17 Things You Should Do After Buying Your Vintage Corvette
So you finally pulled the trigger. You bought the pristine vintage Corvette you’ve always dreamed of, and can’t wait to take it for a cruise. Well, as with most things, there are a few things you should go over before putting the pedal-to-the-metal.
Whether you bought a rust-bucket you plan on restoring, or a Concours winner, the reality is that the word “vintage” is really just a fancy and expensive name for “old,” which means there’s a ton of room for things to have gone, or go, wrong.
Here’s a list of 17 actions you should perform to your vintage ‘Vette before buckling up and putting yours and the life of others at the mercy of an old car.
Safety
- Brakes – Check for even wear, clean brake fluid, and possible part damage.
- Steering – Check the steering for looseness, mis-alignment, and vibrations.
- Tires – Check the air pressure, condition, and the date on the tires. Old tires blow apart and kill you. (Replace if older than 10 years.)
- Fuel System – Replace every rubber hose and clam on the fuel system even if it doesn’t look like it needs to be. Better safe than sorry!
Reliability
- Belts & Hoses – Check belts and other hoses in the engine bay for cracks or leaks.
- Fluids – Check for leaks, and flush and replace engine oil, differential fluid, and antifreeze.
- Engine – Replace spark plugs, points, wires, distributor cap, and rotor.
- Suspension & Misc. – Wiggle the car from side-to-side to check for suspension rattles or shot shocks. Also replace wheel bearings and check control arms and joints for damage, etc.
Remember, some of these may involve time and money, but now that you own your dream vintage Corvette, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and not turn joy into despair!
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