Busted Knuckle Rant
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Busted Knuckle Rant
Here's the deal, I've wrenched on all things mechanical, old and new, but whoever laid out my 77 wan't thining about serviceability. Stripping for paint and a fresh motor over the winter. Here's the list of stupidly-difficult parts to remove.
1. Bumper covers. What's up with the million studs with inaccessible nuts? I just sawzall'd the covers off.
2. Why the hell are the bumpers so beefy? What are they, 25mph? There's about a million pieces bolted together there also.
3. That dumb vacuum tank. I hired a crane operator to lift it out of my garage. Now I have to pay a flatbed to bring it to the scrapyard.
4. The charcoal canister. Holy cow is that thing buried. To remove it, I first had to remove the...
5. ...Cruise control and actuator. They're rivited to the inner fenders. Out came the grinder. Luckily ther're getting trashed.
6. Even the washer bottle wasn't that easy.
Am I complaining too much? Some of this stuff is just awful. I can't wait to remove my A/C evaporator and change my leaking heater core. Then there are the sideview mirrors that I've heard nothing but fun things about.
Post the most awful tasks performed on your C3.
1. Bumper covers. What's up with the million studs with inaccessible nuts? I just sawzall'd the covers off.
2. Why the hell are the bumpers so beefy? What are they, 25mph? There's about a million pieces bolted together there also.
3. That dumb vacuum tank. I hired a crane operator to lift it out of my garage. Now I have to pay a flatbed to bring it to the scrapyard.
4. The charcoal canister. Holy cow is that thing buried. To remove it, I first had to remove the...
5. ...Cruise control and actuator. They're rivited to the inner fenders. Out came the grinder. Luckily ther're getting trashed.
6. Even the washer bottle wasn't that easy.
Am I complaining too much? Some of this stuff is just awful. I can't wait to remove my A/C evaporator and change my leaking heater core. Then there are the sideview mirrors that I've heard nothing but fun things about.
Post the most awful tasks performed on your C3.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
You have to remember there is a lot of stuff packed into a fairly small package. It makes getting access for your hands to do any work pretty difficult.
I think the most difficult job I have tackled is removing the center gauge cluster. The two 3/8" nuts on the studs at the bottom of cluster are the worst, IMO, but none of it is easy.
The heater core is right up there, but once you have the center gauge cluster out, the rest is easy - HaHa.
I think the most difficult job I have tackled is removing the center gauge cluster. The two 3/8" nuts on the studs at the bottom of cluster are the worst, IMO, but none of it is easy.
The heater core is right up there, but once you have the center gauge cluster out, the rest is easy - HaHa.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Ever take out your lower left dash pad? I cannot tell you the hours I spent swearing at that car. Finally got it and promptly held a party. 
I hear you when it comes to tough spots too. I am trying to get my front to back brake line out now and the space is odd angle and tight...busted knuckles coming again soon.
David
I hear you when it comes to tough spots too. I am trying to get my front to back brake line out now and the space is odd angle and tight...busted knuckles coming again soon.
David
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 74
From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I love how they positioned the fuse panel. If your lucky and own a talented monkey it's great! 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,078
Likes: 281
From: Dyersburg TN
feel your pain
just finished new TA shims. I'll tear out a dozen dash boards before I touch one of those again. I feel your pain. What did we do to drive outselves crazy before being Corvette owners?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 918
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville FL
Outer door handles
Gotta agree on replacing the vacuum tank. That was definitely not meant to be done with the body on the frame! Needed some BFH persuasion to get everything back into place for the last bolts to fit in.
Gotta agree on replacing the vacuum tank. That was definitely not meant to be done with the body on the frame! Needed some BFH persuasion to get everything back into place for the last bolts to fit in.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 534
You think you got it bad with 77, try taking a C4 apart. Some of the stuff put in those cars is only designed to go in once and not be removed.
I don't like that kind of manufacturing but when it comes down to it, the big wigs are more concerned about cranking them out as fast as people can buy them, drive them, and then trade up for another.
Maybe that's why the old Corvettes are the most popular because it's like they're made for restoring. No such thing as a frame off restoration for a C4 or newer with the way they're put together.
I don't like that kind of manufacturing but when it comes down to it, the big wigs are more concerned about cranking them out as fast as people can buy them, drive them, and then trade up for another.Maybe that's why the old Corvettes are the most popular because it's like they're made for restoring. No such thing as a frame off restoration for a C4 or newer with the way they're put together.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I judge tough disassemblies on the "knuckles per fastener" scale... If I bust fewer knuckles than bolts removed, I feel pretty lucky. Now, that stupid fuel pump only had two bolts holding it in....three knuckles later....
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
You think you got it bad with 77, try taking a C4 apart.
The 73 wasnt too bad but coming from a musclecar it seemed like a pain.once I found out what was invloved in the rear wheel bearings/trailing arms and got a feel for parts gouging I sold the car immediately, not worth it.
The C4 just plain sucks to work on . I have hated every single minute Ive spent working on the Z and the 89 unfortunately and is half the reason I dont want to own these anymore.
Half the fun of ownership is working personalizing and moddiing them, hard to do with these. It comes off one way and in a certian order or you do it all over again; gues they were meant to be left stock
Dont think Id own another C4 .
Last edited by cv67; Nov 17, 2008 at 09:21 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
By the mid-80's, engine compartments were getting pretty full/tight with all the sensors, wiring, tubing, etc. They weren't really made to "work on". That's why a lot of "shadetree" mechanics gave it up. If you didn't have all the computer stuff and the diagnostic info from the factories, you couldn't work on them. That's why I love the 'old' ones. Even though GM designed them for low cost and smooth assembly [rather than for convenient disassembly], you can still work on them and fix about anything in your own garage. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
