Corvette Parts Blog

57-74 Performance Spark Plug Wire Set

Looking to boost the performance of your early model Corvette? Zip has all the Corvette Parts you need to get your 1957-1974 Corvette running at its best! Consider replacing the factory installed spark plug wire set with a Corvette Performance Spark Plug Wire Set from Zip. 

Original equipment manufacturer, Packard Industries, continues to produce correct looking spark plug wires for 1957-1974 Corvettes, now with reduced resistance for increased performance. Designed for all 283, 327 & 350ci engines, these wires are manufactured from the original tooling and include low ohm perf foot resistance of 250 ohms compared to standard 4000-5000 ohms per foot. The set is made from Packard Delcore II wire, which uses a special Kevlar silicone wrapped construction to prevent breaks and cracks in the conductor. The boots are correct material and thickness; terminals are stainless steel. This is not a generic set of wires. Each set includes correct length wires for an easy, clean factory installation. Made in USA.

Corvette Power Brake Master Cylinder

For many years – decades, even -  New 1965-1966 Corvette Reproduction Power Brake Master Cylinders were unavailable.  But now, you can look no further than Zip for 100% correct reproduction C2 Corvette Master Cylinders!

Show stopping  in every way, these new reproductions include correct embossed casting # 5467084, correct GM part # 5467005, Delco markings, correct finish, line ports and even the reservoir caps with the original yellow tint. These excellent quality reproduction power brake master cylinders are manufactured from the original blueprints and GM Licensed.

1965 Early Corvette power brake master cylinders have a 3/8″ x 24″ port thread and 3/16″ master cylinder line. 1965 Late – 1966 Corvette master cylinders have a 7/16″ x 24″ port thread and 1/4″ master cylinder line.

Looking for information on 1967 Corvette Master Cylinders instead? Read our blog post: Corvette Reproduction Master Cylinders for 1967 C2 which talks in detail about our 1967 Corvette master cylinders for both standard and power brake equipped Corvettes.

 View all Corvette Parts Blog posts specific to C2 Corvettes here.

Corvette Air Condition Systems

When purchasing a Vintage Air Gen IV Air Condition System for your C1, C2 or C3 Corvette, you are getting a system that is guaranteed to cool your vehicle’s interior as if it were factory installed.

Vintage Air has been in the performance air condition cooling field since 1976 and is an industry leader for many makes and models, including Corvette.

Complete Corvette Air Condition Systems include evaporator kit plus condenser and drier package. Air conditioning, heating and defrost combination designed specifically for your Corvette. Factory air condition control assembly in your console connects to and controls this unit. Designed to mount to existing holes in your dash and firewall without drilling or fabrication. Evaporator kit comes complete with all the Corvette Parts you’ll need to complete the installation including the mounting brackets, hardware, louvers, duct hose, wiring harness and installation instructions.

Corvette Vintage Air Gen IV AC System Features:

• Fully electronic operation – no cables or vacuum controls
• Individual Rotary Electronic Controls for electronic operation
• Micro-processor controlled coil temperature monitor. No capillary tube to install
• Separate high-capacity heat and cooling coils
• Blend air door for instant temperature adjustment
• Steel firewall cover plate
• All Gen IV systems allow for optional smooth firewall configuration
• Positive shut off solenoid operated heater control valve in max A/C

Note: 1968-1976 Corvette Gen-IV SureFit Systems adapt to original “Thumb Wheel” type controls.

1963-1982 U-Joint Removal Tool

Repairing your half shafts by replacing your U-joints has never been easier, thanks to Zip Corvette’s Driveshaft/Half Shaft U-Joint Removal Tool.

This handy tool simplifies the tricky job of pressing out the U-joint caps in both the half shaft and the U-joints by providing a solid receiver cup and bearing cap plug for use with a bench vise or shop press. No more trying to find the proper size sockets and risk damaging those sockets, yokes or flanges while pressing out the U-joint caps.

