The Virginia Muscle Car

(85 Vette, 350/230hp - L98, TPI, Richmond 6-Speed)

Jan, my wife, took the above pictures of her 2003 Christmas present to me ... I am excited about this car. It has an L98 that the dealer called a Police Interceptor engine; I figure if it is good enough for the police it is good enough for me. (Andy - is a L98 ten better than a L88 ? ... :) I am still learning how it likes to be driven. It is like me at times - old and cantankerous, but for some reason it does better in colder weather than I do. Currently, I am going through it and adjusting and replacing parts. I am using it as a daily driver. (Paul now has my Monte Carlo). When I told Andy I was looking for another Vette, he said to look at cars from the South because the Southern States tended to use less salt on their roads. Andy went on to further say that a Northern car will have cancer (Rust) from all the salt that has to be used to keep the roads clear during the Winter. This car came from North Carolina and was occasionally driven by the owner's wife on weekends - never in the rain or snow. She kept up with the maintenance and it has a bunch of new and upgraded parts and has new paint. I have been told that the computer chip, clutch, and the fuel pump were replaced. In addition, the injectors had recently been cleaned. Also, the plastic electric window mechanisms were replaced with metal ones, and the vacuum headlight mechanisms were upgraded to electric. It had 66k when I bought it. Since then I have replaced plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coil, O2 sensor, anti-knock sensor, shocks (KYB), rear brake pads, radiator hoses, short throw levers for transmission, and PCV hoses (eliminated a bad vacuum leak/ Eddie of Classic Automotive also eliminated a second vacuum leak). Took off the plenum (top part if the fuel injection system) in order to replace the plenum temp switch and the EGR valve (what a pain) and found another temp switch screwed into the EGR valve - never heard of a temp unit for an EGR ??? Could not get hold of a new EGR temp unit in a timely manner so I'll have to take the plenum off again. When I do I'll also replace the injector fuel regulator which is also under the plenum. There are other parts on the 85 that I have the evil eye on and will replace soon, i.e., for the sake of a little "preventative" maintenance ... :)

Recently, ran over a Ford pickup truck grill left over from an accident. The grill put a hole in the rear exhaust pipe and cat. As I was replacing these parts, I tried to save the mufflers but couldn't. So I had to replace the mufflers also. (Darn Fords!) You would never know it but I had a 65 Mustang convertible at one time and liked the car; until I was dragging bottom all over the Utah mountains. At this point I traded the Mustang for a new 74 CJ5 with the 304 V8. Back then this Jeep was an excellent relatively inexpensive 4WD vehicle. Anyway the 85 runs smoother; cat may have been restricted.

Couple of years ago I tore my stomach muscles shimming the rear bearings of the 76 and now I sometimes rely on others to help. HAAS Auto Service replaced a rear wheel bearing, several rear control arms, valve seals, and drive train fluids - good repair and restoration shop. Seen several other Vettes there getting repaired, modified, or restored. I have known Bill Haas since 82 when I bought a new 82 4WD Subaru Wagon. He was the guy that I requested to do the maintenance when I took my car to the Subaru dealer.

Another place I have repairs performed is Classic Automotive. Through a friend I learned about this resortation shop. Eddie does the mechanical work on the 85. Jim, the owner, now runs his body department. Actually he usually has 4 or 5 Vette owners waiting in line to get their cars totally restored. Classic straightened out a body repair that a local Pontiac dealer had made on the 85. The local arrogant Chevy Body Department wanted me to setup an appointment to bring it back for an evaluation. Forget about it! I do not have time to mess around with that kind of situation. (this customer's bottom line) They must have too much work! With Classic, no fuss no muss; step up to the plate and get your car repaired. Classic also has a towing service. One day I went to pickup my 85 and saw one of their flatbed rigs with a M4 Sherman tank. Appearently, they have hauled as many as 4 M4s to a reinactment show, i.e. with 4 seperate flat bed rigs. Must have been a great convoy. Great place to have things done or just look around. Jim has had over 40 Vettes himself. These guys I trust. These guys are reacting to the customer's bottom line.

The tires are now an All-weather Yokohama A550V which are rated to 150 MPH. I can not see going over half that speed; however, the car is supposed to be able to go over 150mph. The original tires were a faster Z rated tire and were stiffer (harder) than the Yokohama and they slid easier than the Yokohama. Also they were not an All-weather tire and were terrible in the rain. The thing used to fishtail and the rear used to try and walk around on me - sometimes I used to wonder if the rear of the car was racing the front of the car??? These Yokohama tires grab much better, plus they cost a lot less. Even though the Yokohama tires are the same size as the original tires, the Yokohamas are a little taller and slightly narrower. This is a good thing, because now the exhaust pipes and front spoiler do not scrape when the car is driven in and out of the driveway - surprising what a little ground clearance can do. Although, I still can not push the car too hard in the rain before it will get away from me.

(Pig Alley)

Still plan to get the 76 Vette on the road soon (see 76 Vette section). Not sure what I am going to do then. Vettes are not very good in ice and snow; maybe I'll just hibernate in the winter! Andy gave me hell the other day for driving the thing on the road when there was some salt left over from a snow storm. Richard and Andy wait several months after a snow storm before they drive their classics. I told him I ran a lawn sprinkler underneath to wash the stuff off. He was still besides himself. I thought about what he was saying and he has a point; so I drive my Monte Carlo (commuter beater) when there is some salt, snow, or rain, otherwise it's hog heaven!!! Even though Andy has a 65 today, he has always called Vettes "plastic pigs" because their bodies are made of fiberglass and they have a reputation for not being as slow and lumbering as a pig, i.e., Andy's sarcasism. However, the 85's hydraulic 350 motor does not have the guts of the old 327/365 green stripe solid lifter engine. The 350 has a redline of about 5500 and the 327 had a redline of 7500. A couple of times, when I have reached 5500, I have wondered, only for an instant, why the thing peaked out. I kept waiting for it to wind up a little tigher before grabbing the next gear. Must still have brain cells containing the memories of how I handled the L88. Unfortunately, sometimes I instinctively revert back to these memories during times of crisis. You see Bill, it has become instinctive (without conscience thought) as you once advocated - but for a different application - the 7200rpm L88 of 35 years ago!!!

This is what you have to do to adjust the shift linkage on an 85 Vette with a 4+3 stick - gut about half of the interior to get to the bottom of the shifter. I found this out when I was changing the shift throw to a shorter one and had to adjust the shifter after I swapped out a couple of parts. The shifter is actually mounted to the pan and not on the transmission. Andy tells me that his 66 Chevy II had the same arrangement. However, the 76 has the shifter mounted on the trans so to adjust the shifter linkage, all I do is to crawl under the car and use a popsicle stick as a gauge ... I am finding that the 76 is a lot easier to work on. I am sure Andy has it even easier with his 65. But, I still like the 85 even though it is a pain in the rear end (not a car's). Since the above picture was taken I had the 4+3 replaced with a Richmond 6-speed.

/P>

Where I Used to work, frequently Vettes park together and the 85 is parked next to Joe's red 91 convertible (sharp). We care how we open and close our doors. Plenty of guards around too.