Tuesday, June 24, 2008
A send-off for the Corvette
I sold the Corvette today. As it turns out, posting a Corvette on Craigslist at a low price can get some unusual offers - I had people wanting to trade a couple unusual things for it, from a Geo Storm (and cash) to a lifted Range Rover to an unspecified motorcycle. But today I had two Swedes drive down from South Carolina to meet me at work and pick the Corvette up there. They bought it and will be sending it on to Sweden.
To the buyers who bought it, happy trails and low taxes to you.
To the buyers who bought it, happy trails and low taxes to you.
Labels: Corvette
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Sad decision - putting the Corvette up for sale
Today I finished a round of electrical repairs on the Corvette. It started when the alternator and a fusable link failed while AutoFab was putting on a new smog pump (as I didn't want to spend my own time dealing with the car). Well, the cooling fan failed on the way home. So I tore into the wiring myself. Ended up replacing the fan motor, another fusable link, the positive battery terminal, and the battery itself. After confirming every one of the parts I replaced had, in fact, gone bad. Seems like it had some sort of mini electrical meltdown. But it's running now. Because I want the next owner to start with something they can confirm is, for the most part, in sound and operational condition.
I've decided to put the Corvette up for sale. I know it's the sort of car where 10 years from now, maybe 20, I'll find myself wishing I still owned it. But this car should be someone's project and weekend driver, not the car I depend on to get me to work. It's still got a few nagging electrical gremlins, including an A/C blower that only works when it feels like it and wipers that don't always turn off when they should. It gets 19 miles to the gallon in the city. And, I've got to face it... I'm not a very good racing driver, and a Z51 is not a very forgiving car to take around an autocross. It's the wrong car for me right now, and I know that I need to sell it.
But even with its foibles, I can't say I regret having bought the Corvette. It's a chapter in my life story written in iron and fiberglass:
I'll be able to tell people for years about how I owned a Corvette once.
I'll be able to tell them about the time it got me safely through a blizzard on the way home when SUVs were taking shelter in the nearest parking lot.
I'll be able to tell about the time I took it drag racing.
I'll be able to tell about how much fun it can be to cruise with the targa top off.
I'll be able to tell about the time I got it sideways repeatedly in a Six Flags parking lot. (In an officially sanctioned race, that is.)
I'll be able to tell about the funny looks I got using the Corvette to haul garbage to the dump because it could carry a trash can better than my wife's sedan.
And I'll be able to tell how it wasn't too much of a financial hardship to sell it, because I can honestly tell about how I was able to buy a Corvette with an envelope of cash.
Whew. Quite a memory. Now, anybody wanting to buy a C4 Corvette? I'm only asking $4,000 and I'm flexible on the price. It hasn't been abused all that much.
I've decided to put the Corvette up for sale. I know it's the sort of car where 10 years from now, maybe 20, I'll find myself wishing I still owned it. But this car should be someone's project and weekend driver, not the car I depend on to get me to work. It's still got a few nagging electrical gremlins, including an A/C blower that only works when it feels like it and wipers that don't always turn off when they should. It gets 19 miles to the gallon in the city. And, I've got to face it... I'm not a very good racing driver, and a Z51 is not a very forgiving car to take around an autocross. It's the wrong car for me right now, and I know that I need to sell it.
But even with its foibles, I can't say I regret having bought the Corvette. It's a chapter in my life story written in iron and fiberglass:
I'll be able to tell people for years about how I owned a Corvette once.
I'll be able to tell them about the time it got me safely through a blizzard on the way home when SUVs were taking shelter in the nearest parking lot.
I'll be able to tell about the time I took it drag racing.
I'll be able to tell about how much fun it can be to cruise with the targa top off.
I'll be able to tell about the time I got it sideways repeatedly in a Six Flags parking lot. (In an officially sanctioned race, that is.)
I'll be able to tell about the funny looks I got using the Corvette to haul garbage to the dump because it could carry a trash can better than my wife's sedan.
And I'll be able to tell how it wasn't too much of a financial hardship to sell it, because I can honestly tell about how I was able to buy a Corvette with an envelope of cash.
