Talk to me about C4 Corvettes
- Thread starter dishdude
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My friend had I think a 1994 in high school...great car for a HS kid.
Never got a ticket in it though, amazingly.
Never got a ticket in it though, amazingly.
The only C4's worth having are the ZR1 and the Grand Sport. The rest are absolute junk.
Is there anything different to driving the 4+3? From what I understand it shifts like a 4 speed but has an automatic OD in gears 2-4. From reading, it seems like they are decent units if the fluid is changed regularly and the car isn't heavily modified. Still, the rarity of the 4+3 has me nervous.
If you are dead set on getting one I would find the newest one with the least amount of miles. And, be prepared to spend money replacing the parts that are going to break. Id avoid that 4+3 like the plague.
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Originally Posted By: Gasbuggy
Don't buy a year with the Crossfire injection. You want Tuned Port Injection.
Cross Fire was 82 and 84 only. 85-91 was TPI. Not sure, but I THINK that 1985 cars had a funky 1-year-only ECM system. I also recall that the TPI engines switched from mass-air to speed density in 1990.
My concern would be the transmission: if anything goes on the 4+3, can you get parts to fix it? (And can you do so without selling your soul?)
It's actually not too bad working with a 4+3. http://www.5speeds.com/dne.htm
I understand the OP. He is looking to enjoy a car from a specific period in time. The digital dash is retro cool now.
Originally Posted By: Gasbuggy
Don't buy a year with the Crossfire injection. You want Tuned Port Injection.
Cross Fire was 82 and 84 only. 85-91 was TPI. Not sure, but I THINK that 1985 cars had a funky 1-year-only ECM system. I also recall that the TPI engines switched from mass-air to speed density in 1990.
My concern would be the transmission: if anything goes on the 4+3, can you get parts to fix it? (And can you do so without selling your soul?)
It's actually not too bad working with a 4+3. http://www.5speeds.com/dne.htm
I understand the OP. He is looking to enjoy a car from a specific period in time. The digital dash is retro cool now.
Originally Posted By: Supercalifragili
Originally Posted By: dishdude
What years did they offer the Grand Sport? I really like the '84-'89 interiors, not really interested in speed.
I could be wrong but I thought 1996 only.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvette_(C4)
^^ Yup.. 1996 last-of-line edition.
And the manual '96es had the LT4 engine, as did the Grand Sports.
Originally Posted By: dishdude
What years did they offer the Grand Sport? I really like the '84-'89 interiors, not really interested in speed.
I could be wrong but I thought 1996 only.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvette_(C4)
^^ Yup.. 1996 last-of-line edition.
And the manual '96es had the LT4 engine, as did the Grand Sports.
Originally Posted By: dishdude
Well, the hunt for a fun car shall continue! I love the condition of this one but it's at the high end of what I wanted to spend and the 4+3 has me nervous.
The 4 speed is a super t 10 which is solid. The od might be able to live a long life with a real good oil. A challenge for the bitog to come up with something. Just get the car that appeals to you and don't worry.
The optispark on the lt4 is an oddball too.
Well, the hunt for a fun car shall continue! I love the condition of this one but it's at the high end of what I wanted to spend and the 4+3 has me nervous.
The 4 speed is a super t 10 which is solid. The od might be able to live a long life with a real good oil. A challenge for the bitog to come up with something. Just get the car that appeals to you and don't worry.
The optispark on the lt4 is an oddball too.
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My neighbor has a 1986 he bought new and has put a lot of miles on it. He doesn't beat on it and he said it's been a very reliable car. It's an automatic though.
If I recall the digital dashes in them were prone to giving fits also. My friend got an cosmetically nice 87 with a rod knocking for 1,500 bucks. But he planned on doing an LS swap anyways.
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Originally Posted By: MCompact
Originally Posted By: clinebarger
Do yourself a favor & buy a C5, LS1/LS6 with a Tremec T56.
If you really want a C4, '94/'95/'96 LT1 cars are the best.
While I'm actually looking for a newer track rat, I could be seriously tempted by a C4 or C5 Z06- brilliant track toys that are still usable everyday(I don't believe in coddling my fleet).
I had two C5's as track rats. No, the brakes are not [censored] on them. They are relatively cheap to prep for the track and fairly inexpensive in the long run, too. Cheap to mod as well.
I am sorry to say the C4's were not very impressive at a road course...
Originally Posted By: clinebarger
Do yourself a favor & buy a C5, LS1/LS6 with a Tremec T56.
