I’m a new owner of a ’69 4-speed coupe. I have a variety of questions that I would appreciate any help with that any of you can provide.

First of all, my turn signal does not “blink”. All the lights work, but they do not flash. I replaced the flasher module, to no avail. There is another module that appears to be a relay of some sort that may have something to do with it, but I can’t identify it. I’ve purchased both “flasher” part numbers that are listed in the manual, but neither make the signal flash. Help!

Second, after changing the plugs and wires, my temp gauge quit working. It was working fine before, although it appeared to be kind of “jumpy”. Is there a wire I may have bumped in changing the plugs/wires that may have caused this? Help!

My car runs great, but seems a little “chuggy” in first gear. It was originally a 427 car, but now has a 350 in it. I KNOW, I KNOW, PUT THE 427 BACK IN DUMMY!!! Maybe in time, I’ll get around to it…. But right now I’m just enjoying my new ride. Anyway, I’ve been told that it probably still has the BIG rear end it from the 427, which will result in a slower, balkier start. Any comments? What else, if anything can I do to increase my low gear pick-up?

Finally, my car sits very nice, but it is a bit lower on the driver side rear than the passenger side rear. It seems to be about an inch and a half or so lower. It this the shocks, springs or what?? No, I don’t weigh 400 lbs. Neither did the guy I purchased it from. Is there an easy fix for this?

Any other comments that would be helpful to a first time ‘69 vette owner would be appreciated. I’m sure you all are aware of numerous little things that can go wrong that I haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing yet. Thanks for your help!!

MIKES 69

 

congrats on your new 69, and welcome to the forum...

Cant help with your turn signal. electrical stuff is a pain.

The temperature guage plugs right into the block right between (and above) the spark plugs..... I think on the drivers side, so it is well positioned for you to knock off the wire while changing the spark plugs! :) just as you suspected. Maybe somebody else can provide a pic or more accurate description or nomenclature...

I doubt your slow (chugging?) starts are gearing. I dont think bigblocks were geared any differently from smallblocks. In fact, you could just as easily have 4.11s in a bigblock. you could have 3.08s either way also
:confused: Anyway, sounds more like a bog (carburetor) to me.

My 68 also sits slightly different height at the front. Very common, but 1.5" is a bit much. Could be lots of things. been discussed before but I cant remember the verdict. MJ

 

Congrats and welocme.

I agree with MJ that the "chugging" is carb related. I ahve the same problem and am spending the next week changing jets, power meters, etc to get the proper air/fuel mix.

 

Welcome Mike. On the turn signals, assuming you mean none work it would appear to be a bad flasher, but if you changed it then could all bulbs have blown filament? Dose your manual have wiring diagrams to show location of turn sig flasher?

Setting 1 inch lower on one side is sometimes caused by weak springs. Try search thru archives on this site and Corvettfag.com site. Lots good stuff there. :seeya

 

Welcome Mike!

Let's see here...turn signal. What happens if you turn on the hazards? They use a different flasher. Also, which flasher did you replace? The one over behind the right side of the dash (passenger's side)? It sounds like the flasher is bad, or you have a bulb burnt out. Double-check ALL of the bulbs. What did you do to check them?

Temp gage: Wire on the driver's side of the engine going to a temp sender in the head. Check in that area for a wire going in and make sure it's ok. Should be a green wire with a heat resistant covering of sorts on it.

Rear end: Nope. No diff between the available diffs for the 427 and the 350. Could be the camshaft, carb, timing, etc...tough to tell. Do you know what camshaft is in it? And at what speeds is it chuggy? My car is chuggy at low rpms in any gear thanks to the monster cam in it. I make power up high and have squat for a low end.

Springs, springs, springs...sounds like they've sagged a bit over time. You also should check the rear leaf spring to make sure all of the leafs are intact. It isn't uncommon for a leaf or two to crack. That'll greatly affect the way the car sits. If the springs are just sagging, you can adjust the spring bolt at the rear (tighten it on the side you want higher, loosen it on the side you want lower). That might help somewhat, but you probably have a problem that you'll want to address the root cause of at some point.