Whew. Quite a memory. Now, anybody wanting to buy a C4 Corvette? I'm only asking $4,000 and I'm flexible on the price. It hasn't been abused all that much.
Labels: Corvette
Saturday, March 01, 2008
So, what does it take to remove a Bose stereo?
I replaced the head unit in the 1986 Corvette using a Metra adapter kit, which got my CD player to look, if not like a factory installation, at least like what a decent car audio place would do. I also wired up a set of Sony Xplod 5 1/4" speakers and got them to fit behind the front speaker grilles. Right now the rear speakers are disconnected - I have a set of cheap 6 x 9 ovals I'll later add for rear fill.
It seems there are a couple myths about what it takes to replace a Bose system. You don't have to rewire the car. You also don't have to take the door panels off - something I only found out after I'd removed one and found it didn't help. I was trying to remove the Bose amps from the door. That would require completely disassembling the door. So I found that instead, you can reach into the Bose speaker box and cut the wires to the amp, then grab the stereo wires there. Makes things a lot easier. Now I just have to deal with some of the aftermath about taking the door panel apart - it's not as easy to get it back together.
It seems there are a couple myths about what it takes to replace a Bose system. You don't have to rewire the car. You also don't have to take the door panels off - something I only found out after I'd removed one and found it didn't help. I was trying to remove the Bose amps from the door. That would require completely disassembling the door. So I found that instead, you can reach into the Bose speaker box and cut the wires to the amp, then grab the stereo wires there. Makes things a lot easier. Now I just have to deal with some of the aftermath about taking the door panel apart - it's not as easy to get it back together.
Labels: Corvette
Thursday, February 28, 2008
C4 Corvette speakers - what really fits
There's a couple little things on C4 Corvettes that their owners generally don't like - the skip shift feature in 6 speed transmissions, the Optispark distributor, and leaky weatherstripping are some offenders. But if I were to take a guess as to which part actually gets replaced the most often, it would probably be the Bose sound system. Many Corvette owners have dubbed it the Blose. That's a pretty apt description of mine - one speaker is blown, and the radio only turns on half the time. In all fairness, most 20 year old stereos have probably broken. But it's high time for a new stereo. I had originally planned on putting in a used one, but after having trouble with two used ones I went and bought a new if cheap JVC head unit.
Now, the trouble with the Bose system is that it's usually recommended you replace the speakers along with the head unit, because Bose put amps in the speakers. So I went speaker shopping. Unfortunately, the various stereo guides I've found online and in stores all say conflicting things. I checked at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Crutchfield, and no two guides said the speakers were the same size! So, tonight I went and measured the speakers to find out the truth. Here are the [i]real[/i] speaker sizes for a 1986 Corvette with a Bose stereo system.
Up front, Wal-Mart said the speakers were 4", Crutchfield said the closest size would be 6 1/2", and Best Buy said that the speakers were 6" x 4" ovals. The truth is that they are 7" square grilles with 4 1/2" round speakers behind them. So the win goes to Wal-Mart, with Best Buy's recommendation being close enough to fit hidden behind the stock grille without a hack job. The 6 1/2" speakers could possibly fit, but it would be tricky to make it look right as they don't look like they'd fit behind the stock grille or completely cover the opening. (It appears that a lot of people on Corvetteforum.com have made 6 1/2" speakers fit, however.)
In the back, Wal-Mart didn't list a speaker size, Crutchfield said that 6 1/2" would be the closest size, and Best Buy said the closest size was a 9" x 6" oval. The grille is a large irregular shape, but behind this was a set of 4 1/2" round speakers, again. However, they are stuck inside a 9" x 6" cutout with an adapter! And it also looks as if it wouldn't be terribly hard to cram a 6 1/2" in there while leaving the original grille in place. So Best Buy takes the win for the rear speakers, but this time Crutchfield's recommendation is easier to follow.
Now, the trouble with the Bose system is that it's usually recommended you replace the speakers along with the head unit, because Bose put amps in the speakers. So I went speaker shopping. Unfortunately, the various stereo guides I've found online and in stores all say conflicting things. I checked at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Crutchfield, and no two guides said the speakers were the same size! So, tonight I went and measured the speakers to find out the truth. Here are the [i]real[/i] speaker sizes for a 1986 Corvette with a Bose stereo system.
