My First Corvette!!!!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
From: CA
My First Corvette!!!!
Been waiting a while to say that.
.
I've contemplated actually buying a vette for about the past four years. Before that it would have been more a daydreaming type of thing.
.
Not that I'm a corvette fanatic or anything, but my first automotive crush was indeed a model of a C3 at some place I stopped with my dad on a road trip. I was probably about eight or nine at the time, but I still remember being amazed at the beauty of the body lines. And I was shocked to find out it was a decades old design.
.
After a recent five lap blast in a gtr outside of Vegas (rental), me and another guy were talking about the value of the C5 as a track tool. I started perusing on my phone, and found one for a really good price just by luck.
.
About a week later I was out in the middle of nowhere with my land lord buying a corvette! (out in the middle of nowhere probably helped the price out)
.
It's got tons of little issues but overall seems like a great platform to build a to and from the track car on.
.
I'm reading tons of info on here and hopefully after a few basic basic fixes I'll have it out on the track and have a big smile on my face.
.
Any threads that can be recommended are appreciated. I'm sure I've got a couple hundred hours of research in front of me so bring it on!
.
For anybody who is interested, my mods are going to be in this priority:
-1. Safety / Durability
... You can't go fast if the car won't move, or if your limbs won't move.
... The seat is really not great. Going to take out and recondition current Z06 seats. Add bolstering, make harness holes.
... Increase cooling / oil cooling / trans/dif cooling etc. / brake cooling
... Brakes. No big brakes for the short term, but get the right pads and exercise meticulous maintenance.
-2. Drivability / Manners / Handling / Convenience
... Shifting is awful!!! I'm used to less powerful non-american cars, and from what I understand the shifter is a known weak link here. Fluid change and detent spacer will hopefully help.
... Parking brake is just a handle right now, not actual holding of car. Makes even parking in driveway a headache. Found a lot of useful advice on here for this one.
... It's lowered on stock springs. Looks nice, doesn't drive nice. Especially trying to get into parking lots or go over speed bumps! I'm not sure if I'll make the leap to coil overs immediately, but it seems silly not to.
... Eventually go through every nut and bolt to make sure it's all good.
-3. Speed. Hot. Filthy. Nasty. Speed.
... Tires
... Chassi work
... Weight reduction / balance
... More safety as speed increases (harness / cage)
... Probably some minor homemade aero
-4. Power.
... It's got just enough power. For now. Eventually, it will need more.
That's all for now. I'm rambling.
Now to go fix that passenger side window problem!!!
.
I've contemplated actually buying a vette for about the past four years. Before that it would have been more a daydreaming type of thing.
.
Not that I'm a corvette fanatic or anything, but my first automotive crush was indeed a model of a C3 at some place I stopped with my dad on a road trip. I was probably about eight or nine at the time, but I still remember being amazed at the beauty of the body lines. And I was shocked to find out it was a decades old design.
.
After a recent five lap blast in a gtr outside of Vegas (rental), me and another guy were talking about the value of the C5 as a track tool. I started perusing on my phone, and found one for a really good price just by luck.
.
About a week later I was out in the middle of nowhere with my land lord buying a corvette! (out in the middle of nowhere probably helped the price out)
.
It's got tons of little issues but overall seems like a great platform to build a to and from the track car on.
.
I'm reading tons of info on here and hopefully after a few basic basic fixes I'll have it out on the track and have a big smile on my face.
.
Any threads that can be recommended are appreciated. I'm sure I've got a couple hundred hours of research in front of me so bring it on!
.
For anybody who is interested, my mods are going to be in this priority:
-1. Safety / Durability
... You can't go fast if the car won't move, or if your limbs won't move.
... The seat is really not great. Going to take out and recondition current Z06 seats. Add bolstering, make harness holes.
... Increase cooling / oil cooling / trans/dif cooling etc. / brake cooling
... Brakes. No big brakes for the short term, but get the right pads and exercise meticulous maintenance.
-2. Drivability / Manners / Handling / Convenience
... Shifting is awful!!! I'm used to less powerful non-american cars, and from what I understand the shifter is a known weak link here. Fluid change and detent spacer will hopefully help.
... Parking brake is just a handle right now, not actual holding of car. Makes even parking in driveway a headache. Found a lot of useful advice on here for this one.
... It's lowered on stock springs. Looks nice, doesn't drive nice. Especially trying to get into parking lots or go over speed bumps! I'm not sure if I'll make the leap to coil overs immediately, but it seems silly not to.
... Eventually go through every nut and bolt to make sure it's all good.
-3. Speed. Hot. Filthy. Nasty. Speed.
... Tires
... Chassi work
... Weight reduction / balance
... More safety as speed increases (harness / cage)
... Probably some minor homemade aero
-4. Power.
... It's got just enough power. For now. Eventually, it will need more.
That's all for now. I'm rambling.
Now to go fix that passenger side window problem!!!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 15,064
Likes: 4,748
From: Washington Township Michigan
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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!
Congrats. on your C5!
A lot of good information in the C5 General and C5 Tech / Performance areas for you to use.
Congrats. on your C5!
A lot of good information in the C5 General and C5 Tech / Performance areas for you to use.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,947
Likes: 24,704
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Welcome to the forum.
Enjoy while you can.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 18,210
Likes: 3,347
From: 10th District Court OHIO
Ohio Events Coordinator
2025 Corvette of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C2 of Year Finalist (stock)
St. Jude Donor '14 thru '26
Congrats and enjoy 
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,247
Likes: 888
From: Hickory NC
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '17 thru '26
Welcome to the Forum!
Looks like your mods list will keep you busy for quite a while. Remember to leave time in there to drive and enjoy your C5.
Looks like your mods list will keep you busy for quite a while. Remember to leave time in there to drive and enjoy your C5.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Drivers door won't open
So my 2009 corvettes drivers door won't open from inside or out. I always have to use the manual latch to unlock it. I replaced the handle from the outside and still didn't work. Not sure exactly what it could be bc the passenger door opens perfectly fine. Any suggestions? Please? Greatly appreciated. By the way I'm new to this Forum thing .
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
From: CA
Thank you everyone for the cordial welcomes.
@Jay Vette I think you may have accidentally posted in the wrong place. That seems like the type of thing you would get a better response from in the "C6 tech" area or something like that. I'd recommend reading some of the beginner info pages for instructions.
It's pretty daunting at first. I'm still not used to forums completely and I've dipped into a few. Good luck with your door.
@Jay Vette I think you may have accidentally posted in the wrong place. That seems like the type of thing you would get a better response from in the "C6 tech" area or something like that. I'd recommend reading some of the beginner info pages for instructions.
It's pretty daunting at first. I'm still not used to forums completely and I've dipped into a few. Good luck with your door.