Looking at a 91 coupe, 6 spd

[slapshot]

I'm making a 2 hr drive tomorrow to look at a 91 coupe, red w/ blk interior, 6 spd, only 37k miles. I have spoke to the owner on the phone have was given a pretty good history on the car. I checked the Carfax and Florida DHSMV records and confirmed the mileage is accurate and no crash history.

Is there anything specific to the 91 or L98 that are common problems?? I already plan to do the obvious engine/fluid leak checks, body panel alignment and paint, and a thorough test drive.

The only known problems he told me about are 1) one of the drivers doors seals is starting to crack, he has a new one that isn't installed yet, and 2) 1/2 of radio backlighting is out (Delco Gold). Hopefully the backlighting isn't an expensive/in depth repair. If it is, I may just replace the entire system. He has an uninstalled lower front spoiler (the black parking bump catcher), a chip, and cover also included in the car. There is a stainless exhaust on it also.

Any help is greatly appreciated. This will be my first Vette, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they are all about. I don't plan any extensive mods. Maybe some basic engine mods, definately need to tint the windows, and a CAGS bypass.

 

[Tim Scales]

Look for a dimming or changing dash display. hey are sometimes weak. If equipped, check out the CD/Casette player using several different CD's and Tapes. The CD player are bad to go out if sitting an extended period. Weather strips....cracks in fiberglassLook for oil leaks and the smell of oil getting hot after a moderate to long drive. GOOD LUCK! Tim

 

[no_vette_yet]

Man, that sounds like a winner! Good luck in your purchase. If I might ask you...since I am looking for a car like the one you found, did you find it in the trader or another source? and I don't want to be offensive, but what was the ask?

Richard

 

[Edmond]

Ask for the service records on batteries and alternators. C4's are pretty notorious on the alternator.

Have fun looking at it and driving it. But keep in mind that there are more out there so don't compromise if it doesn't feel right.

Personally, I would just replace the Delco system with an aftermarket anyway. I have an Alpine 12 disc in mine.

 

[Vette_Newb]

I don't plan any extensive mods.

I think there are very few of us who "planned" those, they just happen.

Have Fun!

 

[SSTibet]

I already plan to do the obvious engine/fluid leak checks, body panel alignment and paint, and a thorough test drive.

How do you perform the fluid leak checks? Please give me some details, as I may also have to do the same for a friend this week.

 

[slapshot]

How do you perform the fluid leak checks? Please give me some details, as I may also have to do the same for a friend this week.

Just looking for leaks before and after driving it from the obvious places....oil, differential, tranny, coolant, etc. Nothing high tech unless I see the need for it. In which case, I probably wouldn't buy it.

 

[slapshot]

Ask for the service records on batteries and alternators. C4's are pretty notorious on the alternator.

Have fun looking at it and driving it. But keep in mind that there are more out there so don't compromise if it doesn't feel right.

Personally, I would just replace the Delco system with an aftermarket anyway. I have an Alpine 12 disc in mine.

It has a new battery, but will check the alternator.

 

[RISKMGR]

mY 91 has been relatively trouble free....all the weaker points have been mentioned above...... but check for excessive rattles and any rust that may have formed due to leaking seals.....btw how much is the asking price anyway?

 

[slapshot]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=174155424&dealer_id=&car_year=1991&make=CHEV&distance=100&max_price=&model=CORV&advcd_on=n&end_year=1996&min_price=&first_record=26&address=33770&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1990&=&color=&cardist=89

The car was very clean and solid. Minor weatherstripping cracking in a couple places, but I expect that on a 13 y/o car. The paint is in outstanding condition. The leather/interior also is in excellent shape. The test drive went great. Great acceleration, braking, handling. Alignment is dead on. The tires had a slight balance isue at first, but it went away. I had the same problem with previous cars that sat in the garage alot, the tires temporarily flat spot. Overall, I'd give the entire car an 8.5 to 9. The clutch seemed solid and I did not feel any slipping. The only issue I see is the stereo and it needs some tightening of interior trim. It has the Bose Gold w/ CD. The headunit is fine, except for the backlighting as I already new. It sounds like the driver front speaker is out. That won't be much of an issue since I plan to gut the Bose system eventually. I know exactly what people meant when they compared 91 technology to 2004 technology. The sound difference is amazing. All of the power options work (mirrors, windows, antenna). It needs a good cleaning and buffing, then it will get Zaino. I looked at every panel and did not see any signs of paintwork and they all aligned correctly.

The car actually has MORE options than I thought. Here's all the details....36,700 miles, black leather, dual power seats, glass roof panel, 3 way adjustable suspension (FX3???), all of the extra Corvette items (bags, etc). The current owner is the third. He has lots of paperwork on the history of the car as well as receipts for tires, battery, etc. He has the original window sticker also. It has new Dunlop tires with under 1k miles on them. He has a couple of new window weatherstripping parts that haven't been installed yet. He also has a chip for it, a cover, and all manuals (inlcuding service manual).

He was asking $14,500. based on NADA, that was a bit high. We talked him down to $13,500 and agreed on that. I left a deposit and will be going back to drop off the certified check and get the car. Both my wife and I feel we got a great buy on a solid and straight car. I will post pix later this week/weekend once I get it home and detail the hell out of it. Since I have a take home cruiser, it will only get driven a few thousand miles per year.

