Pre-Drive routine
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 2
From: Circleville Ohio
Vader Vette
Automatic or four speed??
I have an auto so I let it warm up so that when I kick it down it turns like 550 RPM and then your good to go. Lets hook up and go for a cruse.
St Marys in the morning.(9 to 3) Sat.5/7/2011
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
... I store my Corvettes each winter... and I run each of them thru my own check list every spring...
make sure battery is fully charged, change oil and filter, check ALL the other fluid levels (power steering brake fluids etc check tires (pressures and look for any signs of dry rot )... and check that my headlights turn signals etc are actually working...
then dust the cars off give them a quick coat of polish and ff I go...
Only takes an hour ...and I do NOT consider it work...
On all 3 of my C3's it is normal for me to have to bleed the brakes each spring and 2 of the three usually need power steering fluid ????
My C2 ..C4 and C5 get the same going over BUT the brakes etc are always fine...
Bob G.
make sure battery is fully charged, change oil and filter, check ALL the other fluid levels (power steering brake fluids etc check tires (pressures and look for any signs of dry rot )... and check that my headlights turn signals etc are actually working...
then dust the cars off give them a quick coat of polish and ff I go...
Only takes an hour ...and I do NOT consider it work...
On all 3 of my C3's it is normal for me to have to bleed the brakes each spring and 2 of the three usually need power steering fluid ????
My C2 ..C4 and C5 get the same going over BUT the brakes etc are always fine...
Bob G.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
If your car is in good shape, and you live alone, this works just fine. I try to remember to open the garage door before leaving for a drive, but I think that's the kind of mistake you only make once. But since there are 3 other people living at my house, and they tend to not think about the use of my car as much as I would when they put stuff places, I have added another habit to this routine. I press the door opener switch on the wall when I enter the garage, then walk along the passenger side, around the back of the car and back up the driver's side before getting in. This habit has saved me from backing over a wide variety of stuff that people have left behind or beside my car when I wasn't around.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Eugene OR
1. Go to the safe deposit box and get out my lucky socks and pink/green wrestling mask.
2. Come home, light sweetgrass smudge and draw circle around corvette while chanting for good ju-ju.
3. Don lucky socks, wrestling mask and gold banana hammock.
3.5 Curl chest hair
4. Open garage door.
4.a Open garage window
5. Put key in ignition, close eyes, *pray*, Open one eye to look at oil pressure gauge, put foot on clutch, pump gas 3 times, turn engine over for 7 seconds.
6. Take in deep breath. Hold it. Pump accelerator three more times, start car.
7. Open other eye, watch oil pressure come up while waiting for blue oil haze from bad valve guide seals to clear.
8. Put on cape, making sure it can flow out through the back window.
9. Drive off to cruise night!
2. Come home, light sweetgrass smudge and draw circle around corvette while chanting for good ju-ju.
3. Don lucky socks, wrestling mask and gold banana hammock.
3.5 Curl chest hair
4. Open garage door.
4.a Open garage window
5. Put key in ignition, close eyes, *pray*, Open one eye to look at oil pressure gauge, put foot on clutch, pump gas 3 times, turn engine over for 7 seconds.
6. Take in deep breath. Hold it. Pump accelerator three more times, start car.
7. Open other eye, watch oil pressure come up while waiting for blue oil haze from bad valve guide seals to clear.
8. Put on cape, making sure it can flow out through the back window.
9. Drive off to cruise night!
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CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,339
Likes: 5,232
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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I run a radar loop online to see if there is any rain in the area 
. I check the oil, the belts, and the tires and go. Drive it easy until it reaches full operating temp and then you are ready to romp 
. I check the oil, the belts, and the tires and go. Drive it easy until it reaches full operating temp and then you are ready to romp
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
This may sound smart assy but I don't intend it to sound that way. But there is nothing special about these cars drive train wise. They are a small or big block Chevy with transmissions weather standard or automatic that have been around for a looong time, nothing special cause it is in a Corvette body/frame. Reliability is no better or worse than any carberated Chevrolet. They are as good or bad as anyone takes care of any car. But we do love these Corvettes and they do feel special to us!! Just use common sense and all is like any other car.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,108
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi A L 71,
The one difference from a new car I notice is that the gas needs to be pumped twice if the car's not been run for a week.
It always starts, but for some reason I'm still thankful each time!
Regards,
Alan
The one difference from a new car I notice is that the gas needs to be pumped twice if the car's not been run for a week.
It always starts, but for some reason I'm still thankful each time!
