I'm looking to buy a 1982 Collectors Edition Corvette. Car has 32000 miles and is a one-owner car. Car is all original (even the tires) and has spent its entire life in a garage. The last three years it has not been driven much. There is no rust in the birdcage and frame.

What would be the top five things to address immediately assuming all is original equipment? No doubt I would change out the tires but I'm looking for your opinions as to what priorities I ought to have mechanically with the car. Thanks!

 

1) Brakes - No doubt about it. Brakes are always a sore point with C3's that sit. How often was the fluid changed? (You don't know, that's the problem). Give them a thorough look over. Since you don't know what you've got, even if they work, I would personally remove a caliper and gently pry off the dust boots, and remove the pistons and clean/inspect the brake caliper piston bores. Probably a lot of gunk in the bores, but that's just 'gunk' (somewhat normal), there's no guarantee it (they) are damaged, just clean out the gunk. If it was in dry storage or SS lined, they may be fine, and you can just put the pistons back in and tap the same dust boot on (as long as you didn't damage it). They're easy to pry off and put reinstall.

If you find the calipers have been replaced with calipers with stainless-steel inserts, that would be ideal. But you *might* find that the calipers are original and terribly corroded and pitted inside making it unsafe to drive. The car may indeed need all new brake parts, incl new calipers, hoses & M/C. While expensive, it would be best to know that before going down the road (ouch!). OReilly's is a good place to buy rebuilt (quality) calipers if your car needs them. New reproduction hoses from CSSB. So, you definitely want to inspect the brakes in detail to see what it needs to be safe. Once you have the brakes ironed out you'll have great peace of mind every time you drive it..

2) General tune-up. PVC, filters, check vacuum hoses. Replace the lower coolant hose for sure (with one with a spring inside). Maaaybe even an O2 sensor (if you get error reading)
3) Replace fluids. Check the tranny fluid. I mean, with 33k, might not need replacing yet. But I would probably put in new power steering fluid and replace the coolant.
4) Quality of rubber bushings. (Body/suspension, etc). Here again, they may look fantastic and be ok, or maybe something to put on the 'to-do' list.
5) Clear or pump the old gas out and put in some ethonal-free gas for a few tankfuls

Beyond that, just have to look it over and see what comes up. Power Steering hoses, etc. Ask the owner if the rear wheel bearings have been greased? (I'd guess "no"). Apply leather conditioner to the leather seats.....

 

1. Make sure it runs. It's fuel injected...so the ECM running and the Cross fire working is a big plus!
2. Brakes, look for leaks.
3. Make sure the hatch works.
4. Interior parts are quite dear...adjust $$$ accordingly.
5. A paint and decal job on a CE is $ 12,000 plus!
6. Automatic 700 R4 shifts well and locks up in 2,3,4 gears.
7. Run the ALDL codes (if any).

'Without pictures it doesn't exist" LOL

Good luck! it should look like this!

Unkahal

unkahal's

 

I bought a CE like that. Brakes and tires will be your first priority. but the car will tell you pretty quickly what else once you start driving it. Mine too had the original tires and I drove home on them. I got lucky since the tires where no longer round by the time I got home! The seller had the brake calipers rebuilt so at least I had that going for me. Once I got new tires the next thing was the heater core. I enjoy working on the car almost as much as I do driving it so none of that was a big deal for me.

 

REPLACE THE TIRES!!!! Those tires could easily blow and destroy what sounds like a beautiful car!

 

That was in his original post. he he..