Helpful comments? Stick around! You'll learn a TON! If you need to do it, someone here has done it (and if not, we'll all make up stuff that might work and we'll use you as a guinnea pig :D )

:cheers:

 

Thanks everyone who answered... This is really cool. I didn't expect to get such quick replies.

How do I put a picture of my car after my posts????

 

You'll need to edit your signature from your profile to do that. Putting IMG and /IMG in square brackets [] before and after a URL will insert an image.

 

Thanks ddecart,

I'm not sure how to insert a URL. can't I just use a jpeg?

 

:seeya there MIKE !!! :seeya

CONGRATS on the fine '69 - cool year for vettes........hint : get a webpage setup through the forum & store all the pics (jpegs) of your new hot ride there (be sure to post exterior, interior, & engine ! :cheers: )....anyhow then you'll have a URL for each image under properties......

It'll be something like this ---> http//temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/verskel//myvette.jpg

Just remember to put IMG "your url of pic goes here" /IMG around it (but with brackets....theres a hotkey labeled Image in the posting)

IT's kinda strange for newbies but really, really easy !

Hope to see your awesome '69 Mike ! :cheers: :cool:

 

You have to have the picture on a host web page, which explains why I don't have mine on yet. :lol: :lol:

 

Different flasher????? I don't think so.

When the flasher doesn't flash, it is SUPPOSED to mean there is a bulb burnt out. Are the SIDE MARKER lamps good? Also, there is a VERY close relationship between the front directionals AND the front parking lights.

 

AAHH.. 69. My favorite year...Hope you like it. Welcome to the greatest forum on the net. There is a tremendous amout of knowlege here and a buch of helpful people...Stick around :cool:

 

1. There are two types of flashers one needs the proper load (resistance) on the circuit to flash. This is proberbly the type you have and you have a bulb out some where changing the resistance.

2. The temp sending unit is screwed into the driver side head right above the #3 (2 plug on drivers side) spark plug every body knocks it off when they mess with the plugs and plug wires. Before you put the wire back on crip the terminal a little, it will make the wire stay on tighter and make a better conection.

3. Chuggy sounds like carberation, may just need a good adjustment or maybe accelarator pump. You'll have to test and adjust until you know everything is set correctly.

4. Sag is most likly a weak spring. It won't be shocks because shocks just control spring oscilation. You may be able to shim the weak spring to get both sides even.

 

Welcome!

I will trade you the 350 in my 69 for your 427 :lol:

 

I appreciate the offer, but, if you look closely to my original post..... I don't have a 427 in it anymore. Maybe someday...

 

Welcome, it looks like your questions are answered.

Good Luck

Scott

 

I found it!!! I found it !!
You guys are good. The wire was there, just like you said, and it was hanging loose from the manifold sensor. I crimped it a little tighter, and stuck it back on...

Now for my carburetor.....:smash: and my springs...:smash: and my turn signal....:smash: etc., etc., etc..., and then maybe that 427????? :lol:

This could go on forever, couldn't it!

Thanks everyone. :cheers:

 

What do you mean "it COULD go on forever"? It DOES go on forever!! :yesnod:

 

C3 owership=never ending fix it, tweak it, mod it, bitch about it, drink beer until you feel better, then fix it, tweak it, etc.

JB

 

First of all, you don't have any problems....just some minor annoyances. The water temp gauge probably quit working because you knocked the sensor loose. It's located on the drivers side of the engine and you'll see a little pin type connector sticking out. There should be a wire with a female connector that pushes onto that pin. As for the rest of the car.....why not take it to a pro and let him go through it and get it running properly and make sure everything is in good shape. If you try to do the work yourself and don't know what you're doing, you can mess things up. Spend a couple hundred more $$$, do it right and then ENJOY YOUR NEW '69!!!!