First Time Vette Owner
02-01-2019, 12:02 PM
#1
First Time Vette Owner ?s
First time poster here:
Just purchased a ‘96 coupe from a relative whose husband passed away. This car was his baby. I feel super lucky that the car is in perfect shape and has been featured in vette mags for its performance and condition. I don’t know a ton about Vettes but want to do right by it and honor him. Good news is he kept a meticulous binder on maintenance so I’ll know more about history when it arrives.
Here are highlights from the spec sheet (some of this is Greek to me):
383 stroker (balanced and blueprinted)
Callies crankshaft
JE pistons (11.0:1)
1.6 crane roller rocker arms
lunati connecting rods
manely valves
ported heads
58mm throttle body
forced air into K&N filter
Custom programmed PCM
crane h-16 ignition
magna core wires
custom 8.8 qt oil pan w/ external cooler
high capacity aluminum radiator
Custom 4.09 final drive
ceramic jet hot shorty headers
rampage 3in custom exhaust
cross drilled rotors/reinforced grandsport calipers/carbon metallic pads/stainless lines
shift light
grandsport wheels/tires
Rippie coil over suspension
Aside from respecting the power and not driving like an a**, anything else I should know before owning a car like this? Do’s/don’ts of ownership? It will be covered and garaged when not in use.
Thanks in advance!
Just purchased a ‘96 coupe from a relative whose husband passed away. This car was his baby. I feel super lucky that the car is in perfect shape and has been featured in vette mags for its performance and condition. I don’t know a ton about Vettes but want to do right by it and honor him. Good news is he kept a meticulous binder on maintenance so I’ll know more about history when it arrives.
Here are highlights from the spec sheet (some of this is Greek to me):
383 stroker (balanced and blueprinted)
Callies crankshaft
JE pistons (11.0:1)
1.6 crane roller rocker arms
lunati connecting rods
manely valves
ported heads
58mm throttle body
forced air into K&N filter
Custom programmed PCM
crane h-16 ignition
magna core wires
custom 8.8 qt oil pan w/ external cooler
high capacity aluminum radiator
Custom 4.09 final drive
ceramic jet hot shorty headers
rampage 3in custom exhaust
cross drilled rotors/reinforced grandsport calipers/carbon metallic pads/stainless lines
shift light
grandsport wheels/tires
Rippie coil over suspension
Aside from respecting the power and not driving like an a**, anything else I should know before owning a car like this? Do’s/don’ts of ownership? It will be covered and garaged when not in use.
Thanks in advance!
Last edited by LegaC4; 02-01-2019 at 12:10 PM.
02-01-2019, 12:29 PM
#2
First time poster here:
Just purchased a ‘96 coupe from a relative whose husband passed away. This car was his baby. I feel super lucky that the car is in perfect shape and has been featured in vette mags for its performance and condition. I don’t know a ton about Vettes but want to do right by it and honor him. Good news is he kept a meticulous binder on maintenance so I’ll know more about history when it arrives.
Here are highlights from the spec sheet (some of this is Greek to me):
383 stroker (balanced and blueprinted)
Callies crankshaft
JE pistons (11.0:1)
1.6 crane roller rocker arms
lunati connecting rods
manely valves
ported heads
58mm throttle body
forced air into K&N filter
Custom programmed PCM
crane h-16 ignition
magna core wires
custom 8.8 qt oil pan w/ external cooler
high capacity aluminum radiator
Custom 4.09 final drive
ceramic jet hot shorty headers
rampage 3in custom exhaust
cross drilled rotors/reinforced grandsport calipers/carbon metallic pads/stainless lines
shift light
grandsport wheels/tires
Rippie coil over suspension
Aside from respecting the power and not driving like an a**, anything else I should know before owning a car like this? Do’s/don’ts of ownership? It will be covered and garaged when not in use.
Thanks in advance!
