new here, 1987 corvette
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
new here, 1987 corvette
Hey everybody, I've been reading through the forums for a couple weeks now as a guest and have come across a lot of great information. Back in May I bought an 87 vette with just under 65k for $4200. Each body panel had a number of nicks and scratches so I decided I would just paint the whole car myself. The car had sat the most of its life and had been in two floods 
It looked like this when I bought it:
After many hours of work it now looks like this:
(headlights need to be lined up)
Since I have gotten the car, I have done a major tune up, hoping to get rid of a flucuating idle and occasional stall. The tune up did not cure the problem, so just today my dad and I installed a new mass air flow senor and TPS (these were the codes given to us when we scanned the car for a check engine light) However, that surging idle / occasional stall at idle is still there! On the highway, there is a vibration / howl from the rear once above 50 mph or so. And finally, upon start up, the car blows a little white smoke. I was thinking this could be valve seals? However, I really dont want to tear open the engine until winter, will it damage the engine to drive it with bad valve seals for a couple of months? Thanks in advance
It looked like this when I bought it:
After many hours of work it now looks like this:
(headlights need to be lined up)Since I have gotten the car, I have done a major tune up, hoping to get rid of a flucuating idle and occasional stall. The tune up did not cure the problem, so just today my dad and I installed a new mass air flow senor and TPS (these were the codes given to us when we scanned the car for a check engine light) However, that surging idle / occasional stall at idle is still there! On the highway, there is a vibration / howl from the rear once above 50 mph or so. And finally, upon start up, the car blows a little white smoke. I was thinking this could be valve seals? However, I really dont want to tear open the engine until winter, will it damage the engine to drive it with bad valve seals for a couple of months? Thanks in advance
Last edited by tyzak; Aug 17, 2010 at 11:05 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: morrisville nc
welcome to the madness....
floods? (how bad)
Only thing bad valve seals will do is allow oil into the intake and exhaust, so it'll smoke and burn oil. It can foul spark plugs if its leaking badly enough, and it can damage the cat(if you have one) if enough oil gets in it. I guess it all depends on the amount of leakage..
floods? (how bad)
Only thing bad valve seals will do is allow oil into the intake and exhaust, so it'll smoke and burn oil. It can foul spark plugs if its leaking badly enough, and it can damage the cat(if you have one) if enough oil gets in it. I guess it all depends on the amount of leakage..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
welcome to the madness....
floods? (how bad)
Only thing bad valve seals will do is allow oil into the intake and exhaust, so it'll smoke and burn oil. It can foul spark plugs if its leaking badly enough, and it can damage the cat(if you have one) if enough oil gets in it. I guess it all depends on the amount of leakage..
floods? (how bad)
Only thing bad valve seals will do is allow oil into the intake and exhaust, so it'll smoke and burn oil. It can foul spark plugs if its leaking badly enough, and it can damage the cat(if you have one) if enough oil gets in it. I guess it all depends on the amount of leakage..
Welcome from another `87 owner. Your car looks good. 
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,135
Likes: 9,447
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
welcome to the madness....
floods? (how bad)
Only thing bad valve seals will do is allow oil into the intake and exhaust, so it'll smoke and burn oil. It can foul spark plugs if its leaking badly enough, and it can damage the cat(if you have one) if enough oil gets in it. I guess it all depends on the amount of leakage..
floods? (how bad)
Only thing bad valve seals will do is allow oil into the intake and exhaust, so it'll smoke and burn oil. It can foul spark plugs if its leaking badly enough, and it can damage the cat(if you have one) if enough oil gets in it. I guess it all depends on the amount of leakage..
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 3
From: Supreme Soviet Peace-Loving Pipple's Kollektive of Seattle Wa
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