I have recently purchased a 1981 Vette and have a couple of questions you may be able to help me with,

First off I've notice the rear end sort of floats (sways or just loose) from side to side when driving above forty, it's a little hairy, any suggestions? Shocks, rear spring, bushing are all original. I'm hoping to do all work myself, any suggestions on what to start with? How to get the most effect to start with?

Secondly, choke light and battery come on and go off intermittly, any suggests where to start looking for problem?

Thanks in advance for your support and help.

Regards

 

Sounds like the trailing arm and strut rod bushings are shot. Rear-end rebuilds are fun...

 

Original shocks? Toss em. Get it up in the air and check everything for looseness or wear. How many miles are on the car? The battery light indicates an alternater problem, sounds like its intermitent.

Good luck, Paul

 

Thanks for the quick response and ideas, I'm going to dedicate this weekend to working on my car.

Original miles are 67,000.

 

Mine did the same thing. Trashed rear suspension bushings were allowing the rear end parts to just sorta wander whichever way they felt like moving.

 

I took a quick look last night after work and notice in general the bushings seem to be dried out, cracked or coming apart. Also, I plan on taking the rear leaf spring out, clean and paint it before reinstalling, do you know where I can find the material used between the leaf springs?

 

We have a great "how to" video
http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...formsearch.cfm

 

You can throw a lot of money at a rear end rebuilt that you may not need. First, I would start with only replacing the rear shocks with Bilstein Sport shocks to see if that solves the problem. The ORIGINAL steel rear spring is probably shot and I would replace that with a fiberglass spring 360 pounds. See if that solves your problem before you start pulling off trailing arms, etc which will lead to a lot of other things that you should do "while you're pulling things apart" which will lead to a lot of additional $$$$$ being spent.

 

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Date/Time 24-Oct-07 10:25 AM

Stack Trace (click to expand)

 

The car is 26 years old. The bushings are probably dried out and generally shot, even if it had relatively low mileage.

 

1981 vette: your rubber bushings are probably shot and need replacement. I would use KYB GR2 shocks if you need them, and dont want to loose the fillings in your teeth everytime you hit a manhole cover. Your 81 was the first year with a composite rear spring- its prbably ok, except maybe the bushings. Your electical sounds like a failing alternator, and also check your choke - I had to replace the choke coil cover which partially melted.

 

Thanks all, will have it up on jack stands this afternoon and will begin by changing shocks, local auto parts store has KYB's for about $200 for the set. I will probably order a set of bushings.

Thanks again.

 

I have a full set of KYB GR2 shocks with 500 miles on them that I will sell to you cheap. I replaced them with Bilsteins very soon after I installed them as I didn't like them at all. I recommend Bilstein Sport shocks if you can afford them. I you want to go cheaper, get the DELCO gas shocks for about $30 each ---- better than KYB in my opinion. If you still want to go with the KYB's I'll sell you all 4 shocks for $100 --- and they've hardly been used.