Good Morning,

Just a note...I have been away for awhile from the forum. I am enjoying my 2005 convertible 6 speed very much! My wife and I take it out often for dinner runs and rides in our home in Lewes Del. The short trips around the area are amazing, Assatique island, Ocean City and the eastern shore towns to mention a few. I love the manual transmissions as many of us do. They are a fading option that a lot of us older folks enjoyed. My grandchildren may not get the same opportunity. Although my grandson just purchased a Honda civic with a manual and absolutely loves it!

I was recently looking for a vehicle to use at a second home we are restoring in NJ. I was looking for an old pickup truck. In my search I came across a 1986 Corvette coupe Z51 4 speed for sale locally in Delaware. It had been sitting outside and neglected for a while. I made the mistake of going to see it? It was a second owner car with 56000 miles, smelled of smoke but started right up and ran strong for the test drive. Needless to say I had to buy it!

Now I am working on the little things that need to be repaired! That brings me back to the forum which is the best place to get advice on any corvette project! I am presently working on the missing air dam and will be moving on to the leaking heater control valve next. The car will need some paint work and seat repair but I am excited to get it out on the road in NJ. So I am sure I will be posting questions as I move through bringing this car back to the road! Thank You to the Forum!

 

Yesterday, since it was a rainy day I took all day to replace the missing air dam on the 86. The original was missing and the lower rad baffle was missing the attaching strip with holes. The side pieces were a pain for the new pieces are thinker. I reversed the original bolts so they tighten from the top with the bolt on top. That allowed them to be put in with the washer head on the bottom for more support to the new air dam. Plus my bracket was in place on the top. The main front piece I bought a piece of aluminum 2 inches by 3 feet. pretty thick, from Home Depot, 18 dollars. I pop riveted it to the existing Rad lower baffle. Attached the new air dam to the aluminum with stainless boats and extra wide washer through the new air dam, hiding the bolts underneath. The center bracket was cut in half when it was removed. I drill a hole in it and bought a black corner bracket from Home Depot and attached it with a #8 bolt to the original bracket. It is all done and it is strong. I saw a few videos where the air dam was replaced but attached to the lower baffle and the original baffle showed major cracks on both sides. I did not think that would last too long. I am happy with the results!

 

Nice job on the repair!! I would love to see some pictures of the car!! Glad to hear you know some of the car's history. Sounds like it will be a really nice car once you get it where you want it!

 

Thank You,

The car does need some paint work. The back upper half is missing clear coat. and needs repaint. The rest of the paint, including the bumpers are great. It seems very odd to me? The tires are old and have some dry rot so they may have to be replaced? I have a budget of 6500 total? I do not think I am not over spending? The little things caught my attention. The weather sweeps on the windows are perfect, the radio antenna works as does the radio and all the speakers, the door locks work, the windows all work as does the release buttons for the back glass, the AC blows cold and the power seat works great....All things I had to replace in my last C/4! These cars, in my opinion can be a bargain especially the 4 speeds. and it's really fun to drive!

 

The car looks great!! Dark Red Metallic is a beautiful color and having a 4+3 really sets it over the edge! As for the paint, it's almost as if the car was stored in a car port nose first. If that were the case, the sun may only have hit the left rear and could have caused the clear coat damage to the left quarter panel. The C4 really is a bargain considering how much bang for the buck you can get. With a budget of $6500, I think you did great, especiallyif the interior is in nice shape!!