Long time browser, first time user, 1984 C4 owner
07-21-2017, 03:17 AM
#1
4th Gear
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jul 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Long time browser, first time user, 1984 C4 owner
Hey everybody. As I mentioned in my project thread, I've been utilizing the information on these forums for about seven years and thought it time to get involved, share my story, and ask some questions.
The car's got a family history. My uncle purchased a used red 1984 C4 Corvette way, way back and loved it dearly. Didn't always take the best care of it, but loved it. He unfortunately died prematurely in the early 2000s and my father inherited the car. He spent years and thousands of dollars restoring it to a near-new condition to honor what was important to his brother, but after his company relocated our family he found less time for it. The new house had a much smaller garage, so it stayed parked outside in one position in the driveway for two years of neglect. Unfortunately, we live in a heavily wooded area and the car became little more than a toilet-nest for mice. All the money and work that was poured into it went down the drain under a blanketing of rodent refuse.
In 2009 my father also died very unexpectedly and I de facto inherited the car as no one else had an interest in it or an inclination to do anything about it. I was 20 and had no automotive knowledge, so it continued to sit for a couple more years. I browsed these forums a fair bit trying to learn more about it and attempting basic maintenance items. The first oil change I did was on this car - and after all the time it had been sitting, there were indents in the blacktop where the tires had been planted.
In 2011 I enrolled in a college program for automotive mechanics and worked under a dealership for a few years, but ultimately decided it wasn't what I wanted to do full-time. I still enjoy automotive work, but not for 55+ hours a week doing recalls, warranty work, and fixing slider tracks on minivans.
I've since legally taken control of the title and done a fair amount of proper work to the car. I had it on the road during the summers of 2013 and 2014, but all I wanted to do was get the thing functional and registered - it was still ****-stained and reeked like you read about, but I didn't care. The thing was too fun to drive to not do so.
It took a back seat for a couple years again, this time in a garage, though it seems the mice were probably living in it. Traps set within the garage kept catching the buggers and I kept seeing mysterious little paw prints in the dust on the windshield. Enough was enough and I decided to wholly dive into this thing.
As of today the interior of the car is mostly bare in an attempt to sterilize every square inch of it. Over the coming months I'll be rebuilding it and tossing my questions out for you guys with C4 experience. As stated in the project post, I don't normally stop to document my work, but I'll be glad to share pictures of it if anyone's interested!
The car's got a family history. My uncle purchased a used red 1984 C4 Corvette way, way back and loved it dearly. Didn't always take the best care of it, but loved it. He unfortunately died prematurely in the early 2000s and my father inherited the car. He spent years and thousands of dollars restoring it to a near-new condition to honor what was important to his brother, but after his company relocated our family he found less time for it. The new house had a much smaller garage, so it stayed parked outside in one position in the driveway for two years of neglect. Unfortunately, we live in a heavily wooded area and the car became little more than a toilet-nest for mice. All the money and work that was poured into it went down the drain under a blanketing of rodent refuse.
In 2009 my father also died very unexpectedly and I de facto inherited the car as no one else had an interest in it or an inclination to do anything about it. I was 20 and had no automotive knowledge, so it continued to sit for a couple more years. I browsed these forums a fair bit trying to learn more about it and attempting basic maintenance items. The first oil change I did was on this car - and after all the time it had been sitting, there were indents in the blacktop where the tires had been planted.
In 2011 I enrolled in a college program for automotive mechanics and worked under a dealership for a few years, but ultimately decided it wasn't what I wanted to do full-time. I still enjoy automotive work, but not for 55+ hours a week doing recalls, warranty work, and fixing slider tracks on minivans.
I've since legally taken control of the title and done a fair amount of proper work to the car. I had it on the road during the summers of 2013 and 2014, but all I wanted to do was get the thing functional and registered - it was still ****-stained and reeked like you read about, but I didn't care. The thing was too fun to drive to not do so.
It took a back seat for a couple years again, this time in a garage, though it seems the mice were probably living in it. Traps set within the garage kept catching the buggers and I kept seeing mysterious little paw prints in the dust on the windshield. Enough was enough and I decided to wholly dive into this thing.
As of today the interior of the car is mostly bare in an attempt to sterilize every square inch of it. Over the coming months I'll be rebuilding it and tossing my questions out for you guys with C4 experience. As stated in the project post, I don't normally stop to document my work, but I'll be glad to share pictures of it if anyone's interested!
07-21-2017, 10:30 AM
#2
Administrator
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
Posts: 342,981
Received 19,300 Likes
on
13,973 Posts
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
First off, sorry about the loss of your dad and uncle. 
Good luck with getting your C4 back in shape - once done it will be a fun car for you. And welcome to the forum.
Good luck with getting your C4 back in shape - once done it will be a fun car for you. And welcome to the forum.
07-21-2017, 11:44 AM
#3
Race Director
Member Since: Apr 2017
Location: Hickory NC
Posts: 10,211
Received 863 Likes
on
667 Posts
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Welcome to the Forum!
It's unfortunate how you came to have the Corvette, but it sounds like it's in the best possible hands; now you can do your work and honor both your father and your uncle with the final product. Best wishes!
It's unfortunate how you came to have the Corvette, but it sounds like it's in the best possible hands; now you can do your work and honor both your father and your uncle with the final product. Best wishes!
07-21-2017, 12:57 PM
#4
Team Owner
Member Since: Jul 2016
Location: The Steel City, Colorful Colorado
Posts: 25,306
Received 1,679 Likes
on
1,182 Posts
Winner 2020 C7 of the Year - Modified
Welcome to the CF!
07-22-2017, 09:33 PM
#8
Race Director
Pro Mechanic
Member Since: Apr 2014
Location: Washington Township Michigan
Posts: 14,521
Received 3,952 Likes
on
2,470 Posts
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Welcome to the forum!
Sorry to hear about your Uncle and Dad, but persevere and your C4 will be back on the road sooner than later!
Sorry to hear about your Uncle and Dad, but persevere and your C4 will be back on the road sooner than later!