Need guidance please after wasting $1000 on repair and still no correct answer,

Power Steering Hose broke and I took it to be replaced. The replaced the hose and replaced the transmission dipstick.

When the car was brought there that was the only issue. Upon picking the car up, it died on me when I was driving. It started after waiting 10 minutes and and ran smooth until I got home about 10 minutes later, At home I turned the car off and tried to restart it and it would no start. I went back to the repair place and told me it was a carburetor issue and nothing to do with the original problem.

They put a new carburetor and put new plugs and changed something electrical on the distributor cap. The called, I did a short test drive and all seemed good, but after paying and driving another few blocks the car died and would not start, We waited 10 minutes and it restarted again.

His suggestion is to put a new distributor. After spending $1000 already, I would appreciate any help or suggestions if anyone in the forum has, if this may solve or be the problem. I need advice from experienced corvette users,

 

Hopefully you didn't give them your original carb as a "trade-in" on the hacked commercially rebuilt carb they sold you... you can't buy a "new" Q-Jet carb, so whatever they sold you is likely junk. Tell me you kept your original carb...

You also can't buy a "new" tach-drive distributor (except for some cheap Chinese-made knockoffs that aren't worth the cast iron they're made from), and replacing the distributor won't gain you anything that a new set of points and a condenser won't provide you. You're dealing with hacks who can't even perform basic diagnostics. Run away and find a competent, old, grumpy mechanic.

...and your problem sounds like an ignition issue. Do you have the stock distributor and the stock coil with a stock-type points setup? Or has someone installed a mag trigger or optical trigger system in your distributor? Or has it been swapped out with an HEI?

Based on the fact that you're taking the car to a shop to have very basic items repaired, it sounds like you don't have the ability to do work on the car yourself. If you do not have the capability to do diagnostics and repair work, you are at the mercy of qualified mechanics. Finding qualified people to work on old, antique vehicles is a major challenge, and it may take you a while to locate someone who is actually qualified to work on your antique. You may have to send it to another town or city near you.

Lars

 

Can't disagree with LARS !
What is your location ?

 

Sounds like they're just loading the parts shotgun. Replace everything and hope you find the problem.
Get your old parts back.

 

ALWAYS !

 

"RUN FORREST, RUN!!" Find a new repair shop...

 

The average guy with a little bit of research can learn to work on these old cars. Maybe not rebuild a whole engine, but typical and simple part replacements or basic troubleshooting is well within any guys capability. If you can let it sit, take the time to figure it out, you’ll save a lot of money in the long run.

 

Venice, Florida

 

They are not diagnosing the problem.....if it was here in front of me, I could tell you what it is in probably 15 minutes.......
Post pics of the engine.......post a pic of the carb they put on....and other work they did......

Jebby

 

Sorry you had such a terrible experience with some bad or incompetent mechanics. I hope your posts will let others guys know that taking our old cars to “Just Any Mechanic” can be a horrible and expensive endeavor. If you are not able or willing to work on your car, you need to find a qualified mechanic that can work on your old car. Attend car shows or contact vintage car clubs in your town, then go online and read what their customers say about the repairs that were done. I always have visited the shop before taking my car so that I can meet the mechanics and look at the cars they are working on. Good Luck, you need to understand how important it is to find a good shop / mechanic.

 

This is good advice......the best technicians don't work in shops, they work in their garage......and they network with many others. I get contacted all of the time in this world and the Vintage Honda world becasue I know other like minded people around the country that know WTF they are doing and are just terrific people to deal with......I have had cars and bikes sent to my house to be repaired and have never met the owner in person. I have a Honda CBX here from Dallas right now for major engine repair, he was referred to me by a friend in Arizona who restores vintage bikes and who I have known for over ten years. The other upside to finding a lone wolf is that he/she will be a LOT less painful on the pocketbook as they are not straddled with the perils of running a business......my fuzzy rule is get a quote from a shop and I can cut it in half.......but one also has to be patient with the solo guys as they generally work at their own pace.......I have a full time job, not related to cars/bikes, and the other **** I do is in whatever time I can scrape together......
People like Lars and Mark Vortecpro are major arsenals of knowledge that work out of home shops......and good people who care about their work. They, like me, consider working on these a hobby of sorts.....they will work on your **** as if it were their own......and that is all of the difference.
If you find a person......don't lose them! LOL.

Jebby

 

Thank you to all who responded. I agree with all that has been said. In St, Louis I had a wonderful friend and guy who worked on the car for the last 25 years or more. I transported it to Venice Florida and having been searching for that person here, The last place I took the car, I did meet the owner and he was rebuilding and refinishing many antique cars worth much more than my Corvette. By the way, I am the original owner,

I called my friend in St Louis and he felt it was possible the ignition coil. I bought one for $40 and it seems to have done the trick. I am so thankful for his knowledge and friendship.

Again, thanks for everyone’s advice.