This tool is also a slide hammer with a trick up its sleeve. The slide hammer attaches to the U-joint cap while it is partially out of the yoke and allows you to quickly and easily pop it completely out. By using the proper tools for the job, you minimize the chance of damaging the yokes and flanges, you shorten the time spent in the garage and you get your Corvette back out on the road – where it belongs!

Read our instructions describing how to use the 1963-1982 Corvette Driveshaft/Half Shaft U-Joint Removal Tool for C2, C3 Corvettes. We also have step by step instructions that show you how to replace your Corvettes Differential Half Shaft U-Joint, at CorvetteMagazine.com.

63-64 Sill Plates 4-Hole

Get the valuable judging points you are chasing with a pair of correctly reproduced C2 Corvette Sill Plates.  A seasoned Corvette restorer will tell you that sometimes, the most obscure Corvette Parts are what really complete the car.

65-66 Sill Plates 6-Hole

The 1963-1964 Corvette Sill Plates include the 4 hole design while the 1965-1966 Corvette Sill Plates include the 6 hole design. Both feature the original style 13 groove design – and yes, the NCRS judges do count the number of grooves.

A must have for the Corvette restorer who wants a C2 that looks like it just rolled off the factory assembly line. These highly detailed sill plates are fully licensed by GM. Sold in pairs.

68-82 Spec Guide

Perfect for carrying when looking at any Corvette, the NCRS Corvette Specifications Guides have just been updated with all the latest and correct information for every specific Corvette year. Through years of research, the NCRS has compiled all the information you need for verifying the originality of a solid axle or mid-year Corvette and packaged it to fit in your pocket!

53-67 Spec Guide

The Corvette Specifications Guides cover 29 sections including: Production Totals, Body & Trim Combinations, Engine Combinations, Casting #’s (engine, trans, rear end, intake, cylinder heads, carburetors, generators & alternators, wiper motors, radiators, ignition coils and distributors, etc.), VIN #’s and Ranges, Build Date Codes, LOF Glass Date Codes, Circuit Breaker & Fuse Data, Paint Colors and much more.

The NCRS is the SOURCE for Corvette information. If you are considering a Corvette for purchase, these pocket guides will serve as a valuable resource - ensuring that you know exactly what you are buying. The guides are pocket size (4 1/4 x 5 1/2).

This Corvette question comes from Jo Ann who inherited a 1981 Corvette.

I am inheriting my brother’s 1981 Corvette and it has been sitting in the driveway for over 5 years. It needs a lot of body work and a new passenger seat. The tires are slightly flat and are probably dry-rotted. We have not tried to start it up yet. Before we do, what advice can you give me before we try to start it up?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions in the restoration hobby. The real answer depends on your intentions for the Corvette. However, whether you are looking to make it a nice driver or a show winner, these initial steps will help you start the car and determine what you have to work with. All of this assumes the Corvette wasn’t parked for some serious motor issue, if you are unsure follow these steps until you hit a snag or need additional help.

We would begin by removing all of the spark plugs (remember to mark the wires so you get the firing order correct later) and pouring a table spoon or so of Marvel Mystery oil, motor oil, PB Blaster or any penetrent into each cylinder through the plug holes. Let this sit for a couple of days before you begin to rotate the motor.

Before reinstalling the plugs, try and spin the motor over by hand. If the motor does not turn by hand, remove the V-belts to check for a frozen accessory (Power Steering pump, AC Compressor etc.). If it still doesn’t turn over you may have a serious internal issue requiring professional help. If it does spin freely, replace the battery and try using the key to engage the starter to turn over the motor. If this works, great; if not then you need to begin diagnosing the Corvette’s starter system. For the purposes of this article we’ll assume the starter motor works. At this point you could reinstall the plugs or you could perform a compression check, which we recommend. Again, if the compression check reveals nothing out of the ordinary, proceed as follows. If not, more diagnosing is in order to determine what the problem is.

