My wife wanted a 'convertable' for her 60th birthday. I can't afford new cars and here along Lake Superior used cars have serious rust issues so when I saw a 'vette along the road to town I told her to go look at it and she raised the green flag.

I have done some wrenching over the years so am hoping these are not overly difficult to work on when necessary. The car we are expecting to buy tomorrow is a white '84 in very good condition, 74K miles, new tires and battery, and a "$300 cover'.... for $6500. We drove it a bit yesterday and it started instantly and ran well. It has red leather interior, no cuts and the only complaint I could raise was that the headlight **** needed a fix but you could still pull the switch and the lights work fine.

It has a Sony stereo, so no Bose issues to worry about. My first worry is that this owner says that he has only put about 2000 miles on it in the past 5 years that he's owned it, it was mostly a 'garage queen'. He didn't remember if he's ever even did an oil change. It has a bunch of inspection stckers from N. Carolina for the years before he bought it.

When he went to pop open the hood the passenger side release was stuck, but eventually it let go and I could see the cable adjuster was maxed out but apparently still not quite enough tension, the cable is in great shape, and I have already found this topic and 'emergency' release info in the forums. I have found the pdf shop manual on ebay on a disk for very cheap.

Anyone have any advice or comments on the value or any caution I should have before I fork over the cash? I think I will offer to pay for an oil change at the local quick lube so they can check all the fluids....

Any special tools I'll need do do my own routine maintenance ...? Are hydraulic jacks and jackstands the best way to get underneath?

tia

Gary in Marquette

 

I would suggest that you first bring a mechanic to check the machine of the car. But if you have enough knowledge about machines you may do the checking. I'm sure the owner would not tell any bad about its car.

The usual tools a car must have are jacks, Lug nut wrench (an X-type would do great), crescent. I'm sure there are still more tools you need to have.

 

Thanks. I feel quite comfortable with the way the car runs. There are very few real 'mechanics' these days, not to mention ones with corvette experience around here.... I think these days the term is 'Automotive Technician' or something stupid like that... I don't trust them on anything other than the usual rustbuckets.

 

You may want to check with the folks in the C4 section as well. I am sure they will be able to address any questions that you may have about the '84 Vette you are thinking about buying.

Welcome aboard and Good luck on the possible purchase!

 

Welcome aboard and about posting in the C4 Section.

 

Welcome

Chuck

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Welcome to the forum..

 

Welcome to the Corvette Forum - As you've already seen, lots of great information & knowledgeable Vette owners here!

 

Welcome!

 

It's a done deal. I found receipts in the glove box that included a new midas muffler and pipes, tune up and new serpentine belt in 2001, (in N. Carolina) and only 4,000 miles on it since, and mostly stored in a pole building since then. I could only find one small paint chip on the top edge of one of the headlights, the white paint makes the touch up almost invisible. As soon as I get it registered today it will go in to the Chev dealer for an oil change, then on a twisty road run this weekend. I haven't seen the wife this excited in years.

 

Congrats on the Corvette

And don't forget to wave

 

Welcome to the Forum!

 

Welcome to the Forum.

Congratulations on your C4.

 

Welcome aboard and congrats on your new ride!!