First let me say that this forum is great and Ive already had a few questions answered from lurking. I am the proud owner of a 76 Stingray L-48. A few questions:

1. The tele lock ring was loose on the car so I popped the horn button and tightened the large screw and two small ones - works great now! Problem is the horn no longer works. Is there a seperate fuse? Relay? What should I look at? Where to start?

2. After driving the car 15 - 20 minutes when I come to a stop and slowly take off there is a clunking in what sounds like the left rear wheel. The car feels like its digging in so to speak and after 10 feet or so the sound is gone. U joints? Bushings?

Any help would be great.

Thanks alot

 

Could be your posi clutches. Change your gear lube and add a bottle of GM Posi additive

 

Welcome to the insanity!

Jack up the car and grab the wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock and try and wiggle it. Repeat at 3 and 9 o'clock. If you get any significant "rock"/movement, you need to investigate further as you have either a bearing or trailing arm issue.

Good Luck w/the new money pit!

 

Can't help on the questions,
Welcome to the forum

 

#2 could be brake hanging up. Check caliper for leaks and rubber flex hose to see if it has collapsed.

 

Sorry I'm new to C3s myself and can't answer your questions, however,I can say welcome to the forum!

 

Welcome!

Not sure what you tightened down, but you must have increased the seperation between the horn contacts. The big inner screw definitely adjusts the t/t. I would take a look see at those other two you tightened.

There are some great documents at www.corvettefaq.com to help troubleshoot your horn problem that Jim Shea published.

 

Okay I jacked the car and the left side does not move at 9 and 3 positions but OMG the 12 and 6 positions it moves about three inches. I can feel it bottom out at the top. The right side has no movement in either direction. Whatcha think? Safe to drive to repair shop about 20 miles away?

Thanks for the help.

 

Definitely NOT safe. Flatbed it.

 

Major problem w/ the camber rod and bearing is most likely shot. That is a very dangerous problem.

 

Thanks for the help so far.

I jacked up the car and took the left rear wheel off. I looks as though the "travel" is the driveshaft going into the diff. With the left wheel on there is a sheild at the end of the driveshaft that is about an inch away from the diff. The right side has this sheild of sorts touching it when the car is on the ground. Now whatcha think ? Everything else looks alright to the untrained eye but hey what do I know, I know wood. Please help ............

 

I have the same problem with my 78 on the same side I found out about it this wekend, wen I had the car at the lift and I was looking at the diff and I saw that the it was sticking out about an inch

 

So that would be end play in the side yoke into the differential rather than the camber rod.

How did it drive w/ that much play in the wheel?

 

What you have here is a real conundrum… this is a problem that could be any of a half dozen or more problems. Some rather minor and some very serious. The cost to repair could also be minor or very expensive. If it's the later, I can guarantee it will cost a lot more to guess what the problem is.

Here-in lies the conundrum… do I keep chasing this around on the Forum and hope I hear an answer I like which won't cost me a lot of money, or do I take it to a professional, hopefully one with lots of experience on these '63-'82 independent rear suspensions. They're not real complicated, or even difficult to work on, but they can get real expensive and make you hate your car if you try to play the guessing game.

Actually until you gain some knowledge and experience (hey you've already started doing that) with some of the nuances of your Corvette, your biggest challenge will be finding a knowledgeable and experienced mechanic/shop to advise you on the best course of action. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of knowledge and experience here on the forum, but what you need right now is someone up close and personal to look it over and guide you.

I'm sure one of the Forum members from eastern Massachusetts can recommend a reliable shop close to you; I know that's what I'd be looking for.

The good news is that in no time at all you'll have lots of knowledge and experience on just how expensive these things can be… it's an illness… welcome to the Forum

GUSTO

 

Thanks GUSTO.

Ive already done what you have suggested. A friend with a 79 has a great shop in North Andover and I spoke with Jim the owner today. He will be looking at the car tomorrow afternoon.

I do not expect to resolve the problem here. I only wanted to be able to speak with the mechanic in a way that wasnt "It makes a clunk" or "A funny noise comes out the back".

Thank you everyone for your help.

 

Please post the findings,ok

 

Thanks for the help so far I'll let everyone know what he says.

 

welcome

 

Not good.

Im not going to get the vocabulary right on this but here goes...... The pocket where the trailing arm sits in the frame is cracked at a factory weld on the outside of the frame. This is letting the trailing arm move side to side and transfering to the wheel as up and down movement.

Needs 6 new u joints.

Also minor nussance type leaks under the car. The stabilizer links and transmission mount bearing needs to be replaced.

Fun, fun, fun.

 

Any thoughts......................GUSTO?