So that's probably a $1,500-ish fix. And that carpet? 
Please read and help
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Joined: Sep 2017
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From: Edgewood Maryland
Please read and help
I am looking into buying a 84 corvette for sale that i got him down to 2800 the body is in great shape other than the quarter panel it has a code for number 4 2. the brakes need somthing since they work but they dont stop like they should peddle goes to floor the headlights work but will not flip open the test drive went good when i checked under the hood after the test drive it a little smoke was coming from the driver side header area the fluids the coolant was white as water but the coolant bottle has brown all over it and the oil was normal color please help me as i do not know if i should buy this or how expensive the flip out headlights would be to fix , the check engine light or the little bit of smoke ALL HELP WOULD BE VERY VERY APPERCIATED
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,688
Likes: 815
From: Saskatoon Sask.
I am looking into buying a 84 corvette for sale that i got him down to 2800 the body is in great shape other than the quarter panel it has a code for number 4 2. the brakes need somthing since they work but they dont stop like they should peddle goes to floor the headlights work but will not flip open the test drive went good when i checked under the hood after the test drive it a little smoke was coming from the driver side header area the fluids the coolant was white as water but the coolant bottle has brown all over it and the oil was normal color please help me as i do not know if i should buy this or how expensive the flip out headlights would be to fix , the check engine light or the little bit of smoke ALL HELP WOULD BE VERY VERY APPERCIATED
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 60
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From: Edgewood Maryland
Sorry about that.
I am new to the corvette world and am looking at a 1984 corvette for $2800.
The headlights do not flip open but the lights come on under the hood.
The check engine light on is for code 42
I accidentally turned on the wipers and they would not go off unless i restarted the car.
there was minimal smoke coming from the valve cover area after the test drive.
Also the coolant was fine in the bottle but could see rust on the container and brown sludge all over it.
Is this a good deal and what would you think the maintenance cost would be fixing something like this
I am new to the corvette world and am looking at a 1984 corvette for $2800.
The headlights do not flip open but the lights come on under the hood.
The check engine light on is for code 42
I accidentally turned on the wipers and they would not go off unless i restarted the car.
there was minimal smoke coming from the valve cover area after the test drive.
Also the coolant was fine in the bottle but could see rust on the container and brown sludge all over it.
Is this a good deal and what would you think the maintenance cost would be fixing something like this
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Edgewood Maryland
sorry
I am new to the corvette world and am looking at a 1984 corvette for $2800.
The headlights do not flip open but the lights come on under the hood.
The check engine light on is for code 42
I accidentally turned on the wipers and they would not go off unless i restarted the car.
there was minimal smoke coming from the valve cover area after the test drive.
Also the coolant was fine in the bottle but could see rust on the container and brown sludge all over it.
Is this a good deal and what would you think the maintenance cost would be fixing something like this
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,065
Likes: 215
From: Epping NH
The master cylinder for the brakes could be bad, just low on fluid or the lines have air in them. Sounds like the brakes work though so flushing the system might be all that is needed. Smoke just sounds like (as other said) oil leaking from a seal, should be easy to fix.
I'm not familiar with 84's headlights, but if the design is similar to my 96, there is a **** on each headlight motor that you can turn to flip the headlights. A lot of times the plastic bushings turn to dust, but the repair job is a fairly easy DIY with lots of youtube vids showing how to do it.
Value cover gaskets are easy DIY to replace, it's normal for a car this old to leak.
$2800 seems like a fair price and I wouldn't call the issues major. If your going to try to fix things yourself, I would budget another $500 to $1000 in for various items.
I'm not familiar with 84's headlights, but if the design is similar to my 96, there is a **** on each headlight motor that you can turn to flip the headlights. A lot of times the plastic bushings turn to dust, but the repair job is a fairly easy DIY with lots of youtube vids showing how to do it.
Value cover gaskets are easy DIY to replace, it's normal for a car this old to leak.
