VetteKitty

Ugh. Looks like I'll be sinking lots of $$ into this :/

-Car has been retagged by WA state patrol (think it may have been for the emissions thing)
-Front and rear shocks are worn
-Worn strut rod bushing
-headlights wont come up-possible vacuum problem/leak
-carpets need replacing
-power door locks need fixing a/o replacing
-misc finish work needs to be done on the engine-some of the plug wires are incorrectly routed and there are a few things not plugged in
-tach not working (knew that)
-water pump shaft is loose
-hood release cable is loose
-hood clamps not working on pass. side
-rear leaf spring twisting
-rear caliper leaking
-rear wheel bearing loose
-steering (ras?) joint worn
-play in steering-box may need adjusting
-marker lights do not work
-horn does not work
-rear transmission leak
-horn sounds when steering wheel is turned to right
-t-top seals need replacing
-drivers door needs adjust

so thats prob gonna set me back alot.

yellow 72

Sounds about right for a 23 year old car :lol:

VetteKitty

so.... these are just wear-and-tear-getting-old problems?

I was afraid I'd have to go kick some dealer butt :)

Really wish there was a place online to check out 'vette owner history :)

Carl in LA

Push forward without fear... Look ahead to many relaxing evenings/Saturdays working your way through those systems... set aside a little money each month for the more expensive things on your list... Looks like a good situation to me. And one last thing... when you get inside the dash to replace that broken tach card... replace the plexiglass cover on BOTH the tach and the speedo... I only replaced the one on the tach. Now I have perfectly clear brand new plexi on the tach and a dingy 26-year old one on the speedo!

VetteKitty

I already have plenty set aside.. if its not over $3k for the repairs that is.

I'll probably have the major safety-issue repairs done first, by the mechanic at the corvette shop.. the rest can wait til summer or when I have more cash :)

MotorHead

Jeesh I'm glad I never got anyone to over my car after I bought it, I would have fainted with all the repairs etc. I have done over the last six years. Basically don't fret it, it sounds worse than it is. This is what you do, whenever you get a little extra cash fix or replace something, don't try and do it all at once and above all have fun. Try and fix anything that could be dangerous first.

Over the last six years I have done a major upgrade or repair every year along with a few small things, this is what makes it a great hobby. You can look forward to something new all the time. Most everyone here has done alot of repairs and upgrades so don't worry, enjoy :D

VTHokie77Vette

My horn would go off when I turned my wheel too. I took the horn button off to find that a screw was tripping it off when I turned the wheel. Fixed it really easily.

Jughead

Hopefully your Vette isn't a daily driver. I'm still concentrating on safety issues. I still need to do the rear TA....but that's more of an option right now. Looking back I might have been lucky when I bought my '70! That's what I tell my wife anyway. I had to replace the rear brake lines, complete front suspension & new bearings, pads & rotors. At that point my '70 is safe enough to drive around.

If you can't do the major repairs yourself, have the shop do them. You need the brakes, steering and suspension working properly to have at least a little fun while you finish the minor repairs yourself. You may become very intimate with your car! :yesnod:

The more work I complete on my '70, the more critical I become of what still remains to be done.

Good Luck.
Len


[Modified by 1970 Stingray, 8:22 AM 1/27/2002]

Ganey

Some of this you could easily take care of by yourself quickly w/ forum help. Many mechanics are not that good w/ el. & since VTHokie77Vette has already mentioned one possibility on the horn situation we could start w/ el.

-power door locks need fixing a/o replacing
-marker lights do not work
-horn does not work
-horn sounds when steering wheel is turned to right
-tach not working (knew that)

Check all the marker bulbs, the fuses & breakers & connections incl. fuse/breaker connections for anything el. that is not working. Check that the connector for tach. is connected at dist.

Another easy one is that the cable may be disconnected on pass. side.
-hood release cable is loose
-hood clamps not working on pass. side

You need 1 topic/per problem normally for ex. Hood release cable problem.

VetteKitty

So here's 2 more questions:

1) should I drive it until I can get it repaired (only on weekends - its not a daily driver)

2) Should I buy the parts myself? Or have the shop buy them?

Main things I'll be getting fixed first are going to be the safety issues, like the leaf spring, shocks, rod bushing, headlights, hood release cable, clamps (already on their way here), calipers, etc etc-basically anything not cosmetic.

Corellian Corvette

Saftey1st is always the best way to go.

Remember -- everything is going to cost you 2X what you expect it will. It's the nature of the beast :)

Most of these problems are pretty straigthforward common sence stuff (hopefully!)

If you don't mind me asking (as a fellow Washingtonian) - how much did you pay and where did you get the car? If the dealer did not disclose some of these things (particlarly brakes, etc.) I would certainly try and push back on them...


[Modified by Corellian Corvette, 6:44 PM 1/28/2002]

Rexx

Sounds like my '78! Your list has several safety issues, but here is something that Gary at Austin Corvette told me. (paraphrased)

If you get into an accident and the EMS can't get your driver's side door open, the will cut you out of the car! :U :eek: Rescue folk are a focused bunch. Nothing else matters except getting you to safety. :blueangel: That's what they do. Good thing! :D

So, make sure the doors open and unlock easily and the window works.

Save the Wave

-Rexx

VetteKitty

I bought the car for $8k including tax & license fees. It came from B & C Auto Sales in Olympia, it was the owner's car-he was obviously unable to drive it much-considering he couldnt even get out of the car when he sat down in it.