Corvette Parts Blog

Corvette Shop/Service Manuals On CD

The original Corvette shop & service manuals provided to Chevrolet service technicians for Corvette repair and maintenance are now available on CD in PDF format. The new Corvette Shop & Service Manual CD’s for 1953-1981 will run on both Windows & Macintosh if you have Adobe Reader 7.0 or higher installed.

Each shop & service manual is broken down into basic operating systems and shows how to remove, disassemble and rebuild major components on your C1, C2 or C3 Corvette. Step by step instructions are designed for the novice or professional mechanic and allow you to work on your Corvette at your own pace with the reassurance that you are getting the job done right. Each shop & service manual also includes diagnostics, troubleshooting, required tools, and Corvette wiring diagrams to assist with any aspect of your Corvette restoration. You will truly be satisfied with these manuals on CD as they are loaded with original factory photographs and illustrations from beginning to end.

These hard-to-find factory shop manuals are published by Detroit Iron. The CD contains the information as published in the original paper manuals for 1953-1981 Corvettes. Each CD has been completely revised meaning that all images from the original factory manuals have been re-scanned for clarity, and they even include easy search capabilities. No more flipping through a huge binder!

Common areas included in Corvette Shop & Service Manuals include:

• Brakes
• Steering
• Front and Rear Suspension
• Wheels and Tires
• Axles and Drivelines
• All Electrical Systems
• Engine Mechanical
• Engine Fuel
• Transmissions
• Accessories
• Frame
• Cooling System
• Instruments and Gauges
• Lighting System
• Fuel Tank and Exhaust System
• Body

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Corvette Body Repair Guide

Be it poor panel fit, seams showing, or even large-scale damage, the fact is most all old Corvettes have had some sort of body problem. Author Ray J. Shiro shares his 32 years of experience in the Corvette body repair business in this set of step-by-step guides for the do-it-yourself enthusiast. Written in “plain language”, these easy-reading Cd’s (with printable documents) cover location of body seams, seam repair, bonding adhesives, panel removal and replacement, complete front or rear assembly and more.

Volume 1 includes: 1963-1967 Corvette front body panel removal & replacement, headlight assembly removal, replacement & adjustment, body seam repair, body panel splicing repair techniques and a body restoration guide. This midyear body repair guide on Cd includes over 165 photos throughout with detailed explanations and 24 illustrations, which will help make your Corvette’s restoration much easier.

Volume 2 includes: 1963-1967 rear Corvette body panel removal & replacement, crack repair, panel splicing, body seam repair and a body restoration guide. This volume includes over 195 photos with detailed explanations and 17 illustrations that will help you repair or replace your C2 Corvette’s rear body panels.

Corvette Body Repair Guide

Volume 3 includes: 1968-1982 Corvette complete front end replacement, door skin replacement, T-top panels, body panel removal and replacement. Over 180 photos with detailed explanations and 24 illustrations are included in this C3 Corvette Body Repair Guide.

Volume 4 includes: 1968-1982 Corvette headlight assembly, headlight adjustments, door jamb replacement, complete rear body replacement, crack repair, body panel splicing and body seam repair. The 170 plus photos and 11 illustrations are sure to help with the restoration of any C3 Corvette.

Volume 5 includes: 1984-1996 C4 Corvette headlight assembly & adjustments, door jamb splice, front bumper assembly, hood replacement, front lower fender, firewall repair, dog leg panel and a body restoration guide. Over 220 photos and 11 illustrations are included to help restore your C4 Corvette’s body to its original form.

Volume 6 includes: 1984-1996 C4 Corvette complete door skin & door removal and replacement, rear quarter panel removal & replacement, top panel removal and a body restoration guide. Volume 6 of the Corvette Body Restoration Guides on Cd includes over 280 photos and 10 illustrations with detailed instructions for a much simpler restoration.

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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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If you are leaning towards repairing your Corvette’s fiberglass rather than spending hundreds of dollars to replace particular body panels consider using some of these Corvette Fiberglass Repair Materials. By repairing your original Corvette’s Body Panels you are of course saving money, but you are also keeping the Corvette that much more original. With the older Corvettes, originality is critical; the more original your Corvette is, the more it will be worth. By selling these Corvette Fiberglass Repair Materials Zip offers yet another way for you to keep your Corvette true to form. Many customers call us asking what they need, and the materials can be confusing so here is a quick breakdown of our Corvette fiberglass repair materials.

