Jan 1st and I'm blowing the budget on 'Vette parts

"gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun" (gbergey) 01/01/2017 at 15:36 • Filed to: covette, Happy New Year!, resolution, tremec, blue

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My new years resolution for 2017 was to spend less than $5k fixing/restoring/upgrading/maintaining that damn Corvette.

HOWEVER. I went out to start it yesterday, and while crawling underneath to check for leaks, found a nice puddle of brake fluid coming out of the front left caliper.... so there’s an order in to Corvette Central for a new pair of front calipers, braided brake hoses, pads, and I’m spoiling myself and getting new caliper bolts too! I’m hoping that if I replace both it’ll get rid of the pulling-to-the-right feeling I get under hard braking... Although I have receipts from the last owner of a TOTAL brake system rebuild in 2004, and a new rear left caliper in 2014...

ALSO. I just sent !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! a request for quote on a Tremec TKO 600 5-speed, to do something about the abysmal fuel economy and the 3900rpm @ 75mph (120km/h)

2.87, 1.89, 1.28, 1.00, 0.64... wow, what a 5th gear ratio. I’d prefer a 6 speed, but the Tremec Magnum is much larger and requires cutting more holes in the console, as well as cutting out the trans crossmember and welding in a new one.

Now I just need a new windshield washer fluid pump, t-top seals, weatherstripping, re-leather’d steering wheel, reupholstered seats, a spare tire, a breakerless ignition conversion... yeah

PS9 > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun 01/01/2017 at 15:38

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See? If you had just brought an Audi allroad like all of us said, you would have saved so much on rep-GAHAHAHAHAHA oh I can’t finish that with a straight face.

MM54 > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun 01/01/2017 at 15:42

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Cool! That’s a good-looking C3!

The work all seems worthwhile too, except one point - breakerless ignition. Why add complexity and great potential for failure in place of a simple, reliable set of points?

lone_liberal > MM54 01/01/2017 at 15:49

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I know you are a big proponent of points ignition for reasons you’ve listed before but having had both I can say I am not sad that my dwell meter is gathering cob webs. I put those old ignitions in the same category as externally regulated alternators, good riddance.

LongbowMkII > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun 01/01/2017 at 15:53

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5 speeds are sufficient for a SBC. Let overdrive overdrive, not like you’re need that extra gear for 100+mph acceleration.

MM54 > lone_liberal 01/01/2017 at 15:55

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*looks at blown external regulator on the bench and new one bolted to core support*

Frenchlicker > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun 01/01/2017 at 16:04

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I’m forcing myself to get an apartment to try and talk myself out of dropping a ton of money into a hearse with no way to ever dream of recouping it.

lone_liberal > MM54 01/01/2017 at 16:04

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I just went to a one-wire setup when I replaced all of the wiring in the Camaro. The nest of old wires to the regulator was a nightmare, I think the splices had splices.

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > PS9 01/01/2017 at 17:18

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LOL I’ve had people ask me why I didn’t put 10k down for a new Camaro or Mustang instead though!

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > LongbowMkII 01/01/2017 at 17:19

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True, true, but 6 speeds are 20% better than 5 speeds! Math says so!

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > MM54 01/01/2017 at 17:20

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Because they’re sorcery and I’ve never owned a vehicle with points before and don’t know how to fix them

MM54 > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun 01/01/2017 at 17:25

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It’s very simple, all you need is a dwell tach (can do it by ear to get it close if you want) and a 1/8" allen key to adjust them. Replacement adds two screw drivers to the mix. Failure on the road? 10 minutes and you’re back on the go; if a pertronix* or similar unit craps out, you’re waiting for a tow unless you have a spare $100+ module in the glove box.

*I will give credit to the pertronix ignitor III though, it’s tempting not because it replaces points but because it offers multispark and a limiter without being visibly different (once the cap is on) under the hood and requires no crazy wiring other than replacing the points’ resistor wire.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun 01/24/2017 at 17:08

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Looks good! Are you in the Fort Langley area?

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 01/24/2017 at 20:26

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No, alas, I’m in central Vancouver Island!

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun 01/25/2017 at 01:38

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Still a nice place though!

19JRC99 > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun 02/21/2017 at 01:41

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I say leave the 4 speed and swap in a set of 3.55 gears or 3.31s or 3.23s. Cheaper, and something about a 4 speed in a vintage car just sounds right.