Is the Corvette worth it?
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2008
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Is the Corvette worth it? I am thinking about trading my father for his 99 c5 vette with my 81 vette and a couple grand, mine is in pretty good shape his engine runs solid and had the transmission work done under warranty about 5000 miles ago. But here is a list of the issue's Any advice on how hard these things are to fix would help me out or just tell me to leave it alone...
C-5 vette Auto 100k on it.
Problems
Oil leak, he was told it was the oil pan gasket and the transmission needed to be removed to fix it? Thought the Tranny was back by the Differential? Worst case senario rear main how hard...
Oil Pressure switch gauge is pegged. Have done the manifold in my 2000 camaro could do that,
Coolant leak probably water pump....
He left the windows open in a rain storm sense then, radio has no power and drivers seat moves forward all of the time....tried replacing the little box at the bottom of the seat didn't work. This is what I am most scared of.
The car cleans up nice...but I would like to know how difficult some of these things are. I know it depends on my ability. I have done a lot of work on older cars have gone as far as replacing the exhaust and intake on a relativley low mileage camaro ls1. I just don't want a good looking car broken down in my garage that I can't fix...
C-5 vette Auto 100k on it.
Problems
Oil leak, he was told it was the oil pan gasket and the transmission needed to be removed to fix it? Thought the Tranny was back by the Differential? Worst case senario rear main how hard...
Oil Pressure switch gauge is pegged. Have done the manifold in my 2000 camaro could do that,
Coolant leak probably water pump....
He left the windows open in a rain storm sense then, radio has no power and drivers seat moves forward all of the time....tried replacing the little box at the bottom of the seat didn't work. This is what I am most scared of.
The car cleans up nice...but I would like to know how difficult some of these things are. I know it depends on my ability. I have done a lot of work on older cars have gone as far as replacing the exhaust and intake on a relativley low mileage camaro ls1. I just don't want a good looking car broken down in my garage that I can't fix...
You asked in the title "Is the Corvette worth it?" I answered. So what if you've got to do regular maintenance on it. Few issues w/electrical can be found and fixed. Trade/buy it.
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Yah the same thing happened with the 81 I bought from him, I got it back to the way it was when he had it. I think he is missing it. We have two different philosophies on cars, If something is wrong with my car, I can't sleep until it is fixed. He will let things go until, well until he sells it to me for a lot less.
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yeah I think it's worth it...you may have to put some money into it but that kinda stuff you'd have to do on any car. I'd love to have a vette, but can't afford one now...if I were you I'd trade!
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TECH Apprentice
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yup I just fixed the radio problem, I can do with a seat that won't work, I will be the only one driving it! water pump I should be able to do the one thing I am going to look at is the oil pan, If it is a rear main, Holy crap, Hopefully I see it leaking from the Oil pressure sensor which has been out for a while....
0 tolerance for racism 
Thanks
To the OP, yes the Corvette is every bit worth the jump from an F-body. Most of your issues with the car seem like no big deal, depending on your mechanical abilities.
On The Tree
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I'm no mechanic but just a couple of thoughts. I'm sure they checked the bolts were torqued to spec on the oil pan, this would cause a leak if they were not. Two gaskets on the oil pan, upper and lower. I'm not sure what would be involved on the upper.
On the seat moving forward, sounds like this might be the memory. You can set the seat position for two different drivers. Depending which key fob is used the seat will move either forward or back (if this was put into memory).
The oil sending unit is something that is a common problem on the C5.
Here is a link on replacing. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...placement.html
You can also go to corvetteforum.com and ask questions. They are a very helpful group over there too.
Mine is not a dd but I've had it around 5 years now and have not had one single problem yet.
On the seat moving forward, sounds like this might be the memory. You can set the seat position for two different drivers. Depending which key fob is used the seat will move either forward or back (if this was put into memory).
The oil sending unit is something that is a common problem on the C5.
Here is a link on replacing. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...placement.html
You can also go to corvetteforum.com and ask questions. They are a very helpful group over there too.
Mine is not a dd but I've had it around 5 years now and have not had one single problem yet.
Thread Starter
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You know I don't think they did check it, they just told him when he was getting the oil change at brake masters. Not the most reliable bunch of people. This corvette didn't come with memory, or hell maybe it did and I just didn't know it, It even has the damn tape player instead of the CD, WHO ORDERS A CORVETTE WITH A TAPE PLAYER! I am hoping it is the oil pressure sending unit leaking a little so I can kill two birds with one stone.
