt Removal & Reinstallation (Dave95C4)

I always had trouble getting the serp belt off using a socket wrench. I must say go to Corvette Central or Ecklers and Buy a Serp belt removal tool..Makes it SOOOOOOOOOOooooo easy. Its about 30.00 or so, but Well worth it! Its a 30" bar that you put on the belt tensioner and just pull and it pulls the tensioner back and the belt just falls off. :) Easy!

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#3

John Row's Avatar John Row , 05-30-2002 12:08 PM

Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt Removal & Reinstallation (Corvette_116)

You can get the belt removal tool at most auto parts stores. I think I found it at Mr. Parts ~$25. It included some handy short sockets as well.

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#4

Dave95C4's Avatar Dave95C4 , 05-30-2002 12:28 PM

Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt Removal & Reinstallation (Dave95C4)

Thanks guys, I was wondering what the 'name' of that tool was. I saw that CorvetteCentral has it for $35. I'm going to check a couple of the local auto parts stores just to see if they have it...if not, then I know where to get it. Thanks!

Dave

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#5

ShawnZR-1's Avatar ShawnZR-1 , 05-30-2002 01:30 PM

Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt Removal & Reinstallation (Dave95C4)

Whoa! Wait a sec! Yes, with a naked front end of the engine, a serp tool works great, HOWEVER... I ran into a problem with the Camber Brace: I couldn't get the tool on the tensioner anymore! The tool couldn't reach the tensioner nut from in front of the brace and there wasn't enough room between the brace and the water pump housing to squeeze it in there. After about an hour runing in and out of NAPA, I finally came up with a combination of tools: A 2-foot 1/2 inch breaker bar, a 1/2 inch to 3/8 adaptor, and a 16mm crows foot. It's still tricky getting it on the nut but at least it is possible. :smash:

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#6

Torre , 05-30-2002 01:35 PM

Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt Removal & Reinstallation (92Shawnster)

I used a 10 inch long closed end wrench. Brused my palm as I had to put all my strength into it, but I did it.

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#7

93Polo's Avatar 93Polo , 05-30-2002 01:42 PM

Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt Removal & Reinstallation (Torre)

Quote:

I used a 10 inch long closed end wrench. Brused my palm as I had to put all my strength into it, but I did it.

Also watch the sensor on the water pump. I busted that one first time I changed the belt.

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#8

JasonL , 05-30-2002 10:42 PM

Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt Removal & Reinstallation (93Polo)

Dave, you can get a serpentine belt tool at any auto parts store for $30-ish...comes with various low-profile and crowfoot sockets. I don't know how well it would work with a camber-brace, though.

Quote:

Also watch the sensor on the water pump. I busted that one first time I changed the belt.

Definately watch out for this. More than a few of us have made that mistake!!!

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#9

cire96's Avatar cire96 , 05-31-2002 04:02 PM

Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt Removal & Reinstallation (Dave95C4)

Dave:

Interesting question. First the pump is pricey I paid $228 (from the General)for mine last week. Then it's a pretty time consuming task...about four hours. But then, there's the worry that a water pump failure means a Opti having to be replaced. Given those facts, I'd replace it.

Oh. the lower "heater hose" that comes off the pump's lower section can be separated at the coupling just behing the right front tire. That will allow you to drain the engine block water sufficiently to allow the water pump to be removed without having to remove the knock sensors. If you don't do one or the other, you'll douse the Opti when you pull the pump.

LT1 Serpentine Belt Removal & Reinstallation

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#1

Dave95C4's Avatar Dave95C4 , 05-30-2002 11:19 AM

I recently bought a Camber Brace through Dave at R-D Racing at the great GP price...and can't wait to see how it changes the handling of the car. However, I'll still admit I'm a newbie with some things. I learn by doing, but I'd like to know what I'm doing rather than screwing something up. So, anyone have any input as to the best way to remove and reinstall the serpentine belt on an LT1? I'm not sure if I'm just going to loosen the belt or completely replace it, so suggestions on either are appreciated.

Also, as an aside...at 40,000mi and 7yrs of age, should I be thinking about having my water pump replaced before installing a brace that will make the installation more difficult at a later time?

Thanks!

Dave

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[mcacnshow]

MCACN 2025 Triple Diamond Contender

Triple Diamond Certification Sponsored by Corvette Central

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

Owner: Steve Erickson

@shinysideup220

@corvettecentral

[mcacnshow]

2025 Triple Diamond Contender owned by Ron Garabed. Our Triple Diamond Certification is sponsored by Corvette Central. https://www.mcacn.com/triple-diamond. This car has already achieved NCRS Top Flight Certification and Bloomington Gold Certification. You will see amazing Factory Stock Corvettes in our Triple Diamond display including this beauty!

