Just joined the forum..

My Dad owned two Vettes when he was younger. He owned a '58 for about five years. Then sold it after buying a '63 split window.
The '63 got rear ended at a red light in the early 70's. Completely destroying it. Some years after that, I was born and it was all about
Lincolns and pickup trucks after that.

In the early 90's, his beater Bonneville literally caught fire while driving down the road. Electrical system completely went up in flames.
I took him driving around to look for a new car. He was actually looking for another Bonneville. As we were hopping from lot to lot, we came
across this '84 Vette in really nice shape. I will never forget the conversation. I said to him, "You should totally buy that." ..He kind of laughed
and I said, "We can find you another Bonneville when you're 80. You should totally buy that 'Vette." ..We ended up taking it for a drive and
then negotiating a price with the seller over the phone. It was on consignment. The family had been through some bad times so it was
awesome to see him have a Vette again. Then he just snagged a pickup truck later.. for the winters.

He kept the car garaged at all times and it was never driven past September. Garaged from October until April. He drove it quite a bit
in the summer and did some road tripping with it over the years. After around 2014, it spent most of its time in the garage. The insurance was
put on it for the summer of 2017. And that was the last time it was out on the road.

My Dad passed away recently. At 84. I am now the owner of the '84 Vette. He never did own another Bonneville. He just continued to go through
F150's and Rangers. I have spent the past 20 years building 88-00 Hondas. So this will be the first I've really gotten serious with Corvettes. I'm Looking
forward to learning here so I can give this thing the love it needs. I want to keep the exterior as stock looking as possible for now. And worry about under
the hood and all the small details. It will never be sold. Just passed down to my kid.

Here she is as of September, 2023 -

 

Great story and good for you to keep it in the family.

 

Way better than the beater '84 that I bought.

Welcome to the club.

 

Thank you. I'm looking forward to getting into the depths of these and what we can do to them.

I have a thing for beaters, though. Because I don't get so over protective of them. People tend to loosen up and enjoy beaters more.
This thing does have a couple main issues I need to take care of. The water pump gasket is leaking a little. No big deal. My Dad was just getting to the point where
he couldn't get out there and work on it. I'm going to have it towed to my house so I can really get at it with my tools. A lot can happen in 15 miles if the coolant leak
decides to go from leaking to pouring..

 

Great story and history of Corvette ownership. I too inherited a corvette from my father passing, its a strange feeling but badge of honor at the same time.

 

I like the 84 model, but I'm biased


If you are looking to do any performance mods like you eluded to forget it tho. Just maintain it and enjoy it. This year flat out sucks for bolt on power options. Short of replacing the heads (literally termed throw away heads by machine shops) cam, and intake system you'd be money and mucho time ahead by doing a carbed crate engine or junkyard LS swap. But then you loose the workings of the sensors talking to the dash unless you spend even more money to get someone to make it all talk

Those of us that keep the intake system and try to prove you can make power with them for bragging rights have thou$and$ into them.

The heads only flow adequate for a 305, and are prone to cracking. Most rebuilders recommend tossing them vs sinking the $$ into the work needed just to refresh them, porting them is a waste of time since they flow so horribly and are prone to cracking if just left alone anyway.

The intake flows horribly, tho you can easily port the cast aluminum, but gain very little due to the built in design stupidity of the water jacket. If you can get your hands on the unobtanium and currently no longer made Renegade intake for it there is hope. But even then you need heads and headers to see more than a 30hp gain. The xRam used to be the only option, but it wasn't exactly bolt on and was only good for 15-20hp. Which is also unobtanium...

It does make great torque tho, which is it's only saving grace. I used to drive mine across country every couple weeks for years and would regularly get 32mpg. But that was before I went and had it built to a 383 stroker. Now I can only eek out 26mpg on the highway trips. Granted I'm sure part of that is the stupid ethanol blends they put in fuel now vs back then when everywhere had 100% gasoline and some occasional 85octane pumps which really let the low compression ratio shine

There's a cult following with us cross fire owners, whether 82 or 84, so don't be afraid to ask questions, we like to share info. I'm sure Buccaneer and tom400 will be a go to source for info when you dive into it

 

It is very strange! I own it. I have the title in my name. And it still feels like I'm working on my Dad's car. And always will. Worst way to get a new car. But you are correct...it is a badge of honor.
I don't mind stepping out of my comfort zone and learning about these. The hardest time I'm having right now is saying "headers" plural. Hah!

