Sorry, inquiring minds want to know.
Corvette Repair
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Corvette Repair
Does anyone know of a good Corvette specialist for a 1993 ZR1?
My optispark is shot and My window regulators are very poor and will not roll up the window (although the window regulators are not a serious issue)
I went to a chevy dealership to get a diagnostic on what was wrong and they told me if they were to fix the car, it would cost me around 4thousand (parts and labor), I found the parts online for half the price they were giving me from GM Direct. and my total came out to be around 2,333 (parts and labor) i was wondering if anyone knew a good corvette specialist before i have to start bribing the chevy dealership.
Location that would be perfect would be northern jersey
I have looked online and have only found corvette specilasts in southern jersey that are over 100miles down
I.E. Corvette Paramedics
My optispark is shot and My window regulators are very poor and will not roll up the window (although the window regulators are not a serious issue)
I went to a chevy dealership to get a diagnostic on what was wrong and they told me if they were to fix the car, it would cost me around 4thousand (parts and labor), I found the parts online for half the price they were giving me from GM Direct. and my total came out to be around 2,333 (parts and labor) i was wondering if anyone knew a good corvette specialist before i have to start bribing the chevy dealership.
Location that would be perfect would be northern jersey
I have looked online and have only found corvette specilasts in southern jersey that are over 100miles down
I.E. Corvette Paramedics
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
If you can't not do a DIY, you will have to pay. The OPTI installation requires LT1 mechanical experience. We have experienced many mechanics' "how to do it" statements posted here by owners.
The #1 in my list was that crescent wrench mechanic who told the owner that the engine needed to be removed for the opti to be replaced.
The opti replacement gives the opportunity to install new cables, new O-rings, new water pump, new belt, and ensure he cleans all that crud out.
The #1 in my list was that crescent wrench mechanic who told the owner that the engine needed to be removed for the opti to be replaced.
The opti replacement gives the opportunity to install new cables, new O-rings, new water pump, new belt, and ensure he cleans all that crud out.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
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
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
If you can't not do a DIY, you will have to pay. The OPTI installation requires LT1 mechanical experience. We have experienced many mechanics' "how to do it" statements posted here by owners.
The #1 in my list was that crescent wrench mechanic who told the owner that the engine needed to be removed for the opti to be replaced.
The opti replacement gives the opportunity to install new cables, new O-rings, new water pump, new belt, and ensure he cleans all that crud out.
The #1 in my list was that crescent wrench mechanic who told the owner that the engine needed to be removed for the opti to be replaced.
The opti replacement gives the opportunity to install new cables, new O-rings, new water pump, new belt, and ensure he cleans all that crud out.
I am willing to buy the parts myself to save money but 115 an hour is a very steep price to pay, even 85 an hour would be very decent i would assume considering that it is a corvette. But the dealerships are just looking for what would drain the most amount of money out of my pocket.
Also a corvette specialist would be nice because this is what they want to work on and is a passion to do. So I know I will get the best work done on a 20 year old car that the dealership may have no clue to work on.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
Your absolute best bet is to find a local Corvette club, or look up some Corvette/car shows in your area. Talk to folks, and surely someone will "know a guy".
You can also look at the regional section in this forum and post there too.
You can also look at the regional section in this forum and post there too.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 224
Likes: 2
From: Deerfield Beach FL
If I were you I would AVOID the Dealership no matter what...
A Corvette shop or a local mechanic who has experience with LT1's would be your best bet......Good Luck, hope you find someone....
A Corvette shop or a local mechanic who has experience with LT1's would be your best bet......Good Luck, hope you find someone....
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
I've said it a million times, so what's one more;
The acid test of "should I buy a C4?" is this....can you do your own wrenching? If the answer is yes, a C4 can be kept running forever for a reasonable amount of money. If the answer is no, the car CAN and WILL bankrupt you in repairs.
It is VERY easy to have a repair at a shop run into the thousands on a car that's worth $6K. An Opti is a good example. A transmission rebuild is another. When my old '84 spun the balancer and took out the timing cover seal, I got bids just because I was short on time. The cheapest was $925. I did it myself and parts cost about $125. I just worked on it 20 minutes a day. Took 2 weeks to finish it, but saved me $800.
Learn to wrench on at least some of the stuff on this car, or you will be writing a lot of very big checks.
The acid test of "should I buy a C4?" is this....can you do your own wrenching? If the answer is yes, a C4 can be kept running forever for a reasonable amount of money. If the answer is no, the car CAN and WILL bankrupt you in repairs.
It is VERY easy to have a repair at a shop run into the thousands on a car that's worth $6K. An Opti is a good example. A transmission rebuild is another. When my old '84 spun the balancer and took out the timing cover seal, I got bids just because I was short on time. The cheapest was $925. I did it myself and parts cost about $125. I just worked on it 20 minutes a day. Took 2 weeks to finish it, but saved me $800.
