Getting Personal With Your C4 – C5 – C6
Let me geeze here for a moment. When I first got into the car hobby back in the early ‘70s, just about all you needed to “work on your car” was a $50 set of Craftsman tools and two jack stands. The next time you’re at a Corvette show, look under the hood of the C1 and C2 cars, they are amazingly simple compared to today’s modern, computed aided, electronic wundercars. I’m not knocking the new machines, but let’s face it, unless you have a lot of very specialized tools and skills, taking a modern electronic Corvette apart could easily turn into a nightmare.
But that doesn’t mean that you can’t get “involved” with a newer Corvette. Tom Benford has written several Corvette books and has a new one out that a lot of fun! “Weekend projects for Your Modern Corvette C4 • C5 • C6” (published by Motorbooks International ISBN-13; 978-0-7603-3540-6) walks you through 52 projects in four areas: Engine Projects, Interior Projects, Exterior Projects, and Brakes and Suspension Projects. This 222-page book is printed in full color so that you can see the colors of the wires in the wiring harness when reading the chapter on installing LED taillight flasher. In the beginning of each project the box at the top of the page tells you the skill level – one wrench is relatively easy, three wrenches is challenging. The tools required are called out, as well as time requirement, parts source, and cost estimate. Benford takes you step-by-step with photos of live hands doing the work with comprehensive, easy to understand captions. Technical writing is oftentimes dull and dry. “Not so” for this book. Reading this book is like having your Corvette buddy “Tom” right there with you.
For instance, in Project 11, “Duel Cone Low Restriction Intake Upgrade” the skill level is one wrench and all you need for the job is a flat-blade screw driver and a ratchet and socket set and the time estimate is 1 hour. A low-restriction air filter is basic, old hot rodder stuff. While it’s a little more involved that the old fly-eye style air cleaners of yesteryear, the basics are the same. More air into the engine = more power to the ground. And it’s easy to do.
Two of the more complicated projects are the Performance Shock Absorber Upgrade and the Stainless Steel Brake Hose Upgrade. Tom also points out when some things need the assistance of an experienced mechanic. And when things aren’t really all that involved, Tom lets you know. At the other end of the difficulty spectrum, the Trunk Lid Liner Installation Project only requires masking tape!
One of the best ways to get a better understanding of your Corvette is to work on it. Every time you personalize your Vette you become more familiar with another aspect of your car. After you’ve completed a project, you know from hands-on experience just what’s under that thing you just removed to get to the supporting part you need to get to to do the project you had in mind.
The C4, C5, and C6 Corvettes are what I call, “electro-mechanical” cars. There’s a poignant story in the Zora Arkus-Duntov autobiography by Jerry Burton of a project Duntov took on for a Buick V6 Indy engine after he retired. Zora figured out a tricky solution to the engine’s mechanical fuel-injection system, only to find out that the Buick engineers came up with an electronic solution. The master mechanical engineer was trumped by a
electronic box.
So, leave the electronics to the Chevrolet Service Department, but don’t let a lot of mysterious electronic gizmos keep you from getting involved with your Corvette. Who knows, maybe before you know it, you’ll be installing a twin-turbo in your Vette. But you’re going to need more than that $100 set of Craftsman tools. This book is a lot of fun and if you’re new to the hobby, will help get you started. – KST
This article was written by K. Scott Teeters, an editor for Alex Schult of www.SmokinVette.com and a freelance columnist and artist with VETTE Magazine. His monthly column, “The Illustrated Corvette Series” has been running consecutively in VETTE since 1997 and can be found on the very last page of every issue. You can find reproductions of his Corvette art at: www.IllustratedCorvetteSeries.com
