Charliebates New Member Introduction

[charliebates]

Welcome! I did not realize there were so few Berlinas built. Congrats on a great looking car.

Thx, John

 

[wagons]

Berlina

Thank you very much Charlie, but my crashing is in the back. Maybe that's just the symptom of what you're saying?

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Welcome to Corvette Action Center

My interests also include motorcycles, especially the Indians. I have a 2002 Indian Chief and a custom Road Star.

Thx, John Rosebrugh in Red Deer

Glad you've joined us. Indian Motorcycle's rock; got anything for sale or are you just a collector?

Would be interested in a 5-6 year old Chief and would have to be black if the price was right and etc.

-Bill

 

[charliebates]

Thank you very much Charlie, but my crashing is in the back. Maybe that's just the symptom of what you're saying?

Just grab the tail pipe and give a good shake.

I believe it's your exhaust pipe hitting the removable cross frame that holds your gas tank in place. Any muffler shop can re-do the bends to make it clear.
Will U check it out and let me know.

Thx John

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Welcome Aboard

Thank you very much Charlie, but my crashing is in the back. Maybe that's just the symptom of what you're saying?

Appears I did not welcome you to the group so We're glad to have you join us.

-Bill

 

[charliebates]

Glad you've joined us. Indian Motorcycle's rock; got anything for sale or are you just a collector?

Would be interested in a 5-6 year old Chief and would have to be black if the price was right and etc.

-Bill

Hello Bill
I just placed a deposit on a 2014 Black Chieftain.

So I'm selling my 2002 Indian Chief but it's Silver. It's been a fun bike and wasn't planning to sell until I saw the Chieftain. If the 02 Chief doesn't sell I will be a collector.
Thx for the warm welcome.
John

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Hello Bill
I just placed a deposit on a 2014 Black Chieftain.

So I'm selling my 2002 Indian Chief but it's Silver. It's been a fun bike and wasn't planning to sell until I saw the Chieftain. If the 02 Chief doesn't sell I will be a collector.
Thx for the warm welcome.
John

Got any pictures and figure in mind? The new Chieftan and black especially rock! When are you supposed to take delivery?
Thanks,

 

[charliebates]

Got any pictures and figure in mind? The new Chieftan and black especially rock! When are you supposed to take delivery?
Thanks,

If I take delivery before Feb 28 I get a 5 year warranty. I really don't need it until April because we have long winters.

 

[Mac]

If I take delivery before Feb 28 I get a 5 year warranty. I really don't need it until April because we have long winters.

Yes, we do... Ottawa is well ahead of average for snowfall this year... sigh...

Nice looking scooter!

Mac

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Awesome looking indian. . . . . .

Now that is a nice looking Indian, the silver looks good but I do want black but two tone black with that silver is another option that wouldn't be all that bad either if a fellow could buy it right; did you think about a bottom dollar? Appears you have considerable upgrades on it too, has the whitewalls, bags, and appears some extra bling too! Do like the "Thunder Black Classic but the Chieftan may be the way I would go, not sure!! If you want to e-mail me direct wcbarkdull@gmail.com with particulars and etc.

Thanks,
-Bill

 

[Dracula]

New guy here myself. Just got a Berlina myself, the 1981 two tone brown and tan one. Stupidly trusted Gorge Goioechea down in Florida and had to spend an extra 8 grand on it. One problem now though...the ride is rough beyond anything I've ever experienced. Any slight indentation in the road and it sounds like an explosion. Sounds like the body is hitting something, rather than just your usual shock issue, but I am the opposite of an expert. Any ideas would be very very welcome guys. Thanks, Mike Devlin

I have learned a lot about the Berlinas. Mine was surprisingly a rough ride too. I did some searching and came up with a fix and fortunately it's not that costly. The rough ride is caused by the 22 inch Berlina frame extension that moves the front suspension ahead but not the motor and transmission. This results in more weight on the rear suspension and less weight on the front. So the rear rides not too bad but the front rides like a rock.

There are 3 changes u can make to the suspension.

1...Remove the OEM shocks by Phillips. They are chrome plated and have 3 adjustable setting but they don't indicate which is harder r softer. Just replace with simple AC Delco shocks or equivalent.

2...Remove the front sway bar. The front end is so light U will never miss it.

These 2 changes will help a lot. If U want to test before spending then simply remove the sway bar and shocks and go for a test ride. Then u will know and can add the new shocks after. If the new shocks are too hard then U loose your ride.

3...I'm in the process of doing the number 3 upgrade to the front suspension. First I will explain what I'm doing and why.