Just purchased a ‘96 coupe from a relative whose husband passed away. This car was his baby. I feel super lucky that the car is in perfect shape and has been featured in vette mags for its performance and condition. I don’t know a ton about Vettes but want to do right by it and honor him. Good news is he kept a meticulous binder on maintenance so I’ll know more about history when it arrives.
Here are highlights from the spec sheet (some of this is Greek to me):
383 stroker (balanced and blueprinted)
Callies crankshaft
JE pistons (11.0:1)
1.6 crane roller rocker arms
lunati connecting rods
manely valves
ported heads
58mm throttle body
forced air into K&N filter
Custom programmed PCM
crane h-16 ignition
magna core wires
custom 8.8 qt oil pan w/ external cooler
high capacity aluminum radiator
Custom 4.09 final drive
ceramic jet hot shorty headers
rampage 3in custom exhaust
cross drilled rotors/reinforced grandsport calipers/carbon metallic pads/stainless lines
shift light
grandsport wheels/tires
Rippie coil over suspension
Aside from respecting the power and not driving like an a**, anything else I should know before owning a car like this? Do’s/don’ts of ownership? It will be covered and garaged when not in use.
Thanks in advance!
02-01-2019, 12:39 PM
#3
02-01-2019, 02:06 PM
#4
Team Owner
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ShagVette (02-07-2019)
02-01-2019, 02:58 PM
#5
Safety Car
Welcome to the forum! You will find a lot of help here when you are specific with your questions.
My main suggestion is to get a battery tender. If you let it sit, it will run the battery down. Charge the batt every now and then.
Drive it easy at first and get used to the low slung riding position and all the stares & attention!
My main suggestion is to get a battery tender. If you let it sit, it will run the battery down. Charge the batt every now and then.
Drive it easy at first and get used to the low slung riding position and all the stares & attention!
02-01-2019, 03:09 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
First time poster here:
Just purchased a ‘96 coupe from a relative whose husband passed away. This car was his baby. I feel super lucky that the car is in perfect shape and has been featured in vette mags for its performance and condition. I don’t know a ton about Vettes but want to do right by it and honor him. Good news is he kept a meticulous binder on maintenance so I’ll know more about history when it arrives.
Here are highlights from the spec sheet (some of this is Greek to me):
383 stroker (balanced and blueprinted)
Callies crankshaft
JE pistons (11.0:1)
1.6 crane roller rocker arms
lunati connecting rods
manely valves
ported heads
58mm throttle body
forced air into K&N filter
Custom programmed PCM
crane h-16 ignition
magna core wires
custom 8.8 qt oil pan w/ external cooler
high capacity aluminum radiator
Custom 4.09 final drive
ceramic jet hot shorty headers
rampage 3in custom exhaust
cross drilled rotors/reinforced grandsport calipers/carbon metallic pads/stainless lines
shift light
grandsport wheels/tires
Rippie coil over suspension
Aside from respecting the power and not driving like an a**, anything else I should know before owning a car like this? Do’s/don’ts of ownership? It will be covered and garaged when not in use.
Thanks in advance!
Just purchased a ‘96 coupe from a relative whose husband passed away. This car was his baby. I feel super lucky that the car is in perfect shape and has been featured in vette mags for its performance and condition. I don’t know a ton about Vettes but want to do right by it and honor him. Good news is he kept a meticulous binder on maintenance so I’ll know more about history when it arrives.
Here are highlights from the spec sheet (some of this is Greek to me):
383 stroker (balanced and blueprinted)
Callies crankshaft
JE pistons (11.0:1)
1.6 crane roller rocker arms
lunati connecting rods
manely valves
ported heads
58mm throttle body
forced air into K&N filter
Custom programmed PCM
crane h-16 ignition
magna core wires
custom 8.8 qt oil pan w/ external cooler
high capacity aluminum radiator
Custom 4.09 final drive
ceramic jet hot shorty headers
rampage 3in custom exhaust
cross drilled rotors/reinforced grandsport calipers/carbon metallic pads/stainless lines
shift light
grandsport wheels/tires
Rippie coil over suspension
Aside from respecting the power and not driving like an a**, anything else I should know before owning a car like this? Do’s/don’ts of ownership? It will be covered and garaged when not in use.
