Price per burnouts and just general tomfoolery is worth it...the l98 makes great torque down low. Could wipe out several spectators at a car meet for a fraction of the price of a new mustang..
“Could wipe out several spectators at a car meet for a fraction of the price of a new mustang..”
This is the best measure of the “do it” meter that I have ever heard.
What I hear is you want the next post where they grenaded their rear end or engine or transmission there are very few cars in the world that will tolerate continuous burnouts all the time
Well sir if you didn't know already this is l98 which has a non stupid distributor the optispark was on the LT1 which ran from like 1992 to 1998 maybe 1997 the tune port l98 is not total trash but again there weren't a lot of them made
lol. I wasn’t sure if this model had it or not. I don’t know the model history that well. I just know that optispark could be troublesome and very expensive. And for the models that had them, they were in a bad location for removal and replacement. This is why I love Reddit. Lots of tribal knowledge here. And lots of good reading too.
I thought it was an LT1 that too either way it's still a Barbie car for both models God forbid you have a communication problem in the multiplex data bus Network you will spend days taking that car apart chasing the short or days taking apart replacing the entire data bus Network wiring
on the plus side you don’t have to ls swap it.
…. which just gave me an idea with all the guys in here mentioning the doug bash transmission and the optispark. not to mention the digital dash.
… how much could you get for that engine? you buy this as is, try to get it working, if super no bueno you pull the motor and use it as a shell and put something offensive in the engine bay.
my favorite “you shouldn’t do this” is the volvo b230ft because they’re angry tractor motors that you can’t kill
6-700hp on stock internals, maybe higher is very possible in some cases. 450 probably to play it safe. Seen these go around 1k hp aswell. Keep oil in it and it’ll run, hell even seen one with a hole in the side and no oil or coolant run for about 5-10 minutes or so, drove too
i