First Vette Questions
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First Vette Questions
Old guy, first Vette. I just purchased a 96 one owner with 50k miles. The owner died a few years ago and it was not driven much thereafter. It was checked out by my mechanic, and besides general maintenance needs a water pump and similar obvious minor items. He is very good but not a Corvette expert. In your experience what are the other not so obvious items that should be checked out?
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
Old guy, first Vette. I just purchased a 96 one owner with 50k miles. The owner died a few years ago and it was not driven much thereafter. It was checked out by my mechanic, and besides general maintenance needs a water pump and similar obvious minor items. He is very good but not a Corvette expert. In your experience what are the other not so obvious items that should be checked out?
A new water pump with the weep hole mod, optispark, and some seals will last another 50k.
Rear tie rod ends are known to freeze up. They should be inspected.
Cbeam bolts should be inspected, sometimes they losen, which can lead to cracked transmissions.
Other than that typical things you would inspect on any vehicle.
-- Joe
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,894
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
Do you have the Service Records? Other than a Good Fuel Flush out and new Fuel Filter a Fresh oil change which expect it has already gotten. If you have No Knowledge of a Tune up put one in at 50k it wouldn't hurt. If it's a Good Runner, Enjoy/Drive.
Like above Mentioned there can be Problems but @ 50k I think your car was a Fair weather car and unless something Breaks I wouldn't be looking for Problem but Fix as soon as they Appear.
Like above Mentioned there can be Problems but @ 50k I think your car was a Fair weather car and unless something Breaks I wouldn't be looking for Problem but Fix as soon as they Appear.
Last edited by s carter; Aug 8, 2019 at 10:15 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 1,647
From: Fairfax Virginia
As Aklim suggests be sure to replace every fluid in the vehicle and check the hoses as older hoses are known to dry rot and crack. Replace the serpentine belt and all the filters that are easily changed. The air and Fuel filters especially and check the date codes on the tires to be sure they are still safe.
I would probably install a new O2 sensor just to be safe as the old one has corroded by now and will have a limited life due to its age. You could wait on this if it has not sat long but if it was more than five years then I would seriously consider the new O2 just to avoid any problems.
When I saw this post I thought of you Aklim as I was going to suggest replacing the Opti or getting a spare to have on hand for when it does break. I figured I would catch the wrath of the LT1 owners if I brought up the issues of the Opti. The optical firing parts are fine with me but where they put it is what I have trouble with. Somebody should have scratched their head a bit longer on that one. I would have used a crank trigger over the Opti and its location. But that is just the way I would have done it.
Best regards,
Chris
I would probably install a new O2 sensor just to be safe as the old one has corroded by now and will have a limited life due to its age. You could wait on this if it has not sat long but if it was more than five years then I would seriously consider the new O2 just to avoid any problems.
When I saw this post I thought of you Aklim as I was going to suggest replacing the Opti or getting a spare to have on hand for when it does break. I figured I would catch the wrath of the LT1 owners if I brought up the issues of the Opti. The optical firing parts are fine with me but where they put it is what I have trouble with. Somebody should have scratched their head a bit longer on that one. I would have used a crank trigger over the Opti and its location. But that is just the way I would have done it.
Best regards,
Chris
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 1,647
From: Fairfax Virginia
As Aklim suggests be sure to replace every fluid in the vehicle and check the hoses as older hoses are known to dry rot and crack. Replace the serpentine belt and all the filters that are easily changed. The air and Fuel filters especially and check the date codes on the tires to be sure they are still safe.
I would probably install a new O2 sensor just to be safe as the old one has corroded by now and will have a limited life due to its age. You could wait on this if it has not sat long but if it was more than five years then I would seriously consider the new O2 just to avoid any problems.
When I saw this post I thought of you Aklim as I was going to suggest replacing the Opti or getting a spare to have on hand for when it does break. I figured I would catch the wrath of the LT1 owners if I brought up the issues of the Opti. The optical firing parts are fine with me but where they put it is what I have trouble with. Somebody should have scratched their head a bit longer on that one. I would have used a crank trigger over the Opti and its location. But that is just the way I would have done it.
Best regards,
Chris
P.S. Welcome to the World of Corvettes and especially to the Corvette Forum!
I would probably install a new O2 sensor just to be safe as the old one has corroded by now and will have a limited life due to its age. You could wait on this if it has not sat long but if it was more than five years then I would seriously consider the new O2 just to avoid any problems.
When I saw this post I thought of you Aklim as I was going to suggest replacing the Opti or getting a spare to have on hand for when it does break. I figured I would catch the wrath of the LT1 owners if I brought up the issues of the Opti. The optical firing parts are fine with me but where they put it is what I have trouble with. Somebody should have scratched their head a bit longer on that one. I would have used a crank trigger over the Opti and its location. But that is just the way I would have done it.
Best regards,
Chris
P.S. Welcome to the World of Corvettes and especially to the Corvette Forum!
Racer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 294
Likes: 119
As Aklim suggests be sure to replace every fluid in the vehicle and check the hoses as older hoses are known to dry rot and crack. Replace the serpentine belt and all the filters that are easily changed. The air and Fuel filters especially and check the date codes on the tires to be sure they are still safe.
I would probably install a new O2 sensor just to be safe as the old one has corroded by now and will have a limited life due to its age. You could wait on this if it has not sat long but if it was more than five years then I would seriously consider the new O2 just to avoid any problems.
When I saw this post I thought of you Aklim as I was going to suggest replacing the Opti or getting a spare to have on hand for when it does break. I figured I would catch the wrath of the LT1 owners if I brought up the issues of the Opti. The optical firing parts are fine with me but where they put it is what I have trouble with. Somebody should have scratched their head a bit longer on that one. I would have used a crank trigger over the Opti and its location. But that is just the way I would have done it.