For me, it's just one of those cars that has so many memories attached to it that I know I could never get rid of it. I could never sell or trade it for something else. So it's just the platform I'm stuck working with. I was, indeed, talking about swaps. I do want to convert it to manual at some point. I've done so many auto to manual conversions in other cars, it should go smooth after I do more reading and learning in this area. As almost all my experience over the years is with Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans. I just like to feel like I've already done it before I dive in.

In the end, I don't mind sinking money into this thing. Even if I roll around on the existing setup until I acquire everything I need. Because it will just end up going to my boy anyway. And he will still have the original motor (and parts) in the garage if he ever wants to revert back..This car will be a memorial in a way.

You are absolutely correct about the stock motor. I just plan on getting it running tip-top until I acquire the knowledge and understanding I'm looking for about the interchangable world of these cars. After I have a full understanding of what's up out there, I may just end up keeping it stock. Or may just end up converting it to manual and stopping there. It's cool to be learning in a new world, though. I feel like a total noob and it's actually kind of fun.

Thanks for all the input. I appreciate it.

 

Sorry to hear about your dad, of you're 84 that meant he had aomg, full life!

It's all a question of how far you want to go. If you wanted to go absolutely crazy fast, you could swap a dana 44 out of a manual car in, and put in a lt4/10L90 gmpp kit on, they're like 25k and just absolutely wicked. There's be a lot of things you'd have to figure out, but it'd be really, really fast.

 

I'm really sorry for your loss, but glad you have the memories attached to the car, and you and he were able to enjoy it for a while, together. I can very much relate... My dad was my Corvette buddy. He's been gone for eight years (passed away at 69). He had 14 Corvettes over the years, I had memories attached primarily to the C4s and C5s, although he also had C3s and C6s. The most important one to the two of us was actually mine (the '96 LT4), which I took him with me to buy over 22 years ago. I will keep this car forever. We spent three days driving it back home 1300+ miles to Kansas City, and I will never ever forget it. We did some repair work on it and some improvements. I learned a lot from him and now I'm learning more on my own with it, but trying to incorporate my two kids (6 and 11) as time allows. Not a day goes by that I don't think of my dad and miss the times we had together with my car and with his cars. Good luck working on this one - it is a SHARP looking '84! (Note - the first Corvette I went with my dad to buy was in fact an '84, right at 39 years ago in August, 1984 - white/graphite, automatic - bought from a GM employee here in Kansas City - man, was it cool, and so different, at the time! I'd love to find it someday. Somewhere at my mom's house, I think, is the personalized MO license plate it had when we bought it - "ITSA 84").

Mike

 

Thank you. Yes, he was also mobile all of his life. So that is another good aspect of it. I appreciate the input. I'm going to note all that and look into it. As I said before - Even if I acquire the parts over time, that's fine with me. I just want to keep the car operational until I make any big changes. The best thing about this car is the fact that I don't have to do any serious body work to it. Just clean it up and focus on the mechanics.

And thanks for the input.

Thank you. That's awesome that you and your Dad bonded over Corvettes. If you don't mind me asking - Where did you pick the '96 up from? Out west or Florida? My kid really wants a specific year Honda. And due to the Rust Belt / Salt Belt , most of these have been reclaimed by the Earth at this point. I'm considering finding one down south or out west. Then making a trip out of picking it up. I was able to get my boy to help me throw headers on cars and do oil changes when he was little. But the real engine work didn't appeal to him at the time. Hah. I'm sure your kids will start to get into it as time goes by. I'm going to make a deal with him that if he gets this car he wants, he has to learn how to tear it apart and put it back together.

I was in the garage with my Dad just before he passed. He was telling me about the slight leak in the water pump and I was checking it out with him. It was hard to see exactly what was going on. But the more reading I have been doing over the past couple days, the more I wonder if it is actually a head gasket leak at the front. Right near the water pump. That was an "Oh Man" moment until I remembered that the heads on these 84's aren't aluminum. But there is no way he overheated it. If so, it most likely just deteriorated. But I can't really get at this until I have it towed here. I really wanted to drive it home. But that's a bad idea.

You are correct. It's still crazy to look at the digital dash and all the options. I know for a fact that the "gauge cluster" is new. As it was giving him some issues a while back and he had it replaced at a local Corvette shop. Which I don't think is in business anymore. He usually didn't do that. I think he was afraid of jacking something up in the dash. Or maybe he got a deal on it. They are still very different..and not in an "Atari" way. It's like old school, yet valid technology. One of my other cars has a targa top as well. But not a clear targa top. That is a huge bonus. I love those.

