I just bought my very first Corvette, an '85 for only $3K. Got it to have something to "restore" while hubby deployed to Iraq. Guy who sold it to me said the engine was strong, only problem was headlights wont go down. No problem, Im thinking... it can wait till hubby gets home. Oh, and the hood release pull is disconnected. Ive since reconnected it no problem. Only other thing was to re-do interior which he tore up. Thats where the "deployment restoration project" comes in.

Before I gave him the cash, I took it for a drive. Started fine, breaks a little soft for me (but I just thought its because Im used to driving a big ole suburban). No warning lights, drives great, Im one happy camper.

Day 2... Took all day to clean 20 years worth of gunk out of car. Seriously, did this guy EVER clean it?

Day 3.... Go out to garage, notice Im leaking something. Don't look like oil, way to light in color (but still a browninsh color) Go to start car. Nothing but a click. I have to litteraly PUMP gas to get it to finally turn over (I know... bad ju-ju). I then have to keep the RPM's up to keep it running for a minute or so. Then I can take foot off gas, and it stays running fine. Then, I notice the oil pressure number thingy sayes 2 ?? UGGG....

Brake warning light comes on. WTF?? I look down at e-brake and the damb thing isn't even hooked up. So, I know its not the e-brake. Maybe thats what Im leaking... Brake fluid?? Go to check brake fluid... the dumbass put lock-tight on cap! (Im really NOT kidding!)


So, Now Im off to find a mechanic, and probley pay out the butt just to make sure its safe for me to drive. Im just sooooo dissapointed and feel like Ive just been f'c'd. Sorry for the venting long post, but I feel like I want to SCREAM!
(I know.. your thinking, easy fixes.. but I dont know ANYTHING about ANYTHING under the hood. Thats why I got something with a "stong engine" that "doesn't need work under the hood". Yea right....)

Anyway, Ya'll will prolly be hearing from me alot on these forums. Ive already learned alot, and I thank you!
~Raynesa
(Proud wife of a US Army Warrant Officer)

 

WOW...welcome to the Forum. These cars are kinda fun to work on yourself....you'll pay and pay and pay and pay if you have to get someone to do the work for you. Get some tools, a Factory Service Manual (FSM) and get to workin' on that '85.

 

+1 on the service manual. You will be suprised at what you can fix yourself with a little time and patience. I am guessing you know which end of a screwdriver to hold since you were able to diagnose the brake light problem so quickly. Enjoy the car and make repairing it part of the fun of ownership.

 

Hang in there and welcome to the forum! We have some guys on here that can take a lemon and have it running and looking like it just rolled out of the factory brand new. These guys make it look easy and they're always happy to help out another Corvette owner in need.

 

+3
Get the FSM, you will go broke if you have to pay labor

 

Oh I have already, just waiting on it to be shipped. Ordered the manual on day one! Im just praying it has detailed pics, otherwise I will have NO idea what the book is saying! LOL. Thanks guys! ~R

 

You can always sell it now as is. No reason you cant get most of your $$$ back. Parts cars bring around $2500. The car is probably fixable but are you up to the task ? It may be best to cut your losses and run. Not saying you should. Just bringing up the option.

 

You might post again asking for help in your area. Maybe one of our members with some experience can take a look at your car.

For example, if the oil pressure was fine on your test drive and you got the car to normal operating temperature, it is unlikely to have dropped to near zero two days later. That said, there is much that is suspicious or alarming and a 3K car wasn't going to be a picnic.

I wish I lived closer but there are members across the country. Good luck.

 

Welcome to the forum.

Don't lots of advice here to get it ready for his return

 

There are no pictures in the FSM. Everything is drawings and diagrams. There is a definite learning curve involved in getting comfortable and being able to find what you want in it.

You obviously have a brake fluid leak. Chances are it's one of the metal lines rusted out. That would also explain the soft pedal.

It sounds like you might be in for a long and expensive ride before you're done. Not trying to discourage - I would suggest having a professional look it over and give you an assessment of what needs to be dealt with.

 

Call the people you purchased it from. Depending on how they are they may help you out.
Too bad about it stalling out but it may just be some bad gas, did it sit before you got it? Try putting some dry gas in it.
Don't let the brakes go, you should be able to stop faster than you can accelerate

Buyers remorse is horrible, trust me I have a yard full of it. But once you start fixing things you will feel better. Take on little things first then work up to the big stuff.

