OMG I just got the bill for

[vargod]

Getting my car worked on. Work done:

New GM LT4 spark plug wires(red-had to special order the chev dealer did not stock them)
New Platinum plugs
Upper and lower raditor hoses
New Thremostat
Cleaned and Flushed cooling System
Mobil 1 oil change
New belt
Greese job
All new vacuum hoses
Balanced wheels

total $890.00

I think from now on I will be doiong most of that work. I will say though, the car is running about 20-25 degrees cooler. It never went above 190. Its been running around 220-225 on cool days. I have not told the wife yet. She's been in a good mood all day, if you now what I mean.

 

[Ken]

Is this perhaps your first Corvette maintenance charges experience?

_ken

 

[vargod]

Yes it is. I was expecting about that.

 

[warren s]

Wow, thats a whopper of a bill, when i bought my 95 last January it had about 12500 miles on it so it sat around alot.

So I replaced -

All hoses, upper and lower rad
Tank to heater
Tank to overflow
Tank to water pump
Replaced the alum. lines along the inner fender
Replaced the serpintine belt
Oil and filter
Coolent flush
Tranny filter and fluid (just a change not a flush)
Washed air filter (K&N)

Total cost about $300 , even thought the temp last Jan was much hight than this January, it wasnt much fun in the garage, and took an entire day.

(The dry rotted tires were another story)

 

[vargod]

I used to do all of the work on my cars, but since we moved in a historic district and our house can not have a garage and a gravel driveway, I just decided to take in and have it done. Although, afeter today, I might rethink it.

Oh, and i have not told the wife about the bill yet.

 

[warren s]

Well having a shelter to work in was prerequsite to getting the car. Not that my townhouse garage is big, but atleast I can open the hood and get under the Vette in there.

Also not having a time limit was a help.

 

[vargod]

I only wish I had some place to work on the cars. Perhaps in a few years, I will be able to build a building that is period appropriate.

 

[warren s]

Good luck, A 96 LT4 deserves it.

 

[B17Crew]

Vargod, I know what you mean, it makes a big difference to have an enclosure to work on your car. When I first purchased my LT4 in ‘98, I had a carport, fortunately, I now have a garage! I’m getting ready to take my car in for service. Below, I’ve listed the estimate given to me by my local Chevy dealer. I like to perform as much work on my LT4 as possible, but it’s so cold where I’m at that I’m going to throw some greenbacks the dealers way to handle things. My next step is a heated garage (hopefully)!

Estimate for service on my LT4 (43,300 miles on car).

• Manual transmission fluid drained and replaced..........$70.95
• Rear differential fluid drained and replaced.................$89.95
• Clean and flush engine/radiator coolant......................$84.95
• Install new serpentine drive belt.................................$69.95
• Lube/adjust parking brake cable.................................$34.00
• New fuel filter installed................................................$58.50
• Four wheel alignment..................................................$69.95

 

[warren s]

Those prices really are not that bad, mosr dealers charge by the hour with an hour minimum.

About $65 to $75 per hour labor here in NYC, $90 for electrical and diagnostic.

 

[B17Crew]

warren s,
True, the prices do not seem that bad. I’ll be glad to pay Mr. goodwrench to service the car this time around. I can only imagine how embarrassing it would be having the local fire department de-ice my from my garage floor.

B17Crew

p.s. Your webpage is really nice!

 

[warren s]

Thanks!! B17Crew

At 40 years old, a few hours on the cold concrete is no fun anymore....

BTW....B17Crew.....were you?

 

[twiget]

$890.00 Ouch!!

When I've got something that has to happen on my GS that I cant do, there is a shop I take her to. They charge $75.00 an hour, but the shop has a really good rep, and the onwer is really cool. He's got a 94 LT1 with a procharger on it, his son drives a turbo charged Chevy 1500, and his daughter drives a '69 Firebird 400!!!

Fortunately, I've finally got a garage, so I'm able to do most of the work my self.

Jason

 

[B17Crew]

warren s, “B17" does apply to Boeings B-17 Flying Fortress. I did not crew a B17, but I have great admiration for the aircraft and its crews.

When I’m not at my full time gig, I have a freelance design business that specializes in corporate identity and sports graphics. I’ve centered my freelance business identity around the WWII heavy bomber.

B17Crew

 

[Ken]

Gotta have a picture!


Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

_ken

 

[B17Crew]

Thanks Ken! Great shot of the B17, she's poetry in motion.

B17Crew

 

[warren s]

B-17CREW

Cool!! I was always into WWII aircraft. Talking about Turbos and Superchargers, Back in the 1940s Boeing built the first Turbo-Supercharged warter injected engines for the B29

So a blower on a car in nothing new!

 

[B17Crew]

warren s,

I hear ya! WWII aircraft are awesome. From P-38’s, P-40’s, P-51’s, F4U Corsairs, to B-24’s, I love ’em all!

From what I’ve seen in Corvette Fever magazine, there are quite a few U.S. military pilots (and other armed service members) that drive Corvettes when they’re not up in the wild blue yonder.

Nice to know the good guys drive Corvettes.

B17Crew

 

[lt4 gs]

Hi- jacking is a felony................:eyerole :eyerole :eyerole :eyerole :eyerole

 

[Ken]

Only if it is intentional. :nono

_ken