by "Baeromez" (Baeromez)
Published 03/19/2017 at 01:01
by "Baeromez" (Baeromez)
Published 03/19/2017 at 01:01
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STARS: 3
I’m very seriously considering buying a cheap C4 , not necessarily either of these . I’m looking to spend like $4-$6k initially, and the same again in repairs/upgrades. Long term plans are an LS swap, mild suspension ( maybe coilovers), and wheels & tires.
Any advice/experiences?
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
03/19/2017 at 01:36, STARS: 0
I am in the same exact position. I think they’re super cool and would make a great first track build on a budget. The only thing I’ve heard is don’t get the years with the crossfire injection (82-84 I think). My list would be the same as yours for track stuff; coilovers, sticky rubber, cooling system upgrades and GO. Also... the doug nash 4+3 is a total disaster from what I’ve heard. And the late model 6 speeds are hard to find/more expensive so I think I’ll have to do a trans swap if I want to pick up a late model C4 with the 300HP motor at a reasonable price.
"Baeromez" (Baeromez)
03/19/2017 at 01:44, STARS: 1
Pretty similar ideas. I’m aiming for a street/weekend application myself, hence the motor swap. I figure if I plan on an LS/T56 swap, I’ll be able to cast a wider net and maybe get a better deal since it won’t matter which engine/trans I start with, so long as I can get it home and drive it around town for a few months.
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
03/19/2017 at 01:49, STARS: 1
Yeah it’d be so clutch to find a really good car for like $4k that just didn’t have the desirable drivetrain options. With the swap in mind, maybe you do want an automatic with the crossfire?
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
03/19/2017 at 01:54, STARS: 3
Why LS swap a C4 when C5's come with them and are almost as cheap? Ive seen C5 z06's in the 10-12k range, and you can find a C5 base car for cheaper.
"Rock Bottom" (rockbottom81)
03/19/2017 at 01:58, STARS: 5
My thoughts: If your plan is to end up spending $10k to $12k all-in, you’re pretty much into the dangerous part of C5 territory. No need for an LS swap then! C5 rides way better than C4, too. My old 99 was a perfect road tripper and commuter that got stupid good fuel economy and did track days (bro) like a champ. Parts are super easy to source, too.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
03/19/2017 at 02:04, STARS: 0
Pretty sure you can spend less than that and get a functional c4
"Baeromez" (Baeromez)
03/19/2017 at 02:16, STARS: 1
Good advice, thank you. I’ve looked at C5s, and I would love a C5. The key here is that I’ll be able to buy the car for ~$5k (hopefully more like $3500) and drive it for half a year without financing. No doubt more of a headache than just buying a C5, but I think it could be fun.
"El Darto" (el-darto)
03/19/2017 at 03:13, STARS: 1
I bought one. It never runs. I’ve dumped about 3500 into it in the past 8 months to try to keep it running. It overheated and blew a head gasket last week, because the fans don’t even kick in till 230 degrees. I have to deal with that now. For a couple grand more, I could of bought a C5, and that’s what I just did. I’m selling mine, and I picked up an 02.
"Shift24" (the-nope)
03/19/2017 at 03:18, STARS: 1
Buy the 92 and DON’T swap it. That is an LT1 (SB gen II) which they switched to in 92 which the Camaro and Firebirds went to in 93. They are not as well known as the LS (SB gen III) but it’s a good power plant with 300+ hp and torque. With upgrades the car can easily push 400+ no problem, just look at the C4 ZR1. It will be way cheaper in the long run plus the trans I think in these, the LT1 years, are the 4l60e or a 700r4 which are good trans and easy to rebuild. The early models came with the 4+3 Doug Nash which were junk. It would be stupid to swap it with an LS unless you are looking to reduce weight but these C4s only weighed 3.2k which isn’t bad.
Also saw in your comments you want to swap it with a T56. A T56 WILL match up to it if it’s out of a 93 to 97 F-body (camaro/Fbird) as again they had LT1s which were mated up to T56s
"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
03/19/2017 at 03:45, STARS: 0
Go with the LT1 engine and the 6-speed. These are all the base models from 1992 to 1996. I would recommend focusing on 1994 to 1996 as they have a vented optispark, which tend to fail a bit less if wet (like Gremlins). You can change it yourself and it will take you roughly 5 hours...
Great engine, plenty of power (300hp and 330lb/ft of torque). Smoothest gear shiter ever.
The chassis is where it lets you down a little... It would need reinforcement to really be any good. Stock, it’s very much of a chewing gum type of chassis... This means the targa top squeaks all the time. It also leaks fairly easily, even with new rubber seals...
Last thing, it is NOT a confortable car. Probably the worst of all the Corvettes.
