My first Corvette
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Albany New York
My first Corvette
Hi guys, My name is Steve and I just bought an '86 targa. Black on black w/ tan carpet. She has 128,000 miles on her, but I dont really care because I got it for 4,500$. Anyways, I just got down to inspecting it really good in my garage, and I have a few questions.
Like I said i was just poking around under the engine, and I happened to sqeeze the coolant hose that goes from the T stat to the radiator. It felt crunchy, almost like there was ice in there. This scared the crap out of me, so I took off the hose. To my amazement, there was what looked like a spring of some sort lodged in the hose. Is this normal? It looks like it offers support for the hose possibly, otherwise I have no idea why it would be in there. Also, the coolant was absolutly disgusting. It probably hasnt been ever changed. It was very dark, brown in color. I know what a blown headgasket looks like though, and this isnt it. I'm sure it just needs a good flushing. Can someone reccomend something?
So then I moved onto the ignition. The wires look like they should be replaced, and the plugs are all garbage. They were white in color, which correct me if I'm wrong indicates they were running hot. This ties in with why I need to flush the radiator
It needs new front brakes, (pads and rotors are gone).
I also would like to flush out the brake fluid and power steering fluid, because like I said I have no idea when this was done.
Finally, the differential fluid. I have no reason to suspect any problems with the rear end, but if I'm doing all the other fluids, should I do it as well?
Thanks for reading my "book", I'm looking forward to a fun summer in my Targa corvette
Like I said i was just poking around under the engine, and I happened to sqeeze the coolant hose that goes from the T stat to the radiator. It felt crunchy, almost like there was ice in there. This scared the crap out of me, so I took off the hose. To my amazement, there was what looked like a spring of some sort lodged in the hose. Is this normal? It looks like it offers support for the hose possibly, otherwise I have no idea why it would be in there. Also, the coolant was absolutly disgusting. It probably hasnt been ever changed. It was very dark, brown in color. I know what a blown headgasket looks like though, and this isnt it. I'm sure it just needs a good flushing. Can someone reccomend something?
So then I moved onto the ignition. The wires look like they should be replaced, and the plugs are all garbage. They were white in color, which correct me if I'm wrong indicates they were running hot. This ties in with why I need to flush the radiator
It needs new front brakes, (pads and rotors are gone). I also would like to flush out the brake fluid and power steering fluid, because like I said I have no idea when this was done.
Finally, the differential fluid. I have no reason to suspect any problems with the rear end, but if I'm doing all the other fluids, should I do it as well?
Thanks for reading my "book", I'm looking forward to a fun summer in my Targa corvette
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,335
Likes: 0
From: Eagle River AK
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10,'14
Originally Posted by SteveJG
Hi guys, My name is Steve and I just bought an '86 targa. Black on black w/ tan carpet. She has 128,000 miles on her, but I dont really care because I got it for 4,500$. Anyways, I just got down to inspecting it really good in my garage, and I have a few questions.
Like I said i was just poking around under the engine, and I happened to sqeeze the coolant hose that goes from the T stat to the radiator. It felt crunchy, almost like there was ice in there. This scared the crap out of me, so I took off the hose. To my amazement, there was what looked like a spring of some sort lodged in the hose. Is this normal? It looks like it offers support for the hose possibly, otherwise I have no idea why it would be in there. Also, the coolant was absolutly disgusting. It probably hasnt been ever changed. It was very dark, brown in color. I know what a blown headgasket looks like though, and this isnt it. I'm sure it just needs a good flushing. Can someone reccomend something?
So then I moved onto the ignition. The wires look like they should be replaced, and the plugs are all garbage. They were white in color, which correct me if I'm wrong indicates they were running hot. This ties in with why I need to flush the radiator It needs new front brakes, (pads and rotors are gone).
I also would like to flush out the brake fluid and power steering fluid, because like I said I have no idea when this was done.
Finally, the differential fluid. I have no reason to suspect any problems with the rear end, but if I'm doing all the other fluids, should I do it as well?
Thanks for reading my "book", I'm looking forward to a fun summer in my Targa corvette
Like I said i was just poking around under the engine, and I happened to sqeeze the coolant hose that goes from the T stat to the radiator. It felt crunchy, almost like there was ice in there. This scared the crap out of me, so I took off the hose. To my amazement, there was what looked like a spring of some sort lodged in the hose. Is this normal? It looks like it offers support for the hose possibly, otherwise I have no idea why it would be in there. Also, the coolant was absolutly disgusting. It probably hasnt been ever changed. It was very dark, brown in color. I know what a blown headgasket looks like though, and this isnt it. I'm sure it just needs a good flushing. Can someone reccomend something?
