New to me 91 Corvette, runs badly and I wonder why ?

Lager

Lager

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Just bought this 91 from as guy In VA and he drove it almost 2 hours to get it to me. Car ran Ok,, not perfect but OK and the deal was made. Next day cold start, this thing runs like Butt. I mean like really bad, but after it warms up a bit, its ok ..3 days later, I cant take it anymore and was thinking is was an ignition problem so I took the dist cap off and what did I see? I sent him a text message telling him that he needed to buy a lottery ticket while his luck was still in place. I Have NO idea how he made it here from VA, this car shouldn't even run.
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Nice looking car. How many miles? Just wondering if it ever had a tuneup, lol.
 
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Lager said:
Just bought this 91 from as guy In VA and he drove it almost 2 hours to get it to me. Car ran Ok,, not perfect but OK and the deal was made. Next day cold start, this thing runs like Butt. I mean like really bad, but after it warms up a bit, its ok ..3 days later, I cant take it anymore and was thinking is was an ignition problem so I took the dist cap off and what did I see? I sent him a text message telling him that he needed to buy a lottery ticket while his luck was still in place. I Have NO idea how he made it here from VA, this car shouldn't even run.
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Im a motorcycle guy,, I don't even LIKE cars. I normally hang out in the Motorcycle section just talking junk. But,Ive been an auto mechanic for the past 45 plus years at the OEM level as a tech,shop forman bla bla Lemon Law investigator and fire inspector for American Honda. Top Tech awards, yeah yeah, I hate cars. One of my FORD race cars featured in Super Ford Magazine and Muscle Mustangs Magazines years ago,, did I happen to mention that I hate cars? Anyways, I bought this sled to cart the Wife to the grocery store. I haven't owned a car in 25 years, just drove the Wifes Toyota's. BUT, now that I'm getting old, decided to buy a car for my own.. Thus the Corvette, it actually rides nice and handles well and is actually kinda fun to drive. Bought this car for a cheap price ( Kinda) and now I have a new project for Lagers Hack Shop. Who knows what I'm going to do with it. Baby steps first, but I've got tools.
 
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Lager said:
Im a motorcycle guy,, I don't even LIKE cars. I normally hang out in the Motorcycle section just talking junk. But,Ive been an auto mechanic for the past 45 plus years at the OEM level as a tech,shop forman bla bla Lemon Law investigator and fire inspector for American Honda. Top Tech awards, yeah yeah, I hate cars. One of my FORD race cars featured in Super Ford Magazine and Muscle Mustangs Magazines years ago,, did I happen to mention that I hate cars? Anyways, I bought this sled to cart the Wife to the grocery store. I haven't owned a car in 25 years, just drove the Wifes Toyota's. BUT, now that I'm getting old, decided to buy a car for my own.. Thus the Corvette, it actually rides nice and handles well and is actually kinda fun to drive. Bought this car for a cheap price ( Kinda) and now I have a new project for Lagers Hack Shop. Who knows what I'm going to do with it. Baby steps first, but I've got tools.
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My idea of fun !
 
I think for the fall edition of Lager’s Hack Shack, that thing needs a great big hole in the hood, with a massive blower that blocks 60% of your vision. Rat Fink style.

I’ll ride down, sit in a lawn chair, drink beer, and cheer you on.
 
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fieldgrade said:
I think for the fall edition of Lager’s Hack Shack, that thing needs a great big hole in the hood, with a massive blower blocking 60% of your vision. Rat Fink style.

I’ll ride down, sit in a lawn chair, drink beer, and cheer you on.
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I just spit beer all over my monitor reading this cause that's just what I was thinking about !! If I gotta go out, go out with a bang !!!! Beside I've always got a Toyota or another to drive. Love you brother, but your a bad influence.. Thinking Spooks thinks the same thing. 😁
 
Lager said:
I just spit beer all over my monitor reading this cause that's just what I was thinking about !! If I gotta go out, go out with a bang !!!! Beside I've always got a Toyota or another to drive. Love you brother, but your a bad influence.. Thinking Spooks thinks the same thing. 😁
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Before it would barely idle because of the distributor. Soon it will barely idle because of the cam.
 
GoWolfpack said:
Before it would barely idle because of the distributor. Soon it will barely idle because of the cam.
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And hopefully scare women and small children at a traffic light!
 