Up front, Wal-Mart said the speakers were 4", Crutchfield said the closest size would be 6 1/2", and Best Buy said that the speakers were 6" x 4" ovals. The truth is that they are 7" square grilles with 4 1/2" round speakers behind them. So the win goes to Wal-Mart, with Best Buy's recommendation being close enough to fit hidden behind the stock grille without a hack job. The 6 1/2" speakers could possibly fit, but it would be tricky to make it look right as they don't look like they'd fit behind the stock grille or completely cover the opening. (It appears that a lot of people on Corvetteforum.com have made 6 1/2" speakers fit, however.)
In the back, Wal-Mart didn't list a speaker size, Crutchfield said that 6 1/2" would be the closest size, and Best Buy said the closest size was a 9" x 6" oval. The grille is a large irregular shape, but behind this was a set of 4 1/2" round speakers, again. However, they are stuck inside a 9" x 6" cutout with an adapter! And it also looks as if it wouldn't be terribly hard to cram a 6 1/2" in there while leaving the original grille in place. So Best Buy takes the win for the rear speakers, but this time Crutchfield's recommendation is easier to follow.
Labels: Corvette
Saturday, February 23, 2008
One of the downsides to owning a Corvette...
...is that you can easily spend $1,000 to get a new set of tires for one. On the upside, that did make that unnerving 60 mph vibration go away.
Labels: Corvette
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Yeah, I definitely made the wrong call on the headlights...
I was recently in Wal-Mart, and happened to walk through the car section. They had Sylvania headlights that were evidently almost identical to Silver Stars - same wattage and all - except they don't have the filter. And these unfiltered bulbs cost half of what the Silver Stars cost. Looks like I just spend $20 on what Dave Ramsey would call "stupid tax."
Labels: Corvette
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Not sure if I made the right call with headlights...
I think I'm going to officially nickname the Corvette "Winky" because the way the left headlight's been giving me so much trouble. It's been refusing to pop up, had screws come loose making it not go all the way down, and on Tuesday, the bulb burned out. So I went to get a new set of headlights. I'd heard that "Silver Stars" were a good brand to get, so I went to AutoZone and paid $42 for a pair of them.
Then I did a bit of poking around and found I'd bought the wrong Silver Stars! You may be wondering how a major corporation could let people get away with taking their trademark. Well, as it turns out, the same company makes Sylvania and Osram lights. And for some reason, each of them make a type of light called the Silver Star... and they're not the same lights. The Osram Silver Stars are the good ones; they're a plain high output bulb with no gimmicks, just good quality.
What I have are the Sylvania version of the Silver Stars. These combine a 55 watt low beam (regular Sylvania lights have a 35 watt low beam) with a slightly bluish filter. I don't like filters; they cut down on the output, because they change the color of the light by absorbing part of the light. Lighting expert Daniel Stern (you may have noted I've linked to his blog at the left) has a very informative article on the troubles with legal bulbs with blue filters. Sylvania's cranked up the wattage to make them brighter than normal lights, at least on low beam, but that puts more wear and tear on the bulbs too from the extra heat. With their version of the Silver Stars, Sylvania appears to be selling a very well known cliche: the candle that burns twice as bright but half as long.
I went and installed them anyway. While these do have a blue filter, the light output isn't blue; it actually is a rather nice shade of white. And unlike some filtered lights, the color looks to be about the same in all directions. Back in the heyday of illegal "HID-look" bulbs, I'd often see bulbs that would turn from blue to purple to green depending on what angle you viewed them from. It remains to be seen how they work in the rain - a lot of people on some forums with owners who installed blue lights but were mature enough to look at them objectively reported they're a nightmare to drive behind in the rain. Since the Sylvania SilverStars are more of a pointless effort to make the bulb whiter than white, I'm not sure they will have that problem.
I'll probably leave them in for a couple years, then do what I should have done had I not been pressed for time: Give Daniel Stern a call and get some serious, safe, and powerful headlights.