@garabedian

[mcacnshow]

In keeping with the Corvette theme this morning, here is a sneak peek at a factory stock 1961 Corvette that is in contention for a coveted Triple Diamond Certification and Award. Thanks to John Valek @jvalek68 for bringing this little gem to MCACN 2024. This year we have a WHOPPING 53 Corvettes in our Corvette Central Triple Diamond field. If you are a Corvette lover, you will not be disappointed! After earning NCRS Top Flight and Bloomington Gold, these Corvettes are truly the best of the best. See this one and the other 52 at MCACN 2024 Nov 23 & 24, 2024 @corvettecentral.original 

[mcacnshow]

William McKown, FL

1967 Chevrolet Corvette

MCACN 2025 Triple Diamond Contender

Triple Diamond Certifications Sponsored by Corvette Central

Knowing that the credibility of any award is only as good as what is behind it, we have assembled a team of experienced Judges that have literally hundreds of years of combined experience in the Corvette hobby. The Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals judging team is led by Judging Chairman Bill Braun, who has served as the Judging Chairman for Chicago's Chevy Vettefest for 30 years. Mr. Braun is an active collector who currently owns several of the country's finest restored Corvettes, and he is also the current Region V Director for NCRS a position he has held for over six years and past ILNCRS President. 

The rest of our Triple Diamond judging team consists of Corvette enthusiasts who are currently involved with the Bloomington Gold show and many are active members for the National Corvette Restorers Society. Many serve as members of the judging staff for these prestigious events also. Our Judging team members combine years of hands-on experience researching, restoring and enjoying their own Corvettes. Their knowledge is based on this experience and a true passion for the Corvette.

     To properly judge Corvettes, it takes years of research and a willingness to study build techniques and reference material. Our team members have made this commitment to our show and to the hobby. We are honored to have the hobbies finest, most respected, and acknowledged authorities as members of the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals judging team. Mr. Braun and our judges are ready and anxious to discuss our judging criteria and address any questions you may have pertaining to our requirements and procedures.   @corvettecentral.original

[mcacnshow]

Corvette Central @corvettecentral.original Sponsors out Triple Diamond Certification program at MCACN. This year Tony McBride @tony.mcbride68 will be among one of about 50 contenders for certification. Must have NCRS Top Flight and Bloomington Gold prerequisites, which means these cars are VERY NICE! Check it out at MCACN 2024

[mcacnshow]

Brett Watson @427cobrasnake of Colorado will be a part of our Corvette Central @corvettecentral.original Triple Diamond Certification Process this year with this 1965 Silver Pearl Corvette. Triple Diamond Certification is for Corvettes that have already achieved NCRS Top Flight and Bloomington Gold status. Good Luck Brett! 

[mcacnshow]

In the Corvette world, there are several prestigious awards that only an elite group of collectors are able to achieve. The level of commitment it takes to obtain NCRS Top Flight ® or 4 or 5 Star Bowtie® and Bloomington Gold Certification® or Bloomington Survivor® status is no easy task.

We at Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals are here to offer another opportunity for the elite group who have made the commitment to restore and show the very best reference level Corvettes. For those who have achieved the NCRS Top Flight ® or NCRS 4 or 5 Star Bowtie® and Bloomington Gold Certification® or Bloomington Survivor® status we offer what many consider the ultimate achievement: The Triple Diamond Award. MCACN Triple Diamond Judging is sponsored by Corvette Central. @corvettecentral.original Triple Diamond Winners will receive a beautiful etched Triple Diamond Award and Triple Diamond Certificate with your paid registration and judging score of 950 or higher,

[mcacnshow]

[mcacnshow]

Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals will take place November 23 & 24, 2024. You will see HUNDREDS of awesome and often rare Muscle Cars from the 60's and early 70's and some of the BEST C1, C2 and C3 Corvettes. We feature Corvette Central Triple Diamond Certification for Corvettes that have achieved NCRS Top Flight and Bloomington Gold Certification previously and also our Corvette Legends Invitational highlighting the rarest of the rare race and specialty Corvettes. If you love Muscle Cars or classic Corvettes , dont miss the MCACN Show! 

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@jechevy John Evans will be contending for our coveted Corvette Central Triple Diamond Certification at MCACN 2024. He is bringing the car all the way from Virginia after achieving his NCRS Top Flight and Bloomington Golder Certification! Good Luck John! @corvettecentral.original 

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