Unbelievable Reliability
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 256
Likes: 1
From: Taylorville IL
Unbelievable Reliability
Hello All!!
Havent posted in a while, as most of my concerns are covered in the search sections of the forums. Although my 94 six speed coupe has yet to let me down, I know that I am on borrowed time. When that time arrives, I know that the forums and a recently purchased FSM will get me through. How much of that borrowed time I have left is uncertain, but the way it starts right up and behaves now leads me to believe I have many more seasons of trouble free miles ahead. Unless I do something stupid like I have done before, see my previous posts about VATS and a run in with an aftermarket alarm, I think this era of our Corvettes our amazingly reliable and trouble free. Will others chime in and echo my beliefs on long lasting reliability?
Havent posted in a while, as most of my concerns are covered in the search sections of the forums. Although my 94 six speed coupe has yet to let me down, I know that I am on borrowed time. When that time arrives, I know that the forums and a recently purchased FSM will get me through. How much of that borrowed time I have left is uncertain, but the way it starts right up and behaves now leads me to believe I have many more seasons of trouble free miles ahead. Unless I do something stupid like I have done before, see my previous posts about VATS and a run in with an aftermarket alarm, I think this era of our Corvettes our amazingly reliable and trouble free. Will others chime in and echo my beliefs on long lasting reliability?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
When many automotive journalists and critics talk about the Corvette, and how the Porshce is better because X, or the BMW is better because Y, the one thing they always seem to leave out is the longevity and reliability of the Cheverolet Corvette. From the first V8 model in 1955? until the most recent generation, the Corvette has simply been the best performance car you can still drive to work everyday.
P.S. 150K mile '96 here. No major repairs that I did not create the need for.
P.S. 150K mile '96 here. No major repairs that I did not create the need for.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Yes the vettes are very reliable until you modify them, i had my vette in standard form the first 10 years and it never let me down.
Then i modified it
of course more h/p means you have to replace everything downstream, now she is reliable again after all the weak bits had been destroyed and replaced with expensive heavy duty items.
It also means half any life expectancy of expensive heavy duty running gear afterwards. but you cannot expect anything to last forever hey
Then i modified it
of course more h/p means you have to replace everything downstream, now she is reliable again after all the weak bits had been destroyed and replaced with expensive heavy duty items.It also means half any life expectancy of expensive heavy duty running gear afterwards. but you cannot expect anything to last forever hey
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,493
Likes: 475
From: New Jersey
I have owned a lot of cars, and very few are without their peccadillos. My current Honda Accord seems to be bulletproof and is an amazing car, but overall they have their quirks (bad power windows, bad trans in the V6 models, paint, rust..)
I usually join a forum for all the cars I own. So I get to hear a lot. The Corvette is no better and certainly no worse than any other car I have owned where its weaknesses are concerned.
I usually join a forum for all the cars I own. So I get to hear a lot. The Corvette is no better and certainly no worse than any other car I have owned where its weaknesses are concerned.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I have had a couple of C4's ("88 A4 and '94 6M) that I daily drove and put about 100k miles combined for the 5 years I had those two cars. I sold the '88 at 115k and the '94 at 145k miles, so they were moderately high mile cars.
Both of them were great. I never had any major problems. The only maintenance (other than fluids, filters, tires etc) I had over that time period was an EGR valve on the '88 and a wheel bearing on the '94.
With so few problems, good gas mileage, and almost no depreciation during the time I owned them, they were about the least expensive vehicles I have ever owned. And fun too.
Both of them were great. I never had any major problems. The only maintenance (other than fluids, filters, tires etc) I had over that time period was an EGR valve on the '88 and a wheel bearing on the '94.
With so few problems, good gas mileage, and almost no depreciation during the time I owned them, they were about the least expensive vehicles I have ever owned. And fun too.
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 46,133
Likes: 111
From: Maryville Tn
CI 5 thru 12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '23
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Yes the vettes are very reliable until you modify them, i had my vette in standard form the first 10 years and it never let me down.
Then i modified it of course more h/p means you have to replace everything downstream, now she is reliable again after all the weak bits had been destroyed and replaced with expensive heavy duty items.
