This video really helped me realize that other C4's have minor issues as well. It is nice seeing that other C4's are just like mine...nice at a glance but still have plenty of minor things to be addressed.
I had done the antenna job on mine and it is pretty straightforward until you get to the rebuilding of the unit part. So if you are just putting a new unit in, it should be pretty easy.
So earlier this year I decided it would be fun to get a car that was made the year I was born. I thought it would be a cool idea to do a bunch of maintenance and tasteful mods to bring it into the modern era. After cruising through craigslist and wikipedia articles looking for what could be the best and most attainable option I fell in love with the 89 c4. I cant wait to buy an 89, its the best IMO. Digi dash AND the 6 speed, keeping the extra sharp wedge shape. I just need the lockdowns to end so I can get back to work and save up for one this summer. Keep up the videos, they are wonderful study material before I make the purchase.
@ 4:31 of video your A/C belt squeaks it is slipping on the Compressor get Continental brand Gator back belts they are the best the belts grip so well it is amazing.
The rattling is coming from your precats on the y pipe, as for the antenna mast they are easy to replace just make sure the antenna motor works first. Keep going , they are great cars.
_As with any C4, they're going to cost you money to make right. (Rubber stripping, and door sweeps are certainly common areas that always need attention). Some sound advice here: spend the time to detail the car yourself. (As far as the roof and third brake light, professional paint work is necessary most assuredly). Find a good GM Master Technician who knows C4s inside and out to address the A/C issue/the heater issue, and that odd sound coming from the car when driving low speeds. Bottom line, your car is nice, and in time it will be 100% right. (Spoken eloquently from a C4 aficionado). Oh, and having the rims freshened also by a professional will make the beautiful car look even better._
that clanking around rattling sound while driving sounds like your catalytic converter may be breaking up inside. That happened on a Volvo I used to own (86); sounded similar.
Wheels. I've had a little experience, but not Corvette. From the factory, most are spun rather roughly on a lathe, leaving visible "cuts". They then apply a very thick clear coat to give them a shine. I lucked out, a parts store near me was going out of business. Since nobody turns brakes anymore, they gave me their brake lathe. I now mount my wheels (less tires) on the lathe and spin them while wet sanding. When you get down to 2500 grit, my opinion is that they are indistinguishable from polished (3000 grit now common). Some times (OCD?) I spin them while applying polishing compound, does seem to add a little; probably mostly just cleaning the metal. Most curb rash can be sanded off. On micro inspection you could notice this. To be perfect, I suppose you could add some metal, then sand.
if you replace the weather strip one piece at a time, it will cost you almost double the price. also, the strip that goes around the windshield, as far as I have found can only be found in the full kit
Your rims find a metal shop that specializes in restoring. Have the clearcote removed and the rims high speed polished. They will look great put will need alot of attention through the year to keep then looking shiny.
The antenna you need to take it of car open it up and take whats left of the mast out. Buy new mast on Amazon for around 25.00. Put antenna back in car then have someone sit in car and turn radio on and off as needed as you feed the mast into antenna housing til it grabs and goes all the way in on the turn off of radio. Takes a little time but you will save a 150.00
First off, I believe the squeak in the front end may be the compressor pulley bearing but I'm not sure. Try removing your belt and spin the pulley by hand and see if it squeaks. Second, your mysterious rattle is possibly something I've experienced before which for me was a loose exhaust clamp moving around freely across the exhaust pipes under the car. And third your heater may not be working because of possibly: either the coolant flow valve that lets coolant flow into the heater core may be bad. Those work on vacuum or electronically I think. You can delete those I believe. My '91 didn't come with one. or secondly your heater core may be clogged and probably needs to be flushed and backflushed. and lastly like you said maybe the blend door actuator quit on you. I hear those can be a tricky repair. Just trying to help out a fellow C4 owner. Good luck sir :D
Rattle is a loose heat shield. Sounds exactly like mine did. Guy at the muffler shop wouldn't take anything to fix it. I'd take that 3rd brake light off altogether. Looks like a stupid afterthought by lazy GM designers. Took years before they incorporated it into the bumper, as they should've on day one. License tag cover on front always looks better than a tag. BTW, C7 was the last Corvette. So-called C8 is a Fiero.
There’s a tube that goes down from the air pump down to the main cat. The part where it goes down is on the passenger side of the engine right next to the manifold. Mine moves up and down when I move with my hand and makes a metal on metal noise but I have not heard it when I am driving (probably because my exhaust is loud) so I have left it for now. PS you should buy a cat back for your car. And if you have pre cats get the pipes without them and just run a main cat.
Lol I made this comment before you said you want and exhaust. (I have magniflow and I can’t get enough of the sound). But you should also get those catless pipe that come off the manifolds. They will help the car breathe so much better.
I'm experiencing the exact same problem on my 89... although that metal pipe is attached to the manifold with a clamp then running to the main cat... at idle (cold engine ) the noise is present and in addition it creates knocks detected by knock sensor... everything goes right at warm engine.
That AC compressor sounds like a bearing going bad, or the belt is slipping on the pulley. Have you replaced the serpentine belt yet? I’d start there first.
Check your compressor clutch air gap. It is probably worn. You may be able to adjust it, or worst case replace the whole clutch and pulley. Still much cheaper and easier than replacing the whole compressor.