Stephenms

Hey! Thanks for the heads up! I really do appreciate it!

Update on the car! We found out it was the alternator. The battery kept a charge when we jumped it, we go it tested, and it was perfect. The only other explanation is the alternator. We tested it with an advanced multimeter and it read at 12.4 to 11.9 with lights on and A/C blowin. I ordered a new alternator and will be installing it tomorrow. Any tips on how to? Or is it like any other Chevy TPI engine?

Tally Ho

Pretty simple. Diconnect the battery, remove the belt using the belt tensioner, disconnect the alternator wiring and unbolt it.

Stephenms

That's what I want to hear! Easy and simple

I read that these Vettes take 91 Octane, which is completely fine. I prefer the higher octane fuel anyways. I was wondering if there is a difference between 91 and 93 Octane fuels? Or will 93 be bad for the engine? Most of the gas stations around here carry 93 but not 91.

ChevReligion

I use 91 non-ethenol in mine. If you have to use E-10 or (good God, here it comes) E-15 I would strongly recomend regular use of K-100 ethenol treatment if the fuel stays in the tank for any length of time. This is the only additive that will address the phase separation that the ethenol causes. Ethenol raises hell with fuel system components on our older cars. When I store it for the winter I make sure I have a full tank of gas and add a full bottle of K-100. 8oz treats 20 gal.

eatmydst1234

Hell if im just comnuting in my '93 without any kind of performance driving I use 87 octane with no issues at all. The car likes it too, no pinging. I did the same with my old '86 vette too.

Stephenms

So 87 octane would be just fine? I don't plan on driving recklessly. Just from home to work for a while. Or should. I just stick with 91/93? Plus 87/89 is a lot cheaper!

Greenwood-Robban

Stephen: 87's are the best hey welcome to a world with people being jealous for the Alu.heads, under dimensioned brakes, worlds worst p-brake setup, slow performance, but most fascinating: people still turn their heads! car is looking very clean!

ChevReligion

Here in upstate New York we get what is known as "Tier 2 gasoline". It's garbage. Head down to PA and beyond or to the east and just about any car will run much better. So yeah, I can believe that your car will run well if the gas is 87 octane and Tier 1. My 07 Impala gets about 24-25 MPG highway average, if I get gas in Mass or Conn the mileage jumps immediatly to 28-30 MPG average. A trip to DC last year proved likewise.

Stephenms

Wow! Good to know. I just filled up with the 87 octane crap. It drinks it quiet well! I was running on a very very VERY empty tank when I filled up.

But I noticed after driving around for a bit today the temperature got up to around 225. I was driving around for only 20 minutes. When I shut the car off it started to make kind of a gurgle or boiling sound coming from the under the hood. It happens about a minute and a half after the car was shut off. Is this normal? Or is the car over heating?

I want to put newer bulbs in the digital dash and possibly replace the glass. Is there a site that can guide me on where to get the right parts and how to do this?

I am currently trying to transfer my speakers from the Camaro to the Vette but I noticed I will need a speaker harness or something of the sorts, to keep the speaker in place. Where could I get one of those, cheaply? I was also wondering how many speakers the Bose speaker system has. Is it front(dashboard), kick panels, then rear storage? And is there also a little subwoofer somewhere?

Also, my rear third brake light (the one on the roof) went out. I undid the bolts right underneath the light housing but it didn't budge. Do I have to take the entire back glass off to replace them? Or am I missing something?

Stephenms

Sorry about this but, bump.

My dad and I qualified to have this Vette in the Competition Stock division for judging. We just need to replace a few things and it's good to go!

Philsphan

Congrats on the vette Stephen. Ur story sounds very similar to mine except my old man sold his 91 z28 when I was 12 . Btw nuckin futz I still have no idea how to get of my 88 on here lol. Could I email you some too? Lol

F22

Stephen, you need to invest in a FSM or Factory Service Manual for the 87', period. Your 87' is not unusual in all the starting problems. These are common problems for this year. My third-ex-wife (sheesh...) had an 87' and we replaced the entire starting system. I mean ignition switch, ignition keys, VATS module, starter, battery, starter cable and cleaned all the grounds carefully and it would STILL not start sometimes!

If you use the 'Search This Forum' feature, you will find a ton of helpful threads on this. You should also plan on replacing the injectors as well, because her car had the crappy multecs and they really suck, as far as performance goes. Jon at FIC (look it up in the search feature) has sold many of us, rebuilt to better-than-OEM injectors that will make your 87' run like night and day!

Jbws86928

Congrats and please wave

Stephenms

I purchased a full 1987 Corvette service manual! I'm currently reading it from front to back!

I am purchasing ANOTHER alternator. This one turned out out be refurbished and is not working correctly. It does not charge the battery very well. I've needed a jump every day to get home and I noticed my headlights and interior lights increase in brightness under acceleration, that is usually a regulator issue.

I just purchased new Corvette mats, new rear plastic panel, new leather shifter "net", and a few other things!

I have a question about the cigarette lighter/power outlet. The power outlet side of it does not seem to be working. I plugged in a car charger for my iPhone but it would not charge. I tried two different chargers but nothing would happen. Yet my dad says he used the GPS with the car car charger and it worked fine. The phone chargers had female USB ports on the end to connect the iPhone cable.

I am stumped on the speakers though. I was looking at new PolkAudio speakers on Crutchfield but I read that if I replace one speaker in the system, I have to replace everything relating to the Bose system. Is this true? Or is this just a scam by Crutchfield to force me to buy unnecessary products? Don't get me wrong, I'd love new/slightly used corvette Bose speakers, they're amazing! But they are very expensive. I'd also like a subwoofer somewhere in the Vette. Nothing too big but is it possible to fit a 12 inch Kicker subwoofer? I have a Targa glass roof and thats my only concern. I have 2 12 inch subwoofers sitting in my room, 4 speakers that won't fit, all from the Camaro.

AirForceOne!

The problem mixing Bose and after market speakers is that the Bose stereo system in your vette is non amplified, so that is why there are amplifiers on each Bose speaker. If it were me I would have one or the other, not a mix! I have seen people run after market stereo and bypass the amplifiers and use the Bose speakers. I chose to replace everything with Alpine.

DinoBob

Please do yourself a big favor. Pull the battery out and carefully inspect the terminal block behind the battery where all the hot feeds connect. It is a plastic/Bakelite terminal block with a threaded center post where the feeds meet. Mine had loose/corroded feeds and a bad post. I experienced the same symptoms you did. Fluctuating battery voltage, lights dimming (especially when I stepped on the brake). My terminal block had melted spots from arcing and I am sure that a fire was in my future. I replaced it and that solved my "alternator" issue (hey, at least I have a spare on my shelf now).

Stephenms

Is that where there are a bunch of little wire ends all bundled together on one little bolt/metal post? I thought those were all ground wires? But i'll be sure to check tomorrow morning. I have looked at it before and it looks fine from what I see. Unless i'm looking at the wrong thing.

Txbobcat

I like your white red combo the car looks nice

rad928music

Wow.. Those seats look mint!
You came to the right place, there's allot of good info here.

1bdvet

It might be good idea, to join local Corvette Club to get all you questions answered and even have good time driving your car.

Here is link to local club in your area.

http://www.skywaycorvetteclub.com