7 Winter Projects to Improve your Vette for Spring
The weather outside may be too frightful for driving, but winter is the perfect time to complete these winter projects to get your Corvette ready to roar in Spring.
1. Small Repair Work
Got a broken clock, non-working taillight, or a power window switch that's gone bad? Winter is the perfect time to head to your (hopefully) heated garage and do any minor repairs you've put off all summer. There are tons of little projects most anyone can complete, even if you aren't a master mechanic. A simple internet search or post on Corvette Forum will provide you with everything you need to know to get your Vette 100% operational this winter.
2. Detail The Engine Bay
Sure, you spend a lot of time cleaning the inside and outside of your Corvette, but when was the last time you detailed the engine bay? Surely you want a nice clean underhood area so you can show off that V8. Detailing the engine bay isn't a difficult job and only requires a little elbow grease. Just be sure and cover up any electrical connections before you start spraying away. Now would also be the time to paint or replace any shoddy looking parts, and fix any leaks to keep it clean.
3. Interior Repairs
Has the carpet in your Corvette seen better days? Door panels or dash dry and cracked? Or maybe your driver's seat is ripped and ruining an otherwise beautiful interior. Regardless of your interior woes, winter is the perfect time to address them. Most of this type of work is easy to do and relatively inexpensive, even if you have to install a whole new carpet or seat cover. Plus, fixing up your interior will have you feeling great once spring cruising season rolls around, after all it is the interior you are looking at most of the time.
4. Preventative Maintenance
Since you're a true Corvette enthusiast, surely you keep a maintenance log, but have you checked the last time you changed your spark plugs or inspected your hoses and seals? Finding that worn out rubber part before the weather warms up will ensure that you're ready to cruise instead of spending extra days in the garage, or sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow. Go ahead and give your Corvette a thorough inspection, and replace anything that looks like it might give out in the near future.
5. Performance Upgrades
Whether it be a set of headers or uploading a custom tune, winter is the perfect time to tackle that performance upgrade you've been coveting. This is especially true if the project might take a few days to get perfect, since you won't fret over not being able to drive it. So go ahead and install that supercharger you bought yourself for Christmas, then post pictures in Corvette Forum.
6. Body and Paint Work
If you're lucky enough to live somewhere where it doesn't slip below freezing during the day in Winter, now is a good time to fix that unsightly scratch or chip. Minor fiberglass repairs and patchwork aren't too difficult, and good paint touch up work can be completed in a garage with no problem. Plus, it will save you a ton of money over taking your Corvette to a professional. But remember, most paints need to be at or above 50 degrees for several hours after application to dry properly and not orange peel.
7. Rebuild/Replace Engine
Is the engine in your Corvette tired or losing performance? A complete rebuild might be in order, or at least fresh rings and a valve job. Alternatively, you could yank the old, heavy, under powered, low compression, smog era lump and replace it with a shiny new crate engine. Remember, a 350hp small block looks nearly identical to a 150hp Malaise Era lump, but the sound and the feel are way different. Major engine work is quite common among Corvette owners in the winter time, and it sure does make spring a whole lot more fun.
Need help with your winter project? The how to section of Corvette Forums is read and waiting for you.