Future money pit?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,450
Likes: 371
From: Maryville TN
St. Jude Donor '06-13,'16-'17, '19
Future money pit?
Is a 20 year old Corvette a future money pit? A non running car sitting in your garage waiting for parts.Very few electronic parts are available. For example, a burned out ECM will total the car since replacements are not available.
Go to a GM parts website and look at the listings of parts labeled "Discontinued". So far the aftermarket has not replaced these parts.
Food for discussion.
Tom
Go to a GM parts website and look at the listings of parts labeled "Discontinued". So far the aftermarket has not replaced these parts.
Food for discussion.
Tom
Popular Reply
Apr 13, 2026, 05:46 PM
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 670
Wives are even bigger money pits 
So I got rid of the wife and bought a Vette
Peace at last
So I got rid of the wife and bought a Vette
Peace at last
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 299
Likes: 105
From: Dothan, AL
I'd say the fact that the C1 through C5 sections on here are still active is a good sign. I know we're talking more electronics in the C6 and up. But I think it shows that it's not as dire as some people think. That said, my 2008 has absolutely been a money pit. I've spent more than I care to admit. Some by choice, some by necessity. But the parts have been readily available.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,388
Likes: 6,531
From: Melbourne, FL
There are very few, if any, parts for the C6 you can't get. This ain't the 50s anymore, you're not going to have OEM branded parts available forever.
They're still less of a money pit than the newer stuff
They're still less of a money pit than the newer stuff
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 809
From: West coast CA
Is a 20 year old Corvette a future money pit? A non running car sitting in your garage waiting for parts.Very few electronic parts are available. For example, a burned out ECM will total the car since replacements are not available.
Go to a GM parts website and look at the listings of parts labeled "Discontinued". So far the aftermarket has not replaced these parts.
Food for discussion.
Tom
Go to a GM parts website and look at the listings of parts labeled "Discontinued". So far the aftermarket has not replaced these parts.
Food for discussion.
Tom
A burned-out ECM won't total a C6 (yet) because you can buy a used one. This will be true so long as people keep crashing C6s faster than the ECMs burn out.
There are some parts that are some combination of too difficult and too expensive for the aftermarket to develop, given the likely demand, such as EBCMs and BPMVs. Right now the used supply is more than adequate. But if they started dying en masse for some reason, we may be in a bind like early C5 owners are.
The worst are all the big molded parts which the car doesn't really need in order to work, so nobody is going to make them, but which are hard to find in perfect condition. Stuff like urethane bumper covers or original dashboards. One day they're all going to be in rough shape, and no one is likely to tool up to make a perfect factory reproduction. But, again, it's the same as it ever was.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 498
Likes: 211
From: Wisconsin
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Some of the electronics may be a problem until there is enough demand for the aftermarket to step in , But ECM/PCM's will not be one of them. The E-38 PCM was shared with millions of trucks and SUV's and can be reprogramed to match your car.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 670
I have a 2004 Buick LeSabre and I had a company rebuild the circuitry on my HVAC controls and they even rebuild ABS modules. So there is always a way to find/fix an older car if one researches. The internet has made it easier to find these parts.
If you don't want to deal with those possible issues. Then best buy a new C8 with a GM Warranty.
If you don't want to deal with those possible issues. Then best buy a new C8 with a GM Warranty.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 916
From: Baie-D'Urfe, Quebec
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 53,810
Likes: 5,635
From: Plantation Florida USAF(Retired) 1966-1990
U.S. Air Force
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
There is many companies making aftermarket parts and for electronic module there is someone rebuilding them.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 44,686
Likes: 1,833
From: Huntsville AL
A 20 year old used Chevy is no more of a money pit than a 60 year old used Chevy? It's a hobby and hobbies worth having aren't free.
I spent $2,500 this week on fluids, tires and battery.
I spent $2,500 this week on fluids, tires and battery.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,011
Likes: 492
From: South Florida
All cars are money pits. There are aftermarket ECM's, and aftermarket parts for just about anything that can go wrong with the car. I've convinced myself as more and more stuff breaks or goes bad on my car it will turn into more of a race car.
CF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 14,163
Likes: 7,440
From: Pittsburgh
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If someone has a non-running C6 sitting in their garage because of a discontinued part, they aren't looking very hard
