Looking at getting a 1998 Corvette.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
Looking at getting a 1998 Corvette.
So I sold my 1990 Corvette and now I'm in the market for a 1998 Corvette. The one I have my eyes on has 127,000 miles on it. Should I be concerned at this mileage or is there a lot of life still left in the sweet LS1 under the hood?
P.S - If an admin/mod could edit my profile in their Control Panel and change my name to 98VetteDan I would really appreciate it!
P.S - If an admin/mod could edit my profile in their Control Panel and change my name to 98VetteDan I would really appreciate it!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
You will have to contact a Mod for a name change.
Mileage doesn't mean a lot on the LS so long as it has been properly cared for. There's an active thread here with a C5 that just turned over 250K. Many examples of this on the C5 LS1.
As always, buy the newest least mileage car that's in your budget and have fun.
Mileage doesn't mean a lot on the LS so long as it has been properly cared for. There's an active thread here with a C5 that just turned over 250K. Many examples of this on the C5 LS1.
As always, buy the newest least mileage car that's in your budget and have fun.
Administrator
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Hard to say just how long the car will go without some problems - we have no idea how it was maintained or driven. But in general, the C5 is a pretty reliable platform that can go many more miles than on that car.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,450
Likes: 4,589
From: Bonita Springs, Florida
There are many threads on many high mileage C5's. Here are 2 examples:
A '97 with over 300K miles: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1569324248-post19.html
A '99 with over 400K miles: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...milestone.html
A '97 with over 300K miles: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1569324248-post19.html
A '99 with over 400K miles: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...milestone.html
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,782
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From: Ft Jennings Ohio
Cruise-In I Veteran
Go for the C5 for sure...I still love the C4's (had 3 of them incl a ZR-1)...but the C5 is just so much more car. The level of technology, packaging and quality is all there.....do it!
Dig
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,467
Likes: 1,127
From: Port Saint Lucie FLORIDA & HONDURAS
Don't forget it's not just about the milage on the motor. Other things wear out too.
But, I agree that C5's were built for the long haul.
My 97 had over 122,000 miles with hundreds of nitrous passes of a 225 shot. Even supposedly "on weak rod bolts". By yourself a 98 and enjoy!
Get a good deal (in your eyes) and fix anything that it needs. It will become your baby
But, I agree that C5's were built for the long haul.
My 97 had over 122,000 miles with hundreds of nitrous passes of a 225 shot. Even supposedly "on weak rod bolts". By yourself a 98 and enjoy!
Get a good deal (in your eyes) and fix anything that it needs. It will become your baby
Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 691
Likes: 19
From: Los Angeles
Go for it! I bought a bone stock, super clean '98 with 120,000 miles 2.5 years ago and since have modded just about everything except the bottom end, long hauled 2 power tours, drive it to work daily and currently have 152,000 on it. The only problems I've had were self inflicted from the H/C/I/E swap.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,211
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From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
I recently purchased a 1998 Corvette with a badass 92,800 mile LS1 under the hood! It has new cross drilled and slotted rotors, SS braided brake lines, New tires, C6 Z06 wheels, new high quality seat covers, B&B exhaust, K&N filter and it runs amazing! It is just so much more car than the two C4's I have owned in the past. 
However, I have a question about the headlights...
They seem to pop up sometimes and not pop up other times. It's kind of intermittent. When they do pop up I notice them do so at a lightning pace in comparison to my C4's and they function perfectly once up. Can someone point me in the right direction in regard to fixing this problem? Thanks!
However, I have a question about the headlights...
They seem to pop up sometimes and not pop up other times. It's kind of intermittent. When they do pop up I notice them do so at a lightning pace in comparison to my C4's and they function perfectly once up. Can someone point me in the right direction in regard to fixing this problem? Thanks!
Last edited by 97VetteDan; Aug 9, 2012 at 04:49 AM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 606
Likes: 18
From: burke va
Congratulations on your new purchase! About your headlight problem, do the headlights turn on but not pop up sometimes? I just went thru this and after replacing the turn signal/headlight switch and the headlight control module, (neither one fixed the problem) I ended up bending the male prongs on the two connectors to the headlight control module slightly to get a better connection and everything works fine now. The headlight module is located under the passenger side headlight. It is a small black plastic box about the size of a pack of cigarettes.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 5
From: Grafton WI
Mine has been very dependable as well. Bought in 2003, only oil changes/maintenance until last year, had to replace the air conditioner compressor. I have been very happy with mine. I have always kept my corvettes for 4-5 years or so, then bought a newer one, but my 98 has worked out so well, I just kept it. The one that you are looking at has somewhat high miles, I think that the drive train should be ok as long as it was maintained. I would have the entire car checked out just to be sure. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
I recently purchased a 1998 Corvette with a badass 92,800 mile LS1 under the hood! It has new cross drilled and slotted rotors, SS braided brake lines, New tires, C6 Z06 wheels, new high quality seat covers, B&B exhaust, K&N filter and it runs amazing! It is just so much more car than the two C4's I have owned in the past.
However, I have a question about the headlights...
They seem to pop up sometimes and not pop up other times. It's kind of intermittent. When they do pop up I notice them do so at a lightning pace in comparison to my C4's and they function perfectly once up. Can someone point me in the right direction in regard to fixing this problem? Thanks!
However, I have a question about the headlights...
They seem to pop up sometimes and not pop up other times. It's kind of intermittent. When they do pop up I notice them do so at a lightning pace in comparison to my C4's and they function perfectly once up. Can someone point me in the right direction in regard to fixing this problem? Thanks!
However it may possibly be a grounding issue if it's intermittent. try spraying some contact cleaner on the connections first thing.
