For Corvette owners that live in the northern climates, the season of Spring is a cause for much celebration. The days are not only longer but also warmer, the rain has washed the last remnants of salt off of the roads, and thousands of Corvettes awaken from their hibernation with a rumble. Why not make that last ritual as enjoyable as possible with a Spring tune up? Follow along as we go through the checklist.
Oil – Typically, an oil change is one of the last things you should perform before your car goes into winter storage, but if this was overlooked, now is the time. Remember to change the filter as well.
Coolant – Again, this should have been done before storage, but the regular maintenance intervals should be followed for newer Corvettes. On older cars, replace coolant that looks rusty in color. It would be best if you mixed the coolant with water. We recommend northern Corvettes have a stronger coolant to water ratio (70%/30% ).
Battery – Check the battery case for cracks and the terminals for damage. Clean the terminals with a wire brush, apply grease, and tighten the cable connections.
Plugs – These typically need replacement every 40,000 miles or so, but it’s a good idea to check them periodically. Remove a spark plug with a good plug socket and wrench. Check the porcelain for any cracks, and check the electrodes for oil or excessive deposits. Worn electrodes warrant a new set; deposits or oil indicate more significant problems.
Filters (fuel, air) – Follow the service schedule in your owner’s manual for fuel filters. For air filters, change every Spring if you use a replaceable element. A visual inspection is all you need for non-replaceable elements like a K&N. If it’s dirty, follow the cleaning and oiling instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Fluids – Check and top off the brake and transmission fluids. Look for puddles underneath the car. If you see a few drops on the floor, those may be caused by a seal that will swell when you start driving. A larger puddle needs more investigation.
Injectors – Make it a habit to add a bottle of fuel injector cleaner with your first fill-up in the Spring. It’s an inexpensive safeguard against deposits that could clog your injectors, resulting in lost power and poor fuel economy.
Belts & hoses – Belts will show signs of cracking with age. Replace them if this is the case. Hoses tend to crack from exposure to heat and aging. For coolant hoses, pinch them near the ends. If you feel any voids or ridges, this could indicate corrosion on the inside.
Tires – Check the pressures for consistency. If only one tire is low, find out why; leaking bead or a roofing nail in the tread?
Engine bay – Finally, inspect the engine bay. If your car was stored in a location where mice could have been present, pay close attention to wiring and hoses in the engine compartment, as rodents love to chew on insulation.
Detailing – Click here for videos with information on washing, waxing, and detailing your Corvette, courtesy of Adam’s Polishes.
Hello again Corvette Central, I sent a question on the gassy smell of my car sitting in my basement.
This question is about your dash for a 71 corvette. Is it soft, with real threading across the front like the original dash that came in the car? I can’t work on my car and just got it back from being repainted and some work done on it and the man replaced my dash that I wanted an original that would cost a fortune if it could be found and he put exactly the same dash back in my car I hated. So fake looking and no real threads across the front that I hated before. And hard. Your description states exactly as the original and I wanted to be sure it does have real threads and not a fake looking one piece of crap that is right in your face. He should have just left the one that was in there to do something like that. I have had my car since 1988 and was ruff inside and barely paint in the exterior. A big block car and never wrecked as I saw it stripped the first time it was painted at least 31 years ago. My husband didn’t know anything about replacing interior parts and other things about originality at that time because all I had was new corvettes to drive to work. Then he became years later a Perfectionist on 2 67 frame off NCRS Duntov cars. It is silver with a black interior. But really concerned about the dash. Does your dash cost oversize shipping also? I know he Purchased many parts from Corvette Central and you were always in the driveline of NCRS and may have been at some of
the events or the large swap meets we went to. What is your return policy if it doesn’t fit which I see no reason why it wouldn’t. I just am worried and want what I want and the honest truth about it. Not hard and fake. Thank you, Bev