But then again there are those pesky fuel injectors on the L98. 
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot????
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsville VA
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot????
WTF??? I set out today to take the heads off of the Corvette and take them to the machine shop. I was taking my time because I am a dirt racer and am not really used to having a bunch of electronics and vacuum stuff in the way. I was doing my due diligence with the effing TPI disassembly, which sucks. Then I got to the passenger side valve cover... really??? Did GM build the car around the f#%king valve cover??? I am trying to get the heads done so I can reassemble with the new motor. If someone had told me it waws going to be like this I would have sold this thing. This was a big fat - 0 - on the funometer!! I finally decided it was time for some "nerve medicine" and will complete this task tomorrow. If this car EVER needs motor work again, consider it FOR SALE!! 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Take your time. Work a while, take a break, come back to it. It will get done. Work 30 minutes a day and stop if you need to.
If you like this, you should try changing the front valve cover gasket on a V6 Fiero. The whole upper and mid plenum, fuel rail, EGR, and medusa of vacuum lines have to come off. I had to change one this past summer.....only to have to do it a second time because it developed a bad vacuum leak in the mid plenum shortly after I got it back together (my fault, gasket slipped). Double the fun.
The second time, I worked VERY methodically 30 minutes a day, and it came out right. Mind you, on this car, you're sitting in the trunk at an angle a contortionist would be proud of.
You'll get it.....Just be extremely methodical on the reinstall so you don't have to do it again.
If you like this, you should try changing the front valve cover gasket on a V6 Fiero. The whole upper and mid plenum, fuel rail, EGR, and medusa of vacuum lines have to come off. I had to change one this past summer.....only to have to do it a second time because it developed a bad vacuum leak in the mid plenum shortly after I got it back together (my fault, gasket slipped). Double the fun.
The second time, I worked VERY methodically 30 minutes a day, and it came out right. Mind you, on this car, you're sitting in the trunk at an angle a contortionist would be proud of.
You'll get it.....Just be extremely methodical on the reinstall so you don't have to do it again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,772
Likes: 64
From: Mystic CT
Take your time. Work a while, take a break, come back to it. It will get done. Work 30 minutes a day and stop if you need to.
If you like this, you should try changing the front valve cover gasket on a V6 Fiero. The whole upper and mid plenum, fuel rail, EGR, and medusa of vacuum lines have to come off. I had to change one this past summer.....only to have to do it a second time because it developed a bad vacuum leak in the mid plenum shortly after I got it back together (my fault, gasket slipped). Double the fun.
The second time, I worked VERY methodically 30 minutes a day, and it came out right. Mind you, on this car, you're sitting in the trunk at an angle a contortionist would be proud of.
You'll get it.....Just be extremely methodical on the reinstall so you don't have to do it again.
If you like this, you should try changing the front valve cover gasket on a V6 Fiero. The whole upper and mid plenum, fuel rail, EGR, and medusa of vacuum lines have to come off. I had to change one this past summer.....only to have to do it a second time because it developed a bad vacuum leak in the mid plenum shortly after I got it back together (my fault, gasket slipped). Double the fun.
The second time, I worked VERY methodically 30 minutes a day, and it came out right. Mind you, on this car, you're sitting in the trunk at an angle a contortionist would be proud of.
You'll get it.....Just be extremely methodical on the reinstall so you don't have to do it again.
Dave
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Me and Wathen1955 always "glorify" those C4 high paid design engineers.
At least the L98s distributors are not under the water pump.
At least the L98s distributors are not under the water pump.
Banned Loser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,427
Likes: 250
From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
2017 Corvette of the Year
2016 C4 of Year Finalist
Creator of the "Original" whining and crying thread
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 1
From: Collinsville MS
St. Jude Donor '08
I went through all that @ss pain on my IROC a couple of times. Then I worked on my daughters Mitsubishi. If you want to change the spark plugs or valve covers on it you have to remove the entire fuel injection system, the power steering and ac pump. I think those guys were ex GM engineers.......
If you want to change the spark plugs or valve covers on it you have to remove the entire fuel injection system, the power steering and ac pump. I think those guys were ex GM engineers.......
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
I think all car engineers do this stuff intentionally. They all have a giant email chain where they brag to each other about their latest conquest. Then they troll these message boards and burst out laughing collectively when they see their creations coming to life. 
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,742
Likes: 43
From: Color my life with the chaos of trouble.
Solution:
Water pump R&R - 15 minutes.
