[muddpile]

Well, its that time of year again when I get ready for show season. Now, generally cars that are shown are not driven much, but mine is an exception. It gets many miles hammered on it each year, and has the battle scars to prove it. This year, I decided to add a few things:
-Front marker blackouts (stock lenses are cracked and have holes....)
-91-96 emblems (match the GS wheels that went on last year)
-Mirror wind noise deflectors (so I can drive with the windows down)
-New amp (the old ones got moved to my daily driver)

So, here's the pics to follow. I really like the look of the front blackouts, they modernize the car and go well with the hash marks, rub strip and black wheels.

I also started detailing the engine. It still needs some more cleaning, but it's looking alright.

Mirror wind deflectors.

Here is a nice mod. My AIR pump started to seize at the end of 2005, so I took it off and ran a shorter belt (you can do that on an 84). Well, the shorter belt stretched a little, and now comes very close to contact with itself (a piece of paper can hardly fit). I decided I needed an idle, but didn't want it to look out of place. That's when I decided to take the AIR pump apart to see what was inside. Once I got the back conver off, it was apparent that one of the fibreglass blades had started to de-laminate and bind up inside. I took a hammer, chisel, vise grips and pliers and tore the blades apart and pulled all the guts out. I greased all the bearings, repainted it, blocked off the AIR exhaust tube and had myself a nice Idler.

Another thing I did was remove the rad support to clean it out. My car has ran hot for the last couple summers and has smelled kinda bad once in a while, so it wasn't surprising that I found 6" of dragonflies and grasshoppers in between the rad and the AC condensor. I also found a piece of newspaper, a plastic bag and some clear poly.

Last but not least, the new amp. I'll just post pictures of the install for now, and if you want you can go to the audio section and read my rave review of it (I'll post that up later).

 

[BASSIST]

Looking good Bro :thumbsup:

Keep up the good job :cheers:

 

[redmen031]

Thats a good looking 84 you got there:thumbsup: How are those wind deflectors, do they really make a big difference in wind and noise?

 

[Sagea84]

Looks awesome. I'm also wondering about the wind deflectors?

Love the GS stripes. he blackouts do fit very well with the theme.

 

[AFAMack]

Really nice looking! My pops had an '84 when I was growing up... seeing yours really makes me miss that Vette, especially considering how well you've treated it over the years

 

[muddpile]

Thanks for the compliments guys! More to come, just haven't got around to doing and documenting it yet. To answer a few questions:

-It's still too cold to test the deflectors, but I have a feeling they will make a huge difference with the windows down. My reasoning behind this is simple: With the windows down, the wind smashes you in the face, or blows into the hatch and comes at you from the back. A hatch vent solves that problem, but the wind still hits you in the face. I always wondered about the deflectors, so I put my hand in between the mirror and the A pillar one day, and the wind was diverted away. I'll let you guys know hopefully within the next few days, as it is supposed to stop raining and the sun is supposed to come out again.

-AFAMack07, my car actually hasn't been treated very well over the years. It sat for a decade in a driveway under a blue tarp with four flat tires and a smashed targa top. It was then traded at a Ford dealership for a truck (in not running condition). The Ford dealer filled the tires with air, got the car running sort of, and auctioned it off. The new owner painted it, got it running 100%, put tires and a top on it, and drove it. I bought it off him, and did everything else (seriously, there isn't a lot of original parts left anymore....). As long as I own it, it will never get in that shape of disrepair again (I've owned it four years next weekend).

More updates to come!

 

[War Machine]

You're doing a great job muddpile! :cheers: I know how hard it is to try and keep it in good shape. I drove mine year round 3 out of the 6 years I had it and winters took a toll. Construction areas were a Freddy Kruger nightmare on my paint.

Where's your debris screen? :huh:

Put one on and you'll never have to do that radiator area cleaning again. Here's a pic of the one I made.

 

[sheriffd2]

Geez man! You've been busy! I garre with you on the blackouts, amazing how much the modernize the front end! Cars looking really good:thumbsup:

 

[raidmagic]

Me likey. What the dresser drawers on top of the motor though?:nuts:


J/K but damn that air cleaner is BIG

 

[muddpile]

Have no fear War Machine, I built a debris screen when I had it all apart, so I shouldn't have this problem again.

As for the Crossfire air cleaner, it's big, but being magnesium it wouldn't weigh 5 lbs, so it's not too bad. I get a lot of confused looks when people walk by and don't see a TPI or LT1 in there like it's supposed to have.

 

[The Bad]

I get a lot of confused looks when people walk by and don't see a TPI or LT1 in there like it's supposed to have.

:laughing:

 

[T.M.]

Looks good dude...i did the same thing to my 89 air pump a few years ago.
If you go to a industrial HVAC supply store,there is a killer foaming acid for condensers (your a/c radiator another words),even though it looks clean now,you spray this stuff in the condenser fins,wait 5 minutes and gently hose thru the condenser fins.You'll be amazed how much packed road dirt comes out.My c5 had only 19,000 miles on it when i did this,when the hood was open,the condenser looked brand new,but a crap load of mud came out,do this every 6 months.It lets much more air thru the condenser,and the radiator as well,since it's on the back side of the condenser.

 

[WIT911]

Your car is looking real tight bro! :cheers:

 

[raidmagic]

Do you have the rear black outs?
The wind deflectors were the first "mod" I did to my car about 8 years ago before I had the internet or really knew about all the Corvette vendors out there so I went to a local Corvette shop and bought them from there. They killed me for $40 on them. Later I got a Mid America catalog and found out they were only $20. Those assholes hit me for double. Lessons learned.:laughing:

 

[War Machine]

Have no fear War Machine, I built a debris screen when I had it all apart, so I shouldn't have this problem again.

artyon: :cheers:




Hey raid, my 87 already had the wind deflector installed when I bought it. Did it make a big difference from not having it?

 

[mykal]

Car looks really nice! :thumbsup:

 

[muddpile]

I have the rear blackouts, but I doubt I will install them. Cops around here ticket people for simple stuff like that and window tint all the time, and the taillights are so high on a C4, that its easy to tell they are on there. The front ones blend in alright, so they should be fine.