does this look stock??
Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 686
Likes: 2
From: Queens NY
There also clueless at a Chevy dealership!!
It's not at a GM dealer....they are clueless about Corvettes.
This car also has the NPP disabled, that I noticed on a test drive which I'm hoping is just the fuse being removed.
If it's just an aftermarket air intake setup that I can put back to stock fairly easily, I might be able to deal with it...if they knock off enough bucks to put everything right.
This car also has the NPP disabled, that I noticed on a test drive which I'm hoping is just the fuse being removed.
If it's just an aftermarket air intake setup that I can put back to stock fairly easily, I might be able to deal with it...if they knock off enough bucks to put everything right.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,507
Likes: 76
From: Marshall, Missouri
I would get a GM VIS report run on the car to see what that shows. If it has been tuned, the VIS would probably turn up a blocked warranty. Send the VIN # to Gene Culley (GM PartsHouse here on the forum) and he will run the VIS report for you for free. It will also show any work done to the car by GM dealer(s).
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Would there be any other telltale signs of that externally...such things as obvious fastener disturbances and such? I guess I need to see if I can find another 2008 (or do all 2008+ engines look identical?) tomorrow morning that I can photograph and compare with this one with when I get there.
This thing is so spotless and nice otherwise...14k miles, one owner. I also had a friend at a local GM dealer run a VIS report on it...all clean.
The dealer who has the car is 70 miles from me, so it's not so easy to run over and look at it on a whim. When I went up and test drove it last week, I didn't have time to look under the hood...had to get back to work...and admittedly, I wasn't all that serious about the possibility of getting this particular car at the time.
This thing is so spotless and nice otherwise...14k miles, one owner. I also had a friend at a local GM dealer run a VIS report on it...all clean.
The dealer who has the car is 70 miles from me, so it's not so easy to run over and look at it on a whim. When I went up and test drove it last week, I didn't have time to look under the hood...had to get back to work...and admittedly, I wasn't all that serious about the possibility of getting this particular car at the time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,129
Likes: 29
From: Lakewood Ranch Florida
Clearly, the heads have been ported. Kidding aside, it's hard to tell from the photo that any mods have been made/added. So, maybe. A more thorough (in person) inspection is called for, including a test ride. Get a mechanic or other qualified person to do it. Beware an uneven "rupp...rupp..." sound in the exhaust!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
You are smart to demand that it is completely stock. I would pay a Chevrolet dealer to check it over and see if everything is okay. You never know what they might find.
Last edited by VET4LES; Mar 18, 2011 at 03:43 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 2
From: Mooresville (Race City USA) NC
The cold air intake says the previous owner thought he knew more than the GM engineers who designed and developed the car. This type person might have aslo had the engine "tuned", which at best would have voided the warranty. If the car has an automatic transmission he might have had that "tuned" as well. Not a good sign.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 719
From: Northeast MA & Mad Beach FL
It's not at a GM dealer....they are clueless about Corvettes.
This car also has the NPP disabled, that I noticed on a test drive which I'm hoping is just the fuse being removed.
If it's just an aftermarket air intake setup that I can put back to stock fairly easily, I might be able to deal with it...if they knock off enough bucks to put everything right.
This car also has the NPP disabled, that I noticed on a test drive which I'm hoping is just the fuse being removed.
If it's just an aftermarket air intake setup that I can put back to stock fairly easily, I might be able to deal with it...if they knock off enough bucks to put everything right.
And the NPP is what .. disconnected, .. not working .. another who knows what??
Since they are Clueless, and they can't even tell you any info....
I would not want them putting it back to stock for me
I would either take plenty of time to find out what the car is really like.
Or, .. move on and look for a different one, ... one that you know is what you want.
There is no shortage of Vettes for sale and you should have no trouble finding the one for you.
Good Luck
Last edited by Dif; Mar 17, 2011 at 10:59 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 679
Likes: 4
From: TremontonUT UT
There may be parts of the country where there are a lot of clean 08s with 14K on them but not in my part of the country. I had to go 300 miles last June to buy mine. It was a one owner with 9800 on it plus all the options. It also had almost a $1000 worth of bing. My test drive was about 20 miles. I would have been tickled pink to find a CAI when I lifted the hood. Take it for another test drive. Get on it a little at different speeds. Somewhere here on the forum is a photo showing where the NPP fuse goes. You could easily install the fuse to see if that closed the valves. Good luck. Later! Frank
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 7,250
Likes: 6
From: Glassboro New Jersey
Racer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 341
Likes: 1
From: Riverside CA
It's not at a GM dealer....they are clueless about Corvettes.
This car also has the NPP disabled, that I noticed on a test drive which I'm hoping is just the fuse being removed.
If it's just an aftermarket air intake setup that I can put back to stock fairly easily, I might be able to deal with it...if they knock off enough bucks to put everything right.
