Garage Queen question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
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From: Austin TX
Garage Queen question
I have found a Garage Queen 82 with less than 10k miles showing on the odometer. Ny Garage Queen I mean that it appears that that it has spent its life in a protected environment- the paint and interior look as though they haven’t seen the sun.
if I take a chance on this sweet lookin ride, what should be replaced due to age?
A few things that come to mind are:
oil, trans, diff, brake fluids
gas line
radiator hoses
fan belts
brake lines
calipers?
shocks
tires
radiator?
gas tank?
battery
what else?
thanks for any tips….
if I take a chance on this sweet lookin ride, what should be replaced due to age?
A few things that come to mind are:
oil, trans, diff, brake fluids
gas line
radiator hoses
fan belts
brake lines
calipers?
shocks
tires
radiator?
gas tank?
battery
what else?
thanks for any tips….
Popular Reply
Jan 21, 2023, 06:56 PM
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Flush fluids and drive it and fix what breaks when it breaks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 2,468
From: Indiana
I would do all the fluids incuding coolant, flush brakes…inspect suspension bushings..
make sure tires are at least 10 years or younger
fix what leaks and drive it!
any pics? Original tires?
make sure tires are at least 10 years or younger
fix what leaks and drive it!
any pics? Original tires?
Race Director
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Everything you mentioned, but I'm thinking that the tank may be O.K. perhaps pull it. Replace the rubber lines on the top, clean it and reinstall.
pay particular attention to the brakes. New flex lines to be certain. Rebuild callipers. Maybe Rebuild the master.
pay particular attention to the brakes. New flex lines to be certain. Rebuild callipers. Maybe Rebuild the master.
CF Community Team
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I just went through this with my 82 Collector Edition with 8,800 original miles. My car looks like it's showroom new, but sitting isn't good for cars. Mine was in a Museum setting but this is what I've had to do:
Heater core, Radiator, Blower fan, Complete brake job/calipers, change all fluids, valve cover gaskets, fuel pump and strainer, tires (original were on car), battery, repair power antenna.
Now I have an 82 CE that drives like a new car should, but it was alot of work.
Heater core, Radiator, Blower fan, Complete brake job/calipers, change all fluids, valve cover gaskets, fuel pump and strainer, tires (original were on car), battery, repair power antenna.
Now I have an 82 CE that drives like a new car should, but it was alot of work.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,460
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From: Madison Alabama
My two cents on a Sunday morning; ask yourself what you're going to do with the car? Drive it, or look at it? My recommendation is to check everything out and do the general maintenance... then enjoy it your way. Don't borrow trouble.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
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check the tire dates...check everything related to a tune up and replace the oil, fill the tank with fresh gas and start it. If the belts squeal or look frayed after a good warm up replace them. Then drive it down the street slowly and press on the brakes harder and harder then to a hard brake check....if the brakes work drive it. THere is zero need to replace everything else unless it looks dry rotted. When was it last driven? Theres tv shows where stuff is hauled out of junk yards and the woods behind houses and driven down the road...this shouldnt be this difficult. Just be sure its safe.Only fix it as its needed on everything else
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Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
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your car was taken better care of than this one.....
Pro
Joined: Nov 2019
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From: Dover, Delaware
Most interesting post..
Can someone here tell me where to look for my tire's dates?
I have currently installed Firestone Firehawk Indy's from 4/18/09 and it's driven very little and can be called a Garage Queen which it really is...I probably don't drive more than 500 miles a year on it..
JJ78
Can someone here tell me where to look for my tire's dates?
I have currently installed Firestone Firehawk Indy's from 4/18/09 and it's driven very little and can be called a Garage Queen which it really is...I probably don't drive more than 500 miles a year on it..
JJ78
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Napa Valley California
Anything after five years and the tires need to be replaced.
Even if the tread and sidewalls look like new and have been protected from the elements.
I would remove any old gas, replace it with enough to get it running and check everything out.
