Obligatory Intro Thread from Kentucky
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 157
Likes: 175
From: Louisville, Kentucky
Obligatory Intro Thread from Kentucky
Every Google search for "C4 Corvette How to <blah blah blah>" ends up here, so here I am.
Recently acquired a 1992 in what I think is Dark Metallic Red?
This thing is in pretty bad shape. Lots of evidence of mice, lots of surface corrosion on the interior metal bits, but no water line in the tub. Most of the interior was held together with deck screws instead of the proper sheet metal screws, though it is complete and most of it can be saved. I'm going to surmise the seals were bad and it got moist, but not a flood car. The seats are completely worn out and quite disgusting. The engine does not run. It had the original engine pulled after a failure and replaced with a B-body 2-bolt block and they slapped the aluminum heads on it, but never got it to start. I did get the original block with it. It's already at the machine shop being cleaned and inspected. Fingers crossed it comes back as usable.
Basically, the car's going to need a complete gut and restore, which is what I bought it to do. It needs some metal work in the floorpans and fiberglass repair in the footwells, nothing major in terms of structural issues, which is good:
After that's all done and I finish removing the interior and get the drivetrain out, I'll bodywork it and paint it.
First project after getting the carpet out was fixing the column. It had the wallowed out left side tilt pin hole from large people using the steering wheel to pull themselves out of the car. I pulled the column and tore it completely down:
I filled the oblong hole in the assembly with Alumaweld and re-drilled it. It's mocked back up with just the tilt mechanism and it's tight as a drum. No play at all. I'm quite happy considering I was told that the wobble was going to require a whole new column. I'll tear it back apart and clean/paint/lubricate the whole mess and reassemble it this week. The steering wheel is pretty worn though. I may look at replacing it or getting it re-done by a pro if it doesn't clean up.
Plans for it? Well, since it's a rescue, I don't feel bound to do a factory restoration, I'm going to make this thing a fun car. I've been running Optima Ultimate Street Car events since 2016 with a Grand National and a Ford Probe, and I've been in the SCCA since 2002. I think in 2024 I'll use this car to jump to GTS and go after the big dogs. That's going to require power and tires. I'm keeping the LT1, but it'll be a 383 with modern heads and cam. I'll go through the 700-R4 and add a 10" high efficiency converter and will end up with a car that's faster than the stick shift cars, mostly on account of me never having to take my hands off the wheel. After years of making cars that shouldn't be able to go on track do really well on track, I'm looking forward to what's possible with a more appropriate starting point.
Anyway, I'll probably be utilizing the search on this forum heavily as I go through this car, so I figured I'd join and say Hi!
Recently acquired a 1992 in what I think is Dark Metallic Red?
This thing is in pretty bad shape. Lots of evidence of mice, lots of surface corrosion on the interior metal bits, but no water line in the tub. Most of the interior was held together with deck screws instead of the proper sheet metal screws, though it is complete and most of it can be saved. I'm going to surmise the seals were bad and it got moist, but not a flood car. The seats are completely worn out and quite disgusting. The engine does not run. It had the original engine pulled after a failure and replaced with a B-body 2-bolt block and they slapped the aluminum heads on it, but never got it to start. I did get the original block with it. It's already at the machine shop being cleaned and inspected. Fingers crossed it comes back as usable.
Basically, the car's going to need a complete gut and restore, which is what I bought it to do. It needs some metal work in the floorpans and fiberglass repair in the footwells, nothing major in terms of structural issues, which is good:
After that's all done and I finish removing the interior and get the drivetrain out, I'll bodywork it and paint it.
First project after getting the carpet out was fixing the column. It had the wallowed out left side tilt pin hole from large people using the steering wheel to pull themselves out of the car. I pulled the column and tore it completely down:
I filled the oblong hole in the assembly with Alumaweld and re-drilled it. It's mocked back up with just the tilt mechanism and it's tight as a drum. No play at all. I'm quite happy considering I was told that the wobble was going to require a whole new column. I'll tear it back apart and clean/paint/lubricate the whole mess and reassemble it this week. The steering wheel is pretty worn though. I may look at replacing it or getting it re-done by a pro if it doesn't clean up.
Plans for it? Well, since it's a rescue, I don't feel bound to do a factory restoration, I'm going to make this thing a fun car. I've been running Optima Ultimate Street Car events since 2016 with a Grand National and a Ford Probe, and I've been in the SCCA since 2002. I think in 2024 I'll use this car to jump to GTS and go after the big dogs. That's going to require power and tires. I'm keeping the LT1, but it'll be a 383 with modern heads and cam. I'll go through the 700-R4 and add a 10" high efficiency converter and will end up with a car that's faster than the stick shift cars, mostly on account of me never having to take my hands off the wheel. After years of making cars that shouldn't be able to go on track do really well on track, I'm looking forward to what's possible with a more appropriate starting point.
Anyway, I'll probably be utilizing the search on this forum heavily as I go through this car, so I figured I'd join and say Hi!
Last edited by turbo6inky; Feb 19, 2023 at 12:23 AM. Reason: speeling
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Welcome to the forum and best of luck with your restoration of the car. The various C4 sections of the forum have a lot of useful information and helpful members that you can use during your work on the car.
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Welcome to the Forum, Andrew, and best wishes with your C4 resto and upgrades! 
Lived in Louisville many years ago while attending UofL.
Lived in Louisville many years ago while attending UofL.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 157
Likes: 175
From: Louisville, Kentucky
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 157
Likes: 175
From: Louisville, Kentucky
I'm vlogging a good bit of it, check the Youtube channel in my signature. I've eradicated the last of the rodent nests and should be close to pulling the engine. Then I can start cleaning and working on the body while the drivetrain wends its way through our new reality of "parts take six months to show up, and when they do the machine shop is backed up six months."
