High Mileage L98 C4s (& Intro)
Robert Witherspoon
major internal engine work allowed] L98 engine?
I have 162K on my '87 coupe (4+3 tranny). The only major work
done on the engine is replacement of valve cover gaskets and
intake manifold gaskets at 107k miles.
On the outside of the engine, I am on my 3rd alternator, 3rd
water pump, 2nd cold-start injector, 3rd IAC valve, 2nd set of
ignition wires and distributor cap & rotor, second fan motor
third battery and original starter. Elsewhere, the A/C compressor
and accumulator has been replaced, as have the clutch slave
cylinder, the cat. converter, mufflers and rear axle u-joints.
No work on the 4 speed box or O/D unit (other than a oil-pan
replacement due to a freak accident in 87 that tore it off).
How many more miles can I expect?
Intro: I have been reading this group for a while and have found
it useful. I have only posted once before, so let me introduce
myself. I am in Baltimore, MD and I bought my Black/Charcoal Gray
4+3 coupe new in 3/87 and have been its only driver. For the 1st
100k I had the Chevy dealer do all the work. It's 100% stock.
Lately, I have gained enough confidence in my mechanical abilities
to do most of the work myself. I did the last water pump and IAC
valve, as well as shocks, brakes, and rear U-joints and the
routine oil & lube & tune-up work. Maybe I can be of some use to
other C4 owner in the same boat.
BobSpoon87
Black '87 Coupe
4+3, 162k miles
Jay Lewis
Damn, sounds like you've got about maybe, oh, say, 2 miles left on it!
No, seriously, you can expect over 200k on an engine before a rebuild if you
don't beat it and do the maintenance regularly. Sounds like you fix things
when they need it, so your probably in good shape for high mileage.
Granted, it's not going to feel new, but should run dependably just the
same. I'm sure you're about to hear the stories...
--
Jay2k, 2000 Coupe, Torch Red / Torch Red
Jay Lewis, JLConn...@hotmail.com
"The Matrix is everywhere, it is all around
us, even now in this very room. You can
see it when you look out your window,
or when you turn on your television. You
can - feel it - when you go to work, when
you go to church, when you pay your taxes.
It is the world that has been pulled over your
eyes to blind you from the truth"
Morpheous, +-2199
"Robert Witherspoon" <BobSp...@NOSPAM.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:38a1924...@news.erols.com...
Andrew DeFaria
> Who has the highest mileage C4 with original [no re-build or major internal
> engine work allowed] L98 engine?
>
> I have 162K on my '87 coupe (4+3 tranny). The only major work done on the
> engine is replacement of valve cover gaskets and intake manifold gaskets at
> 107k miles.
I have an 85 with ~158K and the engine is running fine. I bought it used but I
don't believe that the engine has been rebuilt before.
Jim Strathearn
Got 150K on my '85. Did get a valve job at 77K though. Other than that, my
list looks somewhat similar to yours. Still getting around 24 mpg average...
I work in Baltimore. Do you belong to any clubs? Are you going to the
Corvette Forum NCM Cruise-In? We're planning a spring cruise to Skyline
Drive. Interested?
--
Jim
"I'm not old, I've just lived a long time..."
'71 Coupe
'85 Coupe
NCRS# 32764
http://home.att.net/~jstrathearn/index.html Our Corvette Website
http://www.lcccpa.com/ Lancaster County Corvette Club
http://www.geocities.com/yorkcntycorvette/ York County Corvette Club
http://www.chevytalk.com Online Forums for the Chevrolet Enthusiast
Corvette Only
house in new orleans.. the last i remember he had put 240k on it before
the rebuild he has since done.. Highway miles and the car had given him
very little problems.. IT PAYS TO DRIVE EM
Joey
Robert Witherspoon wrote:
> Who has the highest mileage C4 with original [no re-build or
> major internal engine work allowed] L98 engine?
>
> I have 162K on my '87 coupe (4+3 tranny). The only major work
> done on the engine is replacement of valve cover gaskets and
> intake manifold gaskets at 107k miles.
>
jackda...@my-deja.com
BobSp...@NOSPAM.yahoo.com (Robert Witherspoon) wrote:
> Who has the highest mileage C4 with original [no re-build or
> major internal engine work allowed] L98 engine?
>
As far as the internals go, I have three z28's with a collective
650,000 miles and no internal repairs(82-350m,85-200m,91-100m) oh yeah,
a vette with 80,000 too!
