Chad74

Father in law gave my wife a 1990 base model convertible with 85k miles last December. Car had basically been sitting in storage for 10 years. Did all the maintenance fluids, hoses, tires, etc. it has been a great weekend/3rd car. It became a daily driver a couple of weeks ago when we had to put her car in shop because hail damage. Since she started driving it, it has developed a tranny leak and it drank about 3.5 quarts of oil in a week.
I'm not this mechanically inclined to tackle a project to get it back running correctly. I know what the car is/was worth and I know a new/rebuilt motor and tranny will cost more than its value, but you can't put a dollar figure on sentimental value.
If we decide to fix it, I'm interested in changing tranny from auto to 6 speed.
What do you guys/gals suggest? Open to any and all advice.
Thanks

Whaleman

Could be a simple fix. Have a mechanic look at it. Dan

Chad74

It's at the dealership my company uses and I have a great relationship with. Trust him 100%
He's afraid to dig to far into because he can't source parts for it very well. I'm assuming he is talking about original OE parts.

HAD2HAV2

I think the swap from auto to 6 speed will be a high cost mod. since you will not be doing the work.
Pulling the motor and trans at the same time and having both rebuilt, that cost will bring your C4 back to its normal worth. Worth checking the problems out. Maybe the trans only has a pan leak. The oil consumption of the motor might be more involved.
If the paint and interior are in good shape then you have a nice project car, let us know what you find out.

scrappy76

So is just the tranny leaking ? or is the engine leaking also ?

Since the car does not need to be on the road, buy you an fsm if you do not have one already. Break out the tools and start learning to fix yourself. You will save a boatload of money.

Chad74

Tranny is leaking at the front pump, and the engine is consuming oil by the gallon.

I have the FSM's but spare time is not a friend of mine.

Red08

It might be simple, or not so simple, but have it checked out by a qualified mechanic.

C409

..... This is a basic small block Chevy engine with a TH700R4 transmission that is extremely common as both were used for many years in a LOT of vehicles ... trust him 100% on brand new vehicles but get your 'vette outta there now ! ... even if he manages to fix your car , by using "stealership" parts and labor rates he will suck the life right out of your wallet ..... The trans likely needs new oil seals front and rear ... the engine probably needs to be rebuilt ... I would guess that the cylinder walls/rings and valve seals are shot from sitting around for ten years or so .....

C409

..... The 6 speed swap is a viable option ... but be aware that it is very labor intensive and can be very expensive to source out all of the parts needed to accomplish the change over ... its more cost effective to buy a 6spd car and sell the one with the A4 BUT your car has the sentimental value that kinda over-rides that option .....

billschroeder5842

Chad, you are in the Metroplex (albeit up north a bit) so I recommend you get your car to Jim at Mid Cities Classics in Hurst. Jim is a corvette guy (he owns several) and really knows his stuff. He is fair, honest and does the job right.

Might be worth the drive if you plan on keeping the car.

aklim

YOU might not be able to put a dollar figure on sentimental value but what can your wallet afford? How much upside down can you take vs how much pleasure it will give you? Watch you don't end up with fixing the car but destroying your marriage.

vader86

I would not let the dealership do the work, they'll tear you apart in labor and OEM parts.

Sounds like the front pump seal needs to be changed in the 700r4. Expect $350 or so just to R&R the thing and you might get off for just the transmission at $500 at most shops. I have had to have it done before myself.

The engine oil consumption is a bigger issue, car sat too long and now sounds like valve seals are gone and the piston rings might be as well. This means it will have to be rebuilt, and that will cost several thousand to have it done right at most engine shops. I wouldn't let a stealership bend me over for that one, trust or not, it'll cost a fortune.

Explore the M6 switchover at a later date, get the engine sorted first. That'll let you know about budgeting for a switch.

confab

Is it consuming the oil or leaking it? Because that's two wildly different things. You should have fouled plugs and blue smoke issues with that much oil consumption.

I know the forum prefers the M6, but I like the 4L60 transmission and agree with Vader, above. A rebush on the pump and reseal shouldn't be terribly expensive. Not a deal breaker, and any decent transmission shop should be able to knock it out in a day.

So, in dollar terms, the engine is the focus and what exactly is happening to all this oil?

I also agree that I would avoid the dealer if cash is a consideration.

Best of luck!

Chad74

I live in Celina but work in Carrollton, so your guy isn't to far for me during the week.
Have you ever used or heard of Corvette Specialist here in Carrollton?

Chad74

It is consuming, when I first took it in I thought it was oil droppings I was leaving behind in my parking spot at work but he told me they could not find ANY oil leak and the only leak they could find was from the tranny. So to be honest I have checked the plugs or for smoke because I thought it was leaking. If it is smoking it wasn't that obvious when I was driving it.

Chad74

It's her car, I'm trying to get her options and let her make the decision to fix it. If she wants to do it we'll do it. I did an 82 Jeep about 4 years ago so it is her turn now.

Silver85

That's a lot of oil to be coming out the tail pipe in a week and not notice smoke. What do your exhaust tips look like? Can you see residue on the car just above them?

VikingTrad3r

Agreed. Something isn't adding up. Until you get a corvette specialist to assess the situation i frankly do not believe that your vette is consuming as much oil as you say it is while not smoking and not leaking. its impossible really.



OP, I will reiterate what others have said. Do not let a dealership touch your vette. While the engine and the parts are OFF THE SHELF parts (not being critical of your friend but if he thinks parts are tough to source you should seriously consider taking the vette elsewhere! to that vette specialist another forum member noted above) are very easy to find, the cramped space and other unique factors of working on vettes will KILL YOU on labour as they will never have worked on a C4 corvette before.

If it has sentimental value (like maybe your CJ did?) i'd get it done by a specialist in vettes. I know it sounds like we are trashing the dealerships, we aren't really. Its just that these cars are incredibly cramped and things are shoehorned in and after rebuilding/refurbing two of these c4's (an 85, and now completing my 86) there are hundreds of hours that go into learning the ultra cramped nature of the c4'corvette and never in my wildest imagination would i let a run of the mill mechanic touch the car. that is not because i am a control freak, its because i just know they would be seeing the vette for thefirst time and i'd be paying them to do things twice or even three times before they got it right.

strongly consider taking the car to a vette specialist who HAS WORKED on many c4's.

you could just say that your wife isnt' sure what she wants to do with the car yet and take the car back and not burn that bridge with your mechanic.

think of it like asking a general practicioner doctor to do hernia surgery. i'd go to the person who does hernia surgery all day long. im sure the GP could figure it out and reference his/her old books from school but ...

edit: on the 6spd conversion. i wouldn't do it unless you are doing it yourself and you consider it a fun hobby or are retired. if you want a 6spd, sell the auto and get a 6spd. if you like the early interior, the only year with the 6spd is an 89. cheers. VT.

Chad74

There is residue on the bumper. And it might be smoking but if it is, it's not noticeable while driving.

cv67

Cant win either way
do a motor/tranny theres an easy 6-8k
Motor+ 6 spd swap at least that
6-8k can get you decent 6 spd car turn the key but it toomay have needs
Is it really worth it, is everything else about the car real good?

If youre going to keep it forever then maybe-