I had C5 Z06 wheels on mine, they fit perfectly and make the car look a lot better too. Lots of space in the trunk too, as I used to sleep in mine and regulary go buy stuff way too big in Ikea. and last but not least, with proper tires, it’s a great fun car in the snow: http://oppositelock.kinja.com/living-with-a-sports-car-winter-canada-and-no-parkin-1513866963
"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
03/19/2017 at 03:47, STARS: 1
The LT5 from the Zr-1 is a complete different engine than the LT1... I had the LT1 btw. But the LT5 engine is 100% developped by Lotus and simply has nothing to do with the base engine.
"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
03/19/2017 at 07:04, STARS: 0
What engine did you have?? Had a LT1 that ran fantastically well with 170.000 miles on the clock.
"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
03/19/2017 at 09:00, STARS: 1
Find the Roadkill Vette Kart episode. Do that.
"Axial" (axial)
03/19/2017 at 14:25, STARS: 2
I have two, a ‘96 LT4 and a ‘90 ZR-1 (okay, well, technically the ‘96 is my father’s, now, but I drive it more than he does).
What is your intent with the car? Street driving, or do you plan to take it racing (not counting casual track day)?
If you want to take it racing, I would advise against it because there’s too much you’ll have to do to it to make it competitive, which means you’ll be racing against similarly modified cars that had a better starting point.
If you just want to build and have a cool car and a track day toy, then I would certainly recommend it. I have the following advice:
Start with as nice of a car as you possibly can ; there are tons of little things that can and will go wrong and you can bog yourself down in constant repairs if you cheap out.
Cars built between 1985 and 1989 are the cheapest to own and maintain; their interior and exterior components are simpler and less expensive and easier to find and the engine is basically a classic SBC with fuel injection so the aftermarket is second to none.
1984-1989 have the stiffest stock suspensions; if you want a track toy, getting one of those with Z51 (and a manual) can save you some money up front as upgrading the suspension will be less critical, though I’d generally avoid the 1984 for its L83 and the primitive ECM that prevents it from really being modified without going to carburetors (I have no idea how long you plan to drive the car in stock form); there’s actually nothing wrong with Crossfire from a reliability standpoint.
1989 is the first year for the 6-speed manual; it is much sturdier than the Doug Nash 4+3 that was available from L1984 through 1988 (though the 4+3 always makes me smile). The OEM dual-mass flywheel for the 6-speed, however, is no longer manufactured so it will have to be replaced with a noisier single-mass flywheel when time to change the clutch arrives.
1992 was the first year for the LT1; this engine and its later LT4 (1996) counterpart have a lot of untapped potential so I would think twice before immediately going in for an LS-swap.
Mind the OptiSpark on the LT1- and LT4-powered cars; it is rugged enough, especially if you have a car with a vented one (1994+, I believe), but it is right underneath the water pump and if that fails, you normally have to replace the OptiSpark with it...aftermarket OptiSparks units have a reputation for being inferior to the original so, YMMV. It is basically a glorified distributor, too, so those drawbacks still apply. I believe there are coil ignition upgrade kits, but you’ll still need to mechanically time it.
If the car you are looking at has the FX3 active suspension, and you care about that feature, make sure the car still has the actuators capping each shock because they are expensive as hell; IIRC, you can actually use the FX3 shocks with coilovers, too.
If the car you are looking at has the F45 active suspension (1996 only), and it doesn’t work anymore, you are basically SOL because there’s no aftermarket or even refurbished support at all. Fixed-ratio from there on!
C5 and C6 brakes will fit onto a C4 and there are upgrade kits available, but you can’t use the OEM wheels with them unless they are the 17" A-molds.
The C4 chassis is very flexible; GM ordered that the C4 be a targa-top car at the last minute, so the roof is a major structural member and it gets noodly with it off.
All of that said, unless you are married to the looks of a C4 it is probably a much better idea to start with a C5, even if your intent with the former is to avoid financing.
"Rock Bottom" (rockbottom81)
03/19/2017 at 15:13, STARS: 0
I 100% understand where you’re coming from! Starting with an inexpensive C4 would certainly give you the flexibility to build it up into whatever you want. You can take it to “track rat”, boulevard cruiser, reliable daily, or any other direction. I’ve often thought of building a wide body C4 race replica to do track days. I remember them racing in endurance races when I was a kid and always thought a C4 in warpaint looks wicked!
"El Darto" (el-darto)
03/19/2017 at 19:33, STARS: 0
L98. I have had so many issues with the TPI setup. That and the 4+3 is no bueno .
"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
03/19/2017 at 19:57, STARS: 0
Ouch, yeah I understand now... If you want another setup, go with the lt1 and the 6 speed. Much, much more reliable, the only problem you’ll have will be due to the optispark that got wet.
"xyzabc" (stackofoldwood)
03/26/2017 at 07:00, STARS: 2
...Chevy never produced an official 1983 model Corvette.
"verdon" (verdon)
04/04/2018 at 02:57, STARS: 0
My uncle got one back in the days and it was always fun to take on a long road trip. Very reliable car.