You can probably see evidence of the brake calipers leaking by looking at the inside of the tires.
Generally the calipers will drip brake fluid onto the inner sidewalls.
Check the fluid in the master cylinder.
Top it off and pump the brakes, if you have good pedal pressure, do a roll test on flat ground to make sure the brakes will clamp and stop the car.
I would take this winter and do everything on your list except replace the fuel tank unless it’s got a bunch of gunk and debris floating around in it.
I would drop it and replace the rubber lines on top.
Don’t forget to service the transmission and rear differential.
Did I miss the pictures?
If there’s no pictures then there’s no proof of existence!
Even if the tread and sidewalls look like new and have been protected from the elements.
I would remove any old gas, replace it with enough to get it running and check everything out.
You can probably see evidence of the brake calipers leaking by looking at the inside of the tires.
Generally the calipers will drip brake fluid onto the inner sidewalls.
Check the fluid in the master cylinder.
Top it off and pump the brakes, if you have good pedal pressure, do a roll test on flat ground to make sure the brakes will clamp and stop the car.
I would take this winter and do everything on your list except replace the fuel tank unless it’s got a bunch of gunk and debris floating around in it.
I would drop it and replace the rubber lines on top.
Don’t forget to service the transmission and rear differential.
Did I miss the pictures?
If there’s no pictures then there’s no proof of existence!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Huntsville AL
I'm guessing new tires so put that on the top of your list followed up with all liquids (oil, lube, coolant) changed out. As for the rest don't get sucked down the rabbit hole thinking you need to replace a bunch of parts just because they are old. Your best plan of action here is to do a visual / operational inspection and replace as required. Pay particular attention to rubber items that have liquid flowing through them.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Virginia
The first thing you need to replace is all of this speculative text with some pictures of the actual car. 
If you are going to drive it, assume that everything rubber will need to be replaced, either immediately or soon.
If you are going to drive it, assume that everything rubber will need to be replaced, either immediately or soon.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 805
Likes: 260
I have found a Garage Queen 82 with less than 10k miles showing on the odometer. Ny Garage Queen I mean that it appears that that it has spent its life in a protected environment- the paint and interior look as though they haven’t seen the sun.
if I take a chance on this sweet lookin ride, what should be replaced due to age?
A few things that come to mind are:
oil, trans, diff, brake fluids
gas line
radiator hoses
fan belts
brake lines
calipers?
shocks
tires
radiator?
gas tank?
battery
what else?
thanks for any tips….
if I take a chance on this sweet lookin ride, what should be replaced due to age?
A few things that come to mind are:
oil, trans, diff, brake fluids
gas line
radiator hoses
fan belts
brake lines
calipers?
shocks
tires
radiator?
gas tank?
battery
what else?
thanks for any tips….
is what I did …
Flush radiator
changed thermostat
changed all belts
changed hoses
changed oil and filter
I didn’t changed trans or dif oil check level . With such low miles it doesn’t need it
new tires
my advice if it is a safety issue fix it , but if the car is running well leave it alone and repair parts only as need be ..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 492
Even with 10K miles on the car, do check the frame and birdcage. If it was driven at all in the Midwest/East Coast during the winter you can still have issues. It may be a garage queen now, but did it start that way? Folks back then (including my dad) drove his Corvettes all year around the first couple of years of their lives. Any rust damage would have been done those first few critical years, even if has been a garage queen for the past 30 years.
Even the owners who took good care and washed the Vettes after exposure to the elements (especially salt) often missed sufficiently washing off critical parts of the chassis (toward the rear and around the control arms). The body is easy to wash - frame/chassis not so much...
Even the owners who took good care and washed the Vettes after exposure to the elements (especially salt) often missed sufficiently washing off critical parts of the chassis (toward the rear and around the control arms). The body is easy to wash - frame/chassis not so much...
Last edited by Corvette-ZL1; Jan 24, 2023 at 12:08 PM.