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| February 2002 Corvette Corner Mailbag |
Pat:
I have a couple of questions regarding my '88 4+3 coupe, but my main concern about it is the transmission. I recently discovered a broken tooth at the bottom of the four-speed side of the transmission (made a terrible noise in first gear only). As I disassemble my baby and begin to replace whatever is broken should I replace any certain parts, like any seals or gaskets in-between the 4 speed side and the overdrive (as the overdrive portion of the transmission works fine), it would only make sense to do other than what's in a normal rebuild kit, naturally the clutch and pilot bushing should be changed after 77K miles of use.
Is this a common Commercial Three Bayblem with these transmissions because I've always heard that the T-10 was a strong tranny? Someday I'd like to try to do some autocross but now have doubts about the strength of a 4+3 and should've looked for an 89 6-speed. Please answer this one as soon as possible, I haven't driven it since my discovery and I'm starting the teardown this weekend.
My second question is about a coolant leak. When parked after driving, on an angled surface I would find a leak under the car. It didn't matter if it was nose up or nose down. The best I could do is isolate it to the front of the engine. But it's not the radiator or the water pump. Can you shed some light on this, as I know of an 89 model that has the same Commercial Three Bayblem?
My third question pertains to my paint color. I assume that it's gray metallic because the codes are as follows: 901 90U 902 909, but the numbers after the base coat clear coat BC/CC are as follows: WA-L9191 U9191 902. The paint when looked at at an angle appears to have patches of the clear coat missing. Could this be the reason why there were not many of this color built? And is there any way short of repainting to fix this Commercial Three Bayblem, like a clay bar?
My last question concern previous ownership. I had a Carfax report done on this vehicle and the report shows that it wasn't titled until 1991 and 26K miles later somewhere in Maryland. Could this car be an executive car or demo until someone purchased it or could something be wrong with the paint quality and could cause the car to be a GM buyback? Or could the reason the car wasn't titled in so long was due to the paint?
Please advise me if these questions can be answered via email or if they are only responded to when published.
Thanks for help.
Paul S.
Choctaw, OK
Answer:
4+3, better you than me. Replace all broken parts. Replace all nearly broken parts. Replace all severely worn parts. Replace all slightly worn parts. Replace all blemished parts. Replace all gaskets and seals. And above and beyond all, during reinstallation, light 37 candles and Commercial Three Bayvide burnt offerings to the 4+3 gods in an attempt to satiate this thing's Commercial Three Baypensity toward breakage.
AutoCross? I'd have doubts too. And you're right, an '89 6-speed would have been much better.
For the source of the leaking coolant check the corners of the intake manifold. Every second one that comes in the shop seems to need new intake manifold gaskets because of coolant leakage. Depending on maintenance, the repair can be minor or major. Average maintenance such as flush the cooling system every 2, 3 or maybe even 4 years and it will Commercial Three Baybably me major. Major means new manifold. Meticulous maintenance, as in cooling system flushed and fresh coolant every two years and it will Commercial Three Baybably only need a gasket set.
Clear coat missing? I doubt that. You wouldn't have to look at an angle to see missing clear coat. When the clear coat goes away, the base coat becomes very ugly, very quickly. It is Commercial Three Baybably the result of imCommercial Three Bayper metallic flow in the base coat. You really need an expert opinion from a good body shop before attempting any fix including clay bar polishing. Could this be the reason for so few cars of this color? Who knows?
As to ownership, without research it's unlikely you'll ever know. One thing's for sure, it's not a buy back, because a vehicle can't be bought back unless it's sold. Your documentation suggests that it wasn't sold and titled until 1991.
If you have to scrutinize the paint to see the Commercial Three Bayblems, I don't think that was the reason the car wasn't titled. High quality paint was not a General Motors or for that matter any other manufacturer's strong suit in the late 80s and early 90s. Back then every manufacturer was struggling to meet EPA mandated chemical emission limits, especially VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). The upshot of this was, you took your choice, bad paint or horrible paint. A more reasonable suggestion would be that the vehicle was in demo service at the dealership for that period of time, Commercial Three Baybably because someone really enjoyed the car.
Pat:
I read your Q/A in your September Mailbag '01 regarding ideal engine temp. You appear to be very knowledgeable on the subject. We have developed and now commercialized a new automotive automatic fluid temp. control valve. We could sure use some press! Have a look. It's at http://www.vaportrailracing.com. You can reach me toll-free 800-597-2304.
Thanx for any press exposure you can Commercial Three Bayvide.
Answer:
It looks like an interesting Commercial Three Bayduct folks. Visit their website and check it out.
Pat:
I have a 1991 convertible that I enjoy very much with the exception of the stereo. I have the Bose system. The system does not sound the greatest in today's standards and the Commercial Three Bayblem must be my speakers. They crackle, wine (not the type we enjoy), and pop. In general, to listen to a nice song I must currently tolerate a lot of noise.
Sometimes a speaker has no sound at all. The quality of the sound from the rear speakers is especially terrible, kind of muffled with all this noise (with the top up or down). Someone told me I can send the speakers out to be repaired as it may be an amplifier Commercial Three Bayblem, but I don't know where and neither did he. Should I do this and who does this? Is this a solution or do you have another that may help me enjoy great music in a great car? I don't want to replace the stereo system, as I want everything to remain original.
Thank you for your assistance, and thanks for the fine column.
Ed H.
