New C4 owner needs help
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
New C4 owner needs help
Hi all, My name is Stephanie i'm in the Rockford IL area. I just bought RMBtowing's 87 C4. and i'm on a mission to fix it up. I need some help aligning the front bumper because it has a 1/2" gap between the top of the bumper and the hood. I have never worked on a corvette before and i'm not great with body work stuff. So if anyone could scan their service manual or give me direction I would be greatly appreciative. I'll try to put some pics up of the car soon. Thanks! I'm in love with this car it has alot of potential.
I'm also looking for black carpet floor mats, black door panels, black seat covers, c5 mag wheels and a drivers side door.
I'm also looking for black carpet floor mats, black door panels, black seat covers, c5 mag wheels and a drivers side door.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
From: :45 minutes from everywhere / E-I-E-I-O
Hi Steph! Welcome to the boards. We kinda' got a rule here about pics there, ya' gotta' include pics of yerself too!
My Mickey Mouse Haynes repair manual has no pics of the brackets that mount (and adjust) body panels. It is pretty easy to do, but takes lots of repeated adjustments - after you get one right, the one you just finished gets thrown off ...
My Mickey Mouse Haynes repair manual has no pics of the brackets that mount (and adjust) body panels. It is pretty easy to do, but takes lots of repeated adjustments - after you get one right, the one you just finished gets thrown off ...
Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
Hey Stephanie:
Welcome to the Corvette Forum. This is a great place to gain Corvette knowledge. You will learn alot here.
Check out the supporting vendors on the left side bar for the interior and engine parts that you are looking for. Vendors like Ecklers, Mid-America. Corvette Central and Zip will have most of what you need. Good luck -
Welcome to the Corvette Forum. This is a great place to gain Corvette knowledge. You will learn alot here.
Check out the supporting vendors on the left side bar for the interior and engine parts that you are looking for. Vendors like Ecklers, Mid-America. Corvette Central and Zip will have most of what you need. Good luck -
Last edited by pmihaltian; May 24, 2008 at 02:27 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
From: :45 minutes from everywhere / E-I-E-I-O
How does th hood match up with the drivers door? Compare it also to the passenger door also.
That will be a start reference for aligning the front bumper, or the hood (cross yer fingers not), or both...
That will be a start reference for aligning the front bumper, or the hood (cross yer fingers not), or both...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Hi all, My name is Stephanie i'm in the Rockford IL area. I just bought RMBtowing's 87 C4. and i'm on a mission to fix it up. I need some help aligning the front bumper because it has a 1/2" gap between the top of the bumper and the hood. I have never worked on a corvette before and i'm not great with body work stuff. So if anyone could scan their service manual or give me direction I would be greatly appreciative. I'll try to put some pics up of the car soon. Thanks! I'm in love with this car it has alot of potential.
I'm also looking for black carpet floor mats, black door panels, black seat covers, c5 mag wheels and a drivers side door.
I'm also looking for black carpet floor mats, black door panels, black seat covers, c5 mag wheels and a drivers side door.
Since you'll probably need more parts as time passes you might as well order the three Corvette catalogs that most of us rely on; Mid-America, Ecklers and Corvette Central. There are others like JEGS and Summit Racing which also have lots of parts, but the first three are exclusively for Vettes.
You can order them on-line and they're free.
Be careful not to chip the the paint in those areas where the clearance is tight. Good luck with the resto.
Jake
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
From: :45 minutes from everywhere / E-I-E-I-O
Here's some shots of the primary front bumper adjuster bolts:
The first 2 are of the primary upper bolts - driver side.
The 3rd pic is the primary bolt lower - passenger side. Rotate counter-clockwise 90' to see the proper view.
There might be other primary bolts, and also some other side trim bolts.
(and we're still awaitin' a pic of yourself
)
The first 2 are of the primary upper bolts - driver side.
The 3rd pic is the primary bolt lower - passenger side. Rotate counter-clockwise 90' to see the proper view.
There might be other primary bolts, and also some other side trim bolts.
(and we're still awaitin' a pic of yourself
)
Last edited by schrade; May 24, 2008 at 07:22 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,377
Likes: 531
There are these little washers with a grooved center called speed nuts on the bumper assembly. They thread onto the studs inside the front bumper and hold the studs in place so the studs don't fall into the bumper. Then, an actual regular nut (4) fastens the bumper to the front of the frame. Suppose the speed nuts themselves on that side of the bumper assembly have failed or are failing, resulting in that sag?
I think it's kind of a dumb design, honestly. If the studs fall into that part of the bumper which I think is a crash absorbtion pad because the speed nut rusted apart, there's no getting them out. They should've at least provided some kind of hole on top of the absorption pad so if that happens, you can just take if off, turn it upside down and fish out the old studs. And with that, I just gave myself an idea.....
I think it's kind of a dumb design, honestly. If the studs fall into that part of the bumper which I think is a crash absorbtion pad because the speed nut rusted apart, there's no getting them out. They should've at least provided some kind of hole on top of the absorption pad so if that happens, you can just take if off, turn it upside down and fish out the old studs. And with that, I just gave myself an idea.....
Last edited by 1985 Corvette; May 24, 2008 at 06:54 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,356
Likes: 2
From: No HOA, New Hampshire
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Looking at the hood alignment with the doors and the bumper I think the hood is off not the bumper. Four bolts hold the drivers side hinge to the frame (13mm socket) hinge is slotted for adjustment. I just did this today for a show tomorrow and I found if you start in the middle of the slot and adjust from there you can even out the gaps. You might have to adjust the latch strikers after you are done so you can open the Clamshell again without pulling on each latch.
I hope this helps and let us know how you make out.
I hope this helps and let us know how you make out.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,269
Likes: 0
From: Sharpsburg Georgia
GA Events Coordinator
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 988
Likes: 7
From: Sarasota Fl
Here's a scan. Schrade's photo looked similar to mine with the hood open.
http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/l...t=scan0002.jpg
http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/l...t=scan0001.jpg
If you click on it you will go to my photobucket account and it will look really blurry, but just click on the picture and it will get bigger and MUCH clearer.
Jonathan
http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/l...t=scan0002.jpg
http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/l...t=scan0001.jpg
If you click on it you will go to my photobucket account and it will look really blurry, but just click on the picture and it will get bigger and MUCH clearer.
Jonathan
Last edited by janarvae; May 24, 2008 at 08:51 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,269
Likes: 0
From: Sharpsburg Georgia
GA Events Coordinator
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
From: :45 minutes from everywhere / E-I-E-I-O
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
I would be looking to move the hood forward some before touching the bumper alingment.
Do NOT close the hood fully UNTIL you have checked striker alignment first.
Ask me how I know