1990 Corvette Z51

[TireSmoker]

Took the Vette out to Thompson tonight and met Paul out there. I got there late and there were a ton of cars, so I only got 1 time run, but it was worth the drive:

My tach still doesnt work, so I'm just totally launching & shifting it by ear/feel. Staging/launching a stick car is still new-ish to me. Hell, doing burnouts in a rwd/stick are sorta new (but well practiced during vacation with the mustang!) My last time run, after eliminations, I cut .00x green, but I spun terrible, and missed a shift. My other runs I had kinda bogged it a bit. I lost in the 2nd round to a 10sec 67 Nova that shouldn't have been in stock -- open headers for sure, and prob slicks.

Drove home with just the fog lights. The one headlight motor seems to be stripped out, wont stay open or closed, so I just taped it shut. I put a matching piece of tape on the other side for symmetry. Apparently blue painters tape is good for 110MPH

-Dave

[Blue_69_malibu]

Looks like you painted blue eyebrows or put blue eye-liner on the Vette.

Nice timesheets, though!!

[TireSmoker]

So I signed up for the same track day as Paul at Mid-Ohio on Sept 18. I'll be fresh off the Chumpcar race on Sept 11/12 in Scott's 944, so I should have a real good feel for the line. I made a u-haul reservation so that I can trailer it down there.

I adjusted the brakes one more time today, and I think they are good now. Mike @ Carbotech gave me some XP10s (I think), and they seemed to be better after doing a few hard stops and getting some heat into them. The adjustment on the pushrod is no longer making the brakes drag.

I ordered the 90-96 Tach repair IC from batee.com to hopefully resolve the tach issue.
https://batee.com/collections/1990-1996 ... or-6k-tach

Getting the dash cluster out doesn't look too bad. But then I have to un-solder/re-solder a 14 leg IC. They have pretty good videos detailing the process.

It should be a little more interesting to drive, seeing the actual RPM instead of just listening/feeling, Niki Lauda style.
“God gave me an ok mind, but a really good ass which can feel everything in a car.” Niki Lauda

I also need to get a suction cup cell phone mount and download /configure Mid-Ohio in Harry's Lap Timer.

-Dave

[TireSmoker]

Well, with a week in between the Champcar race at Mid-Ohio with Band of Brothers in their 944, and track day at Mid-Ohio tomorrow, I decided to tackle my non-functioning tach. I bought the replacement chip from batee.com but when I got in there, it looked like someone had already replaced, but it was upside side according to the batee.com instruction video. I removed the chip and installed my new one, properly oriented. I'm not the great solder-er, and the solder just wasn't flowing well when I tried putting the new one in. The board contacts look a little suspect to me too.

The shorter version is I tried soldering it 3 times, the final time with my own solder instead of the stuff included in the kit, and no dice. I can get a replacement cluster for $250, although I think I really only need the circuit board in back.

-Dave

[Maverick]

Dave,

Maybe this discussion of fluxes would help.

https://www.lifewire.com/types-of-solder-flux-818849

Would be good to overcome the soldering issue, use the parts you have, and save $250. Wishing you good luck.

Jim

[TireSmoker]

Thanks Jim, I'll give that a read. Truthfully, it's not that hard to get the cluster out, so another re-solder attempt shouldn't be too much work. It's amazing how much faster jobs go on the 2nd and 3rd times!!

Well, we are loaded up for the Mid-Ohio track day! The car is loaded.. still gotta get my chairs, pop-up shade, tools, etc.

-Dave

[TireSmoker]

Everyone else is posting their C4 updates, so here's mine. After the small engine fire at the Mid Ohio track day last weekend, I've acquired my repair parts. Throttle & cruise cable, spark plug wire (boots/terminals in inventory), plug wire separators, and a power brake booster check valve. The Superram makes a real nice parts shelf!

-Dave

[TireSmoker]

Here are the damaged parts I pulled off. Two spark plug wires + boots, power brake hose, split-tubing from around the engine harness wiring. I still need to replace the throttle cable and cruise cable. Havent figured out how to remove the throttle cable from the pedal yet. I did pop the valve cover off to clean it up and saw it has 1.6 rockers.

-Dave

[TireSmoker]

I've taken it out to the dragstrip a few weeks in a row and it's been kinda fun. It sounds cool, runs strong. But man, this thing needs a lot of little things.


Punch list

Headlights -- need physical adjustment/alignment to open/close correctly. Maybe need gear replacement.
Tachometer -- send out to Batee.com
A/C controls -- send out to Batee.com

Battery cables -- recently discovered insulation damage on the main ground cable
Catalytic converter -- remove it and get all the loose stuff out. Rattles like crazy.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ovK2QWbgC0
Brake booster -- i've replaced master & fronts, and they still feel terrible. this is the last piece
Lug nut cap -- lost one of those little gray plastic lug nut covers

[MostMint]

Headlights might need alignment but they also need the "gearbox" rebuilt. We just did this on mine. There are plastic roller bearings that turn to dust over time - easy fix. I have the material you need, expect 90 minutes per side to remove, rebuild and reinstall.

[TireSmoker]

I heard Fred has become YouTube-Certified in rebuilding those gear mechanisms.

-Dave

[MostMint]

I heard Fred has become YouTube-Certified in rebuilding those gear mechanisms.

-Dave

Lol yes 100%

[TireSmoker]

Everyone was having fun with their Corvettes, so I decided to get back to mine. The non-functioning tach needs to be resolved, and while I have the dash half apart, I pulled the A/C controls too. A while back, I had the car at Velotta auto repair, and they told me the A/C system worked if he manually engaged the system, jumpering something.

Batee.com fixes both of these things. I tried a DIY repair on the tach once and failed. I've got them boxed up and ready to ship out tomorrow.

-Dave

[wxo]

How interesting. Silvia's digital dash is blank just like yours. I have my Batee kit in-house waiting for the right opportunity to have at it. Right now I'm warming up to the idea of dropping the entire exhaust system to make room for the pinion seal repair.

[TireSmoker]

Thats the LCD panel with the speedo readout, fuel, etc. That part works, fortunately.

-Dave