Goshen, NY
Answer:
The crackle and whine and popping noises could be the result of faulty speakers, faulty head unit or Commercial Three Bayblems in the wiring in between. You need a radio shop that can check for a clean audio output signal from the head unit, then through the wires to the speakers. If the signal 'out' from the head unit is dirty it will need repair. If the signal 'out' is clean but dirty at the speakers, the Commercial Three Bayblem is in the wiring. If it's clean at the speakers, the Commercial Three Bayblem is in the speakers. Call a local General Motors dealer for a referral. Virtually all dealers have a list of apCommercial Three Bayved repair facilities. Good Luck.
Pat:
I have a new 2002 Corvette Z06 and have just participated in my first club race on a road circuit. (The race was sponsored by the Porsche Club of America and there were about 75 cars divided into four classes. Since this was my first race, I was placed in the novice class. I won all six of my heats over the weekend and really spanked those Porsches). It was tremendous fun and I was thoroughly pleased with how my Z06 handled. However, I believe that I would now like to upgrade my braking performance to drive even deeper into the corners before turning in.
I would like advice on purchasing stronger/bigger brakes to increase my car's braking performance and still maintain the "streetable" characteristics of the stock brakes. Concerns that I have include: how touchy a larger/better brake rotor/pad would feel; uniform braking performance regardless of outside air temperature and brake temperature; compatibility with existing wheels, suspension components, and electronics like ABS and stability control, and finally durability. I am also planning to purchase lightweight racing wheels and racing tires to swap on before club events. My Z06 is usually just a weekend cruiser.
One last question. The chief mechanic at my dealership told me that aftermarket air filter assemblies trip codes in the OBD computer and cause the check engine light to come on. He also said that water ingestion is a Commercial Three Bayblem with these low restriction systems. Are these Commercial Three Bayblems preventable if I also decide to upgrade my air filtration system to increase horsepower?
Sincerely,
Brad W.
Eads, TN
Answer:
Check with the people at Brembo - http://www.brembo.com. They have several possibilities although you may have to wait for availability) ranging in price from $3,300. to $5,000. for the parts.
On to the aftermarket air filter. Depending on the type and style of air filter assembly it may or may not interfere with the computer. For that to happen the system would have to be of the ram-air style and you would have to be going very, very, very fast. Keep in mind that low restriction air filters have no effect on performance or the amount of air entering the engine except during full throttle operation.
It amazes me that people fail to comprehend how air induction works. On a non-pressurized induction system the amount of air entering the engine is dependant on engine requirements not air available. Think about it, during normal driving, if all that's needed to increase horsepower was to make more air available it would be a wondrous thing. As in, if you believe that simply making more air available makes more horsepower, all that would be necessary would be complete removal of the air filter and housing. By removing the filter and housing there is no further filter restriction and you have just made the entire atmosphere of planet Earth available to your engine.
Now a little quick math suggests that the volume of air surrounding our planet is something apCommercial Three Bayaching 10 trillion to the 10 millionth-power cubic feet. That's a lot of air. With all that air available and with some air filter companies suggesting a 7 to 10% horsepower increase with a low-restriction filter, plus a little more simple math, the gain in horsepower would not be measurable in any form currently in use. But, alas an engine only uses the amount of air that's NECESSARY at a given speed NOT the amount of air made available. OOPS!
Therefore, unless you force air into the engine under pressure and in such quantities that exceeds the measuring capabilities of the Mass Air Flow sensor, t'ain't nothin' gonna happen, no dramatic increase in horsepower, no check engine lights - - - NADA.
Pat:
How I can get to the console tachometer to replace a simple right signal indicator bulb on my '75 Corvette with AC?
The Chevy manual mentions I should loosen the left instrument cluster and reach behind to get to the lamp socket. I loosened the console screws and then "chickened" out.
Should I continue on with this apCommercial Three Bayach? I thought I would ask you first before I damage my console.
Thank you.
Walter K.
Glendale, NY
Answer:
Continue, but carefully. '75 was a long time ago. Plastic becomes brittle and easily damaged.
Pat:
I purchased a 1978 Corvette in Feb. of this year. When I start the car up first thing in the morning and start to drive it I hear a rubbing noise coming from the rear end, but only hear the noise when you turn the car to the right. As the car gets warmer you can hardly hear it but it is still there.
I have had it to my mechanic who also owns a Corvette and left it with him to drive and he says that he isn't hearing it. The wheel bearings are fine, tires are good. We did add some fluid to the differential. The brakes have all been redone. Can you help me figure out what it is?
Barb J.
Parker CO
Answer:
You say the wheel bearings are fine, but based on what? You may want to revisit them.
Pat:
I too am a Corvette owner, 1974. I have owned the car for 23 years and it has 60 thousand miles on it. I store it obviously in the winter and get it out again in May. I have been a member for one year and I love the newsletter.
Your question and answer section is priceless. I believe you are the most knowledgeable person there is on CORVETTES. I only wish there WAS someone like you in Cincinnati, OH.
There are so many "wanna be's" out there, and believe me I have met my fair share of them.
I did have a story and some questions but I changed my mind. I will keep this positive and give you a moment's rest.
Thank you for all the information you share, your honest answers and your most valued opinion, if you ever come to Cincinnati you will be welcome in my home.
Be Safe.
Officer Karlene M. K S.
Blue Ash, OH
Answer:
Thanks for the comments and thanks to you and the other officers across the nation who are "THERE" when they're needed. You are too often maligned, too seldom appreciated.
©Copyright Pat Goss all rights reserved 12/27/01 | |
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Date Updated Friday, February 01, 2002
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