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The C7 Corvette was introduced in the Fall of 2013, as a 2014 model. It’s the seventh generation Corvette and the first to bear the Corvette Stingray name since the 1976 third generation model. Body styles include both Coupe and Convertible.

The C7 Corvette’s LT1 engine brings several technologies new to the engine line, such as direct injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing. Transmission choices include a 7-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

For 58 of its 60 years, the Chevrolet Corvette has been powered by the legendary Chevrolet V8 engine. Technological advancements have increased output threefold – from 195 hp in 1955 to 638 hp today – as well as reliability, refinement and efficiency.

However, the fundamental architecture of the Chevrolet “small block” remains the same today as it was in 1955: a 90-degree V8 with overhead valves actuated by pushrods, and a 4.4-inch on-center bore spacing.

C3 headlights. GM came out with the pop-up headlights in 1968 and had them all the way through to 1982. Owners have had issues with these vacuum driven headlights. As their Corvettes age, the headlights develop problems due to rubber hoses that wear out. The main problem is the hose will crack around the attachment points on the headlight actuators, valves, tank or at the engine. 

If your hood is sitting lower than the fender on one side and higher on the other, or higher in the front and lower in the rear, then there is a solution.  First, you must adjust your hood to bring the highest portion level with the fender. This will cause the lower to be even lower, but this can be resolved by simply purchasing several rubber hood alignment bumpers. Place some masking tape on the fender across to the hood at each low spot so you know where to position these bumpers. 

C3 Corvettes are known for their cooling issues. Yes, you could replace the radiator, but this may not resolve your problem. You can inspect your fan shroud, fan blade, fan clutch and even radiator. All these items can cause problems, but they may not be the problem either. Inspect for good sealing around the radiator support to radiator, radiator to fan shroud seals, make sure the fan clutch is working properly and make certain the radiator is clean inside the vanes. The C3 changed the way you need to think about cooling. 

If your outside door handle cover is sagging, then it’s time for a replacement. This involves removing your inner door panel, removing all the rods and then unbolting the handle from the inside. There is a simpler way to resolve this problem if replacing the handle does not appeal to you; just purchase one of the handle springs. These great little inventions will once again put the handle cover into its proper place and the handle look like new without all the work. 

Does the tachometer needle on your 1968-’74 bounce and not give a steady reading? Does your tachometer just not function? The tachometers on these Corvettes are cable driven from the distributor. The cable, like a speedometer cable, will wear and cause the needle to not hold steady because the cable ends are worn. Replacing the inner cable or the complete cable and casing will resolve this problem. For tachometers that do not work at all, it’s most likely because of the tachometer gear inside the distributor.  

The L88 Corvette is a car that, for the most part, hid in the shadows. But it actually cast a big shadow on the American muscle car scene as well. Oh, if you were keeping a close ear to the ground, you knew about it. But if you didn’t pay attention, it came and went in a flash. The reason for its existence was that Zora Arkus-Duntov, the chief Corvette engineer, was chagrined that Ford got all this publicity for winning the 24 Hours of LeMans. Yet he knew that Chevrolet had a durable engine in the 427 and yearned to make it available for racing. But he had one problem - Chevrolet, officially, was not in racing. 

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Buyer Beware:

Nasty con men have been known to machine off the original RPO non-L88 numbers and re-stamp new ones. Your best bet is to find a reference source that shows if the RPO code matches the casting number. We’d also highly recommend investing in an NCRS Specification Guide covering the model years you’re interested in. The rarest and most valuable item to document a Corvette is the car’s build sheet, which was applied to the gas tank during assembly. It’s not easy to get at, but obviously worth searching for if it means authenticating the car.

My name is David Way. I’m a retired auto shop owner who is Corvette crazy! I've loved Corvettes since I was a young man and saw the movie Corvette Summer. If you’re familiar with that movie, Mark Hamill had a wildly customized Corvette, and it always brings back old Corvette memories for me. I've had so many Corvettes throughout my life that I’ve lost count. I loved them all and had a blast working on them and driving them!