1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE manual transmission

Starting the Engine
IGNITION SWITCH
•
The five-position ignition switch allows full control of the electrical systems of your Corvette. To start engine turn the switch to START and release as soon as the engine starts. The switch will r eturn to the ON position and all electrical circuits will be ready for use. Use OFF, LOCK and ACC positio ns to stop the engi ne. The ACC position will anow you to use all accessories without e n ergizi ng the ignition system.
NOTE, /(ey cannot
be ,emoved from the ignition ..... itch . ';f;;;.#fi';;'..;;a.;:" i;h~'i4i;C't:;o:N:' accidentally leaving IWifeh OFF but IlOl ladeed. /(fl' 111(" b. nollllOVed 11 position and the switch may be moved between
STARTING
PROCEDURES
Place the transmission selector lever in neutral or park position and, on manual transmission equipped models, push the clutch pedal down while starting engine.
Depress the accelerator pedal to the floor and fully release. Turn the ignition switch to START and hold until the engine starts. During temperatures of 0 ° F, and below, and when the engine is hot, the acce lerator pedal should be held part way down while starting. Start a "flooded" engine by holding accelerator pedal to the floor while o'anking engine. CAUTION: Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas produced by the engine of any ca?'. It is odorless
so you cannot detect its presence. B e safe. Never Sial"t or run YOW" C01"Velte in a closed garage or park with the windows closed and engine operating.

IDriving with the Manual Transmission-s
Both Corvette
manual transmissions are controlled slowing down, shift into the next lower gear before
by the shift lever located on top of the Hoor tunnel. the engine
"lugs" or labors.
You will find the shift pattern for your transmission Do not "ride" the dutch. Depress the pedal only pictured on a plate just behind the shift lever. Dur- when actually shifting the transmission and then ing acceleration, always shift into the next higher clear to the Hoar. Use your brakes rather than the
gear before the engine
begins to oVeISeeed; and ,;h_e_n~ __ cl_u_ tch_ pedal to hold your Corvette on a hill.
THREE-SPEED •
TRANSMISSION
The optional fouf4speed manual transmISSIOn pro­vides four forward speeds. The closely spaced ratios
make it possible for you to accelerate with a mini­
mum loss of engine rpm at the shift points. You will
en joy the performance and feel of a direct connecte d
engi ne. Since all forward speeds afe synchronized
the transmission can be used to assist in deceleration
by downshifting in the third-second-first sequence.
The Corvette three-speed manual transmission is de­signed to provide high performance under ordinary
driving conditions as well as during high speed opera­
tion. Gear ratios were selected to keep the engine
operating in its high output range as consistently as possible and permit upshifting and downshifting
between second and third speed at high speeds.
• FOUR-SPEED
TRANSMISSION

Downshifting with
Manual Transmission
If you wish to shift from one gear to the one imme ­
di ately lower in ratio, avoid dangerous ly overspeed­
ing the engine by downshifting as follows:
I.
Watch the Tachometer-If your tach is orange­
zoned at 5000 to 5300 rpm, you may downshift to
the next lower gear when it indicates 4000 to 4100
rpm. If your tach is red-zoned at 6300 to 6500 rpm, you may downshift to the next lower gear at 4700 to 4900 rpm.
2. Double-clutching reduces strain on engines and transmissions. The usual method of double ­
clutching is:
Let up on the throttle, disengage the clutch, shift
into neutral, and engage the clutch. Almost si­multaneously, speed up the engine, disengage the
clutch, shift into the next lower gear and re­engage the clutch while depressing the throttle.
With practice , this procedure becomes alm ost
second nature.
Driving with Positraction
The positraction rear axle will give you constant
driving force on both rear wheels, especially helpful in the winter and during other slippery driving con­
ditions which might stop a conventionally equipped vehicle. During turns , the positraction axle applies
the major driving force to the inside rear wheel thus
improving stability and cornering. Normal light throttle application will supply maximum traction.
When starting with one rear wheel on an excessive ly
slippery surface, slight application of the
parking brake may be necessary momentarily to gai n maxi­
mum traction.
Driving with
Metallic Brake Linings
If your Corvette is equipped with optional metallic
brake linings, you will find that somewhat mor e than
normal pedal pressure will be required to stop the car
until you have made several stops to warm up the
linings .