Regards,
Alan
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 80
From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
1. Go to the safe deposit box and get out my lucky socks and pink/green wrestling mask.
2. Come home, light sweetgrass smudge and draw circle around corvette while chanting for good ju-ju.
3. Don lucky socks, wrestling mask and gold banana hammock.
3.5 Curl chest hair
4. Open garage door.
4.a Open garage window
5. Put key in ignition, close eyes, *pray*, Open one eye to look at oil pressure gauge, put foot on clutch, pump gas 3 times, turn engine over for 7 seconds.
6. Take in deep breath. Hold it. Pump accelerator three more times, start car.
7. Open other eye, watch oil pressure come up while waiting for blue oil haze from bad valve guide seals to clear.
8. Put on cape, making sure it can flow out through the back window.
9. Drive off to cruise night!
2. Come home, light sweetgrass smudge and draw circle around corvette while chanting for good ju-ju.
3. Don lucky socks, wrestling mask and gold banana hammock.
3.5 Curl chest hair
4. Open garage door.
4.a Open garage window
5. Put key in ignition, close eyes, *pray*, Open one eye to look at oil pressure gauge, put foot on clutch, pump gas 3 times, turn engine over for 7 seconds.
6. Take in deep breath. Hold it. Pump accelerator three more times, start car.
7. Open other eye, watch oil pressure come up while waiting for blue oil haze from bad valve guide seals to clear.
8. Put on cape, making sure it can flow out through the back window.
9. Drive off to cruise night!
You stole my identity.
Terry
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
On a 71 you should turn the key to on, pump the gas a few times then turn the key to start. This of course primes the carb but for a stock 71 it also sets the CEC solenoid.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
If the carb and choke are in good working order and adjusted properly, you only have to pump the throttle (to the floor) one time to start the car. If the weather is a bit cold, you may want to let the engine run on "fast idle" for 10 seconds (or so) before you tap the throttle to lower the idle speed. Then just drive it.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 260
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles CA
1. Go to the safe deposit box and get out my lucky socks and pink/green wrestling mask.
2. Come home, light sweetgrass smudge and draw circle around corvette while chanting for good ju-ju.
3. Don lucky socks, wrestling mask and gold banana hammock.
3.5 Curl chest hair
4. Open garage door.
4.a Open garage window
5. Put key in ignition, close eyes, *pray*, Open one eye to look at oil pressure gauge, put foot on clutch, pump gas 3 times, turn engine over for 7 seconds.
6. Take in deep breath. Hold it. Pump accelerator three more times, start car.
7. Open other eye, watch oil pressure come up while waiting for blue oil haze from bad valve guide seals to clear.
8. Put on cape, making sure it can flow out through the back window.
9. Drive off to cruise night!
2. Come home, light sweetgrass smudge and draw circle around corvette while chanting for good ju-ju.
3. Don lucky socks, wrestling mask and gold banana hammock.
3.5 Curl chest hair
4. Open garage door.
4.a Open garage window
5. Put key in ignition, close eyes, *pray*, Open one eye to look at oil pressure gauge, put foot on clutch, pump gas 3 times, turn engine over for 7 seconds.
6. Take in deep breath. Hold it. Pump accelerator three more times, start car.
7. Open other eye, watch oil pressure come up while waiting for blue oil haze from bad valve guide seals to clear.
8. Put on cape, making sure it can flow out through the back window.
9. Drive off to cruise night!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
I spin the green wheel to connect the battery.
Put on my driving shoes... regular running shoes are too wide.
If I have been doing any work on the car check underneath to make sure I didn't leave anything lying around.
I used to pop the hood and watch it run before closing the hood and driving off, but I don't do that much any more. It if's leakin, then its leakin...
Put on my driving shoes... regular running shoes are too wide.
If I have been doing any work on the car check underneath to make sure I didn't leave anything lying around.
I used to pop the hood and watch it run before closing the hood and driving off, but I don't do that much any more. It if's leakin, then its leakin...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
With respect to others, and after the spring inspection (now done), I just turn the key and drive. These 350 V8s were installed in millions of family cars years ago and were daily drivers. Unless you have souped up a car they are just ordinary engines. Nothing special.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
From: Bishop CA
Since my engine is a fairly new build with only 3000 miles on it, I usually take a quick peak under the car for puddles!! No puddles, pump it, start it, warm it for 60 seconds and light that sucker up. Oh and meanwhile I have this big S#%t eating grin on my face. When I come home with the same look on my face my wife always says" out with the redhead again huh"? Yup the car is red. Drive em like its the last time.