Corvette Parts Blog

Corvette Spark Plug Wires

We now have factory spark plug wires available for 1975-1982 Corvettes. The spark plug wires are fabricated by the original equipment manufacture, Packard Industries, who continues to produce correct looking spark plug wires for Corvettes. These 8mm wires are manufactured from the original tooling and include correct Packard Delcore II wire, which uses a special Kevlar silicone wrapped construction to prevent breaks and cracks in the conductor. The boots of the C3 Corvette Spark Plug Wires are made of the correct material, to the original thickness, with the knobs on the end for the distributor retainer; the terminals are stainless steel. These are not generic sets of spark plug wires; each set includes correct length wires for an easy, clean factory installation and is 100% Made in USA.

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We have recently added 1963-1969 Corvette Bellhousing Front Inspection Covers to our C2 and C3 Corvette Parts inventory. These bellhousing inspection covers are an exact reproduction of the the original covers installed on 1963-1969 Corvettes. These covers are designed to work with 10.4″ Corvette Clutches and a 3.25″ starter hole. Some replacement bellhousing front inspection covers have been available for a while. We are proud to say that we now offer the most correct 1963-1969 Corvette bellhousing inspection covers the Corvette Parts industry has to offer. Another new Corvette part from Zip!

1963-1969 Corvette Bellhousing Front Inspection Cover

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In 1965 through 1967, Chevrolet gave customers the option of adding side exhaust to their Corvette. Though there were over 70,000 Corvettes produced during this time period, only 11% left with the factory installed Corvette Side Exhaust Package. If you’re thinking it is time to replace your already installed Corvette’s side exhaust or you would like to swap your 1963-1967 Corvette’s Exhaust for a side exhaust package, we can point you in the right direction.

Corvette Side Exhaust Diagram

First you will need to decide whether you would like to go with the carbon steel mufflers, aluminized mufflers, or stainless steel mufflers. All muffler systems are authentic in looks and are proudly made in the USA. With carbon steel you will be getting the closest to factory original as you can get. Carbon systems include jig welded header pipes with an aluminized steel 2.75″ chambered section as original, and correct 2.75″ chrome plated exhaust tips. Aluminized mufflers are an excellent choice if you want an OE style muffler but much longer life than true originals. The aluminized steel header pipes are jig welded and include an aluminized chambered center section. Exhaust tips are 2.75″ of polished stainless steel for lasting good looks. The stainless steel systems will produce near forever performance. The jig welded 304 stainless header pipes include a stainless (inside and out) 2.75″ chambered section and 2.75″ polished stainless exhaust tips.

Corvette Side Exhaust

If you are looking for aluminized or stainless mufflers and want to replace your Corvette’s Side Exhaust System or add side exhaust to your 1963-1967 Corvette we have pre-assembled packages that will provide all the necessary components to get the job done. All Corvette Exhaust Packages include new reproduction exhaust covers, trim moldings, aluminized or stainless mufflers, and all mounting hardware. If a package like this is what you want but in carbon steel, we can easily put together a package that includes the carbon mufflers as well. For more information on a Corvette side exhaust package with carbon mufflers contact customer service here and we will provide you with the details.

Aside from complete Corvette exhaust packages, we also have individual side exhaust components for those who need to replace a few mount brackets or missing bolts. These items can be found in our Corvette Parts Catalog or our C2 Corvette Exhaust section on our website.

If you have spent time and money making your 1963-1967 Corvette’s Exhaust look and sound just right, adding our Corvette Side Exhaust Cover Protectors may not be a bad idea. They will help protect the front most edges of your Corvette’s Side Exhaust Covers from scratches and road rash that are very common on 1963-1967 Corvettes with side exhaust.

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Learn how to replace the alternator on your 1963-1982 Corvette. Replacing your Corvette’s alternator requires basic hand tools and a multimeter to determine the voltage the alternator is producing. Your Corvette’s alternator is an essential component in the electrical system of your Corvette, since it supplies the necessary DC voltage and keeps the battery charged. Like all things mechanical, eventually it wears out and fails.

The project car shown in our Corvette Alternator Replacement Technical Article is a 1967 Corvette 427 coupe, which had an incorrect chrome-plated alternator in it. The procedures detailed in the technical article are the same for small or big block Corvette engines from 1963 through 1982. Follow along and see how easy it really is to do this Corvette alternator replacement yourself.

Click here to read the entire Corvette Alternator Replacement Article.

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One of our customers, Ken Krug who owns a yellow 1966 Corvette sent us a couple pictures of his latest Corvette restoration. Were we surprised when we saw that he was talking about a matching 1966 go-kart. All of the paint and body work was done by Celestine Schneider III. Great job and very cool idea.

