Corvette Parts Blog

Did you know that Zip Corvette offers a number of rebuild services for many different Corvette Parts? With many of the rebuilds done right here in house and all others sent to only the most trusted professionals, you can rest assured that your Corvette Parts are in great hands. Here are some of our most popular rebuild services offered from Zip:

Corvette Disc Brake Trailing Arm Assemblies are disassembled, inspected, cleaned, and painted. Once the trailing arm is prepped and ready to go Zip rebuilds the unit with all new bearings, bushings, seals, shims, spacer, dust shield, park brake shoes and hardware, and park brake backplate. New rotors are installed on all assemblies to eliminate rotor run-out. All other parts are fully reconditioned and reassembled to exact GM specifications.

In case you are wondering if Zip will rebuild your particular Corvette Part, here are some of the other services you may be in need of:

Corvette Steering Box

• 56-62 Wiper Motor Restoration
• Bumper Re-chroming
• C4 Glass Top Restoration
• Clock Rebuild
• Complete Cluster Restoration
• Distributor Rebuild
• Headlight Motor Rebuild
• Master Cylinder Rebuild
• Radio Restoration
• Small Gauge Rebuild
• Speedometer & Tachometer Rebuild

If you still do not see your particular part listed request a free Corvette Parts & Accessories Catalog, which comes packed with information on core rebuilds and more. You can also contact one of Zip’s knowledgeable sales representatives for other rebuild services available.

Corvette Bumper, Corvette Differentials, Corvette Distributor, Corvette Gauge, Corvette Headlight Motor, Corvette Parts Installation, Corvette Radio, Corvette Steering Box, Corvette Trailing Arm, Re-Chrome, Rebuild, Restoration

Of all the Corvette Parts suppliers, Zip Corvette has the largest selection of Corvette Wheels readily available. Over the next few days we’ll highlight wheel options for each separate Corvette generation starting with the early solid axles through the latest C6’s.

Corvette Wheels & Hubcaps

All 1953-1962 standard Corvettes left the factory with 15″ x 5″ steel wheels. In 1956 however Chevrolet modified the wheels slightly by adding small nubs for securing the new larger style hubcaps. At Zip we have these new reproduction steel wheels with the small nubs for all 1956-1962 Corvettes. Upon receiving these wheels they will need to be painted the correct color, (see restoration tip below) once painted they will be ready to mount directly to your Corvette. Along with our 1956-1962 Corvette Steel Wheels we also have reproduction hubcaps. Our Corvette Hubcaps are all high quality parts and include the correct blue tint as original. The only difference in the ‘56-58 hubcaps and the later hubcaps were the ventilation holes that were added to all 1958-1962 Corvettes. All of our Corvette Hubcaps come with spinners and are ready to be bolted onto the wheels right out of the package.

If you are looking for more information as to what colors were original for 1953-1962 Corvette Wheels, read our Corvette Restoration Tip: Wheel Identification as it highlights every possibility for all of the earliest Corvettes.

Chevrolet, Corvette Catalogs, Corvette Hubcaps, Corvette Wheels, Restoration

A Safety Reminder: Asbestos has been utilized in the manufacturing of auto parts like brake pads and linings, clutch facings, and gaskets for decades now. Many people are under the mistaken impression that asbestos has been totally banned from use, but the truth is that it is still used in these products today. This puts auto mechanics and enthusiasts that work on their own cars at serious risk as the inhalation of asbestos dust can lead to debilitating and fatal diseases like asbestosis and lung cancer. Asbestos is also the only known cause of a rare type of lung cancer known as pleural mesothelioma.

The risk of exposure exists when materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged. Dust full of microscopic asbestos fibers is then released into the air. There is consistent abrasion on brake pads and clutches and a large amount of the toxic material is trapped inside the brake housing or clutch space. The dust is then released when replacement or repair work is done.

The symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not exhibit themselves until about 15 to 25 years after exposure. At this point, the cancer is usually in its advanced stages and doctors often find it difficult to treat the cancer effectively. This makes a mesothelioma prognosis (more often than not) a bleak one. It is estimated that since 1940 more than six million mechanics have been exposed to asbestos in brakes. The increasing rate of asbestos-related illnesses has resulted in mechanics, veterans and people of other susceptible occupations filing mesothelioma lawsuits to be compensated for their undeserved illness.

Mechanics and enthusiasts who do auto restoration and repair on older vehicles should take the right precautions to avoid asbestos exposure. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a detailed brochure that offers information regarding OSHA’s regulations for commercial automotive shops concerning asbestos.

If you don’t feel comfortable working on your older Corvette yourself, leave it to a professional.

Asbestos, Cancer, Restoration

1968-1977 Corvette Luggage Racks were originally dealer installed options and mounting locations can vary slightly depending upon the OEM source and mounting location. If you are in the midst of a restoration, our recommendation is to verify luggage rack mounting holes prior to body and paint work or fill-in your Corvettes original holes to eliminate any mounting discrepancies during installation.

Corvette 6-Hole Luggage Rack

All Zip Corvette Luggage racks are completely assembled multi-piece racks as original. Since racks are multi-piece, slight variations (1/8”-1/4”) can appear depending on how the rack was assembled in production. To aid installation on your Corvette, Zip recommends adding the stand, stand washer, gasket and well nut to the luggage rack prior to installing on your Corvette. With the screw already threaded through the luggage rack and into the well nut, alignment and installation with your Corvette’s original holes is much simpler.

Continue Reading This Article…

Chrome, Corvette Luggage Rack, OEM, Restoration, Stainless, Trim

Corvette Interior Restoration

No matter how nicely the exterior of your Corvette is detailed, a complimenting interior is needed for the car to look completely finished. An interior makeover can do wonders for any Corvette. It can make a good car look outstanding. This 78 Corvette needed an interior makeover. The seat covers and dash looked excellent but the rest of the interior needed attention. Zip was able to supply everything necessary from large items like the door panels and carpet right down to the smallest pieces like interior mounting screws. Restoring an interior does not take a PhD. You do have to have some patience and a full set of common hand tools but the results are well worth the effort. Let’s get out our tools and start that interior makeover.
Click here to read our Corvette Interior Restoration article.

C3, Corvette Carpet, Corvette Door Panel, Corvette Seat Covers, Interior, Restoration