I sit here at the keyboard some $2000 poorer, but out in the driveway is my "new" 86 Vette, FINALLY back from the shop (three weeks, mostly waiting for parts).
Most expensive items were the clutch work (including the slave cylinder at $200 :eek for the part and $300 :eek for associated labor - incl. the clutch installation) and the parking brake work, at $168 for the cable installation, $89 for the cables themselves, and $92 for the rear shoes plus money for other bits and pieces. Folks - a lesson. USE YOUR EBRAKE. If you don't use the parking brake, it rusts into the 'released' setting and requires mucho dinero to fix - and it's an inspectable item!
Other major items repaired were timing chain and sprockets ($150 labor, $63 parts), rebuilt water pump and starter at about $70 each, the freeze plugs (all brass, and all of them replaced, for a reasonable-sounding $96 labor and $24 in parts), new exhaust studs and gaskets, rear main seal, clutch fork ($34, doesn't sound bad), oil pan gasket, the alternator bracket (I have a spare of these, if anyone needs one), and a new ring gear and refinished flywheel.
So - the good news. Except for the rumbling wheel bearings, it sounds and drives like a new car :cool . The clutch pickup is about a centimeter off the floor, and the clutch pedal feel is now lighter than the one in my Subaru. I need to wait a couple hundred miles to bed in the new clutch and pressure plate (per Centerforce instructions), but after that... whee! :s
Over the winter I plan to change plugs and wires - anyone have recommendations? Are Magnacores and Bosch +4's worth the $$?
Save the wave!
[RICHR]
Most expensive items were the clutch work (including the slave cylinder at $200 :eek for the part and $300 :eek for associated labor - incl. the clutch installation) and the parking brake work, at $168 for the cable installation, $89 for the cables themselves, and $92 for the rear shoes plus money for other bits and pieces. Folks - a lesson. USE YOUR EBRAKE. If you don't use the parking brake, it rusts into the 'released' setting and requires mucho dinero to fix - and it's an inspectable item!
Other major items repaired were timing chain and sprockets ($150 labor, $63 parts), rebuilt water pump and starter at about $70 each, the freeze plugs (all brass, and all of them replaced, for a reasonable-sounding $96 labor and $24 in parts), new exhaust studs and gaskets, rear main seal, clutch fork ($34, doesn't sound bad), oil pan gasket, the alternator bracket (I have a spare of these, if anyone needs one), and a new ring gear and refinished flywheel.
So - the good news. Except for the rumbling wheel bearings, it sounds and drives like a new car :cool . The clutch pickup is about a centimeter off the floor, and the clutch pedal feel is now lighter than the one in my Subaru. I need to wait a couple hundred miles to bed in the new clutch and pressure plate (per Centerforce instructions), but after that... whee! :s
Over the winter I plan to change plugs and wires - anyone have recommendations? Are Magnacores and Bosch +4's worth the $$?
Save the wave!
[RICHR]