Then I did a bit of poking around and found I'd bought the wrong Silver Stars! You may be wondering how a major corporation could let people get away with taking their trademark. Well, as it turns out, the same company makes Sylvania and Osram lights. And for some reason, each of them make a type of light called the Silver Star... and they're not the same lights. The Osram Silver Stars are the good ones; they're a plain high output bulb with no gimmicks, just good quality.
What I have are the Sylvania version of the Silver Stars. These combine a 55 watt low beam (regular Sylvania lights have a 35 watt low beam) with a slightly bluish filter. I don't like filters; they cut down on the output, because they change the color of the light by absorbing part of the light. Lighting expert Daniel Stern (you may have noted I've linked to his blog at the left) has a very informative article on the troubles with legal bulbs with blue filters. Sylvania's cranked up the wattage to make them brighter than normal lights, at least on low beam, but that puts more wear and tear on the bulbs too from the extra heat. With their version of the Silver Stars, Sylvania appears to be selling a very well known cliche: the candle that burns twice as bright but half as long.
I went and installed them anyway. While these do have a blue filter, the light output isn't blue; it actually is a rather nice shade of white. And unlike some filtered lights, the color looks to be about the same in all directions. Back in the heyday of illegal "HID-look" bulbs, I'd often see bulbs that would turn from blue to purple to green depending on what angle you viewed them from. It remains to be seen how they work in the rain - a lot of people on some forums with owners who installed blue lights but were mature enough to look at them objectively reported they're a nightmare to drive behind in the rain. Since the Sylvania SilverStars are more of a pointless effort to make the bulb whiter than white, I'm not sure they will have that problem.
I'll probably leave them in for a couple years, then do what I should have done had I not been pressed for time: Give Daniel Stern a call and get some serious, safe, and powerful headlights.
Labels: Corvette
Saturday, January 12, 2008
The Corvette's a picky eater.
The Corvette gave me a bit of a scare this week - it suddenly started running pretty rough. It turned out I'd got a tank of bad gas from a grocery store that also sold no-name gas. First time I've really had a car that was all that picky about gas brands (although I'm not sure about the Dart's current EFI trim). I'd figured that since the L98 engine isn't really all that exotic - low RPM, iron heads, Chevy recommends 87 octane - it wouldn't be all that picky about what sort of gas I put in it. Looks like I was mistaken.
The moral is that while an L98 Corvette will run quite happily on 87 octane, it has to be good 87 octane.
Also, I finally got the minor tune-up parts installed on the Corvette...Well, most of them; I'll get the spark plugs and O2 sensor later (and I may put something else in that O2 sensor socket than a stock part...). I used a set of Summit straight boot HEI plug wires. The fit isn't the greatest; several on the left bank had to go up over the valve cover to fit correctly. And the stock wires have 90 degree angle boots. But I was able to route them away from anything likely to burn them. So my impression of Summit's house brand wires is a bit mixed. Although if the #1 and #3 wires were a little longer I would be very impressed. They fit at least as well as many parts store wires I've dealt with.
The moral is that while an L98 Corvette will run quite happily on 87 octane, it has to be good 87 octane.
Also, I finally got the minor tune-up parts installed on the Corvette...Well, most of them; I'll get the spark plugs and O2 sensor later (and I may put something else in that O2 sensor socket than a stock part...). I used a set of Summit straight boot HEI plug wires. The fit isn't the greatest; several on the left bank had to go up over the valve cover to fit correctly. And the stock wires have 90 degree angle boots. But I was able to route them away from anything likely to burn them. So my impression of Summit's house brand wires is a bit mixed. Although if the #1 and #3 wires were a little longer I would be very impressed. They fit at least as well as many parts store wires I've dealt with.
Labels: Corvette
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Needed new tools
I was going to do a bunch of tune up items on the Corvette today - oil change, new plugs, new distributor cap and rotor, new plug wires, etc. However, when I was getting ready to remove the access cover over the distributor, I saw it was held on with Torx bolts. In fact, it seems like half the C4 Corvette is held together with Torx fasteners, and I don't have any Torx drivers. So I had to settle for just an oil change, and picked up a set of Torx drivers at Sears later today.
