1976 Vette issues

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Brian Penzone - 02 Nov 2006 15:16 GMT

Hey everyone! I am the proud new owner of a 1976 Corvette! This is my
first Corvette, and my wife and I are really excited about having it.

I've got a few questions about it though. While it is in very nice
physical and mechanical condition, there are a few issues with it.
Right off the bat, i currently don't know a heck of a lot about cars
(well, working on them, at least)

Issue 1: The right scroll wheel that control the temperature is frozen
in place. You cannot move it at all!

Issue 2: There is a little bit of an oil leak. It looks like maybe 2 or
3 drops per day on my garage floor.

Issue 3: The clock doesn't work!

Issue 4: The "interior" fan (vents and such) runs just fine at low and
medium speeds, but will not run at high speed. At all.

Issue 5: I need 2 new mufflers. I am currently missing 1 of them. Where
should I look to get new mufflers?

See? Not a whole lot wrong...just a few minor things here and there! If
anyone can help, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Thanks!
Brian

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Tom in Missouri - 02 Nov 2006 16:35 GMT

See inline.

> Hey everyone! I am the proud new owner of a 1976 Corvette! This is my
> first Corvette, and my wife and I are really excited about having it.

Congratulations on your Corvette. This is a great time of years in most
areas to pull the tops off and cruise around. You should also check out the
local Corvette clubs as the camaraderie is as much of the Corvette mystic as
the car.

You will discover there are a few different worlds for Corvettes. There are
restorers (NCRS), there are racers and autocrossers (typically NCCC), and
there are the custom and modified guys who do their own thing.

> I've got a few questions about it though. While it is in very nice
> physical and mechanical condition, there are a few issues with it.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Issue 1: The right scroll wheel that control the temperature is frozen
> in place. You cannot move it at all!

Somewhat common. The wheel attaches to a cable that moves the flapper door
in the heater box to control the amount of air coming through the heater
core. The cables can rust and seize. It can be possible to oil them and
get them to work, but most simply replace the cable. If you are going for
100% originality, you try to fix the cable first. If not, then order a new
one from the various Corvette vendors, like Eckler's, Mid America Corvettes,
Corvette Central, Corvette America, Paragon, The Last Detail, Volunteer
Vette, and others. It is possible the door is stuck, but the cable is more
common.

> Issue 2: There is a little bit of an oil leak. It looks like maybe 2 or
> 3 drops per day on my garage floor.

Typical small block Chevy. The three main sources are the front harmonic
balancer seal, the rear main seal, and valve covers.

If you have the aluminum valve covers, then change the gaskets. If you have
the steel covers, you need to straighten them first as they typically dimple
at the bolt holes. Then get the spreader bars that apply the clamping force
over a wide area of the cover. Do not tighten them tight. They only use
something like 20 in-lbs of torque and too much actually makes them leak.
There is a valve cover gasket that has hard sections at the bolt holes to
prevent over-torquing the covers.

> Issue 3: The clock doesn't work!

Typical. They were designed to run 3 years or so and 30 years later with no
maintenance, most don't. They can be fixed yourself or sent to several
different vendors. Here is a link to the Midyear clocks. The repair is
basically the same. http://www.vettenet.org/midyrclock.html

> Issue 4: The "interior" fan (vents and such) runs just fine at low and
> medium speeds, but will not run at high speed. At all.

There is a separate fuse for the high speed circuit that is in the engine
compartment. On a '76, I can't remember where it is but it is around the
heater/ac area somewhere. Check a wiring diagram or the service manual.
You should get a Chevrolet service manual.

> Issue 5: I need 2 new mufflers. I am currently missing 1 of them. Where
> should I look to get new mufflers?

This depends on your route - NCRS originality or don't care. If don't care,
then you can get mufflers anywhere. Midas and Meinicke offered life-time
warranties that can be used most places in the country, while local shops do
the same warranty but you need to stay in their local area for coverage.

Otherwise, the same vendor list above will sell you reproduction mufflers.
However, none sound like the original factory mufflers.

> See? Not a whole lot wrong...just a few minor things here and there! If
> anyone can help, I'd greatly appreciate it!
>
> Thanks!
> Brian

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