why pick a Corvette?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 51
From: Cartersville GA
Alot of you have missed the point.
The point is a Corvette isn't a car to buy and learn on
The point is a Corvette isn't a car to buy and learn on
I don't think we're missing your point. Mechanically, the basic concepts are the same whether it's a Ford, Chevy, Ferrari or whatever. Sure, Vette's have fiberglass, but so do boats. Think of it this way, if they get in over their heads, someone can buy it from them for a song and fix what was done to it. They're all repairable, it just depends on the size of your pocket book. Besides, if we "knew it all" and didn't need to ask questions, what the hec would you need a "technical forum" for? I bet Jay Leno has asked a couple of "stupid questions" on cars before. Look at what he has done, his enthusiam for cars in general and his desire to share what he knows about them. Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime....
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
I'm sure I'm on his hate list, as I've asked a "stupid question" from time to time, as well. But what defines my question as dumb, over any other question at all? If I'm a master mechanic, and someone asks me how to rebuild a carb, that for me could be a stupid question. Likewise, if YOU are a mechanic, and I ask YOU how to fix a wiring problem, I guess that is yet another stupid question. Hell, one of my FIRST questions was which manual should I buy, since there are so many out there. I bought a haynes, and it sucked. Now I have a chilton, and am going to order A GM shop book. I didn't even KNOW what AIM stood for. Thought it meant AOL Instant Messenger. Guess I'm just full of stupid questions, huh?
Well, here's hoping YOU never start something that you don't understand. Swing on by some photography groups, and I'll be able to answer all of YOUR stupid questions. And I'll do it without b****ing about it, too.
Well, here's hoping YOU never start something that you don't understand. Swing on by some photography groups, and I'll be able to answer all of YOUR stupid questions. And I'll do it without b****ing about it, too.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 2
From: Tucson, AZ
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Bowie MD
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 830
Likes: 1
I haven't had a "hot-rod" car since I was in high school 20 years ago.
And even then, my family were all Ford nuts (Comet,351 ci Cleveland Torino with 10:25 compression from the factory
, 3 mustangs, and a cool old 67 Galaxie).This is my first Small Block Chevy
I am having a blast with this little engine. It's been great to get back into spinning wrenches & getting dirty, staying up late underneath the car until 1am on a work-night...You get the idea.Some of you guys have been pouring over these Chevy engines for years and years...
If I ever have a question about the Vette, I'll look it up in the shop manual, AIM, & Haynes book. If I need "real-time" pointers I'll then come to the site and post a question.
Such as...The Power window assy & window bracket. If it weren't for this site, I'd been screwed & spend $500 at a body shop who would have just as much of a clue as I did how to repair the window regulator...NONE!
I say a huge thank you to you bow-tie guys for holding this enthusiast-based site together. Especially GTR1999, Jim Shea, Norval, Lars, spedalen and all you other "pro's."
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
From: Keizer OR
I'm not reading all that, and this has probably been addressed, but I find the original premise of the thread to be in poor taste and somewhat elitist. People buy Corvettes because they want one and can afford one. So what if they can't find the gas cap and need it pointed out to them?
I don't wrench on my Vette any more (if I can help it). Not that I ever did anything serious, but even the little things like changing a water pump are a hassle. I now avoid wrenching on all of my vehicles as much as possible, I no longer enjoy it and frequently become irritated as it never goes 100% smooth. So I guess I should sell it and buy a Honda?
I don't wrench on my Vette any more (if I can help it). Not that I ever did anything serious, but even the little things like changing a water pump are a hassle. I now avoid wrenching on all of my vehicles as much as possible, I no longer enjoy it and frequently become irritated as it never goes 100% smooth. So I guess I should sell it and buy a Honda?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Visalia CA
i hate to break to you guys, but these cars are not complicated. The suspension and rear end are a little different then anything else i've worked on but aside from that they are no more complicated then anything else pre-1980 with a carb. The most complicated thing on them is emissions stuff and once you figure out how that works it's simple too. Everyone destroys a car or two as they learn over the years, unless it catches on fire, it's usually fixable down the line.
If you want to see something complicated, pop the hood on my wifes 96 volvo 850. It makes my corvette look like paint by numbers for a three year old.
As far as who gets to own a corvette. This is america, if I'm willing to work for it, I deserve it, If i want to destroy it, thats ok too because I paid for it. (not that i would, that would be sad)
If you want to see something complicated, pop the hood on my wifes 96 volvo 850. It makes my corvette look like paint by numbers for a three year old.
As far as who gets to own a corvette. This is america, if I'm willing to work for it, I deserve it, If i want to destroy it, thats ok too because I paid for it. (not that i would, that would be sad)
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
i hate to break to you guys, but these cars are not complicated. The suspension and rear end are a little different then anything else i've worked on but aside from that they are no more complicated then anything else pre-1980 with a carb. The most complicated thing on them is emissions stuff and once you figure out how that works it's simple too. Everyone destroys a car or two as they learn over the years, unless it catches on fire, it's usually fixable down the line.
If you want to see something complicated, pop the hood on my wifes 96 volvo 850. It makes my corvette look like paint by numbers for a three year old.
As far as who gets to own a corvette. This is america, if I'm willing to work for it, I deserve it, If i want to destroy it, thats ok too because I paid for it. (not that i would, that would be sad)
If you want to see something complicated, pop the hood on my wifes 96 volvo 850. It makes my corvette look like paint by numbers for a three year old.
As far as who gets to own a corvette. This is america, if I'm willing to work for it, I deserve it, If i want to destroy it, thats ok too because I paid for it. (not that i would, that would be sad)
Now see, I'm the exact opposite. You pop the hood on a new fuel injected, forced inducted volvo, and more than likely, I'll have a pretty good idea of what to do, lol. Until I got my 76, I had never seen a carb before.
But I agree. Now that I have a few clues (thanks guys), it does all seem pretty simple. However, I ask my stupid questions till because, well.......having it told to you buy a book, and by an actual person are two very different things. For instance. The first manual I got for the vette (and threw away) didn't even tell me where to find the fuse box. Under electrical, it simply said, check the fuses. Now, up to this point, fuse boxes on all of my cars had either been in the engine bay, or somewhere right on the side of the dash. I won't even tell you folks how long it took me to actually find the darn thing. One "stupid" question would have saved me from that misery. But that was before I found this group.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
No, I freaking LOVE carburators now! No computer chips to get flashed, no piggy back system needed, just a little dial that says rich or lean. How much better can that possibly be?
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
Well, if you can make good as good of money pressing wild flowers as I do with my camera, no shame in it at all. Heck, if I could, I'd be a stripper as they tend to make about 600 a night around here. But alas, no male strip clubs....at least, that I have seen.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
Heck I worked 12 hours in a factory yesterday and also made $325 off ebay, so if I made anything off wild flowers it was a bonus!!!!