1966 Corvette & Matching Go-Kart

1966 Corvette & Matching Go-Kart

1966 Corvette, 1966 Corvette Go-Kart

Chrome Corvette Wheels look great no matter what year, body style, or color your Corvette may be. They are not exactly the cheapest upgrade over the stock Corvette Wheels, but as most people would agree, the brilliance added to the Corvette from a new set of chrome wheels is well worth the cost. For those of you who have spent your fare share of money purchasing chrome Corvette Wheels here are a few recommendations that should help you get the most out of your purchase.

Corvette Chrome Wheels

Before your chrome wheels are installed on your Corvette for the first time we recommend purchasing some of Adam’s Americana Premium Carnauba Paste Wax. The paste wax is very important as this is what will ultimately protect your chrome wheels from contaminants. Once your chrome wheels have been installed on your Corvette apply the carnauba paste wax to the wheels as you would normally apply the wax to the Corvette. By waxing your chrome Corvette Wheels you are essentially filling in all of the small pores in the chrome, creating a protective layer between the wheel and brake dust or any other corroding substances. While in between waxings we recommend cleaning your Chrome Corvette Wheels with basic soap and water. Any special chrome wheel cleaner can strip the wax, which could do more harm then good as the wheels age. Every two months or so it would be good to re-wax the wheels so the protective layer is always kept fresh.

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If your 1963-1967 Corvette rolled off the assembly line without factory AC, we have the add-on for you. Our Corvette Air Condition System upgrade kit replaces the heater/defroster with a completely new air condition unit that mounts behind the glove box to keep your Corvette’s Interior looking stock. Custom switches piggyback off existing factory switches so no new holes need to be drilled in your Corvette’s Dash or console. Reproduction ductwork is used throughout to complete an installation that truly has a “factory finished” appearance.

Corvette Air Condition

Our 1963-1967 Corvette Air Condition Systems include a rebuilt A6 compressor with factory mounting brackets, drier/receiver, condenser with factory brackets, air condition and heater hoses, new battery tray, reproduction air ducts with hose, all required hardware, complete instructions, and the option of R-12 or R-134 freon. Some Midyear Corvettes may require an exhaust manifold and/or a double-groove crank and water pump pulley to be purchased to complete the Corvette Air Condition System upgrade.

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A 4-speed transmission rebuild is nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to restoring a Midyear Corvette. When you think about how long some of these Corvettes have been on the road, or conversely, how long they have been sitting in a garage without getting any attention, there is no wonder a transmission rebuild is necessary to get the Corvette on the road again.

Corvette 4-Speed Transmission Rebuild

Zip Corvette Parts offers just about anything you can think of when it comes to rebuilding your 1963-1967 Corvette’s Transmission including: transmission tags, cluster assemblies, mainshaft bearings, front input shafts, gears, synchronizers, seals, a small parts kit, and a complete 4-speed transmission rebuild kit.

Our complete Corvette Transmission Rebuild Kits include everything you would need to return your Corvette’s 4-speed transmission to its original level of performance. New gaskets, snap rings, washers, needle bearings, front and rear bearings, rear seal, brass sychronizer rings, counter shaft and a small parts kit all make up the Muncie transmission rebuild package. Unfortunately for the M22 Muncie transmission we do not have a rebuild kit available but for all other 1963L-1967 Corvettes this kit will work great.

Zip works hard to be sure that your Corvette’s restoration goes as smooth as possible, that’s why we offer pre-assembled kits to our customers. By letting us put all the parts in a simple kit, you can forget about the hassle of trying to mix and match components from different Corvette Parts suppliers. All of our kits are as close to exact as possible and of course are backed by our 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.

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Open up a Zip Corvette Parts restoration catalog and you will find just about anything you are looking for when it comes to restoring a Corvette. From frame crossmembers and Corvette Suspension Kits to Corvette Weatherstrip Packages and a whole lot more, we try to make your Corvette restoration as painless as possible. We also understand that not everyone is performing a frame off restoration but instead, just need to touch up a few small areas. In the midst of the thousands of Corvette Parts, we have many cost efficient items that can make a big difference for your Corvette. Here are a few of our most commonly sold items that you may be in need of:

Tachometer Cable Adapter

Corvette Tachometer Cable Adapter: 1962-1974 Corvette tachometer cables are famous for breaking due to the awkward position they were originally installed. If you have replaced you Corvette’s tachometer cable a few times, or are changing it for the first time, you can install one of our tachometer cable 90 degree adapters, which takes the strain off the cable itself. By installing this adapter you can now keep your Corvette’s tachometer cable well greased and undamaged over time.