10
Pushing and Towing Tips
PUSHING CAR TO START
Should it ever beco me necessary to start the engine by
pu shing the car (towing to start is not recommended as car being towed may accelerate into tow car), pro­
ceed as fo llows: Turn off all e lect rical loads su ch as radio, heater
and, if possible, lights until the engine st arts.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - T
urn ignition switch
to "on." Place shift leve r in high (3rd on 3-spee d
transmissions, 4th on four-speed) and depress clutch. When car reaches 25-30 miles per hour, slowly re­
l ease clutch to sta rt e ng ine.
POWERGLlDE TRANSMISSION -
Turn ignit io n
switch to "on" and place sel ector lever in "N." W h e n
car reac hes a spee d of 25-30 mph, place th e selecto r
l ever in l ever in uD." TOWING
A DISABLED CAR
If your Corvette must be towed, the following pre­
cautions must be observed:
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
-Release parking brake
and place shift lever in neutral.
POWERGLIDE TRANSMISSION -Release
parking brake and place selector lever in "N." DO NOT TOW IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH. II the transmission is inoperative, or not operating properly, the pro­peller shaft must b e d isconnected or car must be
towe d with rear wheels off the ground.
TOWING WITH REAR WHEELS
RAISED-When a
vehicle is being towed on its front wheels, the steer­
ing whee l shou ld be secured to maintain a straight
forward position.
Do
not use tire chains on the rear wheels of your Corvette . Clearance between
USE OF TIRE CHAINS
AND SNOW TIRES
• tire and wheelhouse is insufficient to permit operation with chains insta!led.
Many [ire manufa cturers market tires for the Corvette which have specialized
tread designs for mud and snow use.

AUTO JACK PLACEMENT
CHANGING
YOUR
CORVETTE'S
WHEELS
1. Remove the hub cap by prying off with the finger provided on the end of the jacking wrench. 2. Using the jacking wrench, loosen the wheel nuts about one half turn. 3. Set the parking brake and block diago­
nally opposite wheel.
With Powerglide transmission place se­lector lever in PARK position. With manual transmission place the
shift lever in:
FIRST when jacking front wheels. REVERSE when jacking back wheels. 4.
Position the jack under the car
as shown
in the illustration above. Be sure that
the
load rest of the jack contacts the frame as shown. 5. Raise car using the jack until the tire
clears the ground. 6. Remove the wheel nuts and wheel, place spare wheel on studs and replace all
whee l nuts. Tighten moderately. 7. Lower car until the tire just touches ground, then tighten nuts fully. 8. Lower the car fully , replace hub caps
and res-tow tire. jack and handl e .
Using the mallet supplied with vehicl e knock
off locking nut and remove wheel. Left whee l
nuts are removed in a counterclockwise direction. Right wheel nuts are removed in a clockwise direction.

INDEX Page
Page Hard Top Care
. 29 Pushing Tips. .10 Installation .25 Radio .22
Headlight Operation .17 Rear Compartment 24
Page
Heater .20
Seat
Adjustment .23
Air
Conditioning . .21 High Beam Switch .... 18 Spare Tire Stowage .
33
Ammeter 14 Hood Release . 19 Specificat ions .44-47 Automatic Transmission 7
Ignition Switch . 6 Speedometer 13
Batter y Care .. 34
Jack Stowage . .... 33 Starting 6 Brakes . 19
Lighter 16 Steering Adjustments II Bright Metal Care . .... 27 Light Switch . .. 17 Tachometer .13 Changing
Wheels .34 Lighting System Trouble Checks. 18 Temperature Gauge . 15 Cleaning-Exterior .26-27 Locks . .... 23 T h ermostac .32 Interior
.28 Maintenance and Lubrication . .
35-40 Tire Care .
32
C l ock . 15
Manual Transmission .8-9 10 Tire Chains Cililch Adjustments . .... 11 Metallic Brake Linings 9
. . 10 Towing Tips . Cooling System Care . . 31-32 Odometer 13 Trailer Towing II Courtesy Lights. ... 15 Oil Pressure Gauge. . .. 14 Trip Odometer . .13 D e f
roster
20 Oil Requirements .... 30 Troubl e Shooting Guide .41·43
Doors ... 23 Parking Brakes 19 Turn Signal .18 Folding Top Care .... 28
Plastic \oVindow Care . .. 29 Ventilation 20 Operation ... 25 Polishing Your Corvette . .27 Washing Your Corvette .
26
Removal ... 24 Positraction Rear Axle. Waxing Your Corvette .26
Fuel Gauge ... 15 Power Brakes 19 Whitewall Tire Cleaning .27
Fuel Requirements . 30 Power
Steering . . 19 Windshield Washer .
. 16 G love Box
.24 Powerglide Transmission
7 Windshield Wiper 16