Corvette Parts Blog

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

Corvette Park Brake Slide/Seal

Often times the Park Brake Slide/Seal is either missing from your C3 Corvette’s console or is broken and doesn’t slide properly, leaving an ugly gap deep into the abyss. A simple part, the park brake slide/seal has and even simpler function: To keep dirt and dust out of the park brake mechanism or better yet, keep your french fries from falling into the park brake assembly. The console seal literally “slides” forward and backward when engaging the park brake handle, keeping the area sealed at all times. Often times when getting the part, we hear complaints about the “crack” or ‘slit” in the seal… “Hey, you sent me a broken one”. But in reality this Corvette Part comes with the “slit “so that you can install it around the handle making for an easy installation.

By Bobby Norris – Zip Sales Representative

63-68 Vibration Dampener

AC-Delco discontinued the 1963-1968 Corvette Steering Dampener nearly a year ago and there hasn’t been a good resource since. Thankfully a new reproduction steering vibration dampener has become available. This item is quite often referred to as a steering absorber or shock, which mounts between the frame and the steering linkage. The new vibration dampener from Zip Corvette fits all non-power steering 1963-1968 Corvettes except 1963-1965 Special Hi-Performance and Fuel Injection models due to their deep oil pan. The new correct reproductions include the mounting pin attaching to the frame and hardware, plus they are Made in the USA.

Note: This steering dampener can be used on any 1963-1968 non-power steering Corvette if it is used with a base motor (shallow) oil pan.

Corvette Glove Box Repair Kit

If you own a 1964-1967 Corvette and would like to freshen up the interior, a simple solution would be to refinish your Corvette’s Glove Box Door. If this sounds like a job you may be interested in, then Zip Corvette has the right Corvette parts to complete the job. Zip’s part # D-203 is a Glove Box repair kit for 1964-1965 Corvettes and D-613 is for 1966-1967 models. These two kits come with the precut and punched aluminum face that would attach to your Corvette’s existing glove box door. Each kit comes with the special screws for mounting and simple yet detailed instructions for you do-it-yourselfers. To complete the refinish, Zip Corvette offers new reproduction GM licensed glove box door emblems for both kits. D-225 (1964-1965) & D-226 (1966-1967). These two emblems come with the correct fasteners for attaching the emblems to the glove box door.

Make your Corvette’s old glove box door look brand new with a new Corvette Glove Box Door Repair Kit from Zip!”

Corvette Gas Tank

If you have owned your 1953-1982 Corvette for many years, just recently purchased one, or fall somewhere in between, chances are that your Corvette’s gas tank needs replacement. Typically when a Corvette sits for long periods of time, condensation gets into the gas tank and begins to slowly break down the steel from the inside out. You will not be able to see the damage but over time it is very common for these tanks to rust or accumulate fair amounts of sediment. Also, due to sitting for various lengths of time with fuel left in the tank the gas will become stale. If driven with the gas tank in poor condition as described there is a great chance you will damage several other components such as the fuel lines, carburetor, fuel pump, and sending unit.

Zip Corvette offers replacement Corvette Gas Tanks for all production years up to and including 1982. For the C1, 1953-1962, there are two stainless steel replacements and they both include stainless mounting straps. For the purist, the correct steel gas tank (with OL Anderson logo) is available for 1956-1962 and 1961L-1962 Corvettes. These correct logo gas tanks are also available for C2 1963-1967 Corvettes and C3 1968-1974 Corvettes.

In addition to the correct tanks, there are functional replacements which come without the OL Anderson Logo for 1956-1974 Corvettes. These fuel tanks are the same quality, but priced a little lower; for enthusiasts who is not worried as much about a gas tank that includes the original logo. Finally, 1968-1974 gas tanks can be either vented or non-vented. The vent is a small raised area (about the size of a 50 cent piece) next to where the filler neck is attached. Sometimes the vent is confused with the return line connection(s) on one or both side(s) of the tank. During the 1956-1974 period, there can be various combinations of vent/return line(s) or none at all. Zip Corvette recommends using a vented gas cap on all Corvette fuel tanks to eliminate the possibility of implosion due to a tank that does not have a vented source.

From 1975-1982, GM used a slightly different gas tank. In the years 1975-1977 the fuel tank had a rubber bladder inside as opposed to the plastic liner used on all 1978-1982 Corvettes. Zip Corvette offers replacement steel tanks for these years but they do not come with or require the bladder/liner. The new fuel tank for 1975-1977 Corvettes requires that you re-use the top portion of the bladder for installing the sending unit since the attaching screws thread into it. For the 1978-1982 Corvette there is a sending unit gasket that should be replaced but unlike 1975-1977 Corvettes, it is not necessary to re-use anything from the original tank.

Typically, when the gas tank is going to be re-installed you should consider replacing the straps, anti-squeak pads, filler neck/seal, bolts, lines and sending unit/gasket at the same time. Chances are that after 30+ years, replacement is going to be the only option. When you are ready to replace the fuel tank in your classic Corvette, Zip can provide all of these quality Corvette parts that will be required for the job.