New Caretaker for a Special Family Car

HawkRod · Nov 17, 2018

CoronetDarter said:
Beautiful car Hawk, love the early Vettes. That's a nice collection of cars you're assembling. You keeping the '60?

No, I traded the 60 for the 62. The 60 was damn near perfect, but not done and still needed a lot of work. The 62 is far from perfect, being unrestored, but it is all together and everything works just as it should. It is also special from a family perspective, and that makes it cool from my perspective. My 70 Road Runner is now a forever car due to my trip in 2015, and the Corvette is too due to it's family history with my father-in-law.

Ironbuilt said:
That is so awesome Hawk, especially the part about your Dad enjoying a ride in the Vette. It may not be a Mopar, but it is cool as a fan and truly an icon. Enjoy my friend.

Thanks. As a few have said here on other posts, you can never replace your dad. I learned so much from my dad, and it hurts to see him go through Alzheimer's. But I am determined to help him through it with as much dignity and honor as I can. He loved coming along for the first couple of days with my Road Runner trip in 2015, and taking him for a tour with the Corvette was special too. Now the weather has turned. I only hope he is in good enough shape to enjoy another few rides in the Road Runner and Corvette in the spring.

To all: Thanks for the kind words and posts: all greatly appreciated!

Hawk

monroegtx · Nov 17, 2018

That is so cool Hawk. To be able to hold onto something that is so important to another family member is truly a great thing. I’m sure your father in law really appreciates having another car lover in the family that he knows will value it as much as himself. And thumbs up for you and Dad too, i’m sure there will be many joy rides to come for the both of you. :thumbsup:

Glenn

BarrsRestoration · Nov 18, 2018

Congratulations on acquiring the '62. Hopefully you can take your father for lots of rides in the years to come.
I'm working on a red '62 F.I. for a customer. If you need any reference shots for yours, this is a nicely restored car.

Duda · Nov 18, 2018

Hawk, I was reading this again and I see your dad has Alzheimer's ? Its a hard decease but if you and the family members can train your self's to be kind to him its not that bad. I lost my mother to this and have been taking care of her sister since this with the same decease. Anyway just agree with your dad and don't tell him you just told him and it goes much easier. Nice car and enjoy the time with your father.

coloradodave · Nov 18, 2018

oldbee said:
Solid lifter SB, always loved those. Had a buddy during high school with a 61/62, pulled engine with a 2x4&chain; 2 guys at each fender. Those were the days(1966-67).

I was going to call you on the solid lifter comment, Oldbee, but when I researched it I found you were RIGHT. I always remembered the 340HP as hydraulic and the 360HP as solid. This from a guy who has owned 11 of the 'plastic fantastic' cars. Just shows you how a 73 year old memory functions; or not...

69BBody · Nov 18, 2018

My favorite gen of 'vette! Enjoy her.

HawkRod · Nov 18, 2018

coloradodave said:
I was going to call you on the solid lifter comment, Oldbee, but when I researched it I found you were RIGHT. I always remembered the 340HP as hydraulic and the 360HP as solid. This from a guy who has owned 11 of the 'plastic fantastic' cars. Just shows you how a 73 year old memory functions; or not...

Yeah, actually the only difference between the 340 HP and 360 HP engines is the induction system: A single Carter 4 BBL vs. a Fuel Injection system - everything else is the same.

This is the first solid lifter cam engine I have had. It is kind of cool to hear the valve train with it's subtle noise under the hood. The car also came with the "off road" exhaust option, so it sounds really good. Nice noise to listen to!

P.S. Nice cars! The FI split window is worth a mint today!

Duda said:
Hawk, I was reading this again and I see your dad has Alzheimer's ? Its a hard decease but if you and the family members can train your self's to be kind to him its not that bad. I lost my mother to this and have been taking care of her sister since this with the same decease. Anyway just agree with your dad and don't tell him you just told him and it goes much easier. Nice car and enjoy the time with your father.

Thanks for the good advice. He has been part of a study, and they used some new scanning technique to make the diagnosis - normally you can't tell until you do an autopsy and see the plaque in the brain. At first, and before he was diagnosed, I would get pissed at him. He was SO SMART before, and I was frustrated how he was now being thick about stuff he normally would have understood immediately. But two things have helped me a lot: One, is watching how patient my wonderful wife is. She really is a saint and handles things so well like this. The second is truly understanding that my dad has a disease. When he is not with it, it is the disease talking, not him. My goal is to allow him to live the rest of his days gracefully, and with the respect that he deserves.

Hawk

oldbee · Nov 18, 2018

coloradodave said:
I was going to call you on the solid lifter comment, Oldbee, but when I researched it I found you were RIGHT. I always remembered the 340HP as hydraulic and the 360HP as solid. This from a guy who has owned 11 of the 'plastic fantastic' cars. Just shows you how a 73 year old memory functions; or not...

View attachment 680318 View attachment 680319 View attachment 680320

Humph, only 69 and never even thought of the differences.Just kinda remember the ‘sound’. Really have to think of a new thread to “sticky” what some of us remember for the young guys to have something to go by.

coronet500 · Nov 18, 2018

Back in the day, I sold my 64 Polara 500 and bought a 64 Corvette Coupe....it got better gas mileage (oil embargo of 75). I never got over my Corvette thing.... my current one.

coronet500 · Nov 18, 2018

to

JB400 · Nov 18, 2018

Congrats on your new acquisition!! The transition year between the 2nd and 3rd gen

patrick66 · Nov 19, 2018

I like Corvettes, as well. Here are my '66 Coronet 500 and my '95 LT1.

eddie102870 · Nov 19, 2018

my first car was a 60. pops bought it for me to restore when i turned 14. spent many hours working on that car.

New Caretaker for a Special Family Car

HawkRod

Formerly hsorman

monroegtx

Well-Known Member

BarrsRestoration

Well-Known Member

Duda

FBBO Gold Member

coloradodave

FBBO Gold Member

69BBody

Well-Known Member

HawkRod

Formerly hsorman

oldbee

Well-Known Member

coronet500

Well-Known Member

coronet500

Well-Known Member

JB400

69 Charger

patrick66

Well-Known Member

eddie102870

Well-Known Member

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