Jan, my wife, took the above pictures of her 2003 Christmas present
to me ... I am excited about this
car. It has an L98 that the dealer called a Police Interceptor engine;
I figure if it is good enough for the police it is good enough for me.
(Andy - is a L98 ten better than a L88 ? ... :)
I am still learning how it likes to be driven. It is like me at times
- old and cantankerous, but for some reason it does betterr in colder
weather than I do. Currently, I am going through it and adjusting and
replacing parts. I am using it as a daily driver. (Paul now has my Monte
Carlo). When I told Andy I was looking for another Vette, he said to
look at cars from the South because the Southern States tended
to use less salt on their roads. Andy went on to further say that a
Northern car will have cancer (Rust) from all the salt that has to be
used to keep the roads clear during the Winter. This car came from
North Carolina and was
occasionally driven by the owner's wife on weekends - never in the rain
or snow. She kept up with the maintenance and it has a bunch of new and
upgraded parts and has new paint. I have been told that the computer
chip, clutch, and the fuel pump were replaced. In addition, the
injectors had recently been cleaned. Also, the plastic electric window
mechanisms were replaced with metal ones, and the vacuum headlight
mechanisms were upgraded to electric. It had
66k when I bought it. Since then I have replaced plugs, wires, cap,
rotor, coil, O2 sensor, anti-knock sensor, shocks (KYB), rear brake
pads, radiator hoses, short throw levers for transmission, and PCV hoses
(eliminated a bad vacuum leak/ Eddie of
Classic Automotive also eliminated
a second vacuum leak). Took off the plenum (top part if the fuel
injection system) in order to replace the plenum temp switch and the EGR
valve (what a pain) and found another temp switch screwed into the EGR
valve - never heard of a temp unit for an EGR ??? Could not get hold of a
new EGR temp unit in a
timely manner so I'll have to take the plenum off again. When I do I'll
also replace the injector fuel regulator which is also under the plenum.
There are other parts on the 85 that I have the evil eye on and will
replace soon, i.e., for the sake of a little "preventative" maintenance ... :)
Recently, ran over a Ford pickup truck grill
left over from an accident. The grill put a hole in the rear exhaust
pipe and cat. As I was replacing these parts, I tried to save the
mufflers but couldn't. So I had to replace the mufflers also.
(Darn Fords!) You would never know it but I had a 65 Mustang
convertible at one time and liked the car; until I was dragging bottom
all over the Utah mountains. At this point I traded the Mustang for a
new 74 CJ5 with the 304 V8. Back then this Jeep was an excellent
relatively inexpensive 4WD vehicle. Anyway the 85 runs smoother; cat
may have been restricted.
Couple of years ago I tore my stomach muscles shimming the rear
bearings of the 76 and now I sometimes rely on others to help.
HAAS Auto Service replaced a rear wheel bearing, several rear control
arms, valve seals, and drive train fluids - good repair and
restoration shop. Seen several other Vettes there getting repaired,
modified, or restored. I have known Bill Haas since 82 when I bought
a new 82 4WD Subaru Wagon. He was the guy that I requested to do the
maintenance when I took my car to the Subaru dealer.
Another place I have repairs performed is Classic Automotive. Through a friend
I learned about this resortation shop. Eddie does the mechanical work
on the 85. Jim, the owner, now runs his body department. Actually he
usually has 4 or 5 Vette owners waiting in line to get their cars
totally restored. Classic straightened out a body repair that a
local Pontiac dealer had made on the 85. The local arrogant Chevy Body
Department wanted me to setup an appointment to bring it back for
an evaluation. Forget about it! I do not have time to mess around with
that kind of situation. (this customer's bottom line) They must have
too much work! With Classic, no fuss
no muss; step up to the plate and get your car repaired.
Classic also has a towing service. One day I went to pickup
my 85 and saw one of their flatbed rigs with a M4 Sherman tank.
Appearently, they have hauled as many as 4 M4s to a reinactment show,
i.e. with 4 seperate flat bed rigs. Must have been a great convoy. Great
place to have things done or just look around. Jim has had over 40
Vettes himself. These guys I trust. These guys are reacting to the
customer's bottom line.
The tires are now an All-weather Yokohama A550V which are
rated to 150 MPH. I can not see going over half that speed; however,
the car is supposed to be able to go over 150mph.
The original tires were a faster Z rated tire and were stiffer (harder)
than the Yokohama and they slid easier than the Yokohama. Also they
were not an All-weather tire and were terrible in the rain. The thing
used to fishtail and the rear used to try and walk around on me - sometimes
I used to wonder if the rear of the car was racing the front of the car???
These Yokohama tires grab much better, plus they cost a lot less.
Even though the Yokohama tires are the same size as the original tires,
the Yokohamas are a little taller and slightly narrower. This is a good
thing, because now the exhaust pipes and front spoiler do not scrape
when the car is driven in and out of the driveway -
surprising what a little ground clearance can do. Although, I still can
not push the car too hard in the rain before it will get away from me.
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