Before trying to start the engine, change the motor oil and filter, check that the throttle works properly (from the pedal to the carburetor, all of it, you don’t want to start a car and immediately rev it to the moon). You can check that there is coolant in the radiator, but plan on replacing it in the very near future. For now we are focusing on the start-up, once we get past that then draining and changing the coolant and checking the condition of the hoses and radiator will be a priority. If it turns out there are problems with the motor there is no need to spend money on these items now. Read more…

Corvette Power Steering Renew Kit

When the power steering system in your 1963-1982 C2 or C3 Corvette begins to leak it may seem as if you are constantly topping off the fluid level.

Our project 1974 Corvette had a power steering leak somewhere and after a quick degrease of the undercarriage, we discovered that the power steering control valve was the culprit. That’s not a great discovery because C3 Corvettes are known for leaking control valves. Since the control valve needed to be replaced, it provided the perfect opportunity to rebuild the entire power steering system with new hoses and a power steering cylinder.

To keep things simple Zip Corvette Parts offers Power Steering Renew Kits for 1963-1979 small-block Corvettes, 1965-1974 big-blocks, and 1980-1982 models. Available with new or rebuilt components, the renew kits include a steering ram and control valve (be sure to return your old ones for core refunds with the rebuilt kits), power cylinder, and hoses. When our box arrived with our new Corvette Power Steering Renew Kit, we headed to the garage…

Click here to learn How to rebuild the Power Steering System in a 1963-1982 Corvette.

KHE-100 Series Corvette Radios

The KHE 100-series Corvette Radio is the perfect mix of “old school” looks and modern technology. Forget loose cassettes or CDs – just plug your music in! Zip’s new KHE-100 series shafted radio is the perfect radio for the listener of today. This radio features a chrome face, large chrome push buttons and station dial indicator reminiscent of your Corvette’s original. Behind the pretty face is all new technology, including 100 WATTS (25×4) of power, a front input port specifically designed for your iPod or MP3 player, and a USB drop cable for access to all your music! Plug in to a KHE-100 series Corvette radio and never carry another CD again! Radio features include:

Note: Red station slider is non-functional. For original style looks only. 1963-1967 Corvette stereos are GM licensed and include “Corvette” on aluminum bezel.

Have you rebuilt your early Corvette shifter only to find the same problems banging gears? Or are you installing a new shifter and need help making sure the shifter linkage is properly adjusted? Zip Corvette has a simple tool that can make a shifter linkage adjustment easy. These Corvette 4-Speed Shifter Linkage Adjustment Tools allow you to set the proper distances and locations for your Corvette shift mechanism while installing it. Zip Corvette offers these tools for 1957-1962 Corvettes with Borg-Warner T-10 transmissions (part # ST-404), 1963 BW & Muncie transmissions (part # ST-405) and 1964-1981 Muncie and late Super T-10 transmissions (part # ST-406).

On 1957-1963 Corvettes the alignment block is inserted in the top of the levers. Locate the shift fork levers on the side of the Corvette’s Transmission in their neutral positions. Install the shifter without any rods attached. Insert the block with the groove over the tab and into the slots at the top levers. Once all are in position you can hook up your shift rods and begin any fine adjustments you may need to make.

On 1964-1981 Corvettes with the Muncie or late 1970′s T-10 Corvette Transmission the procedure is slightly different. The alignment tool is a small metal plate inserted into the side of the shifter levers. Begin by locating the transmissions lever in neutral. Locate the small slot in the lower portion of the shifter levers. Slowly insert the plate through the slot and through each of the shifter levers. The plate will not come through, but instead will bottom out once all the levers are aligned. Once all are in position you can hook up your shift rods and make any fine adjustments that may be needed. These tools prove invaluable when installing a Corvette Shifter, allowing you to quickly and easily get your Corvette shifting smoothly again.

By Tom Richardson – Zip Sales Representative