$2800 seems like a fair price and I wouldn't call the issues major. If your going to try to fix things yourself, I would budget another $500 to $1000 in for various items.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 191
From: Shit Creek, USA
I am looking into buying a 84 corvette for sale that i got him down to 2800 the body is in great shape other than the quarter panel it has a code for number 4 2. the brakes need somthing since they work but they dont stop like they should peddle goes to floor the headlights work but will not flip open the test drive went good when i checked under the hood after the test drive it a little smoke was coming from the driver side header area the fluids the coolant was white as water but the coolant bottle has brown all over it and the oil was normal color please help me as i do not know if i should buy this or how expensive the flip out headlights would be to fix , the check engine light or the little bit of smoke ALL HELP WOULD BE VERY VERY APPERCIATED
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Edgewood Maryland
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,674
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From: Shit Creek, USA
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Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,218
Likes: 1,174
From: Southlake, TX
I know that everyone is in a different economic situation and money is always an object.
That great deal $2800 is going to cost you more than double that--- if you want to make it "right." The best car advice I ever got was to find the best car I could barely afford and then scrape up a little more.
How handy are you? Labor on these cars is a back breaker if you can't fix it yourself.
More pictures help along with your goals as that determines if the car is a good value or not. You are entering into the situation with "known issues" and these are bound to be "unknown issues" as well.
That great deal $2800 is going to cost you more than double that--- if you want to make it "right." The best car advice I ever got was to find the best car I could barely afford and then scrape up a little more.
How handy are you? Labor on these cars is a back breaker if you can't fix it yourself.
More pictures help along with your goals as that determines if the car is a good value or not. You are entering into the situation with "known issues" and these are bound to be "unknown issues" as well.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 144
From: on Barnegat Bay Joisey
Buy it for around 2K; fix the brakes; drive it like you stole it and sell it next spring and buy a nice one. Ask for cash donations at christmas to sweeten the pot.
If it runs its worth that and more in parts so you shouldn't get burned. Just don't break it.
If it runs its worth that and more in parts so you shouldn't get burned. Just don't break it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,451
Likes: 336
From: Greater Cincinnati Area.
None of those issues sound like a big deal. Ya know, you start shopping for 30+year old cars and you just have to expect some of this stuff. Comes with the territory.
The big questions are your budget and how handy you are with the tools?
At a glance there's probably less than a K there, easy, to fix everything I saw you mention and the people on this forum can help you do it. There's an amazing collection of corvette wisdom and experience here.
But, imo, if you want a C4 you need to be handy with the tools and have a little disposable income. (Something commensurate with three decade old toys) OR you need to be pretty well off, because you're going to have to pay someone else to fix your toy when it breaks.
So, what is your skill level and how much money do you have?
The big questions are your budget and how handy you are with the tools?
At a glance there's probably less than a K there, easy, to fix everything I saw you mention and the people on this forum can help you do it. There's an amazing collection of corvette wisdom and experience here.
But, imo, if you want a C4 you need to be handy with the tools and have a little disposable income. (Something commensurate with three decade old toys) OR you need to be pretty well off, because you're going to have to pay someone else to fix your toy when it breaks.
So, what is your skill level and how much money do you have?
Last edited by confab; Sep 11, 2017 at 05:46 PM. Reason: I forgot how to speel!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,502
Likes: 3,302
From: Hartford WI
I am new to the corvette world and am looking at a 1984 corvette for $2800.
The headlights do not flip open but the lights come on under the hood.
The check engine light on is for code 42
I accidentally turned on the wipers and they would not go off unless i restarted the car.
there was minimal smoke coming from the valve cover area after the test drive.
Also the coolant was fine in the bottle but could see rust on the container and brown sludge all over it.
Is this a good deal and what would you think the maintenance cost would be fixing something like this
The headlights do not flip open but the lights come on under the hood.
The check engine light on is for code 42
I accidentally turned on the wipers and they would not go off unless i restarted the car.
there was minimal smoke coming from the valve cover area after the test drive.
