Technical Service Bulletin Issued for Convertible 2008-09 Corvettes
Enjoy super legal speeds but don’t like the wind in your hair? Read on. General Motors has issued a technical service bulletin for owners of 2008 and 2009 convertible Corvettes. The TSB was issued to Chevrolet dealers via AllDataPro.com.
Technical Service Bulletin 08312A was issued on July 1, 2010. In it, GM states that the convertible top fabric could possibly begin to separate from its retainer bracket near the windshield. At speeds over 100 m.p.h. (!), the roof material could tear from the front all the way to the rear window. A new retainer bracket had been developed that should correct the issue.
The repair program runs through May 31, 2011. Please contact your Chevrolet dealer’s service department for more information.
What’s So Unusual About This 1988 Corvette?
By all accounts, this is a typical 1988 Corvette. Or is it?
Actually, it’s anything but typical. It’s unlike any Corvette you have ever seen. See this car and you will understand C4 Corvettes on an entirely different level.
How can you see it? By visiting us during Corvettes at Carlisle, August 27-29, 2010.
Employee Cars of Corvette Central
True, we sell over 40,000 Corvette parts and accessories and manufacture over 3,000 parts in-house, but are Corvette Central employees actual Corvette enthusiasts? To answer that question, we took a picture of our Corvette-designated covered parking spots. Today was a picture perfect summer Tuesday in Southwest Michigan, and several of our employees took advantage of this and drove their cars to work. It must have been odd-numbered Generation day, as evidenced by the C1, C3 and C5 examples you see here…
First up is a 1958 with 2×4 bbl carburetors and an automatic. This is the car that necessitated the search for correct grille teeth, the first products that Corvette Central produced.
Next is a 1972 convertible with a 454 4-speed combo.
Last but not least is a 2001 Z06. This car has been mildly modified with aftermarket performance and appearance parts that we sell.
When you visit us, please feel free to park your Corvette in the designated covered spaces as well. Drive over for a spell and park alongside your fellow enthusiasts’ cars!
Corvette Car Show Season in Full Swing
To some, the month of August signifies more than blistering temperatures and Back-To-School sales. If you’re a Corvette fan, August means car show season. Corvette Central will have a presence at some of the well-known Corvette gatherings, and some of the local favorites as well. Click on the blue links below for more information about each event.
New C1 & C2 Window Regulators from Corvette Central
1956-62
Corvette Central is pleased to introduce manual and power window regulators for 1956-62 and 1963-67 Corvettes. These exclusive regulators are produced to original factory specifications, resulting in fit and function that is identical to the original regulators. Suitable for judging, their movement and range have been engineered with performance verification in mind.
1963-67
The original 1956-62 and 1963-67 manual window regulators were serviced as an assembly, and no individual parts were ever produced by GM. Repeated window use over the years results in a worn mechanism that will have sloppy engagement and movement. These new regulators effectively eliminate the need for refurbishing your originals.
$199.00 per pair. Order today!
1956-62 Window Regulator
Manual: 281123
Power: 281096
1963-67 Window Regulator
Manual: 282230
Power: 282027
Corvette Central Named Official Sponsor of the Triple Diamond Corvette Gallery at 2010 MCACN
Corvette Central will be the Official Sponsor of the Triple Diamond Corvette Gallery at the 2010 Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals in Rosemont, IL. This is the first year that Corvette Central will sponsor this prestigious gallery of cars. According to the MCACN, Triple Diamond judging is for the country’s finest restored and original Corvettes only. In order to be considered for Triple Diamond status at the MCACN, Corvettes must have been the recipient of both the Bloomington Gold and NCRS Top Flight awards within the past five years.
The 2010 MCACN takes place on November 20 and 21, just in time for those of us suffering from Upper Midwest Corvette withdrawal. Be sure to stop by the Corvette Central travel booth and say hello. Click the links for more information on the Triple Diamond Gallery and the MCACN.
Tire Age Limits
Recently our company founder took a tire off from one of his cars to have it checked for a slow leak. However, once he arrived at the tire store, he was informed that the tire was more than six years old, and that it could not be serviced. Huh?
If you haven’t had an older tire serviced recently, this is the scenario that will probably unfold if you do. Research has shown that after a certain amount of time passes, generally around six years, tire failures dramatically increase. The tire industry has not yet set up its own estimate, partly because it doesn’t want to give consumers the idea that its tires are guaranteed to last that long. Tire stores probably won’t risk the potential lawsuit that could result from an accident involving an older tire that they serviced.
