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I bought my first Vette, an 89 convertible that is mostly stock. She just has a magnaflow exhaust and the k&n filter. She has a bunch of small issues, but the major stuff is solid like the dash, lights, engine etc. The guy I rescued her from was going to chop her up into a hotrod.
I joined this forum and have already solved one issue. The digital hvac display didn't work so I took that apart and now I got the controls working. However, she doesn't blow hot, cold or through different vents. I see the heater core is connected and its not leaking.
The next bug is with the door locks. There's an alpine security system installed that you can hear the door lock actuators when you click the button but nothing happens. Each door has to be locked individually.
The last issue is a clanking sound from under neath. When you let your foot off the gas and are just cruising she does it. I'm going to do the motor mounts and hope that's it. If not I figure I'll see what else could be wrong while I'm elbow deep in there. That's my daughter trying to claim her...
That's a really fine example. Welcome to the Flame Red Metallic club! Love that color! How did you find out about the car and whatever was the PO going to do to make it a 'hotrod'? Great pic of your daughter dreaming behind the wheel BTW.
I found her on Craigslist. The PO was going to use the engine, trans front and rear suspension in a 46 or 49 international panel truck. She's too clean to chop up. The interior is almost perfect except for a bunch of extra screws in the center console and radio bezel that don't even hold into anything. The passenger seat is perfect. Driver seat is nice except for a small hole on the lumbar support. She's a SoCal car so no rot or rain damage.
I made a little more progress on the hvac. I replaced the vacuum check valve by the distributor and found a huge split in the vacuum line that goes from the contraption that controls the throttle to inside the firewall. So now the various vents blow air according to what is set, but still no heat or ac. The ac pump has freon in it. I only tried pressing the shrader valve briefly and it had a lot of pressure.
I'll try to find the vacuum hoses in the cabin. I took the radio and digital control and didn't see anything in there.
Thanks for all the replies.
Last edited by topfuel67; Feb 6, 2016 at 09:37 PM.
Good suggestions above. A couple more: If there is vacuum to the HVAC system, do a search on "AC programmer" a common failure. The rattle underneath may be the X brace hitting the trans or exhaust. It's pretty common for them to get bent going over speed bumps and with improper jacking.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Get the car on a lift or 4 sturdy jack stands. Then push/pull on things to see what is loose. It should be fairly easy to find. It could simply be the starter shield or loose pieces in the catalytic converter.
If it does not have the glass rear window then be sure to put a rolled up beach towel in the crease when lowering it. This will prevent the plastic from rubbing on itself and scratching the surface.
I have a 91 vert. I think you will be pleased and you did your good deed to save it from the hot rod chop shop! Now your only problem is prying your daughters fingers off the steering wheel. It may be too late.
Hopefully I will get home early enough to check out the c beam tonight. Now that the weather is warmer I can work on it later. We had miserably cold weather last week. It was getting into the 50s at night.
Found the clanking noise. The driver side exhaust pipe is touching the x brace. The passenger side only has a 1/4-1/2". I'll need to add a level or 2 to my home made ramps to have room under there.
I don't really see any points I'd be happy with putting a floor jack or jack stands at.
Found the clanking noise. The driver side exhaust pipe is touching the x brace. The passenger side only has a 1/4-1/2". I'll need to add a level or 2 to my home made ramps to have room under there.
I don't really see any points I'd be happy with putting a floor jack or jack stands at.
On jacking the rear of the car, the best way IMO is to use the Jackman adapter on a floor jack. It's basically a I-beam shaped piece of steel with a heavy rubber piece added to the top. It comes with a bolt that's used to bolt it in place of the cut on the jack and it fits between the exhaust pipes and raises the rear via the batwing:
The bolt didn't fit my jack, I added a piece of steel to the bottom that fit into the cup of the jack:
As far as supporting it on jack stands. You will find some pinch welded body seams just inside the jack points just in front of the rear wheels. Being careful to avoid the lines there, I made up some 3/4" pads with a add-on guide that fit the jackstands so they don't slide and use that when putting the car on jackstands. Put the pads there at those seams and slowly lower the car onto the stands with the pads between the pads and the car. Personally I leave the jack under the batwing so it's got 3 points holding up the car.
Front is much the same except I use the crossmember under the engine to lift the front of the car. You need a low profile jack to get under there.
That's pretty much it and how I do it. Hope that helps.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Here us a pic of my 96 vert with the Jack A Vette in place. The company even used this pic in their advertising. www.corvettegadgetman.com
This is my 87 vert. I learned this method from a book called "101 Projects for Your C4 Corvette" I am using a wood block on the pinch weld but I started using a hockey puck in later years. It lifts both the front and rear of one side. Place the front jack stands on the frame at the X brace mounting bolts and the rear jack stands at the shock mounts.
I did the plugs, wires cap and rotor today. I am thrilled that all 8 plugs have that nice grey color. The cap and rotor were in poor condition though. Always like when the basic repairs work out.
Great ride I had 89, loads of fun.
First Vette 89 convertible
Love that color! How did you find out about the car and whatever was the PO going to do to make it a 'hotrod'? Great pic of your daughter dreaming behind the wheel BTW.
