removing exhaust heat riser valve
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 254
Likes: 3
From: Tampa Bay Florida
Johnny - 2 caveats here. First, depending on how many miles on that exhaust system, use a little heat and a LOT of PB Blaster on those manifold studs. They'll snap on you in a heartbeat if you just try to twist 'em off cold and dry. WD40 or Liquid Wrench won't cut it. (Both good products but not very effective on really rusted bolts/studs). Number two, if you have a stock Q-jet with hot air choke, you'll need to convert to an electric choke. Without the hot exhaust gasses in the crossover, it'll take years before that choke opens all the way.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
From: san diego ca
Johnny - 2 caveats here. First, depending on how many miles on that exhaust system, use a little heat and a LOT of PB Blaster on those manifold studs. They'll snap on you in a heartbeat if you just try to twist 'em off cold and dry. WD40 or Liquid Wrench won't cut it. (Both good products but not very effective on really rusted bolts/studs). Number two, if you have a stock Q-jet with hot air choke, you'll need to convert to an electric choke. Without the hot exhaust gasses in the crossover, it'll take years before that choke opens all the way.
2) aha, well I don't know much about the Q-jet, but I'd guess it's stock with manual choke. I'll research switching to electric choke, but (ignorantly) it doesn't seem like something I'm about to try. It seems like alot of others have gutted their risers, would this mean they may already have e-chokes? Since you're in FL, I guess being southern won't help? I'm in So.Cal. never truly gets "cold" here.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 38
From: Cedar,BC
As long as you already have a choke that is in good operating condition,not really an issue.The heat riser valve is the first thing that gets yanked on most of my vehicles,the choke opens up just fine.
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Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
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From: Ontario
Some people do buy cars on margin. I was one in 1986 when I bought my badly flawed 1979. It had been stolen and hot-wired with the usual consequences. My first Corvette after years of waiting. That was all I could afford at that time. Budgets were tight and repairs were slow to come. But they did eventually. I can't fault the OP. In fact I wish him well!
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
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From: BC
A C3 is probably one of the least expensive and most forgiving cars anyone could work on. Parts are dirt cheap and labour is free except for the cold beer. Try a C6 Z06 where headers cost you over 2 grand before you install them yourself and a 2 dollar part on a C3 is now over 200 because of the "corvette tax".
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
A C3 is probably one of the least expensive and most forgiving cars anyone could work on. Parts are dirt cheap and labour is free except for the cold beer. Try a C6 Z06 where headers cost you over 2 grand before you install them yourself and a 2 dollar part on a C3 is now over 200 because of the "corvette tax".
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Evening Paul. A starter like that for A C6 Z06 would be over the 500 dollar mark. Below is a set of headers I have that would make any C3 guy cringe for his two grand back..
I love working on this old thing. It costs next to nothing. It's fun. And I get to keep a 44 year old car alive. I was down at the parts store and asked for a set of valve seals. I think it was 6 bucks....
Try that one on a C6. My first Corvette was a 69 427 and I paid $3200 for it in 1970.
The one I have now cost me a bit more than that, gets only get's 9 miles per gallon, but is worth every penny. My wife said "oh man, only nine miles per gallon. I love this car". She actually meant it. She was as close to drooling as I have ever seen. She actually drove it to the gas station then home then back because she didn't think it could be that bad. It was and you should have seen the smile on her face.
I love working on this old thing. It costs next to nothing. It's fun. And I get to keep a 44 year old car alive. I was down at the parts store and asked for a set of valve seals. I think it was 6 bucks....
Try that one on a C6. My first Corvette was a 69 427 and I paid $3200 for it in 1970.
The one I have now cost me a bit more than that, gets only get's 9 miles per gallon, but is worth every penny. My wife said "oh man, only nine miles per gallon. I love this car". She actually meant it. She was as close to drooling as I have ever seen. She actually drove it to the gas station then home then back because she didn't think it could be that bad. It was and you should have seen the smile on her face.
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Jan 27, 2014 at 12:33 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
From: san diego ca
Yeah I have a vette, but the family still has to eat.
Labor is free, parts are cheap.
But I'm already spending enough replacing enough parts that aren't broke, but "now that the engine is out..." Add up parts, hoses, belts, gaskets, water pump, etc.
Besides...$30-50 can buy alot of cheap beer! (or alot of ingredients for some quality homebrew).
Ima just sayin'
Labor is free, parts are cheap.
But I'm already spending enough replacing enough parts that aren't broke, but "now that the engine is out..." Add up parts, hoses, belts, gaskets, water pump, etc.
Besides...$30-50 can buy alot of cheap beer! (or alot of ingredients for some quality homebrew).
Ima just sayin'