If you really want a C4, '94/'95/'96 LT1 cars are the best.
While I'm actually looking for a newer track rat, I could be seriously tempted by a C4 or C5 Z06- brilliant track toys that are still usable everyday(I don't believe in coddling my fleet).
I had two C5's as track rats. No, the brakes are not [censored] on them. They are relatively cheap to prep for the track and fairly inexpensive in the long run, too. Cheap to mod as well.
I am sorry to say the C4's were not very impressive at a road course...
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: MCompact
Originally Posted By: clinebarger
Do yourself a favor & buy a C5, LS1/LS6 with a Tremec T56.
If you really want a C4, '94/'95/'96 LT1 cars are the best.
While I'm actually looking for a newer track rat, I could be seriously tempted by a C4 or C5 Z06- brilliant track toys that are still usable everyday(I don't believe in coddling my fleet).
I am sorry to say the C4's were not very impressive at a road course...
Back in their day, they were very good. They dominated the Escort Showroom Stock endurance series, with Morrison-Cook Motorsports winning just about everything. C4 Corvette's won multiple SS-GT national championships in SCCA competition. Mine was a sweet-handling car until I tried to make it faster, then it got nasty.
Originally Posted By: MCompact
Originally Posted By: clinebarger
Do yourself a favor & buy a C5, LS1/LS6 with a Tremec T56.
If you really want a C4, '94/'95/'96 LT1 cars are the best.
While I'm actually looking for a newer track rat, I could be seriously tempted by a C4 or C5 Z06- brilliant track toys that are still usable everyday(I don't believe in coddling my fleet).
I am sorry to say the C4's were not very impressive at a road course...
Back in their day, they were very good. They dominated the Escort Showroom Stock endurance series, with Morrison-Cook Motorsports winning just about everything. C4 Corvette's won multiple SS-GT national championships in SCCA competition. Mine was a sweet-handling car until I tried to make it faster, then it got nasty.
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
I am sorry to say the C4's were not very impressive at a road course...
Back in their day, they were very good. They dominated the Escort Showroom Stock endurance series, with Morrison-Cook Motorsports winning just about everything. C4 Corvette's won multiple SS-GT national championships in SCCA competition. Mine was a sweet-handling car until I tried to make it faster, then it got nasty. [/quote]
Yes. They had a nasty tendency to go off the course backwards. Not something you forget! Just a little bit too flexible, especially at the rear suspension hard points.
I didn't judge them against their competition "back in the day"...
I am sorry to say the C4's were not very impressive at a road course...
Back in their day, they were very good. They dominated the Escort Showroom Stock endurance series, with Morrison-Cook Motorsports winning just about everything. C4 Corvette's won multiple SS-GT national championships in SCCA competition. Mine was a sweet-handling car until I tried to make it faster, then it got nasty. [/quote]
Yes. They had a nasty tendency to go off the course backwards. Not something you forget! Just a little bit too flexible, especially at the rear suspension hard points.
I didn't judge them against their competition "back in the day"...
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Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
I am sorry to say the C4's were not very impressive at a road course...
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Back in their day, they were very good. They dominated the Escort Showroom Stock endurance series, with Morrison-Cook Motorsports winning just about everything. C4 Corvette's won multiple SS-GT national championships in SCCA competition. Mine was a sweet-handling car until I tried to make it faster, then it got nasty.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Yes. They had a nasty tendency to go off the course backwards. Not something you forget! Just a little bit too flexible, especially at the rear suspension hard points.
I didn't judge them against their competition "back in the day"...
Since I'm still running mine on-track, I get to measure it against later model cars, and it's about as fast as a base C6 or C5 Z06. Forget keeping up with C6 Z06's. I haven't encountered any C7's yet. Mine is not representative of a real C4, though. It's stripped down and not street legal, with a 6-point roll cage, and a lot of drivetrain and suspension modifications. It developed wicked oversteer when I put lower control arm relocation brackets on it and extensively lightened the rear. Then the rear end would step out when the throttle was opened mid-corner. I improved it a lot by putting on a smaller rear sway bar. The turn-in is now very slow, but I can put the power down at the apex of a turn, and the car doesn't act as if it wants to kill me.
Now my big complaint is lack of steering feel. It used to have excellent feedback through the wheel, but I think it went away when I put on a reproduction steering wheel.
I am sorry to say the C4's were not very impressive at a road course...