Corvette Fiberglass Roller

Eliminating air bubbles & excess resin are the key elements in assuring a strong, durable repair. This 1/2″ x 3″ Fiberglass Mat Roller will help alleviate such problems & produce professional results.

Corvette Fiberglass Mat

Corvette Fiberglass Mats are available in 50″ x 1 yard and 50″ x 3 yards. The 1 1/2 ounce fiberglass mats are ideal in weight for all Corvette fiberglass repairs.  Insist on quality grade Corvette fiberglass mat – There is a difference!

Corvette Fiberglass Resin

Our Corvette Resin has been specifically designed to provide outstanding adhesion to factory Corvette fiberglass. Fast curing time & high strength makes this the professionals first choice. MEKP hardener, which is a catalyst for all polyester resins and gel-coats is included. MEKP hardener can also be purchased separately.

Fiberglass Spray Gel-coat

Spray Gel-Coat is the only product of its kind currently available that will permanently seal errant fiberglass strands. Spray gel-coat’s unmatched sealing qualities also prevents body fillers from bleeding through to ruin otherwise perfect Corvette paint jobs. MEKP hardener is included with the spray gel-coat.

Fiberglass Bonding Adhesive

Bonding Adhesive has been specifically designed to provide unsurpassed adhesion when bonding fiberglass to bonding strips. Adhesive is formulated to grip even in instances of severe expansion, contraction & vibration. Do not use bonding adhesive as a surface filler on your Corvette.

Corvette Fiberglass Body Filler

This Corvette Body Filler has virtually eliminated intolerable shrinkage, pin holing, & bleed through found in other fillers. Simply stated, this easy-to-use body filler is the best money can buy! Cream hardener, which is great for colder temperatures and will create a quicker cure is included with the body filler.

Corvette Paint Stripper

Auto Spra-Strip Paint Remover is the easiest solution available for removing paint on your Corvette. Spra strip achieves a complete chemical balance with paint on your fiberglass. Simply spray non-aerosol stripper on the Corvette and paint can be removed in minutes. Spra strip will remove epoxy, enamel, polyurethane, acrylic, lacquer, imron, varnish, undercoating, grease, and bondo. Safe on all surfaces except urethane bumpers.

Be aware when you purchase many of these Corvette Fiberglass Repair Materials that they have a shelf life of approximately three months. All this means is when your order the product you should be ready to use the repair materials sooner rather then later.

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C4 Corvette valve covers are huge eyesores under your Corvette’s hood if they have not been maintained over the years. Even if your Corvette has been garage kept and well maintained, old faded valve covers are hard to avoid. The mixture of engine oil and dirt with some occasional water or other substances can really fade or rust your Corvette’s valve covers over time. Even if the Corvette was rarely driven the valve covers would still fade as they age.

C4 Corvette Valve Covers

If you have driven your C4 Corvette on a daily basis as many people have, take a look at your valve covers. If they look anything like the majority of the valve covers that we see on a daily basis then a can of Corvette Valve Cover Paint might be a quick fix for the looks of your Corvette’s engine compartment.

Our Corvette Valve Cover Paint will restore your discolored OEM valve covers from engine heat, cleaning chemicals and/or road grime to their original factory finish. This paint is the correct tint as used on original C4 Corvette valve covers and one can is enough paint to restore both valve covers.

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The 1956-1962 Corvette Wiper Arms were cable-driven from the Corvette’s Wiper Motor. A drum behind the firewall rotated multiple cables to each transmission. Fortunately, these transmission cables do not require adjustment on a regular basis; however, when adjustment is needed, either from cable stretching or following a new installation, Chevrolet designed a system where cable tension can be increased by simply pressing on the outer end of the transmission shaft.

Corvette Wiper Transmission

To illustrate, each transmission has two spools – one for each drive cable. The inside face of each spool has cast teeth locking them together. When the transmission shaft is pressed down, the two spools separate and an internal spring allows the spools to rotate to their tightest position. Once pressure is removed from the transmission shaft, the spools are locked together again and the cables are tight against the wiper motor drum. When removing the transmission, the operation will require the help of an additional person. With one person pressing down on the wiper transmission shaft to “unlock” the spools, the second person (inside the Corvette) must pull against the cables, rotating the spools against the pressure of the spring. Once all the necessary slack is obtained, the wiper transmission shaft can be released and the spools will lock together. This slack will allow the cables to be removed from the wiper motor drum. The Corvette’s Wiper Transmission can then be removed.