So then I moved onto the ignition. The wires look like they should be replaced, and the plugs are all garbage. They were white in color, which correct me if I'm wrong indicates they were running hot. This ties in with why I need to flush the radiator
It needs new front brakes, (pads and rotors are gone). I also would like to flush out the brake fluid and power steering fluid, because like I said I have no idea when this was done.
Finally, the differential fluid. I have no reason to suspect any problems with the rear end, but if I'm doing all the other fluids, should I do it as well?
Thanks for reading my "book", I'm looking forward to a fun summer in my Targa corvette
Flush your cooling system and get that nasty crap out of there! Regular ol' green anti-freeze in a 50/50 mixture is fine. Your plug wires are probably shot as well and plugs are cheap. Don't worry about trying to buy "performance" parts - regular parts (delco) or equivalant will work fine. Nothing wrong with changing or at least checking every fluid. You never know or usually never know how the previous owner took care of her. Fluids are cheap (except for gas). Sounds like you know your way around enough to know what needs fixing. Clean her up good, replace what needs replacing and you'll be grinning forever. Just remember - you have bought a very addictive drug. You'll love it.
Last edited by MADinAK; Apr 22, 2006 at 02:21 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville FL
Welcome Steve. I don't know of a better place to be if you are a 'Vettaholic like us. You will find some very helpful folks around here.
You sound like you already know what needs to be done so, get out there and do it.
BTW, one thing that really helps us out in trying to help you is if you fill out your profile. Just take a few minutes and tell us a little about you.
I don't know of a better place to be if you are a 'Vettaholic like us. You will find some very helpful folks around here.You sound like you already know what needs to be done so, get out there and do it.
BTW, one thing that really helps us out in trying to help you is if you fill out your profile. Just take a few minutes and tell us a little about you.
Last edited by Midnite 88; Apr 22, 2006 at 08:05 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,306
Likes: 242
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Congrats Steve
Buy the factory service manual right away, you'll need it.
Until then, if you need some technical info from the manual, let me know as i have the whole thing on my hard drive.
Enjoy
Buy the factory service manual right away, you'll need it.
Until then, if you need some technical info from the manual, let me know as i have the whole thing on my hard drive.
Enjoy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,246
Likes: 114
From: Watkins Glen NY
Definitely check/fill the rear. My otherwise well maintained 85 had next to no gear oil in it when I got her home and started to check things out.
Was making an odd clunking noise when coming to a stop.
Filled it with 80/90 and a tube of posi additive and quited right down thankfully.
I think it took around 2 pints total! These Danas are too expensive to risk grinding things up inside!
Was making an odd clunking noise when coming to a stop.
Filled it with 80/90 and a tube of posi additive and quited right down thankfully. I think it took around 2 pints total! These Danas are too expensive to risk grinding things up inside!
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,066
Likes: 3
From: Milpitas ca
Welcome and Congrats! Have fun fighting off all the chicks
Replace your hoses right away. When they feel crunchy they are about to go. Its a cheap fix. 40-50 bucks.
Flush the coolant. its not suppose to be brown. Its gonna get messy and if you don't wanna do it take it to jiffy lube to have that done. They can vaccum out all the old stuff out.
You mind as well bleed out the brakes when you are doing your brakes.
The injectors ,plugs and wires aren't hard but time consuming.
If you are having someone else do these you are looking at about 2 grand. If you do it yourself probably less than half that much. If you are really ambitious you can get it all done in about two weekends and have a nice ride for the summer.
Have fun fighting off all the chicks Replace your hoses right away. When they feel crunchy they are about to go. Its a cheap fix. 40-50 bucks.
Flush the coolant. its not suppose to be brown. Its gonna get messy and if you don't wanna do it take it to jiffy lube to have that done. They can vaccum out all the old stuff out.
You mind as well bleed out the brakes when you are doing your brakes.
The injectors ,plugs and wires aren't hard but time consuming.
If you are having someone else do these you are looking at about 2 grand. If you do it yourself probably less than half that much. If you are really ambitious you can get it all done in about two weekends and have a nice ride for the summer.
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