1979 Chevrolet Corvette Repair History

Several people have written me asking about the reliablility of the 'vette. Some wanted to know if there were any areas they should check before buying a similar car. In an attempt to help with both questions, below I've listed most of the repairs I made to the car over its lifetime. There are some definite trends here. Some of my records are sketchy and confusing. Did I really flush the rear end three times in three months?

odometer  date             Problem
 10???  ??/??/79   Broken #7 intake valve spring
                   Bent #7 valve
        12/21/79   Aluminum wheel center cap
 17561   3/03/80   Flush rear end and add additive
 24897   6/10/80   Broken #5 intake valve spring
 28081   7/21/80   Broken #3 intake valve spring
                   Cracked intake manifold
 31885   9/08/80   Flush rear end and add additive
                   Broken #1 intake valve spring
        10/27/80   2 Aluminum wheel center caps
        12/29/80   Aluminum wheel center cap
 42629   2/02/81   Flush rear end and add additive
 44045   2/27/81   Broken #7 exhaust valve spring
 45786   3/19/81   4 Tires
                   Shock absorbers
 56163   8/28/81   Splice air conditioner hose
         9/14/81   Flush rear end and add additive
        12/07/81   Aluminum wheel center cap
        ??/??/82   Starter
         1/03/82   Flush rear end and add additive
         3/05/82   Flush rear end and add additive
 68624   3/12/82   Broken #8 exhaust valve spring
         4/06/82   Flush rear end and add additive
 71097   4/19/82   Air conditioner leak
 71913   5/03/82   Left outboard U-joint
                   2 rear end yokes
         8/??/82   Leaking valve seals
 72614   8/12/82   Leaking left rear caliper seals
         8/25/82   Flush rear end and add additive
        12/21/82   Aluminum wheel center cap
                   Flush rear end and add additive
 82911  11/02/83   Bolts holding lower control arms on fell out
        ??/??/84   Battery
        ??/??/84   2 Aluminum wheel center caps
 86811   4/28/84   4 Tires
                   Front brake pads
         4/30/84   Cracked tail light lenses
         5/24/84   Alternator repair
 91695  12/10/84   Vacuum break stuck
        ??/??/85   Bolts holding lower control arms on fell out
 92787   1/14/85   Leaking water pump
 93133   2/19/85   Broken left outside door handle
         1/03/86   Aluminum wheel center cap
106620   5/19/87   2 Leaking mufflers
112252   5/18/88   4 Tires
114657  11/28/88   Shock absorbers
                   Brake pads
                   Master cylinder
                   Rear brake caliper
                   Power steering control valve
                   Front ball joints
                   Leaking radiator
                   Cooling fan switch
115599   1/06/89   Aluminum wheel center cap
         5/20/89   Shorted horn assembly
119583   6/26/89   Front wheel bearings
                   Tie rod ends
120630   9/18/89   Repair hurricane damage:
                   Short block
                   Right hand cylinder head
                   Service starter
                   Flush rear-end, power steering, transmission
                   Oil pump
                   Fuel line
                   EGR valve
                   Hoses
                   Belts
                   Replace carpet backing
                   Clean carpet and lower seat cushions
        ??/??/90   2 Aluminum wheel center caps
         1/12/90   Battery
         1/22/??   Aluminum wheel center cap
         9/03/91   Power steering control valve
129894   2/19/92   2 Leaking rear brake calipers
                   Rear brake pads
133008   1/11/93   4 Tires
         4/17/95   Speedometer
140729   5/12/95   2 Mufflers
        12/28/95   Starter
         5/??/96   Battery (turns out was loose battery cable at starter)

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