Giving up
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Giving up
I'm not a mechanic, so I always have a shop do the work for me. The thing is everytime I have something fix another problem arises. It's just neverending problems ever since I got 11 years ago. Will I ever have a trouble free vette 
?
?
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,483
Likes: 1
From: The Only Corvette in Gila Bend, Az.
St. Jude Donor '09
Its not surprising your have problems...With only 8 posts in 2 years, how can we fix it if you don't tell us about it????
Maybe it's time to find a new mechanic, the one you have now might be watching a big screen plasma TV thanks to your lack of mechanical knowledge about vette problems...
Maybe it's time to find a new mechanic, the one you have now might be watching a big screen plasma TV thanks to your lack of mechanical knowledge about vette problems...
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 218
Likes: 6
From: SF North Bay California
Originally Posted by MySweet79
I'm not a mechanic, so I always have a shop do the work for me. The thing is everytime I have something fix another problem arises. It's just neverending problems ever since I got 11 years ago. Will I ever have a trouble free vette ?
?
I'm 1000% happier with my Vette now that I wrench it myself though.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
An old car is not what you want if you pay somebody else to do everything. It is, however, a great car to learn how to fix things. My suggestion would be to either learn how to do it yourself or get something new with a warranty. Otherwise, it's just not worth it.
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,922
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
These old cars need constant attention and $$. Finding someone knowledgable and honest who'll work is a tough assignment and expensive. With $65-$70/hr labor charges the bill quickly adds up. I realised that if I wanted my Vette back in shape I'd have to do most of the work. A lot of guys here on the forum do too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,487
Likes: 1
From: Sydney
Originally Posted by WhichVette?
An old car is not what you want if you pay somebody else to do everything. It is, however, a great car to learn how to fix things. My suggestion would be to either learn how to do it yourself or get something new with a warranty. Otherwise, it's just not worth it.
....totally agree. 
and this forum is a great tool to help troubleshoot and then fix these problems.
Take me for example.......Ive lost count at the number of problems Ive fixed myself with the help of this forum (and Ive only owned my vette a few months!)...my most recent fix was my Fuel Pump.
There are some things that require special tools that I don't have and therefore might be best left to a mechanic...like my rear wheel bearings which I think need attention....maybe this is something I might consider fixing myself...but not right now....give me at least a year of owning my vette....
It is frustrating having one problem after another....and alot of people don't want to deal with this...thats why they drive their everyday cars and don't own anything special like a vette! If it were easy then more people would own them.
Stay cool dude
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
Originally Posted by markdtn
Don't give up. Just dive in, ask questions, and get 'er done. 
I agree. I'm a complete n00b with this stuff, but learning how to fix the stuff is part of the fun.. or so I'm told.
Go to Sears and buy a nice starter set of sockets, then go to Autozone and get a Haynes manual and find somewhere to grab a shop manual for your year. With those and this forum, you can handle most of the stuff yourself!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
The old saying goes like this "If it has t*ts or tires, your gonna have trouble with it"
What's funny is some of my customers bitch about their Vette breaking down, I say "Your driving a 40 year old car, man!"
What's funny is some of my customers bitch about their Vette breaking down, I say "Your driving a 40 year old car, man!"
Last edited by big_G; Sep 26, 2005 at 09:12 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Gotta agree with the DIY crowd.
These cars are complete money pits...unless you can fix it yourself. It never ends.
But for those of us who like tinkering with cars, that's part of the FUN. It's impossible to work on modern vehicles, so being able to fix'em is one of the pleasures of classic car ownership.
These cars are complete money pits...unless you can fix it yourself. It never ends.
But for those of us who like tinkering with cars, that's part of the FUN. It's impossible to work on modern vehicles, so being able to fix'em is one of the pleasures of classic car ownership.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX.
I can repair 99.5 % of the things that go wrong and need repaired. The other .5% that I can't repair, I have one of my fellow vette buddies repair it or help me with it and they usally do it just for the fun of it or to help out a fellow vette owner, but I do offer to pay.
If I could not do most of the repair myself, I would not own a 30 year old car, and since I don't know how to repair newer car models I don't own one of them either.
If I could not do most of the repair myself, I would not own a 30 year old car, and since I don't know how to repair newer car models I don't own one of them either.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX.
Originally Posted by page62
Gotta agree with the DIY crowd.
These cars are complete money pits...unless you can fix it yourself. It never ends.
But for those of us who like tinkering with cars, that's part of the FUN. It's impossible to work on modern vehicles, so being able to fix'em is one of the pleasures of classic car ownership.
These cars are complete money pits...unless you can fix it yourself. It never ends.
But for those of us who like tinkering with cars, that's part of the FUN. It's impossible to work on modern vehicles, so being able to fix'em is one of the pleasures of classic car ownership.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 769
Likes: 36
From: Goose Creek SC
i cant even imagine trying to own an old car and keep it on the road and not fixing it yourself. as someone who has owned and restored a few old cars (not a lot but a few). here is the hobby to me: one) appreciatation of the class and style that only an older car posseses. 2) researching and learning about the car and all its parts and how they work and go together. 3) hunting for and dealin' on parts. 4) doing the repairs and upgrades for the satisfaction of seeing the improvement you can make with your own hands. 5) cruisin' that thing around to enjoy the feel of the ride and appreciate the performance. to me those are ALL essential parts of the hobby. take one of those away and to me it just isnt the same thing at all. and that is not meant to be critical of those who just enjoy the styling and ride, its just that for me that wouldnt get it done.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 3
From: 406ci SB, AFR 180 Heads - 490 HP @5,600 RPM 529 lb-ft @ 4,100 RPM
I'm like most here, I enjoy working on my cars. If it breaks 90% of the time I can repair it, sometimes it's the troubleshooting that takes the time. Now when I open the hood on one of my new cars, I'm lucky to find the dip stick to check the oil in there.. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,009
Likes: 11
From: Philadelphia, sub burbs Wynnewood, PA
I always thought that was part of the fun in it. Working on her …… I knew when I bought her that I would in time, turn every nut, bolt, and screw on her! It’s how I learn. Then the feeling of pride, especially when someone says a nice comment. I think that to date I might be close to having turned every nut, bolt, and screw. Of course every once and a while there will be something that I can’t fix and have to send out to be done for me. ie trans, and paint