Common issues with high milage C5?
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Stillwater Minnesota
Common issues with high milage C5?
I'm looking at a 1999 FRC w/ 107k miles on it. Wondering what kind of issues these cars start to have with high mileage. And or what issues the C5 has in general.
Any pointers would be helpful. Thanks!
Any pointers would be helpful. Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
For general issues with C5s look here.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=984927
Basically, for a car that old you want to have it thoroughly inspected by someone knowledgeable about corvettes, preferably C5s.
I am sure some parts will be showing significant wear and may be in need of replacing. If you can do the work yourself you can save big $$$. If not, might want to find a lower mileage car even though it cost more initially it will cost less in the long run.
Good luck in your search.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=984927
Basically, for a car that old you want to have it thoroughly inspected by someone knowledgeable about corvettes, preferably C5s.
I am sure some parts will be showing significant wear and may be in need of replacing. If you can do the work yourself you can save big $$$. If not, might want to find a lower mileage car even though it cost more initially it will cost less in the long run.
Good luck in your search.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Illinois
107k miles is not really high miles. If the car was taken care of , it should last you many more. Do a carfax and check service records. Was the clutch replaced? It can cost 2k to replace. What price are we talking about? I would not pay bluebook due to the mileage. Good Luck.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Stillwater Minnesota
It's a salvage car too but all repaired according to person selling it 
I was looking at around $10-12k for this car depending on how it looks and it's condidition. I'm going to go check it out tonight. I'm looking for a tinker around C5 and don't want a pristine 20+k$ C5 so these points aren't too bad for me.
If the car had a salvage title w/ frame damage I'm not even going to consider it. Otherwise if it was water damage or something else I might consider it. Due to this having an aluminum frame I don't even want to consider a tweeked frame.
My only sticking point in getting one of these C5's is it must be an FRC and it must be cheap
not brand spankin new.
I was looking at around $10-12k for this car depending on how it looks and it's condidition. I'm going to go check it out tonight. I'm looking for a tinker around C5 and don't want a pristine 20+k$ C5 so these points aren't too bad for me.If the car had a salvage title w/ frame damage I'm not even going to consider it. Otherwise if it was water damage or something else I might consider it. Due to this having an aluminum frame I don't even want to consider a tweeked frame.
My only sticking point in getting one of these C5's is it must be an FRC and it must be cheap
not brand spankin new.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Basically it depends on how well the car was taken care of before you acquire it and how it was driven. If its a MM6, the clutch is or will be due shortly at 107K miles. But really after that, I wouldn't expect you would have any problems or major ones for another 100K miles. Sure, nothing lasts forever, but it all depends on how its cared for.
Over the years on my '99 Coupe, I've replaced the lifters, water pump, headlamp switch and headlamp controller, one headlight motor, the battery of course, pcv valve and pcv tubing, 4th set of tires. Overall the largest problem that I had was the transmission. Somehow I got a BorgWarner transmission which was supposedly not in the '99 builds, but the dealer identified it as a BW too. After the 3rd major failure with it, I gave up last year and put a new Tremec into it.
The car still runs beautifully and is fast. Currently I have issues with pinging and just received new wheel bearing hubs that I haven't put in quite yet...shame on me, but I have them now. It will turn over 294K tonight on the way to work.
Over the years on my '99 Coupe, I've replaced the lifters, water pump, headlamp switch and headlamp controller, one headlight motor, the battery of course, pcv valve and pcv tubing, 4th set of tires. Overall the largest problem that I had was the transmission. Somehow I got a BorgWarner transmission which was supposedly not in the '99 builds, but the dealer identified it as a BW too. After the 3rd major failure with it, I gave up last year and put a new Tremec into it.
The car still runs beautifully and is fast. Currently I have issues with pinging and just received new wheel bearing hubs that I haven't put in quite yet...shame on me, but I have them now. It will turn over 294K tonight on the way to work.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
It's a salvage car too but all repaired according to person selling it I was looking at around $10-12k for this car depending on how it looks and it's condidition. I'm going to go check it out tonight. I'm looking for a tinker around C5 and don't want a pristine 20+k$ C5 so these points aren't too bad for me.
If the car had a salvage title w/ frame damage I'm not even going to consider it. Otherwise if it was water damage or something else I might consider it. Due to this having an aluminum frame I don't even want to consider a tweeked frame.
My only sticking point in getting one of these C5's is it must be an FRC and it must be cheap not brand spankin new.
I was looking at around $10-12k for this car depending on how it looks and it's condidition. I'm going to go check it out tonight. I'm looking for a tinker around C5 and don't want a pristine 20+k$ C5 so these points aren't too bad for me.If the car had a salvage title w/ frame damage I'm not even going to consider it. Otherwise if it was water damage or something else I might consider it. Due to this having an aluminum frame I don't even want to consider a tweeked frame.
My only sticking point in getting one of these C5's is it must be an FRC and it must be cheap
not brand spankin new.Corvette Stories
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Stillwater Minnesota
Ok, I looked the car over pretty good this evening. The guy showed me the damage.
Salvage title is due to a breakin. The car was broken into. Passenger side door was all torn up and the interior trashed.
The guy has the interior perfectly cleaned up now. Except for the weather stripping seal on the door which is a little loose.
Otherwise, car was clean as a whistle. Even had extra weather stripping installed at the front of the hood to keep engine bay clean.
Undercarriage was clean no nicks on front undercarriage bumper dealier for curbs.
Car has a fresh tranny completely rebuilt with steel shifter forks and new syncros. Brand new centerforce clutch. Also has a brand new fuel pump.
Two remaining issues. Pilot berring on tranny makes an intermittent noise. I know very little about manual trannys. And fuel pump sending unit doesn't work so fuel guage doesn't read out.