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Back in their day, they were very good. They dominated the Escort Showroom Stock endurance series, with Morrison-Cook Motorsports winning just about everything. C4 Corvette's won multiple SS-GT national championships in SCCA competition. Mine was a sweet-handling car until I tried to make it faster, then it got nasty.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Yes. They had a nasty tendency to go off the course backwards. Not something you forget! Just a little bit too flexible, especially at the rear suspension hard points.
I didn't judge them against their competition "back in the day"...
Since I'm still running mine on-track, I get to measure it against later model cars, and it's about as fast as a base C6 or C5 Z06. Forget keeping up with C6 Z06's. I haven't encountered any C7's yet. Mine is not representative of a real C4, though. It's stripped down and not street legal, with a 6-point roll cage, and a lot of drivetrain and suspension modifications. It developed wicked oversteer when I put lower control arm relocation brackets on it and extensively lightened the rear. Then the rear end would step out when the throttle was opened mid-corner. I improved it a lot by putting on a smaller rear sway bar. The turn-in is now very slow, but I can put the power down at the apex of a turn, and the car doesn't act as if it wants to kill me.
Now my big complaint is lack of steering feel. It used to have excellent feedback through the wheel, but I think it went away when I put on a reproduction steering wheel.
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Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
I am sorry to say the C4's were not very impressive at a road course...
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Back in their day, they were very good. They dominated the Escort Showroom Stock endurance series, with Morrison-Cook Motorsports winning just about everything. C4 Corvette's won multiple SS-GT national championships in SCCA competition. Mine was a sweet-handling car until I tried to make it faster, then it got nasty.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Yes. They had a nasty tendency to go off the course backwards. Not something you forget! Just a little bit too flexible, especially at the rear suspension hard points.
I didn't judge them against their competition "back in the day"...
Since I'm still running mine on-track, I get to measure it against later model cars, and it's about as fast as a base C6 or C5 Z06. Forget keeping up with C6 Z06's. I haven't encountered any C7's yet. Mine is not representative of a real C4, though. It's stripped down and not street legal, with a 6-point roll cage, and a lot of drivetrain and suspension modifications. It developed wicked oversteer when I put lower control arm relocation brackets on it and extensively lightened the rear. Then the rear end would step out when the throttle was opened mid-corner. I improved it a lot by putting on a smaller rear sway bar. The turn-in is now very slow, but I can put the power down at the apex of a turn, and the car doesn't act as if it wants to kill me.
Now my big complaint is lack of steering feel. It used to have excellent feedback through the wheel, but I think it went away when I put on a reproduction steering wheel.
Bravo, nothings more fun than kicking a newer car's butt at the track!
I wish I could remember the name of the company I bought aftermarket suspension bushings from. They had a kit that really helped the steering feel in my C5's, cheap and effective. They were real "skittery" trying to put the power down out of a corner, too, but good tires and a bit of tweaking the rear alignment helped a lot...
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
I am sorry to say the C4's were not very impressive at a road course...
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Back in their day, they were very good. They dominated the Escort Showroom Stock endurance series, with Morrison-Cook Motorsports winning just about everything. C4 Corvette's won multiple SS-GT national championships in SCCA competition. Mine was a sweet-handling car until I tried to make it faster, then it got nasty.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Yes. They had a nasty tendency to go off the course backwards. Not something you forget! Just a little bit too flexible, especially at the rear suspension hard points.
I didn't judge them against their competition "back in the day"...
Since I'm still running mine on-track, I get to measure it against later model cars, and it's about as fast as a base C6 or C5 Z06. Forget keeping up with C6 Z06's. I haven't encountered any C7's yet. Mine is not representative of a real C4, though. It's stripped down and not street legal, with a 6-point roll cage, and a lot of drivetrain and suspension modifications. It developed wicked oversteer when I put lower control arm relocation brackets on it and extensively lightened the rear. Then the rear end would step out when the throttle was opened mid-corner. I improved it a lot by putting on a smaller rear sway bar. The turn-in is now very slow, but I can put the power down at the apex of a turn, and the car doesn't act as if it wants to kill me.
Now my big complaint is lack of steering feel. It used to have excellent feedback through the wheel, but I think it went away when I put on a reproduction steering wheel.
Bravo, nothings more fun than kicking a newer car's butt at the track!
I wish I could remember the name of the company I bought aftermarket suspension bushings from. They had a kit that really helped the steering feel in my C5's, cheap and effective. They were real "skittery" trying to put the power down out of a corner, too, but good tires and a bit of tweaking the rear alignment helped a lot...
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