Performance Verification Help

[Zachary K.]

I just mailed off the application for Stone Mountain, to apply for a PV with my 67. I have read the PV manual and am heading out to the garage to check over things. I have only watched one PV being done a few years back. The only thing that I can recall being checked, that I haven't seen in print in the PV manual was with the wipers. The manual states right over left but doesn't mention anything about the spacing of the blades in relation each other or the lower windshield mldg. The owner of this car had to make adjustments there and then.
Are there any other things that anyone or any PV judges can share that are checked, but overlooked in the PV manual that I should look for while going over my car before I make the ........LONG drive to Georgia. Thanks for any help.

[Jack H.]

Re: Performance Verification Help

The PV manual is pretty darn complete for this reason (de-mystify what get's checked and what accept/fail criteria are). In my mind, one of the biggest reasons for PV failure is the owner's lack of familiarity with his/her car and the natural human bias NOT to drive/use it after a laborious restoration process to 'preserve' its originality/condition silhouette. In my opinion, you HAVE to go put some miles on the car doing several test/shake-down PV runs BEFORE you go and actually attempt the the PV!

Example: one local member had done an INCREDIBLE restoration job on his '67 435 HP coupe but had NEVER really driven it.... After he obtained his first +97% Flight at a Regional, he sallied forth to do the PV. When the judge sat with him in the cockpit and went through pre-road test operations, his adrenaline was PUMPING and the situation was complicated by his personal lack of familiarity with what control(s) did what (all thumbs behind the wheel).

At one point the PV Judge asked him to reset the clock, looked down at his quartz wrist chronometer and began chanting the current time. The owner reached for the clock reset stem with shaking, clumsey male hands and was SHOCKED to see he'd inadvertently RIPPED the reset stem right out of the clock's drive gear due to his personal nervousness!!!!!!

So, I'd advise you to go find a friend who can play the role of PV Judge with you as devil's advocate and go practice doing the things defined in the PV manual, rack up 100 miles or so, and get yourself calm, cool and experienced with 'baby'.... Also, put on a fresh mind set.

Think of yourself as that deep pockets original owner taking his initial delivery of the car who's just laid out +2X more than the cost of an 'average' car. Ask yourself, if you were him, would you drive away from the dealership with the car 'as is' without complaining?

If you do these things, your odds at passing that PV and having FUN at the same time rise DRAMATICALLY! End of sermon....

[Zachary K.]

Re: Performance Verification Help

Hi Jack, thanks for the post. As for knowing the car, I've owned and driven it since 1982. As for the restoration work, I have done that also on this car and quite a few others. I do all my own work. I hope you didn't take offense that I was picking apart the PV manual, as I know many hard hours go into the manuals by many fine NCRS members. I am familiar with the flight judging process as I have 3 different personal cars that I have put through that judging process after doing their restoration. I have now decided to move onto the PV with this car, and watched a few being done at the Woodbridge NJ Regional. After reading the PV manual, as I said, that one item came to mind about the adustment of / on the wiper arms and saw no mention to it. I was just wondering if there might be anything else that anyone can think of with their experiences that they had problems with. Thanks for the help.

[Kent K.]

Re: Performance Verification Help

Check in the Assembly Instruction Manual for your year Corvette. You should find a diagram showing the windshield wiper arms, their parked position and coverage. There is also a diagram for the windshield washer spray pattern.

Good luck with your PV. You should be fine with some monor tweeking.

Kent #6201

[Bill Becker]

Re: Performance Verification Help

Zach,

Never been through it myself, but, I have been told that most PV failures occur before the key ever turns in the ignition.

Good Luck,
Bill Becker

[Robert C.]

Re: Performance Verification Help

Make sure you bring plenty of extra parts ie. Light bulbs, fuses, headlamps etc. with you.Some bring extra alternator, volt reg., batterys etc. just to be safe. Remember you have one fix during the test. Fill the fluid bottle and prime the WW pump and use it before the test.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Performance Verification Help

I have passed five PV's and have a ten mile test route from the end of my driveway checked with other cars to check the odmeter. Make sure it has left and right turns and a place to check the e-brake up and down hill. Have a set of PV judging sheets for your year copy them and have your judge fill them out. Get the best person you can for a judge,NCRS chapter member. Do this test five to ten times and your chances of passing go way up.The E-brake was not to good originaly so make sure it will hold up or down hill on the steepest hill you can find to be on the safe side. You can do the test alone some of the time and if you feel it isn't good enough it probably isn't. Just loading her up and hauling her in saying I know every thing works is not the way to go. Bring some spare parts and hope you don't need them. Good Luck!

[John H.]

Re: Performance Verification Help

The wiper parking dimensions are in Section 1-Asm, Sheet D5.

[Gary J.]

Re: Performance Verification Help

Here are a few other things to check.

1. Make sure that there is no play in the seats in other words no rocking.

2. Vent window cranks roll good and tight but with no excessive after it has

closed and when it opens.

3. Ignition key should not be able to be pulled out when in the on position.

4. Check and see how well the heater fan is blowing through the defroster vents

in all speeds.

5. AM side of the radio works.

6. No leaks, backfires, etc especially the leaks after the road test.

7. Make sure your inside and outside mirors are tight and will hold during the

test along with the sunvisors.

Read your owners manual. Like it has been mention before this is basicly a new car check. Be sure to check all the flashing bulbs on the instrument panel.

[Zachary K.]

Re: Performance Verification Help

Thanks guys for all the help!!! I apprecaite it.