Hope that the heater core doesn't spring a leak like my 1991 did 4 years ago.

 

Thanks again for all the compliments, advice, and positive feedback. The more I read the better I feel about the purchase. I can't claim to turn wrenches like a lot of pros on the forum but I do dabble and have a fair set of tools and a neighbor who's like MacGuyver when it comes to cars and anything mechanical. I don't yet have a need for an FSM but its on the list. The PO gave me info on the mechanic who worked on it. He knows the car inside and out but apparently does charge a "Corvettei tax".

When the time comes, I'll be back to consult with the experts here. What a great community and resource for what I still consider "America's only true sports car".

 

Adopted my '85 two years ago after sitting in a shed for five years. The most problems I've had were do to sitting. For a car not being driven and it's age nothing major has occurred. So far the FSM is the most expensive single item. Everything else amounts to about $600. I had to replace the radio but consider that vanity to have Bluetooth phone and CD. Next on the list is a infamous heater core and rubber molding.

Other than that the car is reliable gets good mileage, and not good with snow flakes.

 

Bought my 87 3 years ago with 84k, drove it 8k miles, changed exhaust from manifolds back, front pads and rotors, rebuilt a headlight motor, replaced a cooling fan, replaced shocks, replaced a noisy idler, and belt, replaced digital dash, replaced alternator, replaced power seat track. I must of got a lemon!

 

buy an 87 nissan,honda,toyota,hundai, or any other car or truck of any brand. with 84,000 drive it for 3 yrs.put another 8,000 on it. go to any snow state,exhaust is junk in 3 to 5 yrs if yours was still original it was 25 yrs old, just maintenace. pads and rotors were probably shot or close to it when you bought it,you were lucky to get another 8000.you replaced the shocks because there 25 yrs old and you wanted to,if they were not shot they should be after 25 yrs.. 85,000 plus on an idler pully,thats damn good. the seat motor quite because it probably hasn't been used in 15 to 20 yrs.and was just stuck. remove it tear it apart,clean it up,lube it and it would of probably been fine.that or remove the bic liter that was wedged in the track. all other repairs were electrical,thats expected,every repair shop in the world is full of 1 to 5 yr old cars with electrical problems. i think you have had a pretty cheap maintenace free car. if you don't want maitenance or repairs go buy a new whatever you want, make 400 to 500 dollar a month payments on it for the next 5 yrs.. and when your done,you own it out right,you can enjoy and start the process all over again. oh; did i mention on that new car the exhaust is now rotted out,the shocks are bad,your on your 4th brake job,the water pumps leaking,the 2 idler pullys are noisy,the alternator is going to go out next month and then damit,those pesky power seats quite working and this is right after your 5 foot tall wife just drove it and put the seat all the way up,and you now have to drive with your knees in your chin. sorry friend,but your 87 is nothiung but maint. and not very much. since you have it all fixed up.do you want to sell it? how much?

 

Bought my '95 with 145k 2 years ago. Thus far I have replaced: front tie rod ends, front and rear pads, rear hubs, half shaft U-joints, wiper motor cover, radiator fan motor, replaced shorty headers with original, power seat switch, fuel pressure regulator, oil pan gasket, weatherstripping, and rebuilt both headlight motors. I also replaced numerous minor parts, bought a good used targa top and repaired/painted hood damage. On the horizon i will replace: fuel injectors, spark plugs, wires, opti, opti seal, water pump, half shaft U-joints (went cheap and one is already failing). I knew the car was a project when I bought it. Most of the parts were inexpensive and all were easy to find.

 

After purchasing my 86 ten years ago it spent 6 months in pieces as I completely overhauled the suspension, drive train and electrics.
I spent another 6 months debugging the FI system and associated relays, switches and tuning the ECM.

With the exception of a transmission problem last year after overhaul, the car has been as reliable as our other vehicles.
We've taken it as far as S.Dakota for vacations without worries.

Ya gotta have an FSM and a paperclip to travel with a C4.

 

Dude. Seriously? Other than the dash, all of that is either wear items or well within the realm of normal failures on a 23 year old car. What did you think you were getting?

That's how they make them at the used car factory.

 

Bought my 93 in 99 for 18K. Had 52K on her.
The first 8 years I put a lot of miles on her and spent close to what I paid in repairs, which included one elective paint job and another paint job from a deer.
Did the usual opti, water pump, plugs, wires, u joint, wheel bearings, poly bushings and lots of other misc.
I'm at 135K now, still drives and handles like it's new. I need to pay attention to the engine as it needs something. I'll probably do injectors real soon, hoping its not another opti. ZF trans could use a rebuild but until something goes real wrong with it I'll wait for that.
Best car I've ever owned.

