Hi everyone,
New to the forums here. I'm looking at purchasing a '95 C4 LT1, 6-speed manual. Car is decent overall condition for it's age. It has 137K on the odometer, Corsa cat back system, brand new tires, brakes and some other new parts, comes with receipts for all of it. I can get it for $4500 which I don't think is a bad deal but I have a few questions.

The sellers mechanic told him that the ECU (the metal part right above battery) needs to be replaced or rebuilt because the fans don't come on properly. I verified that the fans do function, owner said they're supposed to stay on after the car is off, which they do not. They do come on if you turn they key to on without it running. From what I understand these cars run very hot so I'm not sure if the owner got bad information or if their is something wrong. owner said you can drive it for 45 minutes and the temp gauge creeps up. I'm not familiar with 'Vettes but I am somewhat mechanically inclined and this doesn't sound like an ECU issue to me.

There's oil on the drivers side of the engine coming from the valve cover, which says to me it's a bad valve cover. What concerns me is there is also oil pooling up on top of the valve cover, where those 4 bolts are, on all 4 of them. Would a bad valve cover gasket cause it to go up to the top of the valve cover?

Any help is appreciated, Thanks.

 

$4500 is a SMOKING deal for a '95 6-speed.

The PCM does not need to be replaced. This mechanic does not know our cars. The PCM on the 94-96 Corvette is insanely robust and is not likely to fail unless you actually attempt to kill it (by trying to flash it and failing).

The owner does not know our cars. The fans do not stay on after the car is turned off. If the fans come on when the key is 'on', then the problem is some idiot has messed with the fan relays (they're on the driver's side of the radiator housing) and rigged them to be on all the time because they're dumb.

The valve cover gasket leak is insanely common. Yes, a bad valve cover gasket causes the leak on top--or more correctly, the gaskets on the screws that hold the valve cover in place are probably just as shot as the valve cover gasket itself. When you buy a new valve cover gasket, it'll come with those seals too.

Where's this car at? I'm super jealous.

 

If the car runs and drives well, grab $4500, run back to the sellers place and buy it immediately. It may need things but if it runs and drives well for $4500 you can not go wrong. Even if it dies after a couple of years you can still recover most of that price selling parts.

 

4500 is a great price for a 95 6spd, you'll kick yourself for not buying it.

 

Here is a checklist I created when I was looking for my car.

 

As the others said, 4500 bucks is a screaming deal for any 6 speed c4. Let alone a later year car. It sounds like it's not even a total pile of crap, which makes it even a better steal. Go buy it now before someone beats you to it.

 

I think 4,500 is way too much. Don't buy..................................... ...by the way where is the car, got a phone number LOL ?!

 

Get it, drive it, enjoy it.
Yes, it will need parts, but you don't need to finish it by day two of ownership. Believe it or not part of the "fun"(???) of ownership is keeping you away from other vices....
If it starts from a cold engine, shifts without shaking itself to pieces, stops without throwing out an anchor you're starting out in a good place. Most of the important parts are still available - its a Chevy. This is a great forum for running down issues, finding parts and general commiseration when it hits the fan.
Good luck and let us know what you decided. We need pix!!!