By the way, putting a C4 Corvette on jackstands is also quite a challenge. GM seems to have designed this car to be serviced on a lift, and not in a home garage (well, except for some very well equipped home setups). You shouldn't support a C4 by its floor pan, and it's nearly impossible to drive it up normal rampstands. There's two triangular jacking pads that make a good point for a jack, but then there's no spot for the jackstand. I ended up lifting it with a jack high enough to set the tire down on the ramp. Not pretty, but it worked.
By the way, putting a C4 Corvette on jackstands is also quite a challenge. GM seems to have designed this car to be serviced on a lift, and not in a home garage (well, except for some very well equipped home setups). You shouldn't support a C4 by its floor pan, and it's nearly impossible to drive it up normal rampstands. There's two triangular jacking pads that make a good point for a jack, but then there's no spot for the jackstand. I ended up lifting it with a jack high enough to set the tire down on the ramp. Not pretty, but it worked.
Labels: Corvette
Friday, November 16, 2007
So that's what was wrong with the headlights...
Turns out I'd pulled a connector loose in the headlight harness when working on the right headlight. So it worked for a while, but then the connector got rattled around enough that it became disconnected. I've reconnected it tightly and the lights are now working just fine. Except that I'm back to having the left headlight (with the bronze gears) pop up more slowly than the right. Oh well. Eventually I may just go and put bronze gears on the other side too, but not now.
Labels: Corvette
Monday, November 12, 2007
Well, that's a bit better
When working on the AC, the mechanics at AutoFab noticed I had a problem with the serpentine belt tensioner, so they replaced it. The results took me by surprise. The Corvette had always rattled a lot. I figured that was because it's a 20 year old car, and Corvettes have both a harsh ride and lots of plastic. So I didn't think much of it. Well, replacing the tensioner's just about cut the interior noise in half. Since the sound seemed to be everywhere (and there are little sources of noise just about everywhere in that car), I had expected this to be a lot harder to quiet down the car. I didn't think one replacement would make so much difference.
I also swapped out the steering wheel this weekend for a reproduction I'd picked up on eBay. That takes care of the most beat up feeling bit of the interior. It's pretty simple to remove the steering wheel on a Corvette, but only if you have the right tool, a steering wheel puller. Luckily you can get a serviceable puller for around $12. I have pulled the steering wheel in the Spitfire without one, but in the Corvette it was stuck on there too hard.
Now I just need to deal with that pesky left headlight. It's stuck in the down position again, apparently an electrical glitch. At least now it's staying down, which will make it easier to troubleshoot. There's nothing more irritating than trying to troubleshoot an electrical problem that comes and goes - and is usually gone when you have a voltmeter handy.
I also swapped out the steering wheel this weekend for a reproduction I'd picked up on eBay. That takes care of the most beat up feeling bit of the interior. It's pretty simple to remove the steering wheel on a Corvette, but only if you have the right tool, a steering wheel puller. Luckily you can get a serviceable puller for around $12. I have pulled the steering wheel in the Spitfire without one, but in the Corvette it was stuck on there too hard.
Now I just need to deal with that pesky left headlight. It's stuck in the down position again, apparently an electrical glitch. At least now it's staying down, which will make it easier to troubleshoot. There's nothing more irritating than trying to troubleshoot an electrical problem that comes and goes - and is usually gone when you have a voltmeter handy.
Labels: Corvette
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Some repairs on the Corvette
Well, last Monday I figured out the issue with the Corvette's headlight - I had the gears in correctly, but the bucket lined up wrong. Now it's lined up and popping up correctly. The headlights no longer raise at the same speed; evidently the brass gears have more friction or their weight is enough to have an effect.
Also, AutoFab completed their repairs on the AC. They replaced nearly half the system - compressor, condenser, and drier - but it's working now.
Also, AutoFab completed their repairs on the AC. They replaced nearly half the system - compressor, condenser, and drier - but it's working now.
Labels: Corvette
Friday, October 26, 2007
Luckily I cut my hair short, or I'd try pulling it out.
