Reality Check
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Richardson TX
Reality Check
About a year ago I bought a 76 with 77,000 miles. $13,000 later I have a new Chevy crate engine and everything under the hood replaced by an excellent, trustworthy mechanic.
And now, electrical issues with the same symptom: one second I'm driving, the next I'm calling the tow truck. The last $800 repair involved the death of the board in my tach and a harness connector that was shot. In route to auto zone for wiper blades for my girlfriend's Honda, it died again and is now waiting patiently outside the shop for more diagnostics and another repair.
My question is this: will there come a day when I can go a month without a tow or should I sell an otherwise perfect car?
Thanks,
Adam
And now, electrical issues with the same symptom: one second I'm driving, the next I'm calling the tow truck. The last $800 repair involved the death of the board in my tach and a harness connector that was shot. In route to auto zone for wiper blades for my girlfriend's Honda, it died again and is now waiting patiently outside the shop for more diagnostics and another repair.
My question is this: will there come a day when I can go a month without a tow or should I sell an otherwise perfect car?
Thanks,
Adam
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,246
Likes: 114
From: Watkins Glen NY
Whew, your mechanic sounds expensive. What else came with the 13K and the crate engine?
I ask b/c 800 bucks for wiring diagnosis for a bad tach and a connector sound very steep.
But back on point: Keep it. The gremlins will eventually fade away after you fix everything. Don't forget it's 35 years old.
I ask b/c 800 bucks for wiring diagnosis for a bad tach and a connector sound very steep.
But back on point: Keep it. The gremlins will eventually fade away after you fix everything. Don't forget it's 35 years old.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I have to agree, at the price you're paying for repairs, I think I'd have to try to figure some of that stuff out on my own. I'd definitely be going over the wiring throughout the car closely, looking for harnesses that need replacement.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
the gremlins will never go away. you can count on that..
if you don't learn to work on the car yourself, you will be forking out multiple 4 figure repair bills..
not trying to be mean, but that's the way it is..
if you don't learn to work on the car yourself, you will be forking out multiple 4 figure repair bills..
not trying to be mean, but that's the way it is..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,089
Likes: 43
From: Native Californian CALIFORNIA
Army
Totally agree, if you can not turn a wrench you have bought yourself a headache or money pit.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
From: Belair Md
gremlins
I turned wrenches for 15 years mainly electrical look for aftermarket radio,alarm breathalizer keyless entry or any bogus connections in most cases the system works great until somebody decides to make it better.my 67 has an uncut harness and I have owned it for26 years and no problems.the only other things that cause problems is shaffing or a problem that was never fixed correctly.my vette was bubba fixed so I replaced the entire harness I saved time ,money and aggravation also check for wiring touching exhaust
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 4
From: Celeste Texas
Theres a shirt wandering around somewhere that says if it has **** or tires it will cause you trouble. Eventually your car will have enough new parts and will stop giving you troubles. Fill out your profile, there are a lot of folks in Texas that might be able to show you where to look for your gremlins.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Richardson TX
Bill, I couldn't agree more. I'm fortunate in that my girlfriend is easy going. The car is also beautiful but a b$&@! and a half.
I'll be adding picks to my profile soon.
I've had it towed twice since my original post but at this point everything is under warranty and my truck has a parking spot at the shop.
More to come. I'm in love and no divorce is in my future......with the vette that is.
I'll be adding picks to my profile soon.
I've had it towed twice since my original post but at this point everything is under warranty and my truck has a parking spot at the shop.
More to come. I'm in love and no divorce is in my future......with the vette that is.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 1
From: Elkhorn WI
heck buying any car out of factory warranty, and expect to pay $$$ if your not going to try and do the upkeep yourself.
just research and troubleshoot each issue as they come, before taking to a mechanic. Pretty soon, you'll be doing all the resolutions yourself at a fraction of the price.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Atlantic Beach FL
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
"the gremlins will never go away. you can count on that..
if you don't learn to work on the car yourself, you will be forking out multiple 4 figure repair bills..
not trying to be mean, but that's the way it is."
This is very true. A Corvette was made to drive alittle, repair, drive alittle, repair..etc.
I have learned that lesson the hard way. These cars will always need something. You won't go a summer without something needed to be fixed. God bless the guys that know how to work on them. I just found a nice 77 Bandit Trans Am. Thinking instead of buying another 81 Corvette I might just pick up this baby.
if you don't learn to work on the car yourself, you will be forking out multiple 4 figure repair bills..
not trying to be mean, but that's the way it is."
This is very true. A Corvette was made to drive alittle, repair, drive alittle, repair..etc.
I have learned that lesson the hard way. These cars will always need something. You won't go a summer without something needed to be fixed. God bless the guys that know how to work on them. I just found a nice 77 Bandit Trans Am. Thinking instead of buying another 81 Corvette I might just pick up this baby.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 28
From: Tallmadge Ohio
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
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Electrical gremlins are the hardest to nail down. I've found that 90% of the time it's ground related. Either the ground is bad and something doesn't work or the ground is bad so the device finds its own ground with disastrous results. Good Luck! 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
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Administrator
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
About a year ago I bought a 76 with 77,000 miles. $13,000 later I have a new Chevy crate engine and everything under the hood replaced by an excellent, trustworthy mechanic.
And now, electrical issues with the same symptom: one second I'm driving, the next I'm calling the tow truck. The last $800 repair involved the death of the board in my tach and a harness connector that was shot. In route to auto zone for wiper blades for my girlfriend's Honda, it died again and is now waiting patiently outside the shop for more diagnostics and another repair.
My question is this: will there come a day when I can go a month without a tow or should I sell an otherwise perfect car?
Thanks,
Adam
And now, electrical issues with the same symptom: one second I'm driving, the next I'm calling the tow truck. The last $800 repair involved the death of the board in my tach and a harness connector that was shot. In route to auto zone for wiper blades for my girlfriend's Honda, it died again and is now waiting patiently outside the shop for more diagnostics and another repair.
My question is this: will there come a day when I can go a month without a tow or should I sell an otherwise perfect car?
Thanks,
Adam
