Topic: Who Would Have Thought?
in Forum: C4 General Discussion
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Hi everyone!!
Last time I had my Corvette in for some servicing, they pointed out the serpentine belt was really starting to crack on the inside. Considering it's still the factory original from 1996 I wasn't too surprised. They suggested changing it in the spring as I was storing the car for the winter shortly. So I went ahead and ordered one the other day. Told the parts fellow the car type, year, engine (LT4) and what I needed. It had to be ordered in but that was ok.
Want to know something? It's the exact same part number today as the spare belt from 1996 the owner gave me with the car! He had bought a spare of everything (hoses, serpentine belt, original GM light bulbs) back in 1996 in case the part numbers ever changed as he wanted to make sure the numbers on his hoses, belt were the same ones as 1996 as he used to seriously show the car.
I never would have thought, that 15 years later, it would still be the same part number as when I worked for another car company, we were always changing part numbers as they were superceded by a different one. Sometimes 2 or 3 times a year!
Wow, who would have thought?
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The annoying thing is to have a part number only to find it has been discontinued! Try to find replacement fuel rail cover emblems for instance. I hear near bankruptcy ended a lot of older stock and part numbers. Won't be long before there won't be any GM available parts for C4's. These days I think it's cheaper to by a whole car and part it out than try to squirrel parts away, especially for some parts like Dana 44.
I decided on a new belt because I wasn't sure if the belt could have deteriorated while it was stored and in case the part number had changed, I'd have a 1996 part number dated belt for originality.
What I'll do is save the new belt for future use and run the spare belt. Never hurts to have a spare because if you don't have one, and you're far from home, that's the time the part fails! Murphy's law I suppose.
Cheers!
Clive said: I'd have a 1996 part number dated belt for originality.
What I'll do is save the new belt for future use and run the spare belt.
There's a LOT more to "originality" than the part number. Check for date codes and manufacture similarities and differences between the original, the 96-obtained replacement, and the current replacement. Parts-flippers and knowledgeable owners will be. So will pesky Judges if you ever go down that road.
I save everything original I take off the car. I have headlights, belt, air filters, rear, even camshaft, rocker arms, console cover with broken door, jack, etc. If the next owner (if there is one) wants to be NCRS judged, at least he'll have it.
in Forum: C4 General Discussion
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