The list is getting shorter

[jm22876]

i bought my first vette 2 months ago. The needs to be repaired list was pretty long (for my level of experience anyway) but ive almost got it done...

ac- the best $6.99 ive ever spent was the autozone ac repair dvd. Took me 5 days on and off to figure it out but ive got cold air

radio 3 amps- same day auto audio repair service rocks! best bose repair prices i found. $263 to repair 3 amps, cd player, and shipping both ways. New Hampshire-Maryland-New Hampshire-8 days-works great

abs sensor- autopartsgiant.com is the WORST online auto parts site on the internet. Nobody answers the phone, they take a month to ship your part and if you finally get somebody on the phone they cant tell you when it shipped or even give you a tracking number. Avoid this site like the plague! Just type autopartsgiant.com service and read the horror stories. i wish i did before i ordered

weatherstripping- there are better ways to spend 10 hours of your life than replacing every piece of weatherstripping on a 16 yr old car. I think concrete is easier to move than 16 yr old weatherstripping adhesive!

fuel filter-I thought this was going to be easy until I had to remove the entire exhaust (to gain access to the filter) from the manifolds back due to frozen bolts

antenna-i read horror stories about how it could take up to 4 hours to replace this the first time. It took me a little over an hour, I must be one of the lucky ones

Tomorrow is the fuel pump. im hoping that goes well. After the pump, ive got to do wheel bearings and then ill be caught up until the next thing breaks

I realize this post doesnt have a purpose. The thing is, none of my friends can appreciate the amount of frustration a Vette owner has to go through to enjoy those fun Sunday cruises. But im sure fellow Vette owners CAN appreciate it.

thanx for reading

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
But the first cruise through a winding road, all your hard work will be worth it.
I can personally attest to the great feeling I get once I get one completely fixed.
The feeling is indescribable.
Allthebest, c4c5

[LLC5]

The amount of repairs you are doing, and difficulty involved, would be a lot for an experienced mechanic. Feels pretty good when it's all done doesn't it? Congratulations on completing your projects.

[ToolGuy]

I had a list too when I got my car. What a great feeling when you are done knowing you did it too!

Congrats!

And add to list, stay a member at corvettemechanic.com! : )

[jm22876]

I spend a few hours a night reading everything I can get my eyes on to learn about fixing these cars. Im learning slowly but surely...The people on this site especially C4C5 have been great. Thanx a bunch

P.S. You guys are absolutely right, the feeling knowing i did it myself is great.

[jm22876]

A couple weeks ago I replaced the fuel pump and fuel pump filter (strainer). The install went great...easier than I thought it was going to be. Ive never replaced a fuel pump in my life so after I finished I was pleasantly surprised to have the car fire right up, excessive cranking problem solved! Things were good until 2 days later. I get in and go to start and nothing!! The security light was not going out so from what I have read I figured it was VATS. So after 3 nights troubleshooting I came to the conclusion (more like a guess) that it was the reader in the ignition lock cylinder. To any of the veteran mechanics on this forum pulling the steering column apart is easy. To a novice mechanic (if I can even call myself that) like myself the prospect of doing this repair is daunting to say the least. Airbag, hazards, turn signals, horn and removing the steering wheel...quite a few things for me to screw up. But with a digital camera to take pics every time I removed something. A marker to make sure the parts lined back up and a service manual for the diagrams I got it done. The car fires right up again. Im really starting to like this car repair stuff. But now I realize how much knowledge is required to be a quality auto repair tech and my hat is off to you guys!

[F22Trainer]

Originally Posted by jm22876

A couple weeks ago I replaced the fuel pump and fuel pump filter (strainer). The install went great...easier than I thought it was going to be. Ive never replaced a fuel pump in my life so after I finished I was pleasantly surprised to have the car fire right up, excessive cranking problem solved! Things were good until 2 days later. I get in and go to start and nothing!! The security light was not going out so from what I have read I figured it was VATS. So after 3 nights troubleshooting I came to the conclusion (more like a guess) that it was the reader in the ignition lock cylinder. To any of the veteran mechanics on this forum pulling the steering column apart is easy. To a novice mechanic (if I can even call myself that) like myself the prospect of doing this repair is daunting to say the least. Airbag, hazards, turn signals, horn and removing the steering wheel...quite a few things for me to screw up. But with a digital camera to take pics every time I removed something. A marker to make sure the parts lined back up and a service manual for the diagrams I got it done. The car fires right up again. Im really starting to like this car repair stuff. But now I realize how much knowledge is required to be a quality auto repair tech and my hat is off to you guys!

Those VATS readers in the column will wear out on a regular basis...might want to get a bypass - I did after the 2nd one got replaced. (BTW - both times it happened out of the blue with no warning and the same wire chafes in the same spot). Bypass is an easy install - it will take you longer to find fresh batteries for your flashlight and get out your tools.

[F22Trainer]

GREAT JOB on the other stuff - I share your victoies as I have an 87' I've gradually come to know more and more intimately as you have, over the last 4 years.

[TorchRedlt4man]

jm22876,

Congratulations on all the work you have done on your Vette. I have been working on these since I was 17 (a long time ago!) and I still get a tremendous feeling of satisfaction when completing a job.

Even if I am just driving mine, I can keep a smile on my face for a very long time!

[F22Trainer]

Originally Posted by TorchRedlt4man

jm22876,

Congratulations on all the work you have done on your Vette. I have been working on these since I was 17 (a long time ago!) and I still get a tremendous feeling of satisfaction when completing a job.

Even if I am just driving mine, I can keep a smile on my face for a very long time!

...and do you still have to look back at your car and smile everytime you walk away after you park someplace?