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The 1986 Convertible was my first Corvette purchased in 1990.
Since 1992 my '86 had 2 problems;
1- The oil ran really hot, especially in summer
2- The 4+3 Trans OD stopped working.
I could only drive the car limited time/miles before the oil kept raising beyond 250F and I had no overdrive so the car ran high RPMs and sucked gas. I took it to several mechanics and a Corvette specialist who basically all shrugged their shoulders or didn't want to get into it, predicting huge repair costs. So the car sat for long periods of time.
Over the years I would encounter self-proclaimed Corvette specialists who all were dumb-founded by the oil temp problem and didn't even want to offer a solution the OD problem, other than to replace or overhaul the OD ($$$$).
This August I met a whiz-kid 22 year old self-taught mechanic who bought a part from me from my craigslist ad. We got to talking and of course I threw the problems of the 86 at him in conversation. He seemed up for the challenge and said he would research the unusual DNE OD Trans. I figured I never hear from him. Wrong.
To my surprise 2 months later he contacted me and wanted to "attack the problems". (I also had purchased a used KC4 oil cooler that was just sitting a box for a year.)
We spent several days trading OD info and posts back and forth. We were hoping it was a dried up OD trans pan. Nope, the fluid was full and looked nice and healthy. After more online research and testing on my lift he deduced it was the OD Solenoid. A part near impossible to find.
After fruitless 5 day search, a call to SK-Speed in Long Island NY got us that part for $150 (!).
As I waited for the part, he tackled the oil cooler install. WOW what a nightmare that was but he tackled it head on, methodically and not a single curse word ( I heard). Some 20+ hours later he had installed the KC oil cooler.
He also changed the gaskets I ordered on the transmission. The he installed the solenoid, buttoned everything up and OMG. The oil stayed cooled and for the first time in 25 years, the 4+3 worked!!! I couldn't believe it. A 22 year "kid" figured it, diagnosed it and fixed BOTH crippling problems.
Goes to show, you never know who can come to your rescue and don't underestimate this generation.
(Why did I put up with these problems on the '86? I had several other Corvettes to drive and play with over the years.)
This is the little bastard that was the DNE problem.
It is easy to see how he was able to fix it and no one else could or wanted to try. The kid did not pretend he new the answer or it was one of 5 canned answers. The kid will go far in life if he maintains this attitude. I could tell a story that is too long about a kid that used to work for me that went from a stock boy in an electrical supply house to wiring nuclear reactors first for General Dynamics and the Dominion Power. He now makes more in 1 year than I make in 5.
Good to hear that someone that age from this new era of gamers, actually had the gumption to even call you back to begin with, then had the tenacity to finish all the way to the end. Those types of virtues are relatively non existent in this everyone owes me everything, I wanna stay home, get high and play video games generation.
It is easy to see how he was able to fix it and no one else could or wanted to try. The kid did not pretend he new the answer or it was one of 5 canned answers. The kid will go far in life if he maintains this attitude. I could tell a story that is too long about a kid that used to work for me that went from a stock boy in an electrical supply house to wiring nuclear reactors first for General Dynamics and the Dominion Power. He now makes more in 1 year than I make in 5.
He knew absolutely nothing about this transmission when he took it on.
thanks for this. my 86 also gets real hot oil. i have the same cooler donated by a friend on the forum and glad to hear this helped keep it cool!
great for your young aquaintance to have the confidence boost of solving a problem nobody else could!
The cooler works BUT you need all the lines and hoses that go with it (see eBay). He had a hell of a time installing it as he had to take apart a lot of the stuff that was "in the way".
Good to hear that someone that age from this new era of gamers, actually had the gumption to even call you back to begin with, then had the tenacity to finish all the way to the end. Those types of virtues are relatively non existent in this everyone owes me everything, I wanna stay home, get high and play video games generation.
12-09-2017, 01:36 PM
A 25 Yr Old Problem with my '86 Fixed by a Kid
