So I’ve been driving the new ‘vette for a couple weeks now. The car falls solidly in the ‘needs TLC’ in my opinion. I’ve got a solid list of things in my head that I want to do in the coming months with the car, fixing some things and upgrading/modifying others. I’m writing them out here to organize my thoughts and try and get some priorities going. If anyone has any thoughts, please feel free to share them. So here we go:
Immediate needs:
- Fix idle/ return to idle. I’ve got the idle speed corrected from when I purchased the car but the RPMs hang when returning to idle. Makes it hard to shift smooth. This is the first vacuum secondary carb I’ve had on a ‘vette, so I need to dig in and see what’s going on. I also need to go over the vacuum lines, may have an issue hiding in there as well.
- New radiator/hoses. There’s an aluminum radiator in it now that is a roughly a direct replacement for the stock non-AC radiator. It seems to be decent quality with the exception of the filler neck, it’s a stamped piece and appears to be slightly distorted. I have a AC width radiator and the brackets to mount it so I’m going to swap it in. Since the hoses look pretty old they’re getting changed also. The upper radiator hose has factory GM markings!
- Exhaust rattles. The heat shield is rattling on the cat. I hate rattles, they will be stopped.
- Adjust clutch/Change gear oil. Clutch isn’t fully disengaging and the car is hard to get in gear especially when cold. Figure this may be old gear oil, but while I’m under there.
- Fix heater controls. Levers are broken and fan doesn’t work. Need at least fan ASAP.
- Check/grease front suspension. There’s a small pop sometimes when turning the wheel in a parking lot. Hoping to get lucky with a dry ball joint. Will replace offending part when that doesn’t work.
Like to do in a spring time frame:
- Fix horn button. Has button on dash from PO, decided I’m not a fan.
- Install the ‘van’ cluster, I would also like to find a GM tach with a face dimension that would fit in the ‘clock’ location of the cluster.
- New bushings, springs, shocks, and bigger sway-bars. I want to realistically auto-cross this car some. It’s going to need these things replaced with stiffer items.
- Clean up interior. This one has the standard plastic panels that are pretty sun baked. They haven’t started turning into dust though so I’m hoping a good die job will save them. The dash will get a cover if it survives the radio upgrade. The head liner is AWOL so I’ll need to find one of those. And fuzzy dice, we’re going to need some.
- New speakers. Currently has tv speakers Velcroed to the dash and some kind of factory speakers laying loose in the back seat. All that’s getting tossed. I’d like to do a dual voice coil 4x10 in the dash location and a pair of 6x9’s in boxes in the hatch. The 90’s-riffic Optimus tape deck can stay.
- The driver’s seat foam is sagging on the left side, so I’d like to find replacement sportier fronts seats that look ‘80s appropriate. I’m thinking Fiero.
- Paint tail light reflectors. I’ve painted the reflectors in several older cars with ‘Chrome in a can’, it really brightens the lights up. Since Chevettes are blessed with reflectors/housings that aren’t UV stable, I think this should also help preserve them. I may also add a layer of fiber glass on the back side as well.
- Aero mods! I’d like to do a grill block, duct the radiator, lower the front air dam, and add an under tray. Basically better air control around the front end should net me some handling improvements and possibly add 1-2 mpg.
In the future.
- Wider rims and tires. No clue on what I’m going to do to pull this off. I have several friends with Miatas and Hondas that I can borrow a rim from to measure clearances. I’m thinking in the front that I’m going to look at relocating the shocks into the spring location. The rear may get a mini tub. Time will tell on this one.
- Paint. The factory stuff is roached. Most likely going to go back with black, just for the ease of color patching.
Thanks for any thoughts, Ra
Message Thread
« Back to index