Thanks al for the input and advice, it helped out greatly.

The highlight of the day??? We saw a new 2005 Ford GT on the way there. I have pix and will post them later too.

 

[slapshot]

Man, that sounds like a winner! Good luck in your purchase. If I might ask you...since I am looking for a car like the one you found, did you find it in the trader or another source? and I don't want to be offensive, but what was the ask?

Richard

Traderonline.
He listed it at $14,500. He wasn't willing to come down at all at first, but we did get him down to $13,500. 6 spds are very hard to find right now. I only found a couple. Luckily, living in FL does help since the market always has lots of Vettes.

 

[Edmond]

Congratulations on the car. Do you have any mods on mind?

 

[slapshot]

Congratulations on the car. Do you have any mods on mind?

Well, I need to go through the car and see EXACTLY what is on it. I'll see what kind of chip he has for it and possibly try that. Once I see what it has and what's available, I'll go from there. Probably an intake, thermostat, chip, nd maybe exhaust. Just enough to tweak it a bit, but nothing extreme. I think the stereo change will be first. I need my tunes.

 

[slapshot]

Is the optional adjustable suspension (3 choices) with yellow shock that look like Bilsteins, the FX3 suspension???? It's a $2100 or so option on the original sticker.

Is there much of a noticeable difference in the 3 settings. Is there anything special about it other than more expensive to replace the shocks??

Thanks.....

 

[SSTibet]

Is the optional adjustable suspension (3 choices) with yellow shock that look like Bilsteins, the FX3 suspension???? It's a $2100 or so option on the original sticker.

Is there much of a noticeable difference in the 3 settings. Is there anything special about it other than more expensive to replace the shocks??

Thanks.....

Slapshot, FX3 is "selective ride & handling package" and I firmly believe that's what you got in your new car. The knob on the console should have 3 settings (tour, sport, performance) depending on what type of driving / road conditions you will have. And I also believe you can change the settings anytime you so desire (even during driving on the road)... I would love to have this option but I do not

Here is a picture of it from the owner's manual of my car.

Congradulations

 

[Rogue]

Damn! What a catch. Nice car.


I too have a '91, which I bought a year ago. Yours has everything mine has except mine's an auto. Mileage-wise we're about the same. Mine had 32k miles when I bought it.

The FX3 indeed has the yellow Delco-Bilstein shocks with cockpit adjustment. Yes. There are big, noticeable differences with each setting. In Touring you get a nice, soft ride but some body roll. In Sport, the body roll mostly goes away but still offers compliance. In Performance, you'd better have a smooth road because the car becomes race-car like. It's very firm and eliminates body roll.

Congratulations.

 

[slapshot]

Thanks, yup, it's the FX3. Got the car home yesterday. Overall, I'm very happy with it. The Bose stereo has to go. The passenger front speaker hums and gets noisey after a few minutes. I have 2 amps, so I'm going to try them and see if I can get by for a while.

The paint had some pretty good water spots. I didn't notice them as bad until i washed it. So I spent a few hours yesterday afternoon wet sanding it. I finished buffing it around 9pm last night. I'm going to do a final buffing later today to get the fine swirl marks out, then wash it with dish to strip all the wax off, then the Zaino begins. I also cleaned the engine up. Thank god I used to detail cars way back in college!!!!

A previous ower added the black plastic louver things on the brake lights. Needless to say, they are coming off, but I have order the original screws for the tail lights, the ones in there now are too long without the louvers. I also going to order new front and rear Corvette emblems. Hello Ecklers.

Once I get te exterior done, I'm going to thoroughly clean the interior, although it's in really good shape.

Once I get it done, I'll post some pix. It is a mess right now after wet sanding and buffing. Looks like a body shop. Right now, it's not worthy of being one of my cars. But it will be when I'm done. My wife says I'm anal about how my cars look.........


Does anyone know anything about "Performance Resource" from New Jersey??? The chip that came with the car is from them. I'm going to call them and see exacty what the specs are on the chip before I install it. I've never heard of them.

 

[Toms007]

Hey slapshot, what are you going to do with the louver things? I was actually thinking about putting them on my 94. Can you take a picture of them and post?

 

[slapshot]

Hey slapshot, what are you going to do with the louver things? I was actually thinking about putting them on my 94. Can you take a picture of them and post?

Sure, I'll take a pic tomorrow. I was going to toss them. They aren't in the best shape. I'd think they could be spray painted and look just fine. I'll get with you after I remove them and befor I toss them.

 

[slapshot]

I've put some serious elbow grease on the paint in the past couple days. I've got close to 10 hours of wet sanding, buffing, and 3 coats of Zaino so far. The paint is smooth as ice. Most of the water spots came out, but not totally. I'm happy with the results. It will get 2 more coats of Zaino. I just ordered a new window weatherstriping, front and rear emblems, and a serpentine belt from Eckler's. Next week I'll change the oil and get some synthetic in it and probably change the fuel filter too.

Question.....where in the world are the speaker amps hidden???????????? I took the covers and speakers out of the front passenger speaker, but didn't see it anywhere.

From what I hear, Bose replacement is a PITA. Is it as simple as using an aftermarket harness to the new headunit and then just running new speaker wire to bypass the speakers and amps?? I hope so, this Bose is junk. But, I also don't want to shell out hundreds of $$$ to my local radio shop to do something I can handle.