So the left headlight on the Corvette got stuck down this morning. I knew the teeth on its drive motor had a bit of damage from an earlier incedent involving a stuck screw, so I had a new set of bronze gears ready to go to replace the more fragile plastic ones. So, after about an hour and a half of work on the headlight, where I discovered that bronze small gears need to be pressed onto their shaft, I get the headlight motor assembly back together...
Only to find it's something else and I still only have one light flipping up.
Only to find it's something else and I still only have one light flipping up.
Labels: Corvette
Friday, October 19, 2007
One thumb down for a vendor: Books4Cars.com
Ok, so some of my longtime readers may have wondered if I've sold out recently, with Spectre sponsoring my intake plumbing, and my taking a job in the automotive aftermarket. A lot of my earlier posts were backyard tech, and now a lot of it has just been, "I bought this part from such and such, and it's a good part." Worried that my blog is becoming like an ad-driven magazine that always praises the products in its stories?
Well, now I have a vendor to complain about: Books4Cars.com.
I was shopping for a Corvette factory service manual, and their website had the factory service manual for about $20 less than Corvette restoration houses. So I decided to order from them. After my order, I received a note that it was out of stock and they'd get another order in soon. Ok, that's not too bad; they were pretty prompt about it.
I emailed them checking up on the order, and they didn't respond, even after two emails. I can understand losing an email, but I was kind of disappointed they didn't answer. Then, the book shows up - and it's not a new one, but a well-worn example from a dealership. Now, the Books4Cars website does say, "Some publications may be used." But they don't have the decency to tell you which books they stock are used and which aren't, and guessing by the price, I was expecting they'd just picked up some new manuals at some kind of volume discount, rather than a used manual at a nearly new price.
To their credit, they didn't charge my card until they had the book, and the book is servicable. But I wish they'd tell you whether you're getting a new or a used book before you order.
Well, now I have a vendor to complain about: Books4Cars.com.
I was shopping for a Corvette factory service manual, and their website had the factory service manual for about $20 less than Corvette restoration houses. So I decided to order from them. After my order, I received a note that it was out of stock and they'd get another order in soon. Ok, that's not too bad; they were pretty prompt about it.
I emailed them checking up on the order, and they didn't respond, even after two emails. I can understand losing an email, but I was kind of disappointed they didn't answer. Then, the book shows up - and it's not a new one, but a well-worn example from a dealership. Now, the Books4Cars website does say, "Some publications may be used." But they don't have the decency to tell you which books they stock are used and which aren't, and guessing by the price, I was expecting they'd just picked up some new manuals at some kind of volume discount, rather than a used manual at a nearly new price.
To their credit, they didn't charge my card until they had the book, and the book is servicable. But I wish they'd tell you whether you're getting a new or a used book before you order.
Labels: Corvette
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Had a good surprise at the mechanic
I wanted to get some basic maintenance taken care of on the Corvette, and was a bit pressed for time, so I took it to AutoFab to have them change all the fluids and have them check it out to see if there was anything that might need repairs besides the A/C. They cleaned some feathers out of the radiator (note to anyone owning a C4 Corvette: The cooling system collects all sorts of junk) and pronounced it to have a clean bill of health. Some of the suspension bushings could use replacing, there's a little delamination on the rear spring, and the power steering rack has a small leak, but it doesn't show any signs of needing urgent repair.
But one thing they found came as a pleasant surprise, even though I didn't realize it until I got home and looked up a few specs. Wayne measured the sway bars with a calipers while it was on the lift, since I was curious about what suspension it had and the option list faded long ago. I found a 30 mm front sway bar and a 22 mm rear one. I'd heard that 30 mm is the largest front sway bar they put on a C4 Corvette, so I did a bit of digging and eventually found VetteNet's suspension guide. Looking up those measurements, I see that I've got the Z51 handling package. I had kind of expected it to have a base suspension - it's got an automatic and quite a few luxury items - so this was a pleasant surprise.