The closest I have come to an internal repair is a timing chain on the
82.
As far as externals, the 82 has had two waterpumps, three air pumps and
two alternators. The others have had one alternator each. Oh, there's
been some tune-ups, bulbs, brakes and shocks along the way too!
Secret? Change the oil every two months and keep it clean under the
hood. Change antifreeze every two years and all hoses and belts every
four years. Do all the work yourself or find a shop you can work with
that will let you watch. Don't look for the lowest price, find the
best quality.
Encourage the mechanic you work with to check everything when he opens
the hood and to replace everything he has to remove to change a
part...let me explain here! If the water pump goes out and the belts
are three years old, let him replace it all, same labor costs and in
the long run you save grief and aggravation as well as money if a belt
breaks six months later.
Todays cars will last a long time if properly maintained
sorry for the lengthy post
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Jerry Fischer
convert with 78K needs freshing. I just bought some new Firehawk's and it
has really made some of the tired suspension parts shout for mercy. The
only other problems have been one water pump, one opti spark unit, and
various tweaks to the exhaust system.
Jerry
"Jay Lewis" <JLConn...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xeho4.6472$%85.6...@hnlnewsr1.hawaii.rr.com...
Robert,
Damn, sounds like you've got about maybe, oh, say, 2 miles left on it!
No, seriously, you can expect over 200k on an engine before a rebuild if you
don't beat it and do the maintenance regularly. Sounds like you fix things
when they need it, so your probably in good shape for high mileage.
Granted, it's not going to feel new, but should run dependably just the
same. I'm sure you're about to hear the stories...
--
Jay2k, 2000 Coupe, Torch Red / Torch Red
Jay Lewis, JLConn...@hotmail.com
"The Matrix is everywhere, it is all around
us, even now in this very room. You can
see it when you look out your window,
or when you turn on your television. You
can - feel it - when you go to work, when
you go to church, when you pay your taxes.
It is the world that has been pulled over your
eyes to blind you from the truth"
Morpheous, +-2199
"Robert Witherspoon" <BobSp...@NOSPAM.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:38a1924...@news.erols.com...
> Who has the highest mileage C4 with original [no re-build or
> major internal engine work allowed] L98 engine?
>
Robert Witherspoon
As far as the suspension goes, I am on my third set of shocks.
I've replaced the rear axle u-joints twice.
About once a year, I have pumped grease into the eight suspension
fittings: Upper & lower control arm ball joints and tie-rod end
on both sides in front, and tie-rod ends on both sides in the back.
Otherwise no other suspension work.
I've heard that those fiber-glass leaf springs last forever. I
suspect that within the next year I might need front and rear
stabilizer bar bushings and maybe even wheel bearings all around.
I'm getting a very slight shake and hum at highway speeds but it
might just wheel be balancing. I am currently running Good Year
GS-Cs; my fourth set of tires. They're pretty close to needing
replacement (I've got 46k miles on them :-)). I last had them
spin-balanced at 152k miles so they've probably lost balance.
I'll replace with Firehawks which I've heard good things about.
If the shake persists I might be looking at wheel bearings.
All-in-all, I would have to say that I haven't noticed a marked
deterioration in the quality of the ride or handling that would
tend to indicate the need for a suspension system overhaul.
On Thu, 10 Feb 2000 11:37:43 -0500, "Jerry Fischer"
<Je...@HomesThatClick.com> wrote:
>I am amazed that Robert has not had to do any suspension work. My 92
>convert with 78K needs freshing. I just bought some new Firehawk's and it
>has really made some of the tired suspension parts shout for mercy. The
>only other problems have been one water pump, one opti spark unit, and
>various tweaks to the exhaust system.
Darth Vetter
>Black '87 Coupe
>4+3, 162k miles
>
>
I have 165k miles on my 86, racing autoX and all! Runs as good
(or better) than the day I bought it.
Now the 4+3 trans on the other hand.....let's not go there. :)
Darth
86 4+3 Z51 Black/Greenwood
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Homer Simpson
with 130k it has ALOT of slack. Too bad you didn't do it when you replaced
your water pump, since you have to take the same junk off to replace the
chain.
How's your wiring? I have ordered new connected for every sensor and relay
under the hood from carparts.com. They take a week or two to get, but the
wiring was nearly shot, and many times the connection to the relays were
intermittent.