This car also has the NPP disabled, that I noticed on a test drive which I'm hoping is just the fuse being removed.
If it's just an aftermarket air intake setup that I can put back to stock fairly easily, I might be able to deal with it...if they knock off enough bucks to put everything right.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 341
Likes: 1
From: Riverside CA
I'm making the final decision on this car tomorrow, and the last thing I'm checking is whether or not any mods might have been done to it.
The only engine shot I have is this one. I'm not yet familiar enough with these things to recognize what is stock and not stock, but a Google search for pics turned up quite a lot of 2008 engines with a slightly different looking air intake duct than this one has.
I want a completely stock car, so I'm wondering if this one has been fooled with or not. Here's the pic:
The only engine shot I have is this one. I'm not yet familiar enough with these things to recognize what is stock and not stock, but a Google search for pics turned up quite a lot of 2008 engines with a slightly different looking air intake duct than this one has.
I want a completely stock car, so I'm wondering if this one has been fooled with or not. Here's the pic:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,612
Likes: 493
From: brooklyn ny
Its got a cold air intake and that just saved you a couple of bucks because you will probably end up putting one in anyway. Chances are its not tuned as most of us put intakes in our cars. If you want a stock intake you can find one for like 50 bucks and put it back to stock in five minutes. No leaks or rattles and if its not louder than most cars at idle its probably stock. oh and as far as the npp being disabled alot of people do that when there to cheap to buy the mild to wild switch. put the fuse back i and alakazam its back to normal. If you want a completly stock car and the air intake is whats throwing you off then dont buy it. otherwise if the car is in good shape, runs well and it all checks out scoop it up.
Last edited by brooklync5; Mar 18, 2011 at 12:49 AM.
Goon Squad King of Battle
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 118,306
Likes: 923
From: 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑
St. Jude Donor '08 thru '23
Would there be any other telltale signs of that externally...such things as obvious fastener disturbances and such? I guess I need to see if I can find another 2008 (or do all 2008+ engines look identical?) tomorrow morning that I can photograph and compare with this one with when I get there.
This thing is so spotless and nice otherwise...14k miles, one owner. I also had a friend at a local GM dealer run a VIS report on it...all clean.
The dealer who has the car is 70 miles from me, so it's not so easy to run over and look at it on a whim. When I went up and test drove it last week, I didn't have time to look under the hood...had to get back to work...and admittedly, I wasn't all that serious about the possibility of getting this particular car at the time.
This thing is so spotless and nice otherwise...14k miles, one owner. I also had a friend at a local GM dealer run a VIS report on it...all clean.
The dealer who has the car is 70 miles from me, so it's not so easy to run over and look at it on a whim. When I went up and test drove it last week, I didn't have time to look under the hood...had to get back to work...and admittedly, I wasn't all that serious about the possibility of getting this particular car at the time.
I purchased mine used (4,200 miles) with a K&N CAI and tune with skip shift and everything.
I took all the crap off, brought it back to stock.....
....them threw $29,000 in mods at her!!!
jus sayin.....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 76
From: Great River NY
This is no guarantee of whether it has a tune or not; but, one of the first things usually done is installing 160 degree thermostat. Take another test ride and see what temp it runs at once fully warmed up. My stock '08 runs at about 205.
Go Canes!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 329
From: Boca Raton FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
Even with the 160 degree thermostat it should run at normal temps once warmed up. The thermostat will just open up sooner. The easiest way to tell is the tune. Have a good tuner in the area check it out with a laptop and he will know immediately if the car was modified more that the CAI, if that is the only visual indication.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
I was never considering having this place do anything to the car...especially not return it to stock, because I'm sure they don't what that is! I just want to be sure that whatever has been done can be undone easily by me or someone else, and the price reflects what it would take to accomplish that.
I researched the whole NPP fuse thing, and I'll be taking a 10 amp fuse with me today and putting it in...assuming it's missing. If that doesn't fix it, then I'll probably move on.
The car did idle very smoothly when I tested it last week, and other than the noise of the NPP being open all the time, didn't appear to feel or act any different than a 3800 mile untouched NPP car I drove a few weeks ago, so I'm hoping it's just that cold air intake thing that's been changed.
Are there any other common modifications under the hood that I could easily spot and should look for? Things more subtle than obvious things like headers...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Temp checked out fine today. The exhaust problem was revealed when I uncovered the fuse block and found the mild2wild controller in there. They had the FOB things for it in the office with the other "key"....they had no idea what they were. I'm really thankful for what I have learned on this forum in these last few weeks.
I did test it, and it worked, but I took it out and replaced it with the proper 10amp fuse. I found no other evidence of modifications other than the Airaid intake, so....I bought it.
What a great ride home!!!!
I did test it, and it worked, but I took it out and replaced it with the proper 10amp fuse. I found no other evidence of modifications other than the Airaid intake, so....I bought it.
What a great ride home!!!!