But one thing they found came as a pleasant surprise, even though I didn't realize it until I got home and looked up a few specs. Wayne measured the sway bars with a calipers while it was on the lift, since I was curious about what suspension it had and the option list faded long ago. I found a 30 mm front sway bar and a 22 mm rear one. I'd heard that 30 mm is the largest front sway bar they put on a C4 Corvette, so I did a bit of digging and eventually found VetteNet's suspension guide. Looking up those measurements, I see that I've got the Z51 handling package. I had kind of expected it to have a base suspension - it's got an automatic and quite a few luxury items - so this was a pleasant surprise.
Labels: Corvette
Thursday, August 23, 2007
A mission statement for the Corvette
I'm a firm believer that a good car project always needs a mission statement. Ok, maybe that may be a bit of a silly and Dilbertesque way to put it, but to make a really good car you've got to have a good sense of what you want it to do, rather than throwing parts at it willy-nilly.
I kind of had a bit of a dilemma with this car. On one hand, it's a bit beat up, faded, worn, and showing signs of its age. A car like that might make a good beater. Except it's a Corvette. Beaters have their advantages - drive a beater, and you're accountable to no one. You can bomb it down gravel roads, change the color with Krylon, get it airborn on railroad tracks, or cut up perfectly original parts with a hacksaw for creative hack-job modifications. But it's just wrong to treat a Corvette like that. At the same time, I'm not sure I want to put thousands of dollars' worth of speed parts into a $3,500 car.
The answer to what sort of buildup this should be came when I decided the radio needs replacing (it won't lock onto the stations correctly, for one thing) and remembered I had a Blaupunkt CD player that I'd picked up for free from my brother in law: See if I can find some cool mods for way less than retail - either free cast-offs, used parts, odd deals I might be able to whistle up from various connections through work (hey, this isn't the Challenge, so I can use that advantage if I want to!). Kind of in keeping with how the car itself was a score I couldn't pass up. I may sometimes have to pay full price - doubtless will for some wear items, repairs, and things that don't make sense to buy used. But I'm going to see if I can make this a supercar fit for Clark Howard.
Besides some creative scrounging, it needs some other key planning elements. So here they are.
1. First and foremost, it's my daily driver. That means everything on it is to be kept in good working order, I'll keep the AC, stereo, and other things that add weight but make traffic more tolerable, and it won't get mods that ruin its practicality.
2. It'll be made for good handling, and frequently autocrossed. Maybe in A/Stock for now, B/Street Prepared for later. I don't plan on pushing it into Street Mod 2 unless I really run across an impossible to pass up deal on an aluminum block.
3. And like I said earlier, scoring good deals may very well turn out to be as important as going fast.
I kind of had a bit of a dilemma with this car. On one hand, it's a bit beat up, faded, worn, and showing signs of its age. A car like that might make a good beater. Except it's a Corvette. Beaters have their advantages - drive a beater, and you're accountable to no one. You can bomb it down gravel roads, change the color with Krylon, get it airborn on railroad tracks, or cut up perfectly original parts with a hacksaw for creative hack-job modifications. But it's just wrong to treat a Corvette like that. At the same time, I'm not sure I want to put thousands of dollars' worth of speed parts into a $3,500 car.
The answer to what sort of buildup this should be came when I decided the radio needs replacing (it won't lock onto the stations correctly, for one thing) and remembered I had a Blaupunkt CD player that I'd picked up for free from my brother in law: See if I can find some cool mods for way less than retail - either free cast-offs, used parts, odd deals I might be able to whistle up from various connections through work (hey, this isn't the Challenge, so I can use that advantage if I want to!). Kind of in keeping with how the car itself was a score I couldn't pass up. I may sometimes have to pay full price - doubtless will for some wear items, repairs, and things that don't make sense to buy used. But I'm going to see if I can make this a supercar fit for Clark Howard.
Besides some creative scrounging, it needs some other key planning elements. So here they are.
1. First and foremost, it's my daily driver. That means everything on it is to be kept in good working order, I'll keep the AC, stereo, and other things that add weight but make traffic more tolerable, and it won't get mods that ruin its practicality.
2. It'll be made for good handling, and frequently autocrossed. Maybe in A/Stock for now, B/Street Prepared for later. I don't plan on pushing it into Street Mod 2 unless I really run across an impossible to pass up deal on an aluminum block.