This is not only a concern for your 1992 Corvette that’s still riding on its original tires, but also if you are considering purchasing “new” tires from an unknown seller. High Performance and Ultra High Performance tires may have a longer “shelf life” based on their high cost. If you are considering purchasing tires from an online auction site or trading forum, ask for pictures of the DOT markings on the tire’s sidewall.
If the tire was made before the year 2000, you’ll see three numbers after the DOT letters; the last number indicates the year the tire was made. On newer tires, those manufactured in 2000 or later, you’ll see four numbers. The first two numbers indicate the week it was built and the last two digits specify the year the tire was made. As an example, if you see a “295″, then the tire was made in 1995, or if you see a “3209″, the tire was made in the 32nd week of 2009.
If you are concerned about the age of the tires on your Corvette, call a reputable tire dealer. And get back on the road!
New Antenna Assemblies for 1969-1978 Corvettes
Corvette Central is pleased to introduce updated antenna assemblies for 1969-1978 Corvettes (not for power antenna applications). The new assemblies reflect some updates that we made to make them more correct in comparison to the OEM antennas.
Corvette Central Sponsors Road America’s Corvette Corral in 2010
Corvette Central is pleased to announce that we are sponsoring the Corvette Corral during all events held at the legendary Road America race course in Elkhart Lake, WI. The corral, permanently located outside of Turn 3, is coordinated by Road America and the local Kettle Moraine Corvette Club. All Corvette owners are welcome to park their Corvette in the corral for the day when they visit the track. Owners will receive a Corvette Central giveaway bag upon entering the corral.
For those who have never been to the track (America’s longest road course at over 4 miles in length), Road America is a thrilling facility with unique turns, excellent vantage points and ample seating for spectators. The food available at the locally sponsored stands is legendary. Try a burger or a bratwurst. For more information about the facility, visit their website.
The Corvette Central walking board (pictured) made its debut at the NASCAR Nationwide Road America 200 Presented by Menards over the weekend of June 19-20. Of special note is the upcoming Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase (August 19-22), where the Corvette Racing C6.R’s will be competing. Additional upcoming events are as follows:
| June 24-27 | Weathertech® Chicago Region SCCA June Sprints® |
| July 2-4 * | Championship Cup Series (CCS) (Motorcycles) |
| July 15-18 | Kohler International Challenge with Brian Redman presented by FORD |
| August 19-22 | Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase — American Le Mans Series (Sunday) |
| Sept. 10-12 | VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival® |
| Sept. 13-26 | SCCA National Championship Runoffs® |
1960 24 Hours of Le Mans: A Corvette Racing Retrospective
For fans of Corvette Racing, 2010 marks a special occasion: the 50th anniversary of a Corvette’s first class win during the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. That year, three 1960 Corvettes were prepared and entered by privateer and racer Briggs Cunningham. Cunningham’s effort was not endorsed or funded at all by General Motors, as this was at a time when GM imposed a ban on factory racing of any kind. GM even withdrew registration for Corvette Chief Engineer Zora Arkus Duntov, who was to co-pilot one of the three Cunningham Corvettes.
The first Team Corvette at Le Mans faced some formidable competition from the factory backed efforts of Ferrari, Aston Martin, Jaguar and Porsche. In complete contrast to the 2010 Corvette C6.R’s that will be driven at Le Mans the weekend of June 12, 2010, the 1960 cars were pulled off of the production assembly line, drum brakes, solid axles and all. The three cars had 2 drivers each to assist each other in the grueling 24 hour race. The #1 car was piloted by Cunningham and William Kimberley. #2 was driven by Fred Windridge and Dr. Dick Thompson (aka the Flying Dentist) and the #3 was driven by John Fitch and Bob Grossman.
The cars all ultimately experienced different outcomes from the race, but the #3 car achieved a once in a lifetime accomplishment: a class win for the Chevrolet Corvette, in the first year any Corvette competed at Le Mans. The car, with its production origins, overheated in the 23rd hour of the race, and race rules prohibited cars from receiving any fluids other than fuel. The #3 crew acted quickly and packed ice from drink coolers into the engine bay, enabling the Corvette to continue on to victory. This win is said to cement Zora Arkus Duntov’s desire to make the Corvette a world champion on the track. Here is how the 1960 Corvettes fared:
#1 Corvette (Cunningham / Kimberly): DNF (accident)
#2 Corvette (Thompson / Windridge): DNF (accident, completed 207 laps)
#3 Corvette (Fitch / Grossman): 8th overall, Class Winner (4,000 to 5,000cc)
source: Lance Miller via Facebook
At this year’s Le Mans event, 50 Corvettes will lap the famous 8-mile course in “un tour d’Honneur” to recognize Team Corvette’s accomplishments through the years. Leading the pack will be the #3 1960 Corvette, currently owned by Lance Miller, son of the late Chip Miller (founder of Carlisle Events and organizer of Corvettes at Carlisle). Chip Miller located the #3 Corvette after it had faded away into obscurity and had it restored to its former glory. It was Chip’s intention all along to have the #3 car at Le Mans for its 50th Anniversary, a dream that Lance is now realizing. To ensure a safe delivery for this very significant car, Team Corvette (now factory backed despite renewed scrutiny of GM’s racing programs) has transported the 1960 to Le Mans alongside its two 2010 Corvette C6.R race cars. Driving the car will be none other than original driver John Fitch (age 92), with Lance riding along in the passenger seat.