I can't even count how many GM caps I have seen burned through like that. Back in the 90's I changed them almost constantly, the HEI design was terrible, the consumer paid for it for years. Do yourself a favor throw the coil away along with the cap, rotor, wires and plugs. The coil has been overloaded and will only be a short while before it too bites the bullet. Anyway nice rides that particular Sportster is by far one of my favorites.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
Vice Grip Garage pours this in, looks into the camera and says....Motor rebuilt to factory specs!
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I work part time at an Autozone so I get the employee discount, but anyways? Everyday, dozens of customers walk to the " mechanic in a can for cheap section" and stare vacantly at the selection of pretty looking cans. I give them about 5 min, then wander over and ask " What are trying to fix for cheap that isn't going to work"? My manager hates it when I say that. He puts up with me because after working there for 2 years I have a steady stream of do it yourselfers asking for me looking for any sort of advise that they cant get from some young high school kid. Funny, the sign out front says Autozone, then underneath it states Auto parts and advise. It doesn't mean the advise is going to be any good.
 
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Lager said:
Update time,, Replaced the cap and rotor and this thing runs like a champ !!!!
Next edition of Lagers Hack Shack will be ? The Corvette muffler delete because who wants a quiet Corvette ?
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You really have converted to a Harley guy..... 🤣
 
Lager said:
Update time,, Replaced the cap and rotor and this thing runs like a champ !!!!
Next edition of Lagers Hack Shack will be ? The Corvette muffler delete because who wants a quiet Corvette ?
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The muffler delete doesn't really make it loud,, give it a bit of exhaust note that you can hear but nothing obnoxious... The Cat converter that's still on the makes for a very effective muffler all by itself. Took it to work today, car runs good now and sounds nice. Then the Idle air control valve took a dump on me causing the car to shut off at idle,,Arghhhh,,this thing turning into a money pit?
 
GoWolfpack said:
Never would have guessed a 40 year old American car would be a money pit.
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Hey Jeff,, don't mind me,, I'm just whining a bit.. Back is still hurting and working on a car is pretty painful right now. Because I'm a picky person, right now I'm correcting at least 20 years of neglect. Kinda funny, when I was talking to the seller initially, I asked him if there were any modifications or changes done to the car, trans or engine ? He assured me that the car was original as can be. Thats a good thing because some people just shouldn't be working on their own cars and being a tech for over 50 years I've seen some nightmares. Little did I realize that when he said " Origional" , he meant it. 😬
 
Car runs well now,, took the Wife out to Lunch yesterday when the weather was nice. About a 60 mile ride, top down of course and she ran like a Champ and now sounds nice with the muffler delete kit installed.
Did have a bit of a problem with the check engine light showing an EGR code. Gotta tell you, this OBD 1 is crude and not very informative. But how many problems can you find with a OBD 1 Egr? Let me count the ways.
Egr Valve stuck slightly open causing manifold leak and rough idle, Replaced valve.
EGR valve diaphragm split, see above.
Egr vacuum tube under intake plenum worn thru from rubbing on the plenum, repaired.
EGR solenoid under plenum disconnected somehow. Connected.
EGR solenoid vacuum line from throttle body disconnected and plugged, reconnected.
2 road tests later, no MIL on, Guess its fixed for now.
Gotta love cars.
 
Lager said:
Car runs well now,, took the Wife out to Lunch yesterday when the weather was nice. About a 60 mile ride, top down of course and she ran like a Champ and now sounds nice with the muffler delete kit installed.
Did have a bit of a problem with the check engine light showing an EGR code. Gotta tell you, this OBD 1 is crude and not very informative. But how many problems can you find with a OBD 1 Egr? Let me count the ways.
Egr Valve stuck slightly open causing manifold leak and rough idle, Replaced valve.
EGR valve diaphragm split, see above.
Egr vacuum tube under intake plenum worn thru from rubbing on the plenum, repaired.
EGR solenoid under plenum disconnected somehow. Connected.
EGR solenoid vacuum line from throttle body disconnected and plugged, reconnected.
2 road tests later, no MIL on, Guess its fixed for now.
Gotta love cars.
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I work at an Autozone parts store peddling junk parts and giving out bad advise part time 5 days a week. I say I do this because its gets me out of the house and away from the wife. But I actually do it for the 20 % discount I get as an employee to pay for all the parts/oil and stuff I buy every week. I don't know why they give me a pay check, I just give it back to them. They should run me a tab and I quit working when its paid for.
 
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