Good luck with your project, remember its over 20 years old and will need work. But they do look good don't they.

 

If I had listened to what people around me had said when I bought Boom, I wouldn't have her anymore. I paid 3300 and she's got a lot of issues. BUT she's mine all mine! I'm lucky that I repair cars for a living, but parts are still expensive. So far with what I paid and what I have in her I could have bought a much nicer LT1. (around 8000 and counting)


Long story short....... The C4's are very easy to work on. They will talk to you and try to tell you whats wrong.(scan tools!) and You can fix most things with a 50.00 tool set. Get a hold of members near you, I'm more than sure they will be willing to help. if you were in STL i know several that would my self included.

 

Welcome to the forum - and don't get discouraged or get thinking that you've been had - it takes all the fun out of owning one of these things. I agree with the range of suggestions/options put forward by previous posters, and I'm guessing that since you got yourself into a 24 year old car, you knew there would be some work to do. From a distance these cars might look high tech and complicated but really a stock, non-modified C4 is really pretty simple and especially easy to diagnose, esp if you have the Helms shop manual (GM).

I'm a happy owner of an 85; I bought it knowing that it would be getting a lot of attention and TLC and it is so easy to work on - that's half the reason I chose a C4, and of course the other half was the fun of driving it.

Enjoy you car, learn to do your own work and there is a lot of experience and usually good knowledge available on this forum.

 

The auto hobby shop or, as they like to call it nowadays, the Automotive skills center could probably help you out. They have free vehicle checks for deployed dependents. They also have certified mechanics that won't be as expensive on the outside and PROBABLY won't screw you. Not intentionally anyway . On the self-serve side they always have a mechanic on hand to ask questions of etc. They also have basic and advanced auto repair classes.

Also, my unit, and I would assume most others, set up networks of people willing to help dependents that are left behind with various chores and auto mechanics are usually one of them. Try the Family Readiness or Family Support on base and see if they can point you towards someone.

Here's the website for the Auto Skills Shop http://www.rileymwr.com/web-content/...utomotive.html

Also the Corvette clubs in your area could help. There's always people who love to work on Corvettes and willing to help.

Here's one in Topeka http://www.topekacorvetteclub.zoomshare.com/

 

Another option is to part the car out you will get your money back and taking thing apart is easy is just takes time and getting everything sold but it you want my advice it sounds like a electoral problem I would start with battery cables look at your grounds but if you had problem starting I would fix that first you oil pressure gauge is electoral as well so it might fix that as well and your brake lines I would start on the rubber first the steel line will last longer that the degrading rubber lines this car is old so you will be fixing on it for a while if this is your daily driver you need to get another car desperately. Any 20 year old car will need a work to keep going.

 

Fix the brakes, sell it, spend a few more gs and get a nice one.

 

Thanks for the car craft center idea! I'll def. have them look at it first. I just want to make sure its safe for me to drive. Thats my MAIN concern!
I knew a 20+ car would be work. And Im up for it! Like I was saying, I took this project on to give me something to do while hubby deployed. What upset me was that the seller told me engine was solid, and actually replaced last year. NO PROBLEMS he says. And, it ran great during test drive! Just guess I was all excited to get it out and about before weather here in Kansas turned icky! Instead... its been sitting in my garage for 3 days.

Guess I have alot of learning to do. Starting with how to prop the hood (hahahah, just kidding ya'll!)

I tried doing a search for Corvette clubs in my area and came up empty. How are these elusive clubs found?? Closest one I came up with is 2.5 hours away! Guess Im all alone here in Po-Dunk Kansas.

 

CLick on forums scroll down to regional youll find members in your area that can help out.

 

If I remember correctly, Ft Riley is near Manhattan -- where you should be able to find a club.

Just because a car leaks fluid doesn't mean it's crap or you got taken. The amount you paid is beyond dirt cheap. When I was younger, $6k was the least anyone paid for a POS vette. C4's broke that barrier.

One project could be taking this car apart, piece-by-piece for salvage. It really might be worth more that way. And, you could use the proceeds to buy a better specimen next time. But, don't do that first. Stay calm and figure out your problems one at a time. Any car can be fixed or restored.

The more you learn about vettes, the more you'll learn about the price of parts, the value of THESE parts, the ups/downs of vette ownership, and the unique benefits of vette ownership.

 

Join the club!!!

http://www.topekacorvetteclub.zoomshare.com/