1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

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sjandras
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by sjandras »

A couple victories today. I was able to get the radiator hoses off the engine, the lower one to the water pump was difficult but I was able to do it without removing the scavenge pump.

The bigger win was getting the turbo coolant return hose out. The passenger side banjo bolt does indeed come out without turbo removal. It's tight.... I will have a local shop remake the assembly for me with some higher temp rated hose.

Also, I had noticed a periodic drip of coolant under the car in couple hundred miles of shakedown so far. When I got the banjo bolt out, there was no crush washer on the turbo side. Looking at the banjo fitting, it looks like it has been that way since new based on the face wear. All faces that had a washer were very clearly worn the same, the one without still had anodizing on the face and the banjo bolt looked untouched.

Some pics below. Much better day than last weekend! Ready to start reassembly with new rad and hoses.
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by 1988Callaway#16 »

Hi sjandas. Welcome to the COG! Great looking 88 B2K Convertible! I have an 88 vert #16. I have to remove/replace both of those water hoses on my car. Any tips or special tools that you used to get them off? Did you check with Callaway to see if they had those hose assemblies available? My car has 55,000 miles on it and needs some work. I'm planning on bringing it to Carlisle next year for the 35th Anniversary of the first B2K Corvette. Maybe I'll get to meet you and see your car in person there. Be Well! Kevin
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

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Hi Kevin,

No special tools per se, but I did have to sacrifice a wrench by grinding its thickness down a bit to remove the passenger side banjo bolt. I couldn't get the right leverage angle on the bolt to break it loose with the open end and the closed end couldn't fit between frame and bolt without thinning.

I did check with Callaway on a replacement turbo coolant return assembly but didn't hear back from their parts guy. I ended up going to a local hydraulic shop and they replaced the hoses (high temp rated and flexible) for me while reusing the custom formed banjo fittings for a reasonable price.
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

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Another productive day in the garage. The car is back together and running well. The combination of new water pump, new radiator, and returning to OE coolant hose / thermostat arrangement dropped running temp by 30 deg! I had been seeing 235F coolant while cruising with AC on and 90F ambient. Now it runs just a bit over 200F.

I do have a MIL code 36 now that hadn't been there before, so will need to dig into that. MAF burn-off circuit. Hopefully I just got a ground wet and corroded while I was cleaning.... We'll see! I think I'm about done tinkering for the summer, planning to pull the trans and have the overdrive rebuilt this winter. After that, it should be pretty well mechanically sorted.
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by SurfnSun »

Love it! Keep up the great work :beer
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by Jeroenvgfn »

Awesome :jsmile
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by sjandras »

Thanks guys!

It really is a complex car to dig into for the time, but once you're into it everything makes sense. So far I've been lucky to be able to handle all wrenching myself with an occasional "hold this right here and don't move" help from my oldest daughter (10 yrs) when I need a third hand.

I maintained my 1990 ZR1 for 18 years and 24k miles and that car was far less overwhelming than this one packaging-wise. That includes LT5 plenum pulls for starter and injector replacement.

I am dreading the transmission pull, but that's just a normal
early C4 Corvette challenge. I'm waiting until I have all winter to let it sit and take it in small bites. While it's down I also plan to have the bumpers refinished and get the hardtop I purchased locally color matched. I love that look on a C4 especially with Dymags!
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

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Hardtop is now black. I took a shot at 3M wrap and it came out pretty well. I'll eventually have it painted, but it was a fun experiment.
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by SurfnSun »

Great looking car!!
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by kingforward »

Ditto. Well done!
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by CalJim »

Very nice!
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by 1988Callaway#16 »

Looks great! Did you buy your car with it set up for the hardtop or did you convert it with 89+ parts? Thanks! Kevin
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by sjandras »

I updated the windshield header brackets with some NOS 89+ parts that I came across and I'm still shopping for the
B-pillar mount brackets. Haven't driven it yet with the top on because of that, can't wait to feel the difference.
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by sjandras »

I've searched all the archives and can't find a consistent answer to this one: what should fuel pressure be at WOT full boost? My car feels very strong, but has a bit of a flat or rough feeling at > 4krpm. I installed a fuel pressure gauge that I can kind of see while driving and see around 36 psi in this condition. It seems constant across RPM range, not dropping. The picture below doesn't show the fuel pressure we'll, but shows it is making boost.
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by SurfnSun »

Is it by chance that your clutch is slipping? The best way to tell if your fuel pressure is correct is to put it on the Dyno with a wide band.
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

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Now that you mention it, yes the clutch slipping is a strong possibility. My mind hadn't gone there yet but that is kind of what it feels like. I was more focused on trying to confirm it wasn't going lean. Also agreed a wide band O2 would also help. If it's the clutch, I'll find that out when I do the trans pull for the overdrive rebuild.
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by sjandras »

The transmission pull project has begun! I was really concerned about getting the exhaust out, it's one of my least favorite jobs on any car project. Amazingly, this one came out with zero issues! Low mile Texas cars are the best! All the fasteners came loose with no drama and even the slip joint on the catalyst section slid right out. It was obvious nobody has been in here since it left Old Lyme, extremely happy it's off.

Now I need to think about whether I'll put it back stock or not? Has anybody done a cat delete lately? I assume full custom is the only option?
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

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I would either eliminate the cats or go 3" bullets with metallic substrate. There's a ton of power and spool to be had by going large custom exhaust
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by sjandras »

The rebuilt overdrive unit courtesy of Brian at SK Speed is reassembled to the T10 and back in the car. No, I didn't paint it myself, that's what SK does as part of their process. I wish I had known, I would have asked him not to...
Brian is a cool guy and fun to talk to, he's passionate about these things.

Honestly, the install process wasn't as bad as I had read on the various forums. I still have to button everything else up, but I think I'm past the hard part (C-beam is on and bolts are in). I did reseal the T10 too while this far into it, there was some evidence of leaks around the shift shaft seals before.

I'm thinking I'll probably leave the original exhaust for now until I get some more miles on it. Knowing how easy the exhaust is to pull, I can always do it in the future.

It will be ready to hit the roads as soon as the snow and salt are washed away!
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Re: 1988 B2K 064 coming back to life

Post by *89x2* »

Looks great!!!

Have you thought of adding the ZFdoc Beam Plates?

http://www.zfdoc.com/c4beamplate.htm

I added these to my one car and they are a huge help in rigidity. :thumbs
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