Picked up an 86 4+3 today!
04-23-2017, 12:33 AM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Picked up an 86 4+3 today!
Went out Corvette hunting today and had two cars on mind to check out. The first one was an 84 with a 4+3, which is exactly what I wanted. The car was not as described and the seller wouldn't budge on his asking price so I decided to pas on that car. This led to the four hour drive into Michigan to look at the 86. The 86 was not as described either but was in better shape overall. I picked the car up for $3600 which wasn't horrible. The car needs tires and an alignment and has a miss that I have to sort out. Triggered an SES light so that should help. I plan on doing a full tune up, full fluid flush, and putting tires on the car and I'll align it at work. The major thing is that the overdrive unit is not working. I believe this is due to a faulty coolant temp sender or wiring as the coolant temperature constantly reads "LO". More fun stuff to dig into. The car didn't come with any service history unfortunately and the owner history went back two owners. The car is in need of a thorough cleaning and some major servicing to include a belt and all hoses, throttle body cleaning etc. Going to make this a solid driver to enjoy. It made the two and a half hour drive back home without failing. The engine has a ton of power and I am thoroughly impressed that nothing went wrong on the drive home. Here are a few pics of the car from today:
After the car was paid for and we stopped for gas:
My oldest son gets a shot in the driver's seat after a passenger seat ride home:
The heart of the beast:
The filthy interior in need of carpet and a good cleaning:
The car as it sits now:
The RPO codes:
After the car was paid for and we stopped for gas:
My oldest son gets a shot in the driver's seat after a passenger seat ride home:
The heart of the beast:
The filthy interior in need of carpet and a good cleaning:
The car as it sits now:
The RPO codes:
The following 3 users liked this post by mazdaverx7:
04-23-2017, 02:01 AM
#2
wow. nice car. thats no roach!!
look fwd to hearing how the od unit is diagnosed and restored to operation.
black shoe dye on the wheel
look fwd to hearing how the od unit is diagnosed and restored to operation.
black shoe dye on the wheel
Last edited by VikingTrad3r; 04-23-2017 at 02:04 AM.
04-23-2017, 07:57 AM
#7
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Thanks for the compliments on the car!! The RPO code does say D36..which leads me to believe it has the Dana 36 not the Dana 44 that I thought that the 4+3 cars came with...
What's really nice that I saw was that the car has aluminum heads!! That's a plus right off the bat.
I'm going to try and dig into the car today and see what I can do about the engine breaking up over like 1/4 throttle. I'm hoping a tune up will work wonders for the engine. The engine has plenty of power. Really pulls you back in the seat when its not breaking up. It has issues but for the price I paid and the age, I'm hoping its a car that I can really enjoy for years to come. I mean..it made a 2 and a half hour trip home at night, breaking up with no overdrive, engine running about 3000 rpm for the duration of the trip. No overheating, not even a hint that the car wouldn't keep going to get me and my son home safely. It really is "The Beast" as my son calls it.
What's really nice that I saw was that the car has aluminum heads!! That's a plus right off the bat.
I'm going to try and dig into the car today and see what I can do about the engine breaking up over like 1/4 throttle. I'm hoping a tune up will work wonders for the engine. The engine has plenty of power. Really pulls you back in the seat when its not breaking up. It has issues but for the price I paid and the age, I'm hoping its a car that I can really enjoy for years to come. I mean..it made a 2 and a half hour trip home at night, breaking up with no overdrive, engine running about 3000 rpm for the duration of the trip. No overheating, not even a hint that the car wouldn't keep going to get me and my son home safely. It really is "The Beast" as my son calls it.
04-23-2017, 09:39 AM
#10
Safety Car
Congratulations it looks to be in decent shape. I did a steering wheel write up with the leatherique steering wheel kit. Something you might want to check out. Enjoy the ride!
04-23-2017, 10:54 AM
#12
Le Mans Master
Congratulations It looks good and a low price too.
I have a soft spot for the gray ones. (I had a gray '88)
I looked up your SPID codes as shown below.
Note that the 8.5" ring gear (G87) is a D44 not a D36 that used a 7.5"
Most code lists don't show the MH5 code. It is the 0.60 ratio of the OD. I had this in my '87 and it did help highway mileage.
AG9 - Power driver seat
AU3 - Power door locks
A42 - Standard leather seats
A51 - Sport leather seats deleted
BGR - Bowling Green assembly
B3W - Advance price sheet
B4M - Custom feature package
CC3 - Transparent roof panel
C49 - Electric rear window defogger
C68 - Automatic electronic air condition
DL8 - Twin remote heated outside mirrors
D3X - Speedometer driven gear 25513049 green
D36 - Export inside rearview 10" tilt mirror
D9B - Speedometer sensor 85007308 ?
E5Z - Delete speedometer adaptor
E9Z - Delete speedometer key
G44 - Rear axle 3.07 ratio
G87 - Ring gear 8.50 inch
K34 - Cruise control
K68 - 105 amp generator
L98 - Tuned port injection 5.7 L engine
MH5 - 0.60 Overdrive ratio
MM4 - 4-speed manual transmission
NA5 - Federal emission system requirements
PY3 - Aluminum wheels 16 x 8.5
QZD - 16" wheels with P255/50 VR16
UQ4 - Delco Bose four speaker system
UU8 - Delco Bose AM/FM stereo radio with cassette
V73 - Vehicle statement certification, US or Canada
1AY - Stock order
15I - Medium Gray interior trim
152 - Medium Gray leather interior
18U - Medium Gray Metallic exterior
24S - Blue tint roof panel
Keep us posted on your progress and activities on the car.