3. And like I said earlier, scoring good deals may very well turn out to be as important as going fast.
Labels: Corvette
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
On the hottest day of summer
Long time readers of this blog may remember my ill-fated Spitfire project. I drove it home, and two days later, I had smoke pouring out of it. History nearly repeated itself today. In the case of the Spitfire, the electrical system had caught on fire. The case of the Corvette was a little different.
I was driving the Corvette home today, on what the weather forecast said would be the hottest day of the summer so far. I heard a squeaking sound, and the air conditioner suddenly started blowing hot air. Great, I say to myself, I've just had my AC start acting up on the hottest day of the year. Then I start smelling something strange. I wonder - hope - if it's someone grilling dinner. Then smoke starts billowing out from under the hood when I come to a stoplight. I shut down the AC and pull over at the first place where I can safely get off the road. I start to worry that I'll have to call a tow truck.
I pop the hood, andI find traces of smoke lingering around the AC compressor. Clearly a siezed compressor. I feel a bit relieved knowing that I'm back to merely having an AC that's acting up and not a car that's left me stranded. I unplug the AC compressor clutch so it can't turn on, and sweat the rest of the way home.
Looks like the Corvette is going to need a bit more work. I kind of figured there had to be a catch to a bargain. Well, it could have been worse - like several other cheap cars I've owned.
I was driving the Corvette home today, on what the weather forecast said would be the hottest day of the summer so far. I heard a squeaking sound, and the air conditioner suddenly started blowing hot air. Great, I say to myself, I've just had my AC start acting up on the hottest day of the year. Then I start smelling something strange. I wonder - hope - if it's someone grilling dinner. Then smoke starts billowing out from under the hood when I come to a stoplight. I shut down the AC and pull over at the first place where I can safely get off the road. I start to worry that I'll have to call a tow truck.
I pop the hood, andI find traces of smoke lingering around the AC compressor. Clearly a siezed compressor. I feel a bit relieved knowing that I'm back to merely having an AC that's acting up and not a car that's left me stranded. I unplug the AC compressor clutch so it can't turn on, and sweat the rest of the way home.
Looks like the Corvette is going to need a bit more work. I kind of figured there had to be a catch to a bargain. Well, it could have been worse - like several other cheap cars I've owned.
Labels: Corvette
Saturday, August 18, 2007
That used car smell
One thing about buying cheap used cars: They often come with rather strange smells. I've bought nearly odorless cheap cars before, but a strong smell is about as common as not. My Dart had a mildew smell, while the Probe that I entered in the $2004 Challenge had evidently served as a long term cat kennel. The Corvette also fell into the odoriferous category, smelling heavily of tobacco. And for a car that I'm using for a 40 mile commute, that smell had to go.
My first assault on the smell was to empty a can of carpet cleaner into the interior. It made a dent, but didn't really make the smell go away.
So today I called in the heavy artillery - I took it to a detailing shop and had the interior completely steam cleaned and shampooed. It was a bit pricey, but knocked out virtually all of the tobacco smell.
My first assault on the smell was to empty a can of carpet cleaner into the interior. It made a dent, but didn't really make the smell go away.
So today I called in the heavy artillery - I took it to a detailing shop and had the interior completely steam cleaned and shampooed. It was a bit pricey, but knocked out virtually all of the tobacco smell.
Labels: Corvette
Friday, August 17, 2007
I've just picked up a new daily driver...
I wasn't really looking for a Corvette at all. But when this 1986 Corvette popped up on Craigslist for $3500, I couldn't pass it up. It's in mechanically good shape, with a healthy V8 and an automatic that shifts as smoothly as you would expect for a sports car. It's not perfect, of course - it could use some body work, the interior smells heavily of pipe tobacco, and there are some weird nagging electrical gremlins, squeaks, and rattles.
While the exterior still looks kind of timeless, the interior is very much a period piece, with teal blue upholstery and a digital dash that looks remarkably like the one from Knight Rider. Still, it's a lot of fun to drive, and I can't belive I picked one up for a price like this.
Labels: Corvette
