Inheriting 89 Vette
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Marysville Washington
Inheriting 89 Vette
My father always had a Corvette, starting with a '59. I now find myself the owner of a '89 he bought new. He liked to drive the car so it has that used wear. I'm driving it across the country to get it home and am having a local shop there replace the rubber, tune-up, change all fuilds, service trans & rear-end. When I get it home I would like to replace the carpet, leather seat covers & foam, weather stripping and have it painted. Any suggestions from all of you about the best way to restore the vette?
Thank you for your assistance.
Matt Walker
Thank you for your assistance.
Matt Walker
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 534
Eckler's will probably end up having all you'll need for the interior restoration.
www.ecklers.com
and enjoy the 89'. Is it a 6-speed?
www.ecklers.com
and enjoy the 89'. Is it a 6-speed?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 802
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From: What do I know anyway? I'm just a 50 year old No0b
Sorry to hear of your father's passing but congrats on getting the '89. I know I enjoy mine a lot. 
I personally will never deal with Ecklers again due to their poor customer service and cavalier attitude towards customers.
I purchased my new seat leathers from Mid-America and have also had good dealings with Corvette Central and Zip products.
I personally will never deal with Ecklers again due to their poor customer service and cavalier attitude towards customers.
I purchased my new seat leathers from Mid-America and have also had good dealings with Corvette Central and Zip products.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 534
Originally Posted by Dynabob
Sorry to hear of your father's passing but congrats on getting the '89. I know I enjoy mine a lot.
I personally will never deal with Ecklers again due to their poor customer service and cavalier attitude towards customers.
I purchased my new seat leathers from Mid-America and have also had good dealings with Corvette Central and Zip products.
I personally will never deal with Ecklers again due to their poor customer service and cavalier attitude towards customers.
I purchased my new seat leathers from Mid-America and have also had good dealings with Corvette Central and Zip products.
Yep, can't go wrong with Corvette Central or Mid-America. I always thought Zip just specialized in C1-C3, that's why I never looked at their products.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12
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From: Marysville Washington
Thanks, everyone for your replies. I was thinking about buying the foam and straps, but taking the seats to an upholstery place for the leather, any thoughts on that? Also, anyone ever replace the carpet? The preformed stuff sold online seems the way to go, is it hard to tear out and install the new stuff. Anything elese I should add to my list of things to do?
Matt
Matt
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 83
From: Everyone needs something to believe in, I believe I'll have another beer. Wisconsin
Originally Posted by MattElle
Thanks, everyone for your replies. I was thinking about buying the foam and straps, but taking the seats to an upholstery place for the leather, any thoughts on that? Also, anyone ever replace the carpet? The preformed stuff sold online seems the way to go, is it hard to tear out and install the new stuff. Anything elese I should add to my list of things to do?
Matt
Matt
www.alknoch.comxxxxxx bad link, see my new reply below
Last edited by The Green Hornet; Aug 17, 2006 at 08:08 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,202
Likes: 3
my seats were pretty worn so i got the synthetic leather iggee two piece covers great buy for under 200, my dash was showing alot of wear so i installed a carbon fiber 7 piece kit for 150, steering wheel i installed a two tone wheelskins leather cover 38, and i used shoe polish on my shift ****/shift boot/steering wheel spokes/e brake
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 208
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From: New Castle PA
Best cost on original carpet kits
Since Willcox Corvette is not a supporting vendor of the forum, we are not suppose to post the link. I have found they offer the original ACC Carpet at the best cost anywhere on the web.
Sorry for your loss. Enjoy the car, your dad is riding with you. That is how I see mine except it is my mom riding with me.
JB
Sorry for your loss. Enjoy the car, your dad is riding with you. That is how I see mine except it is my mom riding with me.
JB
My condolences to you and your family. Enjoy your new car. You said your are going to drive across country, just curious how far?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,076
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From: Everyone needs something to believe in, I believe I'll have another beer. Wisconsin
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles, MO Route 66 Corvette Club
I would echo the comments on Wilcox carpeting as that is what I have in my 89. The caution on this year car is the stock fuel injectors. Make sure you measure the resistance of each injector (should be between 16 and 17 ohms) and all 8 should be very close to the same reading. If you find numbers lower than 16, that injector is starting to short out. Here is a note from Rich Jenson at Cruzin Performance on the injectors in the years of 89 to 91:
Hi Bob,
The problem you currently have is that from 1989 through 1991 on the L98 engines GM installed Multec injectors. These injectors have one of the highest failure rates of any injector ever installed. It's not a matter of "if" they are going to fail, it's simply a matter of "when" they will fail. That is why some of your injectors look differently than the others. Some of them have obviously already failed and were replaced. Because of their design they cannot be repaired so the only solution is to replace them.
You can try to find some of the same injectors to use as replacements however they will likely eventually fail also so a better alternative is to replace them with an aftermarket set of replacement injectors or find some of the earlier Rochester injectors that were used from 1986 though 1988 on the L98's. These were a Bosch design injector and they don't have the problems that the Multecs do.
I don't sell any injectors so I can't help with supplying replacements but if you do find a set of the earlier design injectors I can service those and they have a very good track record of long life and serviceability. The part numbers you would be looking for are: 1986 = 5235211, 1987 and 1988 = 5235302. These are the part numbers that are on the injectors themselves. They are not the part numbers that would be listed in a GM parts catalog.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but that's just the way the Multec injectors are.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you need more info or have additional questions.
Rich Jensen
I hope this is helpful to you.
Hi Bob,
The problem you currently have is that from 1989 through 1991 on the L98 engines GM installed Multec injectors. These injectors have one of the highest failure rates of any injector ever installed. It's not a matter of "if" they are going to fail, it's simply a matter of "when" they will fail. That is why some of your injectors look differently than the others. Some of them have obviously already failed and were replaced. Because of their design they cannot be repaired so the only solution is to replace them.
You can try to find some of the same injectors to use as replacements however they will likely eventually fail also so a better alternative is to replace them with an aftermarket set of replacement injectors or find some of the earlier Rochester injectors that were used from 1986 though 1988 on the L98's. These were a Bosch design injector and they don't have the problems that the Multecs do.
I don't sell any injectors so I can't help with supplying replacements but if you do find a set of the earlier design injectors I can service those and they have a very good track record of long life and serviceability. The part numbers you would be looking for are: 1986 = 5235211, 1987 and 1988 = 5235302. These are the part numbers that are on the injectors themselves. They are not the part numbers that would be listed in a GM parts catalog.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but that's just the way the Multec injectors are.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you need more info or have additional questions.
Rich Jensen
I hope this is helpful to you.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Marysville Washington
It looks like I came to the right place. I will get the vette back to Seattle in two weeks; however, I have to garage it until I get back from Iraq. Thanks for all your valuable advice, I sincerely appreciate it.
Matt Walker
Marysville, WA
LCDR, USCG
Matt Walker
Marysville, WA
LCDR, USCG
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Hang around this place......Youll find the best places to buy from, way to save money, parts and meet some good people to help out. I couldnt afford to own a vette if it werent for some of the people here.