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Early Corvette Interiors featured a rich tapestry of different materials, textures, and surface finishes. One of the more outstanding features is the aluminum dash insert found in 1958-1962 Corvettes. Replacing the dash insert is not complicated but does require attention to detail and patience.

Aluminum Dash Insert

Begin by removing the screws holding the chrome escutcheons at each end of the passenger side grab bar. Slide the escutcheons toward the center of the bar to expose the screws hidden beneath them. Remove these screws and lift the bar out. Unscrew the nuts that retain the insert assembly to the dash by reaching behind the insert. Once the nuts are removed separate the insert assembly from the dash. Once the insert assembly is out you will see how it is put together. The delicate aluminum insert sits on a heavy steel backing and is held by thin stainless steel trim that clips over the edges of the aluminum and steel around the perimeter. The stainless trim is tack welded to the steel backing and you must cut the welds, a task best accomplished with a small grinder or rotary cutting tool. Take care not to cut beyond the weld or you risk damaging a part of the stainless trim that is visible. After the welds are ground pull the stainless off and separate the aluminum from the backing. Glass bead and paint the normally rusty backing and polish the stainless trim. Lay the new insert onto the backing and carefully clip the stainless back into position. Avoid touching the insert as it scratches easily and even the oil from your fingers can blemish it. Gently clamp the assembly so that both pieces of stainless fully seat. Apply a thin layer of two-part epoxy to the area where the stainless meets the steel backing on the reverse side. After the epoxy dries remove the clamps and reinstall your newly restored assembly.

Corvette Dash, Corvette Interior

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One of the most popular questions asked when replacing Corvette Brake Calipers on Midyear and C3 Corvettes is: should I install the original style brake caliper (Lip Seal Design) or the newer O-Ring Seal style? The correct answer is not to install one over the other, but to decide which caliper will be better suited for your restoration or Corvette Brake Overhaul. Not sure which brake caliper is right for you?

Corvette Brake Caliper

Original Shark-era Corvettes had the lip seal design caliper installed. With that said if you would like to keep your Corvette 100% correct then the lip seal is the way to go. However, be aware that prolonged inactivity and/or worn brake components are the enemy of the lip seal design and can very quickly cause your Corvette’s Brake Calipers to leak. If you enjoy exercising your Corvette heartily, or, conversely, your pride and joy often sits for extended periods, O-ring seals are the better choice. They are superior in design all around and offer the best sealing possible.

Now available at Zip Corvette are both front and rear brake caliper o-ring conversion kits. These kits will allow you to convert your Corvette’s Brake Calipers from the original lip seal design to the long lasting o-ring design pistons. The kits include four o-ring style pistons for front and rear calipers, o-rings, dust boots and caliper fluid seals. There are enough components in each kit to convert a single caliper to the o-ring design.

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This Corvette Restoration Tip is brought to you by Zip Corvette and can be found in Zip’s free Corvette Parts & Accessories Catalogs – Request one online today.

Corvette Fuel Pump Mount

When changing a fuel pump on any Corvette, the first thing you want to do is remove the gas cap. This keeps fuel from being pushed out of the line from pressure built-up in the tank. Place a catch bucket under the fuel pump lines and disconnect the rubber hoses that connect the frame lines to the Corvette’s fuel pump. Once removed, disconnect the steel line that goes from the pump to the carburetor. On the front side of the block, next to the fuel pump, you’ll see two mounting holes. The upper hole is threaded all the way through the block into the cavity for the fuel pump push rod. Before removing the pump, thread a 3/8” bolt in, lightly tightening the bolt against the push rod. This will lock the push rod in place so that it does not drop when removing the fuel pump. Remove the two fuel pump bolts and the fuel pump will lift out. The fuel pump plate and bottom two bolts do not need to be removed. After installing the new gasket and fuel pump, remove the temporary bolt, releasing the push rod to rest against the fuel pump rocker arm. Reinstall fittings and lines, making sure all threads are properly sealed.

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