Spark Plug change - 10 minutes
Fuel injectors - 0 minutes
Heater Core - 0 minutes
Valve cover R&R - 2 minutes each
Heads - 10 minutes
Complete ignition change - 30 minutes (includes drinking 1 beer)
Water pump R&R - 15 minutes.
Spark Plug change - 10 minutes
Fuel injectors - 0 minutes
Heater Core - 0 minutes
Valve cover R&R - 2 minutes each
Heads - 10 minutes
Complete ignition change - 30 minutes (includes drinking 1 beer)
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Welcome to the dark side of owning a C4.
First time changing the base intake gasket took all dang day I mean ALL day. 3 tries later it was a few hours. Never fun though.
These take a little patience, a few breaks, swear words and wrench tossing. Wait til you drop a torx intake bolt on top of the bellhousing
First time changing the base intake gasket took all dang day I mean ALL day. 3 tries later it was a few hours. Never fun though.
These take a little patience, a few breaks, swear words and wrench tossing. Wait til you drop a torx intake bolt on top of the bellhousing
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Wow, you guys should try working on cars for a living...flatrate+hard to work on+paid like crap (your lucky if you get 20 or more an hour)=REAL FRUSTRATION. My .02 cents.
I can think of a particular Nissan 350Z recall that pays .7 of an hour. I'd love to see that one done. Hint: Involves a valve inside the dual saddle tank, no pulling the tank either. Full of gas, arm inside tank, cannot see, move, feel, etc...have to disassemble back half of interior to get to it. REAL FRUSTRATION. It took me like 2 hours or so.
I can think of a particular Nissan 350Z recall that pays .7 of an hour. I'd love to see that one done. Hint: Involves a valve inside the dual saddle tank, no pulling the tank either. Full of gas, arm inside tank, cannot see, move, feel, etc...have to disassemble back half of interior to get to it. REAL FRUSTRATION. It took me like 2 hours or so.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 1
From: Collinsville MS
St. Jude Donor '08
I had a DD Alero that was like that too!! Why I got rid of my new Z71 and restored my 78 4x4. I can sit on the inner fender and disassemble anything under there in a few minutes. Room for the beer cooler too!
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Welcome to the dark side of owning a C4.
First time changing the base intake gasket took all dang day I mean ALL day. 3 tries later it was a few hours. Never fun though.
These take a little patience, a few breaks, swear words and wrench tossing. Wait til you drop a torx intake bolt on top of the bellhousing
First time changing the base intake gasket took all dang day I mean ALL day. 3 tries later it was a few hours. Never fun though.
These take a little patience, a few breaks, swear words and wrench tossing. Wait til you drop a torx intake bolt on top of the bellhousing
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Wow, you guys should try working on cars for a living...flatrate+hard to work on+paid like crap (your lucky if you get 20 or more an hour)=REAL FRUSTRATION. My .02 cents.
I can think of a particular Nissan 350Z recall that pays .7 of an hour. I'd love to see that one done. Hint: Involves a valve inside the dual saddle tank, no pulling the tank either. Full of gas, arm inside tank, cannot see, move, feel, etc...have to disassemble back half of interior to get to it. REAL FRUSTRATION. It took me like 2 hours or so.
I can think of a particular Nissan 350Z recall that pays .7 of an hour. I'd love to see that one done. Hint: Involves a valve inside the dual saddle tank, no pulling the tank either. Full of gas, arm inside tank, cannot see, move, feel, etc...have to disassemble back half of interior to get to it. REAL FRUSTRATION. It took me like 2 hours or so.
I'm restoring a 1970 Mach 1. Compared to Fieros and C4 Vettes, this car is a walk in the park. Quite primitive.....and parts are cheap too. I'm having a ball with it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,780
Likes: 183
From: Decatur IL
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
C4s are very fun to drive, but not fun to work on. How about removing that battery! Always get research and have a lot of patience while working on a C4. You can always thank the previous owner for neglecting your Vette.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 7
From: Chewelah Wa
Most fun for me....complete rebuild of Toyota 4runner 3.0 V6. Makes the Vette seem like a lawn mower engine rebuild. I had 350 fasteners punched into a box. When I was done, both valve covers were leaking, and you can barely see them under all the hoses and wires, intake, etc. Now I know why the engine shop wanted 4 grand for a rebuild.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,344
Likes: 48
From: San Marcos CA
Now I work on high power electrical inverters and traction drives. Actually easier, just have to remember to not get killed by dangerous voltages- but it's all good so far. Diagnostic work is about the same as automobiles.