Learn to wrench on at least some of the stuff on this car, or you will be writing a lot of very big checks.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
The opti should cost about $500 shop cost, and take about four hours @ $125. These are a little high but should give you a reference. The opti spark was installed in hundreds of thousands of GM cars in the early 90's. The dealership is the LAST place to get a quality repair on a C4 Corvette, They don't know or care what they are doing on anything out of warranty, and they are only interested in extracting as much money as they can from you. Odds are they would farm the job out to a local shop anyway.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 350
Likes: 2
From: Huntsville AL
Call a taxi, or call 911.
Seriously, there were a lot of 90's era Impalas with LT1's in police and taxi fleets. You just might find a mechanic with LT1 experience in the fleet garage that will do the work on the side for a reasonable price. Dealers get rid of their shop manuals after 5 or 10 years, so odds are any dealer mechanic that touches a C4 is flying blind unless he is an oldtimer.
Seriously, there were a lot of 90's era Impalas with LT1's in police and taxi fleets. You just might find a mechanic with LT1 experience in the fleet garage that will do the work on the side for a reasonable price. Dealers get rid of their shop manuals after 5 or 10 years, so odds are any dealer mechanic that touches a C4 is flying blind unless he is an oldtimer.
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
I've said it a million times, so what's one more;
The acid test of "should I buy a C4?" is this....can you do your own wrenching? If the answer is yes, a C4 can be kept running forever for a reasonable amount of money. If the answer is no, the car CAN and WILL bankrupt you in repairs.
It is VERY easy to have a repair at a shop run into the thousands on a car that's worth $6K. An Opti is a good example. A transmission rebuild is another. When my old '84 spun the balancer and took out the timing cover seal, I got bids just because I was short on time. The cheapest was $925. I did it myself and parts cost about $125. I just worked on it 20 minutes a day. Took 2 weeks to finish it, but saved me $800.
Learn to wrench on at least some of the stuff on this car, or you will be writing a lot of very big checks.
The acid test of "should I buy a C4?" is this....can you do your own wrenching? If the answer is yes, a C4 can be kept running forever for a reasonable amount of money. If the answer is no, the car CAN and WILL bankrupt you in repairs.
It is VERY easy to have a repair at a shop run into the thousands on a car that's worth $6K. An Opti is a good example. A transmission rebuild is another. When my old '84 spun the balancer and took out the timing cover seal, I got bids just because I was short on time. The cheapest was $925. I did it myself and parts cost about $125. I just worked on it 20 minutes a day. Took 2 weeks to finish it, but saved me $800.
Learn to wrench on at least some of the stuff on this car, or you will be writing a lot of very big checks.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
My thing is, half the time these "mechanics" can't figure it out and screw it up worse than it was before and charge a bazillion bucks for the privilege. These days you have to be not only mechanically inclined, you have to be intelligent and analytical too, or you will get in over your head quickly.
Take a C4 to a "mechanic" with an intermittent no start and see what happens. Most of us on here can run the tests to troubleshoot it in our sleep. The pros will be standing there with their schwanz in their hand guessing and charging for unneeded parts.
Take a C4 to a "mechanic" with an intermittent no start and see what happens. Most of us on here can run the tests to troubleshoot it in our sleep. The pros will be standing there with their schwanz in their hand guessing and charging for unneeded parts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
My thing is, half the time these "mechanics" can't figure it out and screw it up worse than it was before and charge a bazillion bucks for the privilege. These days you have to be not only mechanically inclined, you have to be intelligent and analytical too, or you will get in over your head quickly.
Take a C4 to a "mechanic" with an intermittent no start and see what happens. Most of us on here can run the tests to troubleshoot it in our sleep. The pros will be standing there with their schwanz in their hand guessing and charging for unneeded parts.
Take a C4 to a "mechanic" with an intermittent no start and see what happens. Most of us on here can run the tests to troubleshoot it in our sleep. The pros will be standing there with their schwanz in their hand guessing and charging for unneeded parts.
I agree, if you're going to pay someone to do the work, take it to a Muscle car specialty shop, or speed shop of some sort. There are still alot of LT1 F-body and Y-body cars hitting drag strips still. These would be the folks most likely to have recent experience. Though, I highly recommend asking point blank about their knowledge of the LT1 engine, and perhaps references. This is why I suggested finding a Corvette club or similar, they know these guys.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
More like YOUR schwanz, because it's you chain their pullin'
I agree, if you're going to pay someone to do the work, take it to a Muscle car specialty shop, or speed shop of some sort. There are still alot of LT1 F-body and Y-body cars hitting drag strips still. These would be the folks most likely to have recent experience. Though, I highly recommend asking point blank about their knowledge of the LT1 engine, and perhaps references. This is why I suggested finding a Corvette club or similar, they know these guys.
I agree, if you're going to pay someone to do the work, take it to a Muscle car specialty shop, or speed shop of some sort. There are still alot of LT1 F-body and Y-body cars hitting drag strips still. These would be the folks most likely to have recent experience. Though, I highly recommend asking point blank about their knowledge of the LT1 engine, and perhaps references. This is why I suggested finding a Corvette club or similar, they know these guys.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Go on to one of the regional boards on this forum and ask. You might have better luck there. Google car clubs in your area......hot rodders always know who the best (and worst) wrenches are.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0