New vette owner... is this normal?
#1
New vette owner... is this normal?
Is this normal?? I feel guilty even taking it out of the garage dirty and unwaxed. I almost rolled to a stop on a highway that had some snow melt on it. Considered taking the top down in 43deg weather. Seriously kicked myself for even driving it with the possibility of road salt. Good god, what have I gotten myself into?!?!
#2
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '05
Leno drives some pretty expensive Duesnbergs everyday dont worry about a C5, go put some miles on it.
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thomasfxlt (03-24-2019)
#3
Melting Slicks
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But he bought a 1991 C4
Yes, it is normal. You have a very beautiful Steel Blue convertible. Keep it nice but drive and enjoy it. The top on my C5 convertible goes down when the weather gets warm and stays down until fall is upon us. Sometimes the heater is necessary to stay warm, but the top stays down.
Now get those rear wheels installed the correct way.
Now get those rear wheels installed the correct way.
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thomasfxlt (03-24-2019)
#4
Yes, it is normal. You have a very beautiful Steel Blue convertible. Keep it nice but drive and enjoy it. The top on my C5 convertible goes down when the weather gets warm and stays down until fall is upon us. Sometimes the heater is necessary to stay warm, but the top stays down.
Now get those rear wheels installed the correct way.
Now get those rear wheels installed the correct way.
#5
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Right after I picked up my "new" '89 temps hit nearly 50deg and I had to drop the top and take a short cruise to "see how it felt".
BTW, the "Corvette Black Book" shows those saw-blade points to the rear, i.e. make the rears like the fronts.
BTW, the "Corvette Black Book" shows those saw-blade points to the rear, i.e. make the rears like the fronts.
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thomasfxlt (03-24-2019)
#7
Drifting
It is in the upper 50's today so of course I went for a drive. While I have taken the targa top of shortly after buying to check the weather striping I had never driven it was top off. I decided to make today the day so I could ensure it stows away firmly when on the road. Felt good and with the sky above. BTW last weekend I washed and waxed it for first time since buying.
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thomasfxlt (03-24-2019)
#8
#9
It is in the upper 50's today so of course I went for a drive. While I have taken the targa top of shortly after buying to check the weather striping I had never driven it was top off. I decided to make today the day so I could ensure it stows away firmly when on the road. Felt good and with the sky above. BTW last weekend I washed and waxed it for first time since buying.
#10
I’ll probably go for the “bone stock” look other than the stereo (If I replace it or need to anytime soon). I wouldn’t mind a little more raw “hole shot” but doubt I’ll go for that with this car.
#11
#12
Drifting
I actually went to self serve car wash down the street from me to soap up wipe all panels with cotton towel and rinse.Drove it back home at a rate of speed that did a good job of drying it . Once home used Maguiar's Ultimate Paste Wax.
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thomasfxlt (03-24-2019)
#13
Burning Brakes
[
QUOTE=thomasfxlt;1599099918]Yes on the wheels. That’s my Monday project. Which way to you guys prefer them? Turbines pointing forward or to the rear? I’m undecided.[/QUOTE]
Only one right way, blades rotate to the rear on the top of the wheel.
QUOTE=thomasfxlt;1599099918]Yes on the wheels. That’s my Monday project. Which way to you guys prefer them? Turbines pointing forward or to the rear? I’m undecided.[/QUOTE]
Only one right way, blades rotate to the rear on the top of the wheel.
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thomasfxlt (03-24-2019)
#14
Race Director
Its normal, but try to kick the habit. Nothing wrong with taking care of the car, but theyre a whole lot more fun to drive than to wash and wax.
#15
Team Owner
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U.S. Air Force
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
You bought it to have fun and have the thrill of driving it, then do it, nothing going to happen, that little soap and water can make it shine again.
#16
#17
Safety Car
Leno drives some pretty expensive Duesnbergs everyday dont worry about a C5, go put some miles on it.
I wait until all the anti-ice material is washed off the roads by rain, otherwise it gets turned into an ultra fine powder that will get into every miniscule place it can find and start the corrosion process.
A local shop had a late 80's Corvette that was brought in from California. I looked under the hood and absolutely couldn't believe how clean the car was. It still looked new. No matter how well you take care of a car in Ohio, that California car just outshined it. Even with the mileage the car had, it still looked as if it just drove off the showroom floor it was so clean under the hood (looking at the frame rails, bolt heads, shock bodies). My 96 with as low mileage it had, still showed some evidence of living in Ohio.
With that said, we had a couple times during the winter when we had a thaw and subsequent rains cleaned the roads. I had my car out. Windows down and heater on ! After all, it was a sunshiney day, regardless if the temps were still in the high 30's low 40's.
Last edited by drcook; 03-25-2019 at 09:32 AM.
#18
Melting Slicks
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I use Griot's Garage clay bar and Speed Shine, followed by their buffing compounds with their 6 and 3 inch random orbital buffers and pads. I do not use wax. I use REJEX, which is bought on line. It is a polymer sealer which goes on easy, wipes off easy, gives a good shine and makes the car so things do not stick to the paint.
On my C5 convertible I got some nasty white spots all over the car one day from a vehicle going the other way. I thought I would start cleaning with the windshield first. Water did not get them off. Neither did enamel thinner or lacquer thinner. I had to use a razor blade and scrape them off the windshield. On the hood of the car I tried a soft cloth and water. They wiped right off. Fortunately I had used Rejex on the painted surfaces but not the glass. From now on even the glass will get Rejex.
The front wheels are on correctly. It is the rears that are wrong.
On my C5 convertible I got some nasty white spots all over the car one day from a vehicle going the other way. I thought I would start cleaning with the windshield first. Water did not get them off. Neither did enamel thinner or lacquer thinner. I had to use a razor blade and scrape them off the windshield. On the hood of the car I tried a soft cloth and water. They wiped right off. Fortunately I had used Rejex on the painted surfaces but not the glass. From now on even the glass will get Rejex.
The front wheels are on correctly. It is the rears that are wrong.
#19
I use Griot's Garage clay bar and Speed Shine, followed by their buffing compounds with their 6 and 3 inch random orbital buffers and pads. I do not use wax. I use REJEX, which is bought on line. It is a polymer sealer which goes on easy, wipes off easy, gives a good shine and makes the car so things do not stick to the paint.
On my C5 convertible I got some nasty white spots all over the car one day from a vehicle going the other way. I thought I would start cleaning with the windshield first. Water did not get them off. Neither did enamel thinner or lacquer thinner. I had to use a razor blade and scrape them off the windshield. On the hood of the car I tried a soft cloth and water. They wiped right off. Fortunately I had used Rejex on the painted surfaces but not the glass. From now on even the glass will get Rejex.
The front wheels are on correctly. It is the rears that are wrong.
On my C5 convertible I got some nasty white spots all over the car one day from a vehicle going the other way. I thought I would start cleaning with the windshield first. Water did not get them off. Neither did enamel thinner or lacquer thinner. I had to use a razor blade and scrape them off the windshield. On the hood of the car I tried a soft cloth and water. They wiped right off. Fortunately I had used Rejex on the painted surfaces but not the glass. From now on even the glass will get Rejex.
The front wheels are on correctly. It is the rears that are wrong.
#20
Melting Slicks
Is this normal?? I feel guilty even taking it out of the garage dirty and unwaxed. I almost rolled to a stop on a highway that had some snow melt on it. Considered taking the top down in 43deg weather. Seriously kicked myself for even driving it with the possibility of road salt. Good god, what have I gotten myself into?!?!
The following users liked this post:
thomasfxlt (03-25-2019)