Also the coolant was fine in the bottle but could see rust on the container and brown sludge all over it.
Is this a good deal and what would you think the maintenance cost would be fixing something like this
84 doesn't have bushings. The gears could be broken or the motor dead. Turn the actuator **** and see if it even moves. When you turn on the lights, does the motor even make noise and I'd also listen when turned off. If it doesn't, you may be looking at a new pair of motors. That or module which is unobtainium so you have to scrounge around for junkyard ones which probably aren't in much better shape.
When you disconnect the electronic advance, the light comes on. If it doesn't go off, you have a consistent problem. Might be a broken wire in which case you have to go hunt it down.
Hopefully it is a bad switch.
Looks like the good part of the car. Have you tested compression and leakdown? Do that first.
At best, it is a full flush and flush and flush.
You mentioned the oil was normal color. Doesn't impress me much. For all we know, he dumped drained the oil and refilled it to impress the buyer.
All in all, I'd either pass or figure out what the junkyard offers you for scrap metal and offer that or $2000, whichever is less.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 372
Likes: 23
From: Harper Woods MI
My first Corvette purchase was a '84. I bought it for $5000 and still have it. It needed some work, but not as much as you are describing.
The headlights issue could be the relays that turn the motors. After you checked that the plastic **** under each headlight turns the headlights to their proper position, check the relays. The relays are located on the driver's side wheelwell under a metal cover.
The problem with purchasing a C4 with issues is you will probably spend a lot of money to get it back to decent shape. As I mentioned, I purchased my '84 for $5000, but I have nearly $12,000 in to it. I replaced much of the interior, the dying DN4+3 with a Tremec and added a Vetteaid analog dash cluster.
With my second C4, I was a lot smarter and purchased a very clean '91 that needed nothing. I still love my '84. It was a lot of fun to work on. I'll probably end up keeping it because of all the money I have in it.
Good luck if you do buy this one.
The headlights issue could be the relays that turn the motors. After you checked that the plastic **** under each headlight turns the headlights to their proper position, check the relays. The relays are located on the driver's side wheelwell under a metal cover.
The problem with purchasing a C4 with issues is you will probably spend a lot of money to get it back to decent shape. As I mentioned, I purchased my '84 for $5000, but I have nearly $12,000 in to it. I replaced much of the interior, the dying DN4+3 with a Tremec and added a Vetteaid analog dash cluster.
With my second C4, I was a lot smarter and purchased a very clean '91 that needed nothing. I still love my '84. It was a lot of fun to work on. I'll probably end up keeping it because of all the money I have in it.
Good luck if you do buy this one.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,502
Likes: 3,302
From: Hartford WI
The problem with purchasing a C4 with issues is you will probably spend a lot of money to get it back to decent shape. As I mentioned, I purchased my '84 for $5000, but I have nearly $12,000 in to it. I replaced much of the interior, the dying DN4+3 with a Tremec and added a Vetteaid analog dash cluster.
With my second C4, I was a lot smarter and purchased a very clean '91 that needed nothing. I still love my '84. It was a lot of fun to work on. I'll probably end up keeping it because of all the money I have in it.
Good luck if you do buy this one.
With my second C4, I was a lot smarter and purchased a very clean '91 that needed nothing. I still love my '84. It was a lot of fun to work on. I'll probably end up keeping it because of all the money I have in it.
Good luck if you do buy this one.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
Likes: 261
88 and up has improved shock towers, easier to fit wheel offsets, and maybe more. '90 new interior design , slanted radiator and some small tweaks most people don't even know about.
'91 newer c4 body style but tpi engine.
'92 lt1 car 300hp
'95-'96 most improved c4 there is.
'96 option lt4 330hp
Good luck and GET AWAY FROM THIS ONE!
'91 newer c4 body style but tpi engine.
'92 lt1 car 300hp
'95-'96 most improved c4 there is.
'96 option lt4 330hp
Good luck and GET AWAY FROM THIS ONE!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
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From: Mission Viejo CA
Team Owner
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