It also means half any life expectancy of expensive heavy duty running gear afterwards. but you cannot expect anything to last forever hey
Then i modified it
of course more h/p means you have to replace everything downstream, now she is reliable again after all the weak bits had been destroyed and replaced with expensive heavy duty items.It also means half any life expectancy of expensive heavy duty running gear afterwards. but you cannot expect anything to last forever hey
The worst thing I ever did was let someone (a shop I thought did good work) modify my '85 when I owned it. Expensive lesson learned. Stock from now on.
Racer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Peabody MA
I've got 115k on my stock '92 M6, it drives great and the only thing that needed replacement was the water pump, which is expected. I'm definitely going electric next time around.
I daily drive it and beat the hell out of it too, no problems yet!
I daily drive it and beat the hell out of it too, no problems yet!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I wish. Mine has had electrical problems one after another. I wish I was good at electronics, I'd gut the inside and rewire this whole damn thing (half way there already)!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,333
Likes: 1,143
From: Vermilion OH
m 94 6spd is bone stock other than a vortex ram air intake duct. it has 103k miles and based on personal repair and knowledge of the ownership of the car the only parts other than brakes, wipers, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter, coolant, battery and tires have been replaced:
-clutch set
-clutch slave cylinder
-opti
-plugs
-wires
-ICM
-coil
-serpentine belt
-horn set
-battery terminal bolts
-rear monoleaf spring (aftermarket unit was installed. perhaps not due to failure but for better performance)
everything else is original. the engine runs perfect and the trans shifts like it was new. all of the original gaskets and seals, wheel bearings, alternator, starter, headlight bulbs, etc have never been touched. i would trust the car on a trip to California!
-clutch set
-clutch slave cylinder
-opti
-plugs
-wires
-ICM
-coil
-serpentine belt
-horn set
-battery terminal bolts
-rear monoleaf spring (aftermarket unit was installed. perhaps not due to failure but for better performance)
everything else is original. the engine runs perfect and the trans shifts like it was new. all of the original gaskets and seals, wheel bearings, alternator, starter, headlight bulbs, etc have never been touched. i would trust the car on a trip to California!
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
Reliability...
Any questions?
Any questions?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland FL
I think I am the 3rd or 4th owner. I know one of them put some crap shocks on which I immediately swapped out for some QA1's. Everything has been going great until recently when my minor oil leak decided to become a MAJOR oil leak. Not sure where it is yet (see most recent post). Until now, it was my daily driver and I loved every second of it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
I disagree that a modded car isn't very reliable. If it's modified with the proper components and the entire drivetrain is upgraded to handle the added power they can be almost as reliable as a stock car.. I think most would agree that the new 638 hp ZR-1s are fairly reliable, the reason being, the drivetrain is built to handle the load ..If you just put in an engine with 400-450hp and change nothing else, your asking for ( and will get) a breakdown. But upgrade the trans to a stage 2 , put in a D44 rear and upgrade the cooling system and you have a car that will handle the new power upgrade without problems. My 89 has around 400hp with everything else above done, and I would take it anywhere without hesitation. I will agree that once you get up around and over 500hp on our small block chevy engines, the fact that you have components that are ment strickly for racing diminishes the reliabiliy substantially..Just my opinion.......WW
....WW
Last edited by WW7; Feb 13, 2013 at 08:26 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
I disagree that a modded car isn't very reliable. If it's modified with the proper components and the entire drivetrain is upgraded to handle the added power they can be almost as reliable as a stock car.. I think most would agree that the new 638 hp ZR-1s are fairly reliable, the reason being, the drivetrain is built to handle the load ..If you just put in an engine with 400-450hp and change nothing else, your asking for ( and will get) a breakdown. But upgrade the trans to a stage 2 , put in a D44 rear and upgrade the cooling system and you have a car that will handle the new power upgrade without problems. My 89 has around 400hp with everything else above done, and I would take it anywhere without hesitation. I will agree that once you get up around and over 500hp on our small block chevy engines, the fact that you have components that are ment strickly for racing diminishes the reliabiliy substantially..Just my opinion.......WW
....WW
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas