Haven't driven my '89 much since 2003. It was my daily driver until then. I have wanted to go over the car and fix/replace some things that have needed fixing/replacing for many years, but life intervened. Now that I am retired, I have more time to spend on old hobbies. My wife gave permission for me to take over the garage for a while...

QuickJack works great for C4s

Although the car runs well, no codes, I decided that after 72,000 miles and 34 years, the oxygen sensor was running on borrowed time. I actually had one 'in stock' for a couple of years, anticipating a failure at any time. Having the car up made replacement a breeze. No heat required to get the old one out...


New oxygen sensor in

Shocks have never been replaced - until now.


New Bilstein shocks

New Bilstein shocks

The rear ABS sensor cable insulation is almost totally gone.I found some split wire sheathing that looks like it will do the trick on these. I'll post some photos when I get it installed.


Rear ABS sensor cable insulation has rotted off...

Changed the engine oil and filter today - I am too embarrassed to say when I last changed them but not many miles on the oil. Changed the power steering fluid. I have a set of braided steel brake lines to go on, will do a good flush of the brake fluid. A few more small issues to address, and she'll be ready for some weekend trips to the Hill Country (that was how I bribed, er, convinced the wife to let me monopolize the garage for so long). I don't know how many folks are interested in shade tree mechanic stuff like this. I'm not installing a supercharger or nitrous system. But, if people are interested, I'll post some more photos of my work...

 

Nice. What is the clearance with the Quickjacks?

 

Nice work! I always love seeing posts like this! Its really fun freshening these cars up. It's amazing how much of a difference the new parts make!

 

Looks like you're doing all the right things to get your car ready for more action. Good move on getting a Quickjack. I have one and love it, it really makes access to the bottom of the car very easy. While you are doing all that maintenance, you might want to consider changing the antifreeze if that hasn't been done recently. Have fun with your car. Good luck!

 

Between the jack surface and pinch weld? Depends on how you arrange the rubber blocks. Between the undercarriage and floor? On the high position more than enough to slide under on a creeper and reach everything. Although they are fairly expensive, I got them on sale a few years ago, and under the car, safety counts.

 

I actually had to replace the water pump about 18 months ago, and new antifreeze was added at that time, so I should be OK.

 

Between the undercarriage and the floor.

Thanks.

 

Enjoy your retirement, and what better way to spend time then working on your hobby, and ride.

 

Get that old brake fluid out of there so the ABS pump doesn't clog !!!!

 

For sure! After the new braided steel lines are on, I will do a thorough flush and bleed, although from what I understand, there is little exchange of the fluid in the ABS pump unless one activates it with a bidirectional scanner (which I don't have). I guess I can take it out on a gravel road after the bleed and activate the ABS repeatedly, then bleed again...

 

Have you replaced the tires?

 

Yes, about 2.5 years ago:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tte-tires.html

 

I bought my 85 4+3 Z51 when I retired, mostly for something to do, and to have some fun with. I learned my lesson with my wife's car, a Nissan Rogue. Her rear differential failed and it cost her $5K to fix it. The shop said that in that car, diff fluid needed to be changed every 32,000 kilometers, or 20,000 miles. Not like an American car at all, where you can ignore them for 100K! So, just in case, I'm changing the diff fluid on both my C4 this spring, along with the OD unit. I've already done the rest of the fluids in it. But I still have my truck to do, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4X4. I'm going to do trans, transfer case, and both front and rear diffs. I'm towing a boat and trailer combination that weighs over 9000 pounds, so better to be prepared than to be calling for a tow.

Good luck with your work!

 

Good stuff! I might have to get an O2 sensor to have on "standby" for my 86 Z51. So, tell me about the NavAir?

 

Have been a pilot since 1981, and I spent 22 years in the Navy as a Flight Surgeon (8 active and 14 Reserve).

 

Thank you for your service. I too, am retired and doing the little things to my '85 now.

 

Good stuff, thanks for your service! I started military life as a CH46 Sea Knight mechanic in the USMC for 7 years, then 3 in the Army Guard and last 10 in the USAFR. I'm sure you have your C4 NATOPS handy, lol. I'm enjoying your maintenance pics.

 

Thinking about some QuickJacks myself, I see they are on sale now. Which model did you get?

 

Thank you both (for your service as well). Although I learned a lot about wrenching from my Dad (a machinist before his Army service in WWII) and the gentleman who lived across the street (he was a shop teacher), watching the aircraft mechs in my squadron really taught me about tool control. I can boast that I haven't lost a tool in the 50+ years that I have been working on cars. I have done some consulting for NASA, and one of their routine processes is to take many, many closeout photos when assembling hardware. I emulate that when working on almost everything, including my autos.

And yes, I still have my TA-4F/J, A-4E/F, F4B, P3C, and General NATOPS manuals. For those unfamiliar, "NATOPS" stands for Naval Aviation Training and Operating Procedures Standardization. Basically everything that the pilot needed to know about the aircraft. They take up a foot of bookshelf space in my office...

Some NATOPS manuals (or are we called them: "Big Blue Sleeping Pills")

 

Thank you for your service. I did my 22 years in the USAF or "chair force" as the other services call it.
I got my Quickjack just this summer and my 86 is in the air at the moment getting a ZF6 upgrade. The reason for the quickjack purchase.
To answer Topduart's question, I use the 3 inch blocks with my jack and get 22 inches of clearance. Then I put the 3 ton jack stands under at about an inch lower. Then remove the quick jack so I can get the creeper in and out easier. I store the quickjack under the front and rear of the car sideways.
The Quickjack has to be one of the best investments I have made to my garage along with the overhead wench. Have to have those power tools as we age. I can no longer pick up an empty small block bare handed.