What should I do first?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Hickory NC
What should I do first?
Bought a 1981 Corvette. Silver with 51,000 original miles. Body in great shape and started right up after sitting for five years. Mechanically speaking what advice to getting her road ready. I really know what to check and fix, but looking for wise advice as I have never brought back an older car back to road ready. Don't want to overlook anything.
Lead me oh wise ones
Lead me oh wise ones
Last edited by Vettes Rule; Jan 24, 2014 at 07:59 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 948
Likes: 1
From: pensacola fl
I would spend time making sure the brakes, steering and suspension is all in good shape. A new (old ) car is never fun wrapped around a telephone or T-boned into the side of another car.
Good luck and enjoy'
Bill
Good luck and enjoy'
Bill
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
First place is the brake system.
Suspension and steering next.
500hp is useless if you can't stop or steer
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 406
Likes: 46
From: Lebanon OH
I bought a low miles 79 that had a lot of garage time, and here were my problem areas:
Brakes (pulled to the left). I rebuilt all the calipers and the problem went away.
Suspension. Bushings were dry-rotted and needed replacing (front and rear).
Vacuum lines in the engine compartment were dry rotted and/or stiff (replaced).
After that was the seals and components in the power steering system and light system.
There are other things beyond this, but making sure these work shoudl get you road ready.
Brakes (pulled to the left). I rebuilt all the calipers and the problem went away.
Suspension. Bushings were dry-rotted and needed replacing (front and rear).
Vacuum lines in the engine compartment were dry rotted and/or stiff (replaced).
After that was the seals and components in the power steering system and light system.
There are other things beyond this, but making sure these work shoudl get you road ready.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Hickory NC
I bought a low miles 79 that had a lot of garage time, and here were my problem areas:
Brakes (pulled to the left). I rebuilt all the calipers and the problem went away.
Suspension. Bushings were dry-rotted and needed replacing (front and rear).
Vacuum lines in the engine compartment were dry rotted and/or stiff (replaced).
After that was the seals and components in the power steering system and light system.
There are other things beyond this, but making sure these work shoudl get you road ready.
Brakes (pulled to the left). I rebuilt all the calipers and the problem went away.
Suspension. Bushings were dry-rotted and needed replacing (front and rear).
Vacuum lines in the engine compartment were dry rotted and/or stiff (replaced).
After that was the seals and components in the power steering system and light system.
There are other things beyond this, but making sure these work shoudl get you road ready.
Thanks, I LOVE THE ADVICE
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Hickory NC
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 7
From: Surrey British Columbia
Tires too. You say the car has sat idle for 5 years. Even if the thread looks okay, I've heard guys on this forum express concerns with tires are over 10 years old. Difficult to tell how old the tires are unless the previous owner already knows.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 774
Likes: 1
From: Round Rock Texas
Pics?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,890
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From: Newcastle Oklahoma
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: coon rapids mn
check all fluid levels ,top off the rear and tranny .remove all the fluid from the master cylinder ,and fill with new brake fluid .then bleed the brakes .change the coolant ,hopefully it is not too old .old coolant is hard on every thing .
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Hickory NC