The Berlinas are much lighter because the Corvette front end has been extended by 22 inches to fit the Berlina body. The engine and transmission which are the bulk of the weight have not been moved with the front end suspension. So the front end weight changes from 2395 pounds on the 1981-2 Corvette to 1766 pounds on the Twin Wheel Berlina and to 1706 pounds on the SE Berlina. That's a huge weight difference and is the cause of the rough ride U R experiencing.
I have removed the OE Corvette 460 pound front coil springs. They are rated at 460 pounds because it takes 460 pounds to compress the spring 1 inch and that's rock hard on the Berlina. The front suspension is the same on the Corvettes from 1963 to 1982 but have different coil springs to work with the different weights. So the coils springs are interchangeable.
I found the 1963 Corvette has a front end suspension weight that is with in a 7 pounds of the front end of weight on the Berlina SE so that's what I've purchased to put in mine.
I have it all apart and could assemble but not until I replace the ball joint boots, rubber bushings and new paint on the A-arms.

Thank you very much Charlie, but my crashing is in the back. Maybe that's just the symptom of what you're saying?

Just grab the tail pipe and give a good shake.

I believe it's your exhaust pipe hitting the removable cross frame that holds your gas tank in place. Any muffler shop can re-do the bends to make it clear.
Will U check it out and let me know.

What about body mounts?

I also own one of these 80s retro rods. Sorry CAC for creeping in without a true Corvette. I will keep my posts to a minimum. I have always liked the C3 though.

John, did Phillips mount a spare tire somewhere else on the SE? I've been curious what they did for the spares on the SE and if the exhaust flows through those side pipes.

v Wheels aren't done yet. v

 

[charliebates]

What about body mounts?

I also own one of these 80s retro rods. Sorry CAC for creeping in without a true Corvette. I will keep my posts to a minimum. I have always liked the C3 though.

John, did Phillips mount a spare tire somewhere else on the SE? I've been curious what they did for the spares on the SE and if the exhaust flows through those side pipes.

v Wheels aren't done yet. v

Welcome Dracula.
I love your Berlina. Just so you know I saw yours on the net and your black & burgundy colours inspired me to buy mine. Was looking at others when I came across it. I found it the day it was posted on the net at 7 pm and bought it at 7am the next morning. They had 8 enquiries about it that first day.
The Berlina SE spare tire mounts under the fuel tank same as stock Corvette.
John

Can U send me a friend request on my Facebook? It's John Bert Rosebrugh Thx

 

[Dracula]

Welcome Dracula.
I love your Berlina. Just so you know I saw yours on the net and your black & burgundy colours inspired me to buy mine. Was looking at others including "Wagons" when I came across it. I found it the day it was posted on the net at 7 pm and bought it at 7am the next morning. They had 8 enquiries about it that first day.
The Berlina SE spare tire mounts under the fuel tank same as stock Corvette.
John

Can U send me a friend request on my Facebook? It's John Bert Rosebrugh Thx

Ah, ok. I'm going to have to peek under a C3 to see that. Looking under mine, I see a hole near the rear but it looks too close to the rear to fit a tire but my judgement is probably off.

Yeah, I like the black ones, the white ones, the black and white ones, white and black ones, black and red ones, and cream and gold ones. Well, actually I like just about all of them. There's been only a few whose colors I didn't care for. Thanks though. I'm making changes to mine and drive it more than I should but it didn't cost much. The title history and odo showed 5K miles but I have to drive them. Dry roads and dry days of course. So yeah, I like yours too - good score. Looks like it's in good hands.
My accent color is more like a fire engine red though. The picture I posted makes the red look different from the door to the front but it's all the same hue. Must have been shadow/lighting or something.

But back to topic to prevent hijacking from going too far. What do you think about the possibility of bad body mounts in Wagons' case?

I replaced my shocks with Sensa-tracks and it made a big difference. I also found somewhere on a Vette forum that someone suggested a shock from Autozone to help with the ride. I'd have to find that thread again because there were part numbers there too.

Just saw your edit. Thanks but I don't have FB.

 

[Rob]

What about body mounts?

I also own one of these 80s retro rods. Sorry CAC for creeping in without a true Corvette. I will keep my posts to a minimum. I have always liked the C3 though.

John, did Phillips mount a spare tire somewhere else on the SE? I've been curious what they did for the spares on the SE and if the exhaust flows through those side pipes.

v Wheels aren't done yet. v

Welcome to the Corvette Action Center. You don't have to own a Corvette to be a member here, so feel free to post!

 

[charliebates]

Welcome to the Corvette Action Center. You don't have to own a Corvette to be a member here, so feel free to post!

Thx for the welcome Rob.
Much appreciated.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Welcome to Corvette Action Center

Welcome aboard Dracula we're glad you've joined our group

-Bill

 

[Dracula]

Thanks for the welcome folks. And thanks John for the compliment. Feeling is mutual as you have a really nice one there.

Wagons, have you had a chance to do any more poking around on your car?

 

[Dracula]

I'm going to throw another thought out there for wagons in addition to the body mounts... what about shock travel? If the travel length is too short, would it bang every time the shock reached its travel limit over the larger bumps? (I'm beginning to think this should all be in another thread.)