 

Stay on topic or stay out of the thread gentlemen. Take the bickering to PM's or I'll arrainge a vacation from the forum for the pot stirrers.

 

Mixed feelings?

Very good point! I just got to a job recently that I could have handled with enough time, but didn't have the time to spare...otherwise...keep an eye out for an FSM at a good deal.

HOLY COW!! Close to what you paid...must be a stellar paint job.

I bought my 94 AT about 14 months ago with 34k on it and put about 8k more since. I did the standard maintenance when I bought it with the oil and transmission fluid+trans pan gasket. Sway arm bushing in the rear were shot and put some polys in there, cheap. Previous owner tossed the FX3 shocks and put junk in that was shot so I took the chance to upgrade to QA1, but if I stuck with Bilsteins, it would have been reasonably cheap. Um...flushed my coolant recently. Speed sensor on the back on the AT had a leaky o-ring. It took $5 and 10 minutes to fix. Biggest issue was the blown rear main seal. Shocked that it went out at such low miles, but I hope the rest of the car is a good as it looks. Oh, and I am finally replacing the acrylic top this week.

Have fun. I love this car and hope that it keep on rollin

 

Congrates Little Red L98,

Sounds like you have a good one. To be honest cars at over 20 years old is based on how the previous owner looks after, stores and drives them. I say all 3 because sometimes car that are stored extensively have their own issues (oil leaks etc).

The biggest Achilles heal on L98s is blown head gaskets. Galvanic corrosion between the alloy heads and iron block is the issue. The engine will not go bang or mix oil and water generally speaking. But a slow weep on piston 7. There are often no symptoms, engine drives hard, no smoke, no smell (because it evaporates). On mine the only tell tail was the bottom transparent tank was gradually filling up with coolant as the vacuum when the car cools would escape from the weeping gasket.

The other pain is the heater core, touch wood this has not happened to me.

The other thing on C4's (this is a personal feeling) is the poorly insulated wires. I see some exposed or thinly insulated wires specially the wires near the fire wall. I have progressively loomed the wires and bunched them to keep them away as best I can from heat sources. Not fun trying to look for a miss connection down the track.

Cheers,
Gary.

 

I've had my '87 for the last 13 years or so. In that time I have put about 80k miles on it. Off the top of my head, the things that have gone bad on top of the regular maintenance of brakes, tires, etc:

• Water pump
• Both headlight motors
• Transmission at ~140k (automatic)
• Injectors
• Fuel pump
• Atari dash died
• Everything Bose
• Multiple U-joints
• Rear Hubs
• Rear hatch hinge broke (not a fun fix)
• Weatherstripping
• Radiator
• Windshield wiper switch

...


I'm sure there is more, but I really can't think of it at the moment. The only 1 that was a colossal failure was the transmission. Was driving down the highway with the cruise control set at ~75mph and out of nowhere - KA-BOOM. The inside looked like a grenade went off. Even the case was unusable. To this day I have no idea what caused it to happen/

 

You read that wrong, it included a lot more than a paint job! Was looking at the file tonight and in 14 years and 80K miles I've spent about 15K on maintenance. And at 136K miles she is like new because of the maintenance kept up on.

 

1994 coupe, 33,000 miles, car is super clean in and out
Original owner
Done...
Opti-spark
Plugs and wires
Water pump
Brakes
Battery 3x
Tires
Annual oil changes
Coolant replaced 2x
Wipers

Needs to be done...
Both head lights
Driver seat electric cradle
Belt
Hoses?
Bose has issues but works

Overall a great car to own!

 

you guys make me want to get another C4, currently Vettless

 

The 89's are known to be a very reliable C4. I have an 89 convertible,
no problems, just keep up on the maintenance.

 

I just wish there was a wider selection of quality parts available. All the good stuff is pretty much depleted now. No more USA made pressure plates and throw out bearings for the ZF6. Stinks. But all part of the ownership. I hate replacing parts twice due to defective over seas manufacturing.

 

That was at the track, right?

 

I agree with Frizz's earlier comment: I'd take my Ruby anywhere. Anytime. When I lived in Dallas, David Johnston, the Master Yoda of Corvette wrenches told me that C4's were pretty much bullet proof if they're maintained and cared for. Before I moved back to my home in Pennsylvania, I asked him to go over every inch of my Ruby, and he found no issues at all. It now has 127,000 miles on it and still runs hot, straight and normal. I did have to replace the opti at about 100,000 and the starter motor about the same time, but other than the headlamp bushings which I did myself, it's been a reliable, safe companion.

Just my $.02 worth.