Thoughts on this 2011
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 660
From: Iowa
I bought my 07 a little over 2 years ago. I managed to get some fluid changes worked in the deal, but overlooked the tires that were original. With only 11k on it the radiator support had been marked up pretty good, but was still solid. The car was bought as is with a catch. I explained the fuel pump elbow issue on these cars to the dealer. I requested a 24 hour window to discover any issues related to that. That gave me time to fill up the car and leave it parked in the garage overnight to see if it smelled of gas with them agreeing in writing to cover the repair if I reported it the next day. Car has been nothing but a joy for the 2 summers and 13k I have put on it. My only maintenance expense has been replacing brakes a few weeks ago because they were very noisy. If it's the car you want and it checks out jump on it, but if not keep looking. Plenty of other options
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 401
Likes: 251
From: Greenville, SC
The harmonic balancer definitely has a slight wobble to it so that's something that would need to be addressed. It's not awful but enough that I can tell it's not perfectly balanced. Since that seems to happen eventually to most LSx engines I guess that's not unusual at this age/mileage.
Local Chevy dealer couldn't pull up anything for me as their "systems were down'. They also said they don't work on cars over 10 years old, which was a surprise. Not sure if this is a GM thing or just this specific dealership.
Local Chevy dealer couldn't pull up anything for me as their "systems were down'. They also said they don't work on cars over 10 years old, which was a surprise. Not sure if this is a GM thing or just this specific dealership.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 401
Likes: 251
From: Greenville, SC
Just FYI that front license plate holder is probably NOT mounted with drilled holes. That appears to be the OEM GM self-adhesive license plate holder, and is not screwed on. It is held to the bumper with two-sided tape i.e. adhesive. It looks just like that one that was on my 2006 and to remove those there are a number of tricks, one of which is use a hair dryer to carefully heat up the area around the frame and pull on it, some use small fishing line to get it loose. It is very easy to determine, just remove the front license plate and look at the bare holder. If you don't see any screws through it, then it is the stock OEM adhesive mounted plate holder 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 401
Likes: 251
From: Greenville, SC
I went up today and looked high and low for that RPO sticker and can't find it. I even popped the dog ear things on the glove compartment door to let it drop down all the way and it just isn't there. Looked up in there with a mirror and everything but there is no sign of an RPO sticker in or around the glove box.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,913
Likes: 2,060
From: Cypress TX
I went up today and looked high and low for that RPO sticker and can't find it. I even popped the dog ear things on the glove compartment door to let it drop down all the way and it just isn't there. Looked up in there with a mirror and everything but there is no sign of an RPO sticker in or around the glove box.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 410
Likes: 104
From: Port Orange FL
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 401
Likes: 251
From: Greenville, SC
The repair order in the glove box was for the binding convertible top. There is also not a switch in this one for a passenger airbag? The area where the RPO sticker is shown was definitely empty on this one.
Thanks for the pic, at least I know that I checked there where it's supposed to be.
Thanks for the pic, at least I know that I checked there where it's supposed to be.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 3,341
Likes: 1,934
From: Ulta Vista, AZ
Thanks @VetteVinnie it seemed like they’d snap back into place without a ton of effort.
It took me like 3 yrs to find my rpo sticker. I think I found it behind the glovebox, or under the carpet if memory serves me. They come off sometimes due to heat peeling the adhesive
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 401
Likes: 251
From: Greenville, SC
Thanks, if I actually end up buying the car I will detail it pretty well so maybe it'll turn up somewhere weird like yours . I guess that passenger airbag switch was a 1 year only thing for 2005 so not worried now that this car doesn't have it.
. I guess that passenger airbag switch was a 1 year only thing for 2005 so not worried now that this car doesn't have it.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 464
From: Raleigh/Cary NC
The local dealer would work, but as you noted later in the thread, they don't work on older cars, so it's likely that no one there has worked on a C6. This is where it's helpful to list your location in your profile... others might have a recommendation for you.
