84 corvette
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
84 corvette
I saw a 84 corvette in town for sale that I was thinking about buying. The passenger side power window doesn't work and the speedometer doesn't work. I don't know much about electricial. What kind of headache am I getting myself into for fix it?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
It's a 28 year old car. There will be headaches well beyond this, trust me. The window is most likely a broken ribbon. Not major surgery, but not fun either. You can convert to the later regulator style, which is recommended.
Does the speedometer not light up, or does it just stay at zero?
I'll dispense my usual advice. If you can do your own wrenching, and old C4 (which is all of them now) can be kept running for a reasonable sum forever. If you have to farm it out every time it hiccups (and it WILL hiccup), the car can and will bankrupt you.
How are your wrenching skills? An 84 is a fun car that can be had for cheap initially. Keeping it running correctly is another story. See above.
Does the speedometer not light up, or does it just stay at zero?
I'll dispense my usual advice. If you can do your own wrenching, and old C4 (which is all of them now) can be kept running for a reasonable sum forever. If you have to farm it out every time it hiccups (and it WILL hiccup), the car can and will bankrupt you.
How are your wrenching skills? An 84 is a fun car that can be had for cheap initially. Keeping it running correctly is another story. See above.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,311
Likes: 1,125
From: Vermilion OH
depends on how the car was maintained and what it currently needs other than what you are not seeing. drive the car and see if it operates as it should. inspect the car for leaks and running condition. it depends on what's wrong with the car and what the seller is asking.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 7
From: Princeton Jct. New Jersey
I own an '84 and have been restoring it recently. $2500 sounds like a fairly reasonable price for the milage if its running well. The LCD cluster can be repaired for about $300 to $600 depending condition. Paint is another story. Stripping, refinishing, and painting will run 4k$ to 6k$ and add another $700 for weather stripping (the '84 was the 1st model out of Bowling Green Ky, and the the paint line turned out some awful quality that year -black or red with clear coat peeling being the worst). Leather seats mounted run about $900 and new carpeting about $600 to $700 installed. The window ribbon part is about $18 if you DIY, although, as previously mentioned, the upgraded scissor mechanism would be a more reliable fix. All told you're probably talking about 10k$ to restore it properly. A great hobby if you have the garage space to work on it yourself.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
As long as you treat it as a hobby and have ZERO expectation of ever getting even a fraction of your "investment" back, go for it. Otherwise you'll have $10 in a car that's worth $4K. There is a glut of nice C4's on the market right now.....unless you're in it for the hobby aspect and don't care about how much you spend, find a nicer Vette to begin with.
You're Welcome.....because you'll be thanking us later that you didn't buy the money pit.
You're Welcome.....because you'll be thanking us later that you didn't buy the money pit.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 443
From: Upstate NY
Overall it was a decent driver, that needed cleaning, detailing, some mecahnicals and a better paint job.
My largest expense was a "cheap" paint job for $1,500.00 -the shop didn't take anything appart, but it looks great for what I paid. I totalled up the costs for the paint, the exhaust changes, a clutch, the digital repair, seat covers, tires etc. and it's about $3,800.00 -including the "fussy" stuff that didn't need to be done. I did everything except the paint myself.
So now I have $8,500.00 into an 84, that is nice looking driver with 93,000 miles on it, that I may be able to sell for $4,000.00 ... but no way I'd sell it!
I still have a Corvette and all the neigbors, kids and friends think it is awesome! I have a blast driving an old, loud, 4 speed "muscle" car that handles like a go-cart.
I think it's a cheap price to pay for this much fun!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 14
From: Nampa Idaho
As long as you treat it as a hobby and have ZERO expectation of ever getting even a fraction of your "investment" back, go for it. Otherwise you'll have $10 in a car that's worth $4K. There is a glut of nice C4's on the market right now.....unless you're in it for the hobby aspect and don't care about how much you spend, find a nicer Vette to begin with.
You're Welcome.....because you'll be thanking us later that you didn't buy the money pit.
You're Welcome.....because you'll be thanking us later that you didn't buy the money pit.
