81 noob

**C3L81** · 11-18-05, 07:04 PM

Hey all. brand new owner of a 1981 vette. Its White with Dark Blue leather interior. It has orig 23,400 miles on it. Its always been stored in a heated garage and the condition is mint. Im new to the Vette hobby so I have lots of questions. First of all If somone could explain to me, how to check all the numbers to make sure its matching that would be a great thing to know for car shows. The car has been put into a Climate controlled storage unit and I will only be driving it to Car shows and Some rare weekend summer driving. I have always changed my own oil, but am terrified of attempting to jack up the vette. How do you guys change/jack up yours? What type of Oil do you use? What octane gas do you use? I really want to baby this car so the more I know the better. I plan on starting the car every Saturday, How often to you run yours during the downtime months? The AC blows ice cold air, I opened the hood though and it seemed low on anti freeze, what type do you use? Basicly I just want to introduce myself to you all, and anything you have to add on proper maintance is truly appreciated.

**LannyL81** · 11-19-05, 06:21 AM

Welcome to the 81 Corvette World.
You can check the paint and interior color codes here on the L81 Registry...there is an info page with all the color codes and other RPO codes. The build sheet is on top of the fuel tank...a bit difficult to get to as you have to drop the tank. Not something you want to do unless you have to.

Changing oil is not something I have done alot of in my 5 years of 81 ownership....as all I have been doing is restoring/rebuilding the car. Just do not use a Fram oil filter when you do. I use 10W-40 in mine.

Antifreeze is the green kind...not the orange.

Jacking the car up...now that is something I know alot about. Have to do it again this weekend to drop the trans out (again). If you do not have a floor jack, then get a low profile one to go in from the front. Otherwise you can drive up on some home-made ramps of 2x lumber to get enough room under the front nose to slide the floor jack in from the front.
At the rear I go in from the side and lift on the crossmember in front of the rear diff.

Octane for a stock L81 is 87. However depending upon the carbon build-up it may require going higher...especially in the summer months.

Post some pictures of it when you can for all to see.

Later,
LannyL81

**Yoda** · 11-19-05, 06:43 AM

Lanny pretty much covered most of your questions, so I'll just toss you a

and weclome you aboard.

I would suggest, since the car is low mileage and has sat for a period of time, to be sure to check the tires and ALL the fluids, maybe even consider changing out all the fluids including the rear end fluid and be sure to mix in a bottle or 2 of GM Posi Trac fluid..

Enjoy the

Bud

**JJS** · 11-19-05, 07:51 AM

Welcome, and congrats on the new vette. Sounds like a really nice car that someone took great care of.

**bill81vette** · 11-19-05, 08:55 AM

welcome to CAC!!! and the l-81 forums,they may be old but there still a blast!!!!
congrats on the 81!!!!!
when ever I have to jack up my vette,I make a practice of opening the doors,hood and loosening the tops.
the fellow I bought it from had told me this was to help keep the fiber glass from breaking and allows more flex when jacking up. don't know how true it is but its what I do !!
good luck and enjoy the forums!!

**C3L81** · 11-19-05, 09:59 AM

Thanks for the welcomes and info! The tires are perfect, I mean they even still have the bristle things coming out the sides that you get on brand new tires (and I know they are the stock ones, everything matches perfect) I already matched up the paint before I bought it, I thought there was some sort of matching you had to do with the motor, but viewing all the stock motor pictures available on the web, I know its the orig motor. As for the Rear end Fluid, I will probably have a pro do that next spring. Good reccomendation, thank you. I will look for a low profile Floor jack, another great idea, thanks. I dont have room for floor ramps in the storage unit, but I will get some for my driveway in the summer. Do you guys use 10-w40 like lanny? Thanks again for your comments and welcomes. I dont have a digital camera at the moment. Just something I have been putting off, but when I get some pics, Ill be sure to post them.

**C3L81** · 11-19-05, 10:04 AM

Also I forgot to mention, it came with the original window sticker, and 81 brochures. The previous owner also bought a spare set of t-tops so I have the option of mirrored or the white. =p The Battery compartment door is the only thing wrong with the car, its still there but the hinges are broke, any simple way of fixing that? You guys rock

**81' Corvette Guy** · 11-19-05, 10:48 PM

Welcome bro..it has been awhile myself since I have posted. Going through some personal stuff that has kept me off the forums..maybe here in the near future will be back on as a regular. Just wanted to say welcome to the forum and grats on your purchase.

Good bunch of guys and gals here..with a lot of tips and helpful information.

**C3L81** · 11-27-05, 04:57 PM

What do you guys do for your brakes when you store? Somone told me to stick a stick or pole under the seat holding down the brake pedal. Is that good advice>?