Hello, I'm Rick.  I moved to eastern Alabama after retiring from the United States Navy in 2007.  I've owned...well...a few cars in my day, but this is the very first Corvette.  I saw it sitting very sadly behind the fence of a local used-car sales-lot a few weeks ago.  I returned a few times, then finally contacted the lot-owner who allowed me to look the Corvette over

After a few hours we came to an agreement on a fair price(not what's on the windshield), and I am picking the Corvette up this Friday.  As you can see the hood has been modified.  The tires are all a bit leaky, the battery is gone, and the driver's window doesn't work.

The lot-manager told me that he had driven it to a local auction house in summer 2019 where it sat for a few weeks without being sold.  When he came to pick it up he discovered a fuel leak "on top" of the motor and chose not to attempt to start it.  The Corvette has been sitting since.

The Corvette looks better than most vehicles I've ever purchased, and I'm excited about getting it back on the road for this summer!  I welcome any comments and/or suggestions about how I might go about this recovery.

USN 1982-2007. 

First: Thank you for your service in the USN.

Second: get another hood.

Third: good luck, have fun, enjoy the new toy.

Hi everyone!  I got the '85 home a few weeks ago, and have been slowing working on it.  My work(Airport Police/Fire/EMS) is keeping me pretty busy, but so far I've:

1)  purchased and mounted a hood-prop, and 2 new gas-pistons.  The hood is so easy to lift and lower now!

2)  purchased and mounted new plug wires.  Four of the old ones were burnt through to the core!  I think that whoever did them last didn't bother to take-into-account the fact that it has Hedman headers instead of stock manifolds.

3)  purchased and mounted a used cruise-control vacuum servo thingie.

4)  purchased and installed a new battery.

5)  aired up all the tires.  They haven't lost a bit of pressure since!

6)  drained the fuel tank and refilled it with 10 gallons of premium gas and 1/2 gallon of SeaFoam. 

7)  STARTED THE ENGINE AND DROVE THE CORVETTE!!!  The engine has cleaned up ok inside, and runs decent.  It idles rough and high, and I've noticed almost every vacuum system has been compromised or plain disconnected.  I have not yet been able to determine if I have(or need?) O2 sensors and how many/where they would be mounted.  I also discovered that the environmental system(heat side) has been bypassed.  That combined with the partial removal of the passenger's under-dash panel led me to presume I have a bad heater-core.  I've purchased one, and today I took the 'heater valve' off.  I was very happy to get it cleaned up and to discover that it is fully functional!  This week will see me replacing the heater core.

During driving I've also observed that the transmission doesn't appear to shift out 1st.  Park, Reverse, Neutral are functional, it just won't shift from 1st into any other forward gear.  I'm going to get some stands and pull the transmission governer in order to check the gear.  Any other ideas?

8)  removed the dash so that I can package it up and send it to Batee for an overhaul.

9)  lastly, it now has current/valid Alabama registration!

I've discovered that the dash and center-console trim panels are about done.  But instead of getting new ones I'm going to repair mine and repaint them!  I'll do the same for the shift console cover as well.  I am now looking for a horn button and switch if anyone has a spare.  I also want to remove the existing after-market radio and get an original back in there.  Again, if anyone has one and is willing to part with it please contact me.  I have to rebuild both switch-areas on both doors, as the lock/unlock switches are just hanging and the courtesy lights don't work.  I also need to get the electric mirrors working.  The driver window switch is done, so I am looking for a replacement for that as well. 

Once I have it driving dependably I'm taking it to my local tint-shop.  The owner has been doing tint since the 70s from what I know, and he runs a very high-quality shop.  We're going to remove the aftermarket faded-to-purple tint and replace it with ceramic film.  It'll allow most light in, but block a lot of heat. 

I also need to replace those two 'rail-ends- that the dowel on my cargo-area cover goes into to hold it forward.  If anyone has any or knows where I can get two I'd like to hear from you...the cover works but won't stay open as it slips off the broken stops now.  Lastly, I need to replace the license-plate light if anyone has one.  Mine works, but the casing is broken so it just hangs loosely.

So that is where I am now.  I'd appreciate any help, especially with part-location and wiring diagrams.  I welcome your suggestions and ideas as always!

USN 1982-2007. 

Pick up a repair manual. I got mine from the local O'Reilly parts store. Not sure if my experiences will mesh with yours. I have a 95 at home. Thanks for your service. USAF 78 - 03...

Hi Rick,

Just now had a chance to read your update. Great story and I appreciate the sentiment you have for the Vette. And you've accomplished quite a lot on the old girl already.

I've gotten some parts for my 92 from an outfit near Pittsburgh, PA called Mirrock Auto Sales. You can find them on the web. The owner deals almost exclusively in C4 parts. He buys, disassembles, sells, and drives one of his own. Thinks C4s are the better by far than C3s or C5s (he told me the C3s just don't handle and the C5 interiors are cheaply constructed). I recently bought two wheels from him that were from a low mileage ZR1. They are front rims and match those on my 92. Cost me $260 for the pair and are almost like new. Only needed a good polishing. I've also purchased some interior pieces (such as a rear deck plate and a dash vent) to replace pieces that were cracked. These pieces, like the wheels, all looked like new.

By the way, I was Air Force, 1968 to 1972. Vietnam era, as a crew chief on jet fighters. Got out, worked as a newspaperman for ten years, did a lot of odd jobs as well. Finally ended up back with the Air Force working as a civilian in Recruiting Service, where I retired in 2015.

Curt

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