Detroit Tigers Pitcher Receives Corvette Grand Sport for Unofficial No-Hitter
Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga admires his new 2010 Corvette Grand Sport convertible before the Thursday game at Detroit’s Comerica Park. Galarraga pitched a near-perfect game June 2 in the eventual 3-0 shutout against the Cleveland Indians, but a botched call of “safe” by the first base umpire for Cleveland’s Jason Donald quickly extinguished the excitement at Comerica Park. The umpire later stated that he made a mistake, but the MLB will stand by the ruling.
The Corvette was given to Galarraga by GM executive Mark Reuss before the June 3 Tigers game in recognition of “…his excellence on the field and for his professionalism and sportsmanship.” It should be noted that Galarraga never disputed the botched call, no small feat considering the circumstances!
Police Sergeant Takes his C4 Corvette to the Track for a Great Cause
Sgt. Jim Butler has always been a car guy. He’s owned his share of hot cars, from ‘Cudas and Road Runners to Z/28 Camaros. His latest car, a 1993 Corvette, is no slouch, and he’ll race you to prove it. Legally, of course.
Butler, a St. Albans, WV police officer and K9 handler for 20 years, is a participant in Beat the Heat. To quote Sgt. Butler, “Beat the Heat is an international non profit organization made up of active and retired police officers, firefighters and emergency service personnel who use specialized police race cars as tools to reach out to young people.”
New! Travel Booth for Shows & Events
This year, we are introducing a new “travel booth” for Corvette related shows and events. The booth made its debut at the Spring Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Corral event during April 27 to May 1.
While we are no longer taking orders on site at events, customers may take a Corvette Central catalog and place their order from home, leaving more time to enjoy the show! They can also view some of our latest products, pick up their order (call ahead for order delivery), or speak to one of our technical or customer service representatives who will be present at every event we attend. And who knows, there may be a few giveaways from time to time as well…
Keep your eye out for the blue CorvetteCentral.com tents, and please stop by and say hello!
New Biodegradable Packing Pouches Benefit the Environment and Our Customers
This week, Corvette Central will begin sending some customer packages filled with biodegradable air pouches in place of paper packing material. These air pouches, produced under Automated Packaging Systems “EarthAware” line, are 100% recyclable and biodegradable.
According to Automated Packaging Systems, “The new EarthAware Biodegradable Film is a strong, durable linear low-density polyethylene with a proprietary additive that causes biodegradation in nine months to five years, depending on exposure conditions. Material performance properties and shelf life remain intact, as biodegradation only occurs when in contact with other biodegrading material, such as the conditions found in landfills, home and commercial composting.
Biodegradable air pouches definitely benefit the environment, but our customers and our package carriers will see advantages as well. The use of air pouches instead of paper lightens the package, resulting in lower shipping costs. Lighter truckloads will also result in lower fuel consumption.
Corvette Central Operations Director Geoff Nash sums it up nicely: “Just another way that Corvette Central is getting greener and greener every day.”
C6 Production Numbers
This week, we review the latest (but not last) generation of Corvettes, the C6 models. The C6 was introduced in 2005, and was another all-new design, just like the preceding C5 was all-new compared to the C4. The C6 continues the Corvette Team’s mission to improve on the previous generation in every category. The resulting base model Corvette for 2005 boasted numbers like a 4.3 second sprint to 60 miles per hour, a 186 MPH top speed, and fuel economy ratings of 18 city/28 highway for manual equipped versions (15/25 with the 4L65-E Hydra Matic automatic). Somehow, the team managed to undercut the cost of the base 2004 Corvette by $300. Pretty impressive!
Since it’s 2005 introduction, the base Corvette received a new 436 HP LS3 engine, providing supercar levels of performance. The well-sorted chassis prompted Corvette engineers to develop enhanced Corvette models, including the 505 HP Z06 (2006), 635 HP ZR1 (2009) and Grand Sport (2010) models. Speaking of the Grand Sport, Chevrolet produced more of these in 2010 than the base model coupes and convertibles.