I found a shop local to me through word of mouth, and knew of them because they used to do a free track safety inspection before the start of each season. If you don't know anyone in a local car club, try Google. It doesn't need to be a Chevy shop, odds are that most performance shops have seen Corvettes at some point unless they specialize in a different marque.
Heck, even if the mechanic has never seen a Corvette before, just putting it up on the rack and looking for obvious leaks and damage would be helpful. And have another set of eyes drive it, they might notice something.
A PPI has saved me several times from buying a money pit, and where it didn't, it gave me some piece of mind although of course, they won't and can't catch everything.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 401
Likes: 251
From: Greenville, SC
They put it up on the rack and gave me tons of pictures. One of the mechanics there is a Corvette-head allegedly and he said the car is immaculate. There's no sign of any oil leaks anywhere, dry as a bone underneath. Rubber boots all look good.
They did buff out the scuffs on rear bumper, can't even see them now, and fixed the minor curb rash on the front wheel. It goes in today to have the harmonic balancer replaced with a Powerbond unit.
I will update my profile too, but I am in Greenville, SC. if I buy this thing I will need to find someone reliable to take it to for major stuff. I am pretty good with shadetree mechanic things but the harmonic balancer was just not something I wanted to deal with.
They did buff out the scuffs on rear bumper, can't even see them now, and fixed the minor curb rash on the front wheel. It goes in today to have the harmonic balancer replaced with a Powerbond unit.
I will update my profile too, but I am in Greenville, SC. if I buy this thing I will need to find someone reliable to take it to for major stuff. I am pretty good with shadetree mechanic things but the harmonic balancer was just not something I wanted to deal with.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 401
Likes: 251
From: Greenville, SC
Ha, not yet I haven't bought it. They are replacing the harmonic balancer this week, and if that goes well and I either get new tires, or a concession on price so I can go get some I will probably buy it. The rear view mirror sags, but I have found some DIY repairs that will probably work and I'd rather tackle that myself unless they'll buy me a new $500 mirror. The remaining minor issues I can deal with, mostly it was the HB I was concerned about because it did show a slight wobble.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 401
Likes: 251
From: Greenville, SC
I pulled the trigger on this car. Dealer is replacing the harmonic balancer, getting a 2nd key fob, replacing the floppy rear view mirror, buffed out the bumper scratches and giving me 50% credit of the cost of new tires. Was planning on replacing the tires with these: Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 ZP. Just want a decent all around tire, not going to track this car or anything.
If all goes well I should have it by middle of next week hopefully. I am hoping I can remove that front license plate holder without finding screw holes under it. I removed the dummy license plate and did not see any screws/bolts going through the holder into the bumper. South Carolina does not give out front plates so I don't need it.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts, I'll post up something new as an introduction once I really own the thing and have it in my hot little hands.
If all goes well I should have it by middle of next week hopefully. I am hoping I can remove that front license plate holder without finding screw holes under it. I removed the dummy license plate and did not see any screws/bolts going through the holder into the bumper. South Carolina does not give out front plates so I don't need it.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts, I'll post up something new as an introduction once I really own the thing and have it in my hot little hands.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 401
Likes: 251
From: Greenville, SC
Just FYI that front license plate holder is probably NOT mounted with drilled holes. That appears to be the OEM GM self-adhesive license plate holder, and is not screwed on. It is held to the bumper with two-sided tape i.e. adhesive. It looks just like that one that was on my 2006 and to remove those there are a number of tricks, one of which is use a hair dryer to carefully heat up the area around the frame and pull on it, some use small fishing line to get it loose. It is very easy to determine, just remove the front license plate and look at the bare holder. If you don't see any screws through it, then it is the stock OEM adhesive mounted plate holder
EDIT: The gummy residue came off with a heat gun, elbow grease, WD-40 and Goo Gone. Just a little bit of abrasion in the paint at the top but after a little bit of polishing it already looks a lot better.
After removing the front license plate holder.
Last edited by Chupacabraz; Jun 6, 2024 at 01:04 PM. Reason: added picture