I should also state that the hood is popped in that photo I took. I should have closed it before taking the shot.


Some interesting things about this particular car -
*It still has the original Bose tape deck and surround sound setup. And the tape deck still works. But the heads need to be legitimately cleaned with some 99% alcohol. I actually just bought a bottle for my old Tascam 16 Track setup.
*It has the original leather seats. Which are still in pretty good condition. I will get some photos of the interior when I can.
*It has the original, transparent targa top
*It even has the original "1984 MotorTrend Car of The Year" sticker in the window. Hah! My Dad left it exactly as he bought it.
*The tires, struts, gauge cluster and usual tune-up parts have been replaced. Otherwise, it is still exactly as it was when purchased as far as I know.

 

Clean looker! Welcome to the forum!

And Condolences for your Father.

 

I understand that completely. My '92 isn't QUITE a beater but it's got lots of missing clearcoat, a few body problems from bad repairs before I got it, and other issues. But it still runs great and I'm enjoying the heck out of it. There is a guy in the C1-C2 section who is the original owner of a '63 convertible. He has documented over 622,000 miles on it! We are all different, but to me that is far more fun than putting a car in the garage and not driving it so you don't get it dirty.

I'm sorry for the loss of your Dad, but I'd bet he would be proud of your continued enjoyment of the car. Go wear it out, then fix it up and wear it out again. They were made to be driven!

 

The 78 is my dads car. He passed away in 2006. It will always be my dads car. Myself family friends and buddies of mine refer to it as my dads car. I have always seen myself as the care taker of it. Sometimes i feel a bit guilty that i dont drive it as much as i should. My dad was never afraid to drive it. I always remember his saying. I you cant take it with you when you die. Keep your dad's memory alive.

 

Hi - I found my '96 in Phoenix through another member on this forum, back in April, 2001. Figured out a way to swing a loan and in two days flew out with my dad to pick it up. We should have taken more time to get back, but we were both trying to get back to work. He got me in to Corvettes but he loved all cars, as I do. Had many many different ones over his lifetime, including 14 Corvettes. He always talked about the '68 Charger R/T, but after selling that, went to a '71 Corvette, and had Corvettes pretty consistently until the last one, a 2007 Z06.

I currently have two projects, my LT4 is up on blocks for water pump, oil leaks, etc. - it's just that time. I still love the C4s though.

Your '84 is very very nice, indeed! Thanks for sharing the details above. Those little details make them all the more special. Enjoy working on it and be sure to drive it and smile! Your dad is with you smiling, as well!

Mike

 

Absolutely. Cars with some issues tend to get driven more and enjoyed more. 622k is insane! That is awesome to hear. I have a few high mileage cars that keep receiving new motors...but I haven't
reached 622k yet. That is pretty impressive.

Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it.

Those are nice rides. And you are correct. I could never picture calling this "my car". It will always be "My Dad's car". It feels far too weird to say anything else. It's awesome to hear all the stories.And interesting to hear how many people out there are connected to these cars through their Dads.

It's amazing how many of these stories are Dad stories. It really blows my mind. Road trips with your family members are impossible to forget. Where were you driving from at the time? To pick it up, I mean.

I'm hoping to have the current motor running tip top ASAP. And enjoy it while I make plans for it. Sounds like you have your hands full. I have other projects ready to go as well...which
all got left to the side when he passed away. Now that the rest of the business is almost finished, I'm hoping to catch up on all this.



I have been searching for a decent photo of his '58 and I still cannot find the one I'm looking for.
However, I did find a photo of his '63 that I believe was taken along Lake Erie somewhere. Long before I was born.
I need to actually take the photo and scan it so it doesn't have the interference images in the photo of the photo. Hah.



I ran into some setbacks due to time...but should have the '84 transported to my house within the next week or so. Then the real work can begin.

 

Just my 2 cents worth, but that is a cool pic to start with, plus it's your dad. If it were me I'd take it to a high level photography shop (not your local Walmart or Walgreen's) and have them clean it up and maybe tweak the color a bit. Not make it fake, but correct what they can of the age deterioration. Then I'd have them make a poster about 16 x 20 or even bigger, and frame it to hang on the shop wall. Sounds like you certainly have the connection, he could watch over your projects as you work on them.

 

Welcome to the club. Loss is really tough and I’m sure the situation is bittersweet. That said, your Vette is gorgeous. Enjoy it.