The C7 Corvette is currently scheduled to be introduced in 2012. Improving on the incredible C6 is sure to be a challenge for Team Corvette, but we know they’ll deliver.
| Model Year | Coupe | Convertible | Z06 | ZR1 | Grand Sport Coupe | Grand Sport Convertible | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 26728 | 10644 | 37372 | ||||
| 2006 | 16598 | 11151 | 6272 | 34021 | |||
| 2007 | 21484 | 10918 | 8159 | 40561 | |||
| 2008 | 20030 | 7549 | 7731 | 35310 | |||
| 2009 | 8737 | 3343 | 3461 | 1415 | 16956 | ||
| 2010 | 3054 | 1003 | 518 | 1577 | 3707 | 2335 | 12194 |
Corvette Central Key Rings Through the Years
We have recently updated our picture of key rings to add the two latest versions. We use these as giveaways at shows and events, and they have always been durable enough to withstand years of daily use. We’d like to know if any Corvette Central customers have all of these in their collection. Post a comment if you do!
2005-06 Corvette Steering Column Recall
GM is recalling certain model year 2005 and 2006 Corvettes produced between March 2004 and January 2006 that were equipped with a tilt and telescoping steering column (RPO N37). According to the notice, in rare cases, repeated movement of the column may cause a signal malfunction. If this occurs, a “SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM” will appear in the Driver Information Center. Additionally, the brakes may activate, pulling the vehicle in one direction, putting the driver at risk for an accident.
GM will notify owners of all affected Corvettes, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin around April 30, 2010. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or at www.gmownercenter.com
GM’s recall campaign number is N100118.
1st Production 2011 Corvette a Tribute to 50th Anniversary of LeMans Win
Our friends at Corvette Blogger were present at the National Corvette Museum’s C5/C6 Bash this past weekend, and received permission to take photos of the first production 2011 Corvette. The car, an Arctic White Z06 with the Z07 performance package, commemorates the 50th Anniversary of a Corvette winning the 24 Hours of LeMans. It will be utilized as a fundraiser for the NCM. The museum is looking for a tax-deductible donation of $300,000 wherein the donor can purchase this one-of-one car at the NCM’s cost (approximately $85,000). More info on this Z06 can be found at Corvette Blogger.
Introducing Corvette Central “no drone” dual outlet mufflers for 1984-1990 Corvettes.
Corvette Central is pleased to introduce our exclusive correct sounding dual outlet mufflers for the 1984-1990 Corvette. These are manufactured and welded in USA by Corvette Central (cases are manufactured in Canada).
On the original 1984-1990 dual-outlet muffler, the inner outlet tube is for appearance only, and is blocked off. With our design, the outer outlet tube is open, but the inner outlet tube is connected to a small diameter resonance tube. This design provides the correct sound and quietness of the original design without the annoying low-RPM drone.
These mufflers are being offered at a special introductory price of $219.00. Order your set today!
1984 design, part # 324507
1985-1990 design, part # 324536
Outside the Car
Inside the Car
C5 Production Numbers
This week we’re reviewing production numbers for the C5 Corvette, produced between 1997-2004. The development of this car and the engineers and stylists behind it are discussed in the book All Corvettes Are Red, a must-read for any C5 fan.
The C5 continued GM’s mission to constantly improve every aspect of performance, quality and functionality in its halo sports car. The 5th generation marked the return of three distinct body styles: coupe, convertible and hard top (aka fixed roof coupe), the latter being the basis for the Z06 track terror that was introduced in 2001. The Corvette team was given a clean slate to design the new car, resulting in innovations like a rear mounted transaxle for better weight distribution, different diameter wheels (front/rear) and, for the first time since 1962, a trunk in the convertible and hardtop that could easily accommodate a full size golf club bag. Last but not least, the LS series of engines made their debut in the C5′s, ranging from 345HP in the base model to 405HP in the later Z06 models.
Notable C5 Corvettes include the 50th Anniversary model, the 1998 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, the Fixed Roof Coupe of 1999-2000 and 24 Hours of LeMans Commemorative Edition (pictured).
| Model Year | Coupe | Convertible | Hardtop/Z06 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 9752 | 9752 | ||
| 1998 | 19235 | 11849 | 31084 | |
| 1999 | 18078 | 11161 | 4031 | 33270 |
| 2000 | 18113 | 13479 | 2090 | 33682 |
| 2001 | 15681 | 14173 | 5768 | 35622 |
| 2002 | 10634 | 8784 | 5869 | 25287 |
| 2003 | 12812 | 14022 | 8635 | 35469 |
| 2004 | 16165 | 12216 | 5683 | 34064 |