How To Replace Rear C3 Corvette Shock Absorbers

A few days ago I noticed what appeared to be an abnormal amount of "float" or "bounce" as I drove my '76 Vette around town, which led me to believe the KYB shock absorbers that were installed about five years ago, were ready to give up the ghost.

So early on a Sunday morning, I took my car for a short test-drive down a stretch of Interstate 75.

As the speedometer needle approached 100 MPH, all hell broke loose and my Corvette started shaking so badly I felt it was going to come apart. I immediately let go of the gas pedal but the bouncy ride continued for what seemed like an eternity.

It really scared the bejesus out of me.

So yes, the shock absorbers were toast.

Product Review: Yukon 46" 9-Drawer Tool Storage Cabinet

Tools are an investment, and having handtools strewn on the floor, shoved in unmarked boxes or shelves all over the garage, makes no sense whatsoever.

You forget what you have or where you put it, tools collect dust, rust, and, eventually, end up in the garage sale pile.

I've been trying to get my garage organized and decided it was time to invest in a good tool cabinet, and the Yukon 46-inch 9-drawer cabinet available from Harbor Freight Tools had great reviews on YouTube, so I decided to go check it out.

Since I already have a big Kobalt toolbox in black, I was happy to see the Yukon tool-storage cabinet was available in black, although I'm not sure if it's available in other colors. The 46-inch frontal width made it perfect for my needs and the quality of construction was easy to see.

So I bought one!

Torquing Kelsey-Hayes Aluminum Slotted Rims

Have you ever literally stood on a one-lug wrench trying to loosen lug nuts?

I have.

And I'll admit that if overtightening lug nuts were a sport—up until a few years ago—I probably would've qualified for the Olympic team.

In most cases, overtightening lug nuts can have negative consequences, such as distorted brake rotors, stripped threads, stretched studs, and more.

Of course, you don't want your wheels to fall off as you drive down the road, but do they really have to be tightened to the point of being almost impossible to remove?

They do not, and most owner's manuals will give you the proper torque specifications, or you can check online.

Again, you don't want the wheel to come off while you're driving but you also don't want to damage the stud threads or anything else for that matter.

C3 Corvette: Shifter Console Plastic Tab Repair

Forty-year-old plastic becomes brittle over the years and it's not uncommon for retainer tabs to become cracked or start missing chunks from age and mishandling.

Many people use the center console as a prop when they reach across the cabin, just like they use the steering wheel as an aid to exit the driver's seat, or grab and push on the window glass to close the door.

Whether the damage is done because of ignorance or laziness, the end result is cracked or broken plastic tabs, and up to us—the current owners—to repair.

The red circles above show two tabs that were broken and, consequently, missing pieces of plastic. Unfortunately, it is not an easy and quick repair, and the only other alternative is to buy a reproduction console, which can be expensive.

C3 Corvette Artwork by Thom SanSoucie

While browsing through the offerings at the Sumter Auto Swap Meet in Bushnell a couple of months ago, I found a couple of black and white prints by renowned artist Thom SanSoucie.

I consider it a lucky find since 1976 Corvette-related collectibles are not plentiful.

I wanted to display the prints at home and found a couple of frames at Michael's and hung them in my living room wall. They look amazing.