Nothing like 26 hours in my Vette to make me realize how many things are wrong with it and how much I hate it!

* Needs a Tune-Up
* Needs some vacuum lines replaced, were burnt by exhaust manifold
* Oil was burning out left exhaust, down 1qt
* Heater hoses needs replacement, too old
* Fan shroud needs to be replaced, damage at top
* Windows have gaps: They do not go up properly while doors are shut. They do not sit properly in seals after shutting doors when windows are already up.
* Driver side-view mirror base is loose
* T-Tops are really hard to latch
* All carpeting needs replacement
* Door panels need replacement
* Only getting 10mpg?!?... brand new engine!
* Oil fill cap never stops turning clockwise
* Occassional rough idle after engine is warm (sounds like a miss), causes hesitation upon acceleration but is not apparent at crusing speeds
* Heater stops blowing hot air into cabin when over 70mph.
* Speedo needle bounces
* Cruise control does not hold speed correctly
* Why is oil pressure close to 80 when at highway speeds? Seems too high.

How's that for a list!?

Did I mention I hate my Vette!?

Ahh come on Adam.
Sure it's old and tired, but you can pump new life back into it.
Most of those items on your list are just minor inconviences.
Yes it needs paint and interior work.
But it still gave you a good ride.
That's more than most cars its age could do.
Did you see any 1977 Fords or Chryslers on your trip?
I think not.
My parking brake light came on at mile 220 and won't turn off.
My tach is starting to stick.
I got some more stone chips.
My driver's side headlight popped up at 70MPH for no reason.
My oil gage reads 80psi most of the time.
My inside door handles are loose.
My gage lights don't work.
My driver side door lock is now sticking.
And on and on.
But I will solve these little problems one at a time.
And so will you.

|UPDATED|10/24/2004 5:56:32 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Adam
I've owned over 100 cars in my time (own 8 now) & I bought my first corvette 3 yr ago at 55. I've spent more time repairing this car than all the others together but I love it. The corvette and I think the C3's have the best lines are great cars...they just happen to break alot. Mines a modified BB that shakes alot & I'm constantly tightening bolts & nuts even using lock tight. Think of them as a Harley with 4 wheels. If you were closer you would be welcome to use my garage & lift to fix some of those problems. I enjoy this forum & have gained alot of knowledge from the members..Just remember when you drive by nobody else knows whats wrong.
Alan

It'll be ok Adam.

Lets just say owing a c3 is a Hobby. So lets look up hobby in the dictionary. Basically it states something some does on a regular basis to occupy their free time that they enjoy. Owning a c3 and attending events is only part of the Hobby. The other part is the upkeep and restoration.

Anyone that buys a c3 and expects to just jump in one and never do anything to it will soon be bothered by some of the quirks that come with owning a older car.

Let me tell you a short story about a guy in our office. He was dying to own a C5, because his older 93 IROC was starting to show its age. Things were starting to break. So I helped him locate a really nice C5 in Chicago. He got approved for the loan, but backed out of the deal because he wouldn't make travel arrangements to get from the Airport to the owners house so he could drive it back. How lazy is that. So what did he do, he went and bought a 2001 Cobra Mustang. Now, just yesterday he put it up for sale, because he said he was tired of keeping it clean. He also has decided to sell his IROC, because he says he's no mechanic and can't afford to keep paying people to work on it. This car only has 80K on it. Come on now. He wants to own some type of icon, but doesn't want to do anything to maintain it.

He's not the type of guy I want in our Hobby. Thats what makes everyone here different. WE GET IT, HE DOESN"T?

So to make a long story short, just tackle each one of those projects at a time and take pleasure in a job well done, so you can share stories with us, continue to attend events and most of all preserve a great american sports car.

And ,Adam, you really don't hate your vette. You're just mad at it and frustrated. We've all been there many times. You've got the winter to get some of it done if your garage is heated or get a kerosene heater to warm it up for working.

Sounds like the typical life and times of a C3 owner to me.

Have to add to this thread, I am NOT A MECHANIC, and have only owned my vette for a little over a year, and I am not looking forward to major or even minor breakdowns, but I know they will come, We have had our daughters hanicap accessible 2001 dodge caravan in the shop either for dodge or mobility reason more than I have had the vette in the shop, and I paid almost twice as much for the van. I am a vette head, hell I want a newer one for a daily driver now, wife isn't up to speed with that request yet, I guess through all this B.S. Want I want to say is all cars will break but not all cars are VETTES, gotta love it don't ya.

Adam, I don't know if you noticed or not, but on your way home Sunday there were an awful lot of cars dead on the side of the hwy that were LESS than 30 yrs old.When I finally got home I didn't want to see the inside of that car again, but I know that will change.

Adam,
Your not alone, at least you have until 2012 to decide what to do, after that according to another post, the balloon goes up ! Or is it down ?
Cookie

Adam,
Welcome to the wonderful world of the automobile... Let's see my 1st vette(84) driving downn the road about 80 at night the cluster panel would go out. With luck it might come back on. My 89 the drivers door would sometimes decide to lock you in. My 88 ran like a scalded dog but idled rough. Now my 76 I would have to say I have literally thrown money into but am overly pleasd with the outcome. Even though there are some gaps in the the windows when up, my left mirror is loose (until I go out today). She has encoutered a intermittent mystery noise in the right rear shock area. Needless to say they can all be fixed with time and $$$. By the way did I tell you that my new GM truck wont let me in the drivers door??? (Now ain't that somethin?)