The future of the Cletus-Vette

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/18/2019 at 11:41 • Filed to: Cletus-Vette

Been a while since I posted about this thing so here’s the update. TL:DR —> all is not well aboard the good ship Cletus-Vette and I need to fix some stuff.

As some of you might know, I spent two weeks driving this thing 1,500 miles from Toronto to West Virginia and back with my friend Matt. The trip was exciting but it exacted a toll on my body and afterwards I didn’t really drive it too much this season. I also drove it to the VARAC vintage Grand Prix at Mosport to spectate and we documented that with a video.

The Corvette has been running absolutely great but it was burning a worrying amount of oil. The oil consumption reached a point where I decided to crack open my perfectly running engine and try to fix it. I installed valve guide seals (which were completely missing!) in my car and afterwards it ran like total crap. It wouldn’t idle below 1,200 rpm and it wasn’t making power. So I assumed I had set my valves all wrong and sent it to a shop for them to set the valves.

When the car returned it ran the exact same. It runs well enough to drive it around but most of the fun is gone because it’s not running well and I worry about its health. To compound the matter, I got evicted from my old house and had to move with short notice. The chaos of the move put me into a new house with a smaller garage and I haven’t had the chance to work on it further.

It’s honestly been one bummer after another with this car after the trip. The move consumed much of my car money and I’m now paying higher rent so it will be harder to save up. I’m going to try and set the valves again myself because I believe the shop set them too tight.

The road trip made me realize that the rowdy Corvette needs a less rowdy companion. Something more economical, quieter, and all around nicer. I’ve been looking longingly at Porsche (VW) 914s and I think if I can ever get my shit straight again, I’ll add one to the stable.

So that;s the goings on with the Cletus-Vette!

DISCUSSION (7)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
12/18/2019 at 15:26

Damn, hopefully you can get the Cletus-Vette running strong again! A Porsche 914 would be a very fun little classic, I’d think! No hope on an Opel GT then? :P

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/18/2019 at 15:36

Single car garage has kinda dashed that dream. I want at least one working classic around the house. Can’t work on a project remotely and it feel silly to pick the Corvette out and store it remotely while I work on a crapcan.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
12/18/2019 at 15:50

You have a place to store the Corvette off-site do you? And put a potential Porsche in the garage?

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/18/2019 at 16:06

It would cost me $80/month to store the Corvette off-site. I’m fine doing that if I have another driveable classic car at the house but less willing to do that to have a non-running project at home. Make sense?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
12/18/2019 at 17:25

Oh , for sure! I would just hate to hear of the Cletus-Vette going away for good ! :)

MM54 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
12/18/2019 at 19:18

Sounds like you’re in a tough spot, and I wish I had some great suggestions to help.

I’d gladly help set the valves (are they solid or hydraulic?) but there’s a border crossing in the way that I can’t get across.

That said, sometimes it’s good to step away from things for a little bit. If you have somewhere you can put it (affordably) maybe putting it away for, say, a year would give you some time to financially and mentally relax a bit, then you can dive back into it after a hiatus with a clear plan .

CB > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
12/30/2019 at 16:50

Damn dude, that’s a real bummer.

I take it your job won’t let you telecommute? Living in Toronto proper is stupid expensive, but then again I can’t imagine anywhere else in the GTA will be cheaper.