Bally Covette #2 Reconditioning

[Strangeways]

Technically a Bally Midway game 

This is a machine that is another sleeper title that offers real "bang for buck". Originally designed as a widebody, I think this game is Borg's finest even after shrinking the table to a standard size !

Condition Report

Cabinet - 9/10 VERY nice. No issues at all with the original artwork. It does have the security bolts which are not factory. Speaker panel is broken and will be replaced.
Playfield - 9/10 Should be a 10/10, but that would suggest it is NOS. VERY nice playfield and limited wear around the PIT outhole. Main ramp is broken, but the LT-5 Ramp is not ! (NEVER seen a Corvette with a perfect LT-5 Ramp).
Translite - 9/10 Excellent - no issues
Electronics - 9/10 Boards very good - just a couple of connectors that need to be replaced.


This machine is already in very good condition and will be an excellent base for a very nice game when completed. When working 100%, this title is a very good game and is one of the fastest Bally / Williams games around.

Here is the game setup and ready to commence the work. It already works ok - without any significant problems. It plays sloppy, but that is to be expected.














Here is the ONLY factory LT-5 Ramp I've ever seen with NO DAMAGE !





Cabinet is in great shape - just needs a clean. EVERYTHING is stripped, cleaned, tumbled, polished or replaced.








Re-assembled cabinet hardware





The disassembled mechanisms are stripped, cleaned and any fatigued or broken parts are replaced. Coil sleeves are replaced in all cases. Full flipper kits are used including flipper bushings. Springs are usually the wrong part numbers - so I replace them.





All parts - that is EVERY screw is cleaned and polished. No matter if it is hidden in the cabinet - it is polished. Then everything is sorted into 2-3 of these "organizers" ;





Cabinet detail ;





I took this photo on a dull day - but the playfield was completely stripped, cleaned and then polished. Finally 5 coats of paste wax applied.





Often overlooked - the underside is completely rebuilt. Even the playfield brackets are cleaned and polished. all the other parts are reassembled.








Pop Bumpers are my PET HATE. These need to be completely rebuilt with CHEAP NEW parts. Since the dawn of pinball, Pop Bumpers have been central to gameplay, but they are nearly always overlooked during a rebuild.





End of part 1..

[Dozer316]

Gomez not Borg :)

[Freiherr]

Oops, that's what happens when posting late at night after a football and celebration fueled day thrown in around school holidays. Nino, the fact that you document your restorations so thoroughly with great photos is a treat I always look forward to and a credit to your skills and passion for pinball.
Nino, that machine looks great for its age and I can see the finished result coming up factory fresh. Already looks better than a new Mustang.

[Strangeways]

Gomez not Borg :)

Correction  I got my designers mixed up !

Oops, that's what happens when posting late at night after a football and celebration fueled day thrown in around school holidays. Nino, the fact that you document your restorations so thoroughly with great photos is a treat I always look forward to and a credit to your skills and passion for pinball.
Nino, that machine looks great for its age and I can see the finished result coming up factory fresh. Already looks better than a new Mustang.

"Late at night" is the ONLY time I have these days 

I have not played Mustang (as there are none to play in Melbourne that I know about), so I can't compare, but Corvette is underrated. It has a difficult toy to adjust - which seldom works 100%.

[Strangeways]

Corvette has some unique toys that have dedicated boards. As well as the opto boards, these are cleaned, repaired and rebuilt if necessary.




Here is one of those toys - The LT-5 assembly that sits under the ramp. In every single machine I've come across, this section of the game is ignored. It needs to work perfectly. In fact, the game bootup sequence checks this assembly !





Stripped and ready to clean and rebuild - New coil sleeves mandatory !





Meanwhile, the rest of the game is re assembled ;





The NEW pop bumper components are installed.





LT-5 Ramp is completely rebuilt. This is the ONLY Corvette that I've not had to replace the LT-5 Ramp. But they all need to be configured correctly ;





The LT-5 Ramp ins installed as are several other components - almost done !











Not too far to go now !



 

[Dimsims]

Never played this game, but it looks like a lot of fun !

Awesome work as always Nino !

[4_amusement_only]

Looks brand new - great work and detail

[oldskool1969]

After seeing and playing another Corvette Nino did for one of the Dudes over here, I can honestly say who ever is getting this ione is in for a real treat. Super fast and firkin awesome game.  Love reving the motor with the flippers before launch. Crank that sound up.
Looks like this one will come up like a brand spanner too!

[Strangeways]

The game is assembled to the point where I can start testing. The gameplay revolves around the LT-5 Ramp, so these assemblies must be adjusted correctly for multiball - especially for the the third captive ball mode.





Slingshot plastics were replaced. Lower playfield and apron view.





Playfield is completed. Very happy with the finish








Headbox / transite - looks great !





The door was repainted and refinished to look as original as possible;





Under the playfield - everything was rebuilt - All moving parts work perfectly.





Playfield detail

















Finished game











One of the most underrated Bally Midway / Williams games. One of my favorites. Now part of a collector's collection !

[Freiherr]

Unreal level of detail. Never played this title but your photos tease beyond belief.
Are you sure you don't have little men working for you late at night?   

[Strangeways]

Unreal level of detail. Never played this title but your photos tease beyond belief.
Are you sure you don't have little men working for you late at night?   

I didn't think much of this title 2 years ago. But after reconditioning one that eventually went to WA, I was impressed with the gameplay and the design. I rate this game, and most who have not previously had the opportunity to play it are always pleasantly surprised !

No little men or umpa lumpas. Just a lot of long hours 

[ddstoys]

Looks great Niño. The lt-5 in these can e a nightmare so many extra parts that daisy chain along fault finding can be a nightmare.   But a very clever toy