He's asking $14k. What do you guys think?
Also I am wondering if it is any more difficult to register a salvage title car... Or just difficult to sell.
Salvage title is due to a breakin. The car was broken into. Passenger side door was all torn up and the interior trashed.
The guy has the interior perfectly cleaned up now. Except for the weather stripping seal on the door which is a little loose.
Otherwise, car was clean as a whistle. Even had extra weather stripping installed at the front of the hood to keep engine bay clean.
Undercarriage was clean no nicks on front undercarriage bumper dealier for curbs.
Car has a fresh tranny completely rebuilt with steel shifter forks and new syncros. Brand new centerforce clutch. Also has a brand new fuel pump.
Two remaining issues. Pilot berring on tranny makes an intermittent noise. I know very little about manual trannys. And fuel pump sending unit doesn't work so fuel guage doesn't read out.
He's asking $14k. What do you guys think?
Also I am wondering if it is any more difficult to register a salvage title car... Or just difficult to sell.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
That doesn't sound like enough damage to warrant a salvage title. If I were you, get the VIN and run a carfax report on it plus go to a dealer and have them run the repair history too. Sounds like something more has happened that you aren't being told.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Stillwater Minnesota
Well he's starting to come down on his price. I'm going to see if I cannot get it up on a lift and give it a really good inspection.
I ran a carfax and it was licenced in IL where if the car is broken into / stolen it automatically gets a salvage title.
I'm not too worried about mechanics as long as the wiring is in decent shape and the frame isn't bent I'm happy. This is going to be a project car for me. I'm looking to build a racecar out of it but in the mean time I'm going to drive it to and from work (I still have another daily driver).
Otherwise upon first inspection is appeared to be in great shape. However, he told me the pilot bearing makes a noise. Apparently they rebuilt the tranny and replaced the clutch alogn with flywheel but never changed the pilot bearing?? I cannot figure out why tear all the appart and then not replace a 10$ bearing. Go figure. That's my biggest crux at this point with the car. I'm worried I'll have to drop the entire drive train just to change that silly bearing.
I ran a carfax and it was licenced in IL where if the car is broken into / stolen it automatically gets a salvage title.
I'm not too worried about mechanics as long as the wiring is in decent shape and the frame isn't bent I'm happy. This is going to be a project car for me. I'm looking to build a racecar out of it but in the mean time I'm going to drive it to and from work (I still have another daily driver).
Otherwise upon first inspection is appeared to be in great shape. However, he told me the pilot bearing makes a noise. Apparently they rebuilt the tranny and replaced the clutch alogn with flywheel but never changed the pilot bearing?? I cannot figure out why tear all the appart and then not replace a 10$ bearing. Go figure. That's my biggest crux at this point with the car. I'm worried I'll have to drop the entire drive train just to change that silly bearing.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 440
From: Tucson Arizona
the other thing to consider is if you are going to finance you might not find a lender that will touch a salvage title. something you may want to check into, if you want my to cents (probably not 
) I think its to much and I would keep looking. You will know when you find "the right one" just be patient. 
) I think its to much and I would keep looking. You will know when you find "the right one" just be patient.
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Stillwater Minnesota
Yeah it's got my options to the T. Just that it has a salvage title.
I'm paying cash. Have you guys seen any other 100k mile or so FRC vettes? I prefer the high miles cause I enjoy tinkering around w/ these things and hate to tinker w/ a new vette. Especially when I save so much money by going w/ high miles.
I'm having difficulty finding FRC vettes and animately refuse to have anything to do w/ a hatchback vette. This is the second local car I have found in the past year. I'm even more leary of ordering something in a different state. However, I guess I could do that if I found a good deal but even there I haven't found too much either.
I'm paying cash. Have you guys seen any other 100k mile or so FRC vettes? I prefer the high miles cause I enjoy tinkering around w/ these things and hate to tinker w/ a new vette. Especially when I save so much money by going w/ high miles.
I'm having difficulty finding FRC vettes and animately refuse to have anything to do w/ a hatchback vette. This is the second local car I have found in the past year. I'm even more leary of ordering something in a different state. However, I guess I could do that if I found a good deal but even there I haven't found too much either.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
You keep saying you want to tinker with it and it'll be a race car. If all that's true then what's holding you back from buying it?
Tinker with the pilot bearing.
If its going to be a race car then you're going to be doing a LOT of tinkering during ownership whether its a low mileage or high mileage car.
To me, saying a car is going to be a race car means you are planning to thrash it to death (if you are thinking of winning races).
The lower you get him to come down, the more you have to get the pilot bearing repaired.
Personally, before I finalized the deal I'd take it somewhere and have it checked out and VERIFY the noise is what he says it is. Could be something else hidden that is related to the SALVAGE title.
If you need a fuel gauge then during the checkout find out what it'll take to replace the fuel pump sending unit it as well.
Of course that could be one of your tinker projects too.
Good luck and have fun racing!
..rickko..
Tinker with the pilot bearing.
If its going to be a race car then you're going to be doing a LOT of tinkering during ownership whether its a low mileage or high mileage car.
To me, saying a car is going to be a race car means you are planning to thrash it to death (if you are thinking of winning races).
The lower you get him to come down, the more you have to get the pilot bearing repaired.
Personally, before I finalized the deal I'd take it somewhere and have it checked out and VERIFY the noise is what he says it is. Could be something else hidden that is related to the SALVAGE title.
If you need a fuel gauge then during the checkout find out what it'll take to replace the fuel pump sending unit it as well.
Of course that could be one of your tinker projects too.
Good luck and have fun racing!
..rickko..