Opinion Sought on '89 Corvette
09-02-2008, 12:55 AM
#1
1st Gear
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Opinion Sought on '89 Corvette
Hi Everyone. I'm new to the forums and I hope to soon be a new Corvette owner. I'm looking at an '89 Corvette auto w/ approx 97k miles.
The car appears to be in good shape with minor cosmetic issues in the paint and such that any 20yr old car would have. The thing I don't know about is the motor; it has a noise in the valve train on the drivers side. The current owner says it has had the noise since he owned it and he has driven it approx 500 miles like it is. The motor had a 400 crank professionally installed by the owner before the current one. The guy also said he put new valve cover seals in because the old ones leaked a bit. Does anyone know if this noise could be a result of the new crank? Or possibly something else? The car ran and shifted fine when I took it for a test drive.
I am trying to get an idea of what it could be and how much its going to cost to fix. I live in michigan so come about another month the car would be put away for the winter and I would have time to have someone work on it if need be.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
The car appears to be in good shape with minor cosmetic issues in the paint and such that any 20yr old car would have. The thing I don't know about is the motor; it has a noise in the valve train on the drivers side. The current owner says it has had the noise since he owned it and he has driven it approx 500 miles like it is. The motor had a 400 crank professionally installed by the owner before the current one. The guy also said he put new valve cover seals in because the old ones leaked a bit. Does anyone know if this noise could be a result of the new crank? Or possibly something else? The car ran and shifted fine when I took it for a test drive.
I am trying to get an idea of what it could be and how much its going to cost to fix. I live in michigan so come about another month the car would be put away for the winter and I would have time to have someone work on it if need be.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
09-02-2008, 01:23 AM
#2
Le Mans Master
noise
If the current owner hasn't fixed it in 500 miles, what else has he not performed?
Anyway, if it is running and driving fine, it is probably minor such as a bad lifter or a bent pushrod or a worn rocker or a bent rocker stud.
All of these wouldn't be more than $150 in parts unless you do better than the average joe, and replace everything of the bad part such as all the lifters or all the pushrods, etc.
It could be something minor such as loose cam bolts.
All these things coud turn into major expenses if left alone.
All of these jobs could be $250 in labor unless it's a set of lifters in which it could be up to a $1000 if you are paying labor at $100 an hour.
Anyway, if it is running and driving fine, it is probably minor such as a bad lifter or a bent pushrod or a worn rocker or a bent rocker stud.
All of these wouldn't be more than $150 in parts unless you do better than the average joe, and replace everything of the bad part such as all the lifters or all the pushrods, etc.
It could be something minor such as loose cam bolts.
All these things coud turn into major expenses if left alone.
All of these jobs could be $250 in labor unless it's a set of lifters in which it could be up to a $1000 if you are paying labor at $100 an hour.
Last edited by coupeguy2001; 09-02-2008 at 01:25 AM.
09-02-2008, 01:32 AM
#3
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Did you drive it long enough to see how the oil temp behaved?
Oil temp should run about the same as coolant temp or slightly higher if you drive the car hard, once warmed up.
Oil temp should run about the same as coolant temp or slightly higher if you drive the car hard, once warmed up.
09-02-2008, 02:48 AM
#4
Drifting
What is a 400 crank?
Sounds like this engine has been apart and I hate to be a pessimist, but perhaps the noise is an indicator that it was not put together right. "professional" installation by the previous owner does not give me a lot of confidence
Sounds like this engine has been apart and I hate to be a pessimist, but perhaps the noise is an indicator that it was not put together right. "professional" installation by the previous owner does not give me a lot of confidence
09-02-2008, 03:08 AM
#5
Melting Slicks
For me mileage has alot to do with how I look at vehicles. While I agree to get an 89 (see sig) I would pass on this one. Too many questions unanwsered.