Door Hinge Pin & Bushing Kit

Corvette Door Hinge Pin & Bushing Kit: One item that almost every 1953-1982 Corvette could use at some point is a door hinge pin and bushing kit. The doors on these Corvette’s are not light plus they are over 30 years old so sagging is almost impossible to avoid. With this inexpensive door hinge pin and bushing kit you can get rid of those sagging doors for good. Each kit comes with enough pins and bushings to do both doors and will work with your Corvette’s original door hinges. Many vendors will sell you pins that are too long and you have to cut them yourself. Make sure to ask before you buy, Zip sells the correct length door pins to make it easier for you.

Rally Wheel Silver Paint

Corvette Rally Wheel Silver Paint: Another money saver from Zip for 1967-1982 Corvette owners is our Corvette rally wheel silver paint. This rally wheel paint is a great alternative to buying a whole new set of rally wheels because if used correctly it can return your old rally wheels to “new” condition. Without ever removing your Corvette’s rally wheels you can simply remove the trim bands and center caps, wash the wheels thoroughly, lightly sand to remove any debris, remove remaining grit with an air hose, and paint away. Once the paint has dried reinstall your Corvette’s center caps and trim bands and appreciate the look of your new looking wheels. Read how to paint your Corvette’s rally wheels at CorvetteMagazine.com.

CAGS Disconnect Plug Kit

Corvette CAGS Disconnect Plug Kit: The CAGS disconnect plug will eliminate the computer’s 1st-to-4th shift in your 1989-2009 6-speed Corvette by disconnecting the computer aided gear selection system. This specially designed plug protects the loose ends of the harness from dirt and corrosion, while adding the resistance needed to eliminate “service engine” codes. No modifications to your Corvette’s wiring is necessary, the plug can easily be removed to restore original function. Read how to install the C5 & C6 Corvette CAGS Disconnect Plug Kit.

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The KHE series radios have become a popular alternative in 1958-1982 Corvettes. The combination of their old school looks and modern technology has proven to be a deciding factor among Corvette enthusiasts looking for both originality and performance. Zip Corvette stocks most of these KHE Series Corvette Radios for that very reason.

77-82 KHE 100 Series Corvette Radio

Each KHE Series Radio is designed to fit directly into your Corvette’s Dash Bezel without making any modifications. Because of their excellent fit and throwback look you can now enjoy your favorite tunes in your favorite car.

The KHE 100 Corvette Radio is designed to allow you to be able to listen to your music while not paying an unreasonable amount of money. This radio is perfect for someone who would like to have quality sounding music but does not have to have the absolute best. The features of this radio include the choice of a chrome or black face, AM/FM cassette with digital tuning, auto-reverse, locking FF & RW, separate bass & treble, 4-way fader, 20 presets (15FM/5AM) manual tuning, seek auto tune, preset scan, RCA pre-outs, clock, auto stereo – mono, auto antenna lead, auxiliary line for MP3 player or iPod, LCD with green illumination, 100 watts of power (25 x 4) for KHE 100, & 200 watts of power (50×4) for the KHE 200.

58-62 KHE 200 Series Corvette Radio

The KHE 200 Corvette Radio is the same as the KHE 100, only with a little more juice. All features are the exact same except the KHE 200 is backed by 200 watts of power; as opposed to 100 watts in the KHE 100. The added watts in the 200 series radio makes this model more popular for owners that may be interested in beefing up their Corvette’s sound system.

The KHE 300 Corvette Radio is the best radio to choose from when it comes to the combination of looks and modern technology. With the elimination of the cassette player you will be able to plug your iPod or MP3 Player directly into the face of the radio, ultimately removing cassette tapes and/or cd’s from your dash or floorboard. The 300 series radio includes 200 watts of power and only comes with a chrome face. The extra large buttons add the finishing touches that make this radio an excellent choice for 1958-1962 Corvette owners.

68-76 KHE Series Corvette Radio

Features of the KHE 300 radio include: aux input – front & rear (iPod, MP3, etc.), 4AM/12FM presets, manual up & down tuning, seek auto tune, auto stereo & mono, preset scan & auto store, front & rear fader control, on & off volume control, separate bass & treble control, left & right balance control, clock time & frequency selector, custom design to fit your Corvette’s dash, auto antenna power lead, LCD display with green back lighting, & 200 watts of power output (50×4).

With the latest addition of the KHE 300 radio for 1958-1962 Corvettes, Zip now has all three series available for all 1958-1982 Corvettes. Their genuine looks and outstanding performance make the KHE brand superior to its competition.

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