New 92 C4 owner
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
New 92 C4 owner
Well I finally found "the one", is she perfect? Far from it. Within my budget and most issues are cosmetic, mechanically it's sound.
1992 C4 with 70,500mi 6spd
Issues:
Windows weep a little in heavy rain (front corner)
Whistling from Targa top at 60+ (I assume a seating issue or weather stripping)
Weather stripping all around the car needs to be refreshed
Driver side power window doesn't work
Power locks don't work
Steering wheel has play in vertical tilt direction
No heat (not sure if electrical or clogged heater core)
To-do:
Fluid refresh (all around, oil, brake, coolant, PS the whole 9)
Troubleshoot known problems, starting electrically with the door locks and window issue
Weather stripping
Heater issue (tackling this last b/c it could be easy or could be the most involved and it's summer so I have time)
Any additional things to check out/troubleshooting advice is more than welcome!
I plan on doing all the work myself mostly because I like fixing broken s*** lol I've brought my Jeep back to life with the help of youtube and forums, I don't doubt I can do the same and get this one back into prime shape.
Pictures in the next post
1992 C4 with 70,500mi 6spd
Issues:
Windows weep a little in heavy rain (front corner)
Whistling from Targa top at 60+ (I assume a seating issue or weather stripping)
Weather stripping all around the car needs to be refreshed
Driver side power window doesn't work
Power locks don't work
Steering wheel has play in vertical tilt direction
No heat (not sure if electrical or clogged heater core)
To-do:
Fluid refresh (all around, oil, brake, coolant, PS the whole 9)
Troubleshoot known problems, starting electrically with the door locks and window issue
Weather stripping
Heater issue (tackling this last b/c it could be easy or could be the most involved and it's summer so I have time)
Any additional things to check out/troubleshooting advice is more than welcome!
I plan on doing all the work myself mostly because I like fixing broken s*** lol I've brought my Jeep back to life with the help of youtube and forums, I don't doubt I can do the same and get this one back into prime shape.
Pictures in the next post
#5
Melting Slicks
Did they explain the paint chipping? looks like the paint got really hot, like hotter then the sun can get it, and in my opinion the more you work on the car the more you truly care and enjoy the car so it's good you want to work on it!
#6
Burning Brakes
Great Project :-) Nothing better than working on a Vette :-)
#7
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jul 2011
Location: Myrtle Beach South Carolina
Posts: 781
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Great starting place. Talking from experience, get yourself a set of the red field service manuals, I didn't have them for the longest time, and now that I have them they are indispensable. Good looking color too! Enjoy the bonding!
#8
Racer
Might as well start out on the wild side with that purple color or is it my eyes? Actually I like it.
That paint chipping area looks like previous body work to me. Anything show on carfax?
Looks like a real solid car (pic of the engine bay would be nice). Sounds like you can turn a wrench and your initial plan of changing the fluids is right on. That way you 'zero out' the car and know where you start. Might also consider plugs and wires.
Welcome to the Vette world, it will be an adventure for sure.
Rock On
That paint chipping area looks like previous body work to me. Anything show on carfax?
Looks like a real solid car (pic of the engine bay would be nice). Sounds like you can turn a wrench and your initial plan of changing the fluids is right on. That way you 'zero out' the car and know where you start. Might also consider plugs and wires.
Welcome to the Vette world, it will be an adventure for sure.
Rock On
#9
Melting Slicks
Congrats! You'll love it.
With the heat issue....the first and easiest thing to check is the restrictor valve in the heater hose. You'll see it in-line, kind of laying on the passenger side inner fender-well. Remove it, and check to see if it is blocked with crud. If it is, clean it, and see if that helps.
Don't wash the front of the engine with a hose. The Optispark distributor is under the water pump and is susceptible to failure if it gets water or coolant in it.
Check your serpentine belt. The 92 is double ribbed, and not always easy to find. Put a new one on, and keep the old one in the car as a spare.
Your tilt steering will be a pain to fix. Do a forum search for how-to.
Check your suspension bushings, especially the sway bar end-links and rear dog-bones.
Most of all...enjoy!
With the heat issue....the first and easiest thing to check is the restrictor valve in the heater hose. You'll see it in-line, kind of laying on the passenger side inner fender-well. Remove it, and check to see if it is blocked with crud. If it is, clean it, and see if that helps.
Don't wash the front of the engine with a hose. The Optispark distributor is under the water pump and is susceptible to failure if it gets water or coolant in it.
Check your serpentine belt. The 92 is double ribbed, and not always easy to find. Put a new one on, and keep the old one in the car as a spare.
Your tilt steering will be a pain to fix. Do a forum search for how-to.
Check your suspension bushings, especially the sway bar end-links and rear dog-bones.
Most of all...enjoy!
#10
Racer
Thread Starter
Thanks for all the congrats guys! Got power locks working today and got it all waxed and washed. Nothing shows on the carfax so I'm curious how the chipping could have happened. Regardless I'm on the fence about the color but hey it runs great so I'll cross that bridge down the road.