Best regards,
Chris
P.S. Welcome to the World of Corvettes and especially to the Corvette Forum!
I would probably install a new O2 sensor just to be safe as the old one has corroded by now and will have a limited life due to its age. You could wait on this if it has not sat long but if it was more than five years then I would seriously consider the new O2 just to avoid any problems.
When I saw this post I thought of you Aklim as I was going to suggest replacing the Opti or getting a spare to have on hand for when it does break. I figured I would catch the wrath of the LT1 owners if I brought up the issues of the Opti. The optical firing parts are fine with me but where they put it is what I have trouble with. Somebody should have scratched their head a bit longer on that one. I would have used a crank trigger over the Opti and its location. But that is just the way I would have done it.
Best regards,
Chris
P.S. Welcome to the World of Corvettes and especially to the Corvette Forum!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
I realize that the trans is already shot in those cases, and the new fluid or trans flush is simply flushing out all the friction material that was limping it along, but still lol.
-- Joe
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
When I saw this post I thought of you Aklim as I was going to suggest replacing the Opti or getting a spare to have on hand for when it does break. I figured I would catch the wrath of the LT1 owners if I brought up the issues of the Opti. The optical firing parts are fine with me but where they put it is what I have trouble with. Somebody should have scratched their head a bit longer on that one. I would have used a crank trigger over the Opti and its location. But that is just the way I would have done it.
The Opti is also a cam sensor, which is needed on the sequential cars.
We bitch and complain because it's significant labor to replace an opti. The location of the water pump weep hole is problematic, the water pump drive is problematic and leads to seal failure, and so on.
I'm running a crank trigger in my firebird but it's wasted spark + batch fire. My C4 is still opti.
-- Joe
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,472
Likes: 3,290
From: Hartford WI
I get nervous about dumping trans fluid in older automatics. When I had a shop a lot of them never moved again.
I realize that the trans is already shot in those cases, and the new fluid or trans flush is simply flushing out all the friction material that was limping it along, but still lol.
-- Joe
I realize that the trans is already shot in those cases, and the new fluid or trans flush is simply flushing out all the friction material that was limping it along, but still lol.
-- Joe
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Advanced
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 68
Likes: 15
Thanks guys. All fluids, filters, belts, and hoses are on the list plus plugs and wires. The additional items you mentioned will go on the list to check. Car was driven every couple of months in the past couple of years, and fortunately my mechanic is familiar as he recently replaced the alternator and belt.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
1. 1996's have 4 O2 sensors, 2 before and 2 after the cats.
2. There is a gentleman who rebuilds OptiSparks. If you price out the cost of an MSD rotor and cap, you will see that his price is most reasonable. Here is his link on eBay, if you search
out Optidoctor here on the forum, you can find out how to contact him off eBay. MSD components, in conjunction with a refurbed oem unit seems to be the best way to go.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Optispark-r...0AAOSwVm5ZARQg
https://www.summitracing.com/search/...rder=Ascending
3. If you go so far as to take apart the front of the engine, have the timing chain checked.
4. Check the wheel bearings. Sitting is not kind on bearings.
5. Check the DOT date codes on the tires if you have not replaced them already. 7 years old, regardless of wear, is the recommended life of tires.
2. There is a gentleman who rebuilds OptiSparks. If you price out the cost of an MSD rotor and cap, you will see that his price is most reasonable. Here is his link on eBay, if you search
out Optidoctor here on the forum, you can find out how to contact him off eBay. MSD components, in conjunction with a refurbed oem unit seems to be the best way to go.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Optispark-r...0AAOSwVm5ZARQg
https://www.summitracing.com/search/...rder=Ascending
3. If you go so far as to take apart the front of the engine, have the timing chain checked.
4. Check the wheel bearings. Sitting is not kind on bearings.
5. Check the DOT date codes on the tires if you have not replaced them already. 7 years old, regardless of wear, is the recommended life of tires.
Last edited by drcook; Aug 8, 2019 at 03:38 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
1. 1996's have 4 O2 sensors, 2 before and 2 after the cats.
2. There is a gentleman who rebuilds OptiSparks. If you price out the cost of an MSD rotor and cap, you will see that his price is most reasonable. Here is his link on eBay, if you search
out Optidoctor here on the forum, you can find out how to contact him off eBay. MSD components, in conjunction with a refurbed oem unit seems to be the best way to go.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Optispark-r...0AAOSwVm5ZARQg
https://www.summitracing.com/search/...rder=Ascending
3. If you go so far as to take apart the front of the engine, have the timing chain checked.
4. Check the wheel bearings. Sitting is not kind on bearings.
5. Check the DOT date codes on the tires if you have not replaced them already. 7 years old, regardless of wear, is the recommended life of tires.
2. There is a gentleman who rebuilds OptiSparks. If you price out the cost of an MSD rotor and cap, you will see that his price is most reasonable. Here is his link on eBay, if you search
out Optidoctor here on the forum, you can find out how to contact him off eBay. MSD components, in conjunction with a refurbed oem unit seems to be the best way to go.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Optispark-r...0AAOSwVm5ZARQg
https://www.summitracing.com/search/...rder=Ascending
3. If you go so far as to take apart the front of the engine, have the timing chain checked.
4. Check the wheel bearings. Sitting is not kind on bearings.
5. Check the DOT date codes on the tires if you have not replaced them already. 7 years old, regardless of wear, is the recommended life of tires.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,472
Likes: 3,290
From: Hartford WI
