Help me with a FEW problems.....

[CarDemon04]

I just bought a 1986 corvette. it runs and drives great but needs some work. first of all, something that REALLY bothers me is the fact that I can't spin the tires when I want(sometimes they spin, and sometimes they just grip like all hell) anybody else have this problem? second, the VATS on my car has a problem.... if I unlock the drivers side door it sets the alarm off, but if I unlock the passenger side door its fine. I'm assuming the problem is just a sensor in the door, does anyone know how easy it would be to fix(or if I'm better off just disabeling the VATS)? I'll leave the problems list at that for now(don't wanna make my car sound like crap, because it's really not all that bad)

 

[1995 RedVette]

I would just go ahead and disable the Vats. I had and 86 and 87, both of which had the vats modules taken out of the dash ( behind and slightly above the radio). You didn't mention if your car is an auto or stick. If a stick, then the clutch is probably to blame, if an auto, then you have some options. One, go to a higher numerical numbered rear gear, perhaps a 3.07:1 or 3:55 for a mostly street driven car, or 3.73:1 or higher if you don't care about gas mileage or noise. The second option is change the torque converter to a slightly higher stall. This will also depend on what you do with the car. If you drive it, you don't want to change things too much. The higher the stall speed the more slippage around crusing speed, thus the more heat produced. Heat will kill an automatic transmission as quickly as anything. Just some things to get your mind wondering along with my .02.

Brett

 

[vetteguy]

I had an 85 w/ auto and Z51, with 3:07 rear. That thing would spin like crazy. That L98 has alot of low end torque. What rear do you have? I would disable VATS, it will become more of a pita as time goes on. Good Luck, Guy

 

[Mart]

I agree with Vetteguy, mine has lots of wheelspin power, give us more info on your vette, what options, Z51, early or late model in 86, mine is an early with Z51.

Anyway welcome aboard
Mart

 

[Vettefan87]

My vette has 2:59 rear gears so yours might be the same. You have to remeber if you do drive it for a while the tires get hot and wont spin as much as when they are cold.

 

[CarDemon04]

Ok, it's a two-tone bronze corvette which leads me to believe that its a later 86(since I heard they only did that color on the late 86's). it has the L98 engine with an automatic transmission, and it's not Z51. I can do crazy fishtails and donuts with it, but it wont do a straight burnout or a brakestand(on dry pavement)... when I try to do a brake stand(on dry pavement) the engine revs to about 1400RPM (I'm assuming that's the stock stall speed of the torque converter) and just sorta stays there. it doesn't spin the tires, it just stays at 1400 RPM. the other day I took it out on wet pavement and did some CrAzY burnouts, but it won't do it on dry pavement which makes me mad. also, my dad has an '87 camaro with the same engine, and his does sick burnouts too(shhh...he doesn't know about that though) which leads me to believe there is something wrong with my car. I don't know what rear gear is in it(sorry). ummmm.... idk what else u guys need to know...thanks for the help

 

[Mart]

One sure way of telling if it's late or early is the valve covers, are they center bolt or side bolt?

Do you mean it Idles at 1400 rpm? If so this is pretty high IMHO, mine idles at 600rpm.

What tires do you have?


Mart

 

[CarDemon04]

no it idles at like 600 RPM, I mean that when I hold the brake pedal and floor it the engine revs to about 1400RPM and doesn't go any higher, and the tires still don't spin(yes I know this isn't the best thing for a car). it has the stock 16" 255 something or other 9.5" wide tires(sry for the inspecifics, I'm at work and don't have the car with me)

 

[ZumZum]

I have an '88 L98 with an auto that can spin the tires at will. It's all mostly stock except for an open air box, k&n filter and air foil. It will spin the tires like crazy under power braking. Maybe you just need a tune up. Fresh plugs, air filter, fuel filter, etc. Might not hurt to check the fuel pressure. It might depend on the make of tire also.

 

[vetteboy86]

If i am not mistaken the mid to late 80's stock stall was around 2000 RPM. I have an 86 and it lays nothing but crazy rubber. I pulled a dragster start with my brothers 87. I held the brake, and reved the engine to 2000 RPM then just canned it and we measured the skid marks and there were approximately 80 ft. How many miles are on your car? It might be a throttle hesitation problem. Our engines produce insane low end torque that should allow whell spin at will.

craig

 

[CarDemon04]

it has 126k miles on it and the throttle body does stick a little when it gets warmed up, but my dad says he knows how to fix that(he worked for GM on fuel injection systems for almost 20 years, but I don't wanna ask him about this because he's kinda up tight and I don't want him to know that I am trying to spin the tires, lol) anyway, I plan on changing plugs, wires, oil, oil filter, air filter, and coolant this weekend so maybe that will help(I got the car last friday)....also someone earlier metioned 2:59 rear gears, did they really put that high a gear in those cars? cuz that could explain this problem, right?

 

[WhalePirot]

Gee, and I am trying to figure out how to NOT spin the tires.

 

[CarDemon04]

wanna trade?

 

[1995 RedVette]

As far as being able to spin the wheels with the 2.59:1 gear...I have a 95 ( I know it is an LT-1, but the 86 and 87 that I had, both had a much better low end kick than does the 95 ) and it will spin a set of 315/35 R17 Goodyear GSC's nearly all the way through first and spin about a foot more when it hits second.

 

[vetteguy]

If you don't have Z51 , you probably have 2:59 gears. Check your rpo codes inside the console or the rear compartment. It should be GM_ followed by a number. Guy

 

[1995 RedVette]

GM1 is the code for 2.59:1 and G92 is for a 3.07:1

Brett

 

[militant_x]

I thought z51 only came on 4+3 cars.

 

[Mart]

Nope and here's proof.

 

[vetteguy]

No , I had Z51 on my auto.

I thought z51 only came on 4+3 cars.

 

[CarDemon04]

well guys this is an update on my car.... I replaced the spark plugs and wires( I could actually see the core on 3 of the wires I took off:eek , it's amazing it even ran) and that made a noticable difference, but it still set a check engine code....so after replacing the MAF sensor, the O2 sensor, adjusting the TPS sensor, and cleaning the throttle body I finally got the check engine light to go away . and I also got my new seat covers which are REALLY *****IN!!! however, now I have a problem with the tail lights and side markers...they work as turn signals and brake lights, but when I turn the headlights on the tail lights don't come on (result of a blown fuse), I changed the fuse and it blew again....:confused any one have an idea where the short might be? anyway, it also still needs paint, but after that it should be pretty good....thanks for all the help guys


P.s. Yes I did have alot of fun with all the smileys in this post