Gonna flush the coolant and hopefully that'll help with the heater. We'll see, if it doesn't then I'll definitely check out that restrictor valve. I'll snag a picture of the engine bay tomorrow and throw it up here.
Gonna flush the coolant and hopefully that'll help with the heater. We'll see, if it doesn't then I'll definitely check out that restrictor valve. I'll snag a picture of the engine bay tomorrow and throw it up here.
#11
Race Director
That's a pretty nice car overall. Honestly I'm sort of surprised it has the issue it has for that low of mileage. Should be a fun project!
#12
Race Director
Everything you mentioned is pretty simple to fix except the steering column. There are two different special tools that are basically required to properly repair it. The weatherstripping is tedious if your picky about air and water leaks.
#14
The Left Qtr. panel looks like it has been worked on before and the repaint is not adhering to the primer under it. It also appears if I am seeing things correctly in your photos that some of the lower side panels including the LT. Qtr. and passenger door has clear coat degradation ( sun exposure discoloring ). My guess is this car has spent a good deal of time exposed to the sun.
The front bumper cover looks like it has been impacted. The cover has pushed in and popped back out and the paint will only go in so far with the cover and then will leave thin line cracks in the paint at the point of impact which will then eventually flake off the cover-this is why you see the jagged pattern of paint missing on the front bumper cover.
Hard to tell exactly what condition the rest of the paint is in since the car looks wet in the photos but from what I am seeing will probably be best to repaint the whole car at the same time to correct all the paint issues I am seeing in your photos.
Overall looks like a sound vette and with a little bit of work will really look nice.
The front bumper cover looks like it has been impacted. The cover has pushed in and popped back out and the paint will only go in so far with the cover and then will leave thin line cracks in the paint at the point of impact which will then eventually flake off the cover-this is why you see the jagged pattern of paint missing on the front bumper cover.
Hard to tell exactly what condition the rest of the paint is in since the car looks wet in the photos but from what I am seeing will probably be best to repaint the whole car at the same time to correct all the paint issues I am seeing in your photos.
Overall looks like a sound vette and with a little bit of work will really look nice.
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hockeyhead019 (05-01-2016)
#15
Racer
Thread Starter
The Left Qtr. panel looks like it has been worked on before and the repaint is not adhering to the primer under it. It also appears if I am seeing things correctly in your photos that some of the lower side panels including the LT. Qtr. and passenger door has clear coat degradation ( sun exposure discoloring ). My guess is this car has spent a good deal of time exposed to the sun.
The front bumper cover looks like it has been impacted. The cover has pushed in and popped back out and the paint will only go in so far with the cover and then will leave thin line cracks in the paint at the point of impact which will then eventually flake off the cover-this is why you see the jagged pattern of paint missing on the front bumper cover.
Hard to tell exactly what condition the rest of the paint is in since the car looks wet in the photos but from what I am seeing will probably be best to repaint the whole car at the same time to correct all the paint issues I am seeing in your photos.
Overall looks like a sound vette and with a little bit of work will really look nice.
The front bumper cover looks like it has been impacted. The cover has pushed in and popped back out and the paint will only go in so far with the cover and then will leave thin line cracks in the paint at the point of impact which will then eventually flake off the cover-this is why you see the jagged pattern of paint missing on the front bumper cover.
Hard to tell exactly what condition the rest of the paint is in since the car looks wet in the photos but from what I am seeing will probably be best to repaint the whole car at the same time to correct all the paint issues I am seeing in your photos.
Overall looks like a sound vette and with a little bit of work will really look nice.
In the time being I grabbed a rattle can of paint that matches the original black rose and I'll touch up some of the spots, not necessarily on the chips but but some of the other faded and worn spots just to touch it up.
#16
Le Mans Master
Nice find for a good price, especially withe the 6-speed.
My neighbor's 94 has that same color, very cool looking.
Good luck with the restoration.
My neighbor's 94 has that same color, very cool looking.
Good luck with the restoration.
#17
Drifting
When I went and looked at my 92 black rose the first time, though it was in great shape, the sun wasn't shining and the color was not my point of interest in the car. When I looked at it the second time, the sun was shining and I was sold. Gave the guy the money and drove away. Nice car, you will love it and fixing it yourself. And just like me, the 6 speed knocks it out of the park.
#18
Le Mans Master
I always liked that color. Clear coat is a problem with many a Vette. The steering wheel might be the way it is because the p.o. used it every time the got in and out of the car as an assist. Great find at a great price. Welcome to the forum, a bunch of good guys in here.
#19
Racer
Thread Starter
I always liked that color. Clear coat is a problem with many a Vette. The steering wheel might be the way it is because the p.o. used it every time the got in and out of the car as an assist. Great find at a great price. Welcome to the forum, a bunch of good guys in here.