Thanks in advance!
02-06-2019, 12:26 AM
#14
Burning Brakes
First time poster here:
Just purchased a ‘96 coupe from a relative whose husband passed away. This car was his baby. I feel super lucky that the car is in perfect shape and has been featured in vette mags for its performance and condition. I don’t know a ton about Vettes but want to do right by it and honor him. Good news is he kept a meticulous binder on maintenance so I’ll know more about history when it arrives.
Here are highlights from the spec sheet (some of this is Greek to me):
383 stroker (balanced and blueprinted)
Callies crankshaft
JE pistons (11.0:1)
1.6 crane roller rocker arms
lunati connecting rods
manely valves
ported heads
58mm throttle body
forced air into K&N filter
Custom programmed PCM
crane h-16 ignition
magna core wires
custom 8.8 qt oil pan w/ external cooler
high capacity aluminum radiator
Custom 4.09 final drive
ceramic jet hot shorty headers
rampage 3in custom exhaust
cross drilled rotors/reinforced grandsport calipers/carbon metallic pads/stainless lines
shift light
grandsport wheels/tires
Rippie coil over suspension
Aside from respecting the power and not driving like an a**, anything else I should know before owning a car like this? Do’s/don’ts of ownership? It will be covered and garaged when not in use.
Thanks in advance!
Just purchased a ‘96 coupe from a relative whose husband passed away. This car was his baby. I feel super lucky that the car is in perfect shape and has been featured in vette mags for its performance and condition. I don’t know a ton about Vettes but want to do right by it and honor him. Good news is he kept a meticulous binder on maintenance so I’ll know more about history when it arrives.
Here are highlights from the spec sheet (some of this is Greek to me):
383 stroker (balanced and blueprinted)
Callies crankshaft
JE pistons (11.0:1)
1.6 crane roller rocker arms
lunati connecting rods
manely valves
ported heads
58mm throttle body
forced air into K&N filter
Custom programmed PCM
crane h-16 ignition
magna core wires
custom 8.8 qt oil pan w/ external cooler
high capacity aluminum radiator
Custom 4.09 final drive
ceramic jet hot shorty headers
rampage 3in custom exhaust
cross drilled rotors/reinforced grandsport calipers/carbon metallic pads/stainless lines
shift light
grandsport wheels/tires
Rippie coil over suspension
Aside from respecting the power and not driving like an a**, anything else I should know before owning a car like this? Do’s/don’ts of ownership? It will be covered and garaged when not in use.
Thanks in advance!
02-07-2019, 05:57 PM
#16
Sounds like a very stout machine. So some of that is greek to you? It's all pretty basic stuff when talking engine building or building a car. Why buy a monster Vette right out of the gate? Just got a deal or do you have to have the baddest car around? I'm also in for the pics...
BIG rookie mistake talking cars with no pics. Lesson learned haha.
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3D-Aircrew (02-15-2019)
02-07-2019, 06:20 PM
#17
Melting Slicks
Thanks for the pics. Very nice car! 
I love that it has factory-looking exhaust tips.
I noticed that the panel gaps on the passenger door are offset (bigger on one side, smaller on the other), but the gaps on the driver door are normal. Not a big deal if the door closes OK, just curious.
And maybe I missed it, but is this an automatic or manual car? Any work done to the transmission (shift light)? All 1996 models with a manual trans left the factory with the LT4 engine.
I love that it has factory-looking exhaust tips. I noticed that the panel gaps on the passenger door are offset (bigger on one side, smaller on the other), but the gaps on the driver door are normal. Not a big deal if the door closes OK, just curious.
And maybe I missed it, but is this an automatic or manual car? Any work done to the transmission (shift light)? All 1996 models with a manual trans left the factory with the LT4 engine.