Good luck.
Last edited by QCVette; 04-23-2017 at 12:56 PM. Reason: Corrected typo GW4 to the G44 listed on the SPID
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mazdaverx7 (05-17-2020)
04-23-2017, 11:30 AM
#13
I thought I had posted to this thread earlier but I've no idea where it went!
D36 is an EXPORT MIRROR by RPO but I've only thought it to be a coupe with MAP LIGHT provisions. The car is also the 3.07 G44 which would have been in '86 the only axle ratio available.
D36 is an EXPORT MIRROR by RPO but I've only thought it to be a coupe with MAP LIGHT provisions. The car is also the 3.07 G44 which would have been in '86 the only axle ratio available.
Last edited by WVZR-1; 04-23-2017 at 11:36 AM.
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mazdaverx7 (01-29-2019)
04-23-2017, 11:55 AM
#17
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Thank you for posting the RPO codes!! I started to look them up but I fell asleep last night and forgot. Looks to be a pretty loaded car!
I do like the grey. That's what really sold me on the car. The driver's seat feels like it sits way too high. Felt like I sat much lower in my 84 and 94. Tried adjusting the seat to no avail.
Checked the plugs and they looked ok. Going to replace them anyways. Found one bad plug wire and taped it until I can get to the parts store today for a new wire set.
Cleaned the throttle body and MAF. Found the panel that covers the circuit board to be loose and the MAF was dirty. Cleaned it and affixed the cover.
Air cleaner mounts are broken so I'll have to get a new lower piece. Its letting dirt right into the MAF.
Was not able to pull the codes. The SES light won't flash currently even with my GM cod scanner
After the work I did it fired right up and ran great...until it warmed up and then it started braking up again. I'm wondering if the bad coolant temp sender is to blame. Sending false readings to the ECU and causing open loop conditions all the time and locking out the overdrive unit. Things to check after my daughter's party this afternoon.
I do like the grey. That's what really sold me on the car. The driver's seat feels like it sits way too high. Felt like I sat much lower in my 84 and 94. Tried adjusting the seat to no avail.
Checked the plugs and they looked ok. Going to replace them anyways. Found one bad plug wire and taped it until I can get to the parts store today for a new wire set.
Cleaned the throttle body and MAF. Found the panel that covers the circuit board to be loose and the MAF was dirty. Cleaned it and affixed the cover.
Air cleaner mounts are broken so I'll have to get a new lower piece. Its letting dirt right into the MAF.
Was not able to pull the codes. The SES light won't flash currently even with my GM cod scanner
After the work I did it fired right up and ran great...until it warmed up and then it started braking up again. I'm wondering if the bad coolant temp sender is to blame. Sending false readings to the ECU and causing open loop conditions all the time and locking out the overdrive unit. Things to check after my daughter's party this afternoon.
04-23-2017, 02:37 PM
#19
Thank you for posting the RPO codes!! I started to look them up but I fell asleep last night and forgot. Looks to be a pretty loaded car!
I do like the grey. That's what really sold me on the car. The driver's seat feels like it sits way too high. Felt like I sat much lower in my 84 and 94. Tried adjusting the seat to no avail.
Checked the plugs and they looked ok. Going to replace them anyways. Found one bad plug wire and taped it until I can get to the parts store today for a new wire set.
Cleaned the throttle body and MAF. Found the panel that covers the circuit board to be loose and the MAF was dirty. Cleaned it and affixed the cover.
Air cleaner mounts are broken so I'll have to get a new lower piece. Its letting dirt right into the MAF.
Was not able to pull the codes. The SES light won't flash currently even with my GM cod scanner
After the work I did it fired right up and ran great...until it warmed up and then it started braking up again. I'm wondering if the bad coolant temp sender is to blame. Sending false readings to the ECU and causing open loop conditions all the time and locking out the overdrive unit. Things to check after my daughter's party this afternoon.
I do like the grey. That's what really sold me on the car. The driver's seat feels like it sits way too high. Felt like I sat much lower in my 84 and 94. Tried adjusting the seat to no avail.
Checked the plugs and they looked ok. Going to replace them anyways. Found one bad plug wire and taped it until I can get to the parts store today for a new wire set.
Cleaned the throttle body and MAF. Found the panel that covers the circuit board to be loose and the MAF was dirty. Cleaned it and affixed the cover.
Air cleaner mounts are broken so I'll have to get a new lower piece. Its letting dirt right into the MAF.
Was not able to pull the codes. The SES light won't flash currently even with my GM cod scanner
After the work I did it fired right up and ran great...until it warmed up and then it started braking up again. I'm wondering if the bad coolant temp sender is to blame. Sending false readings to the ECU and causing open loop conditions all the time and locking out the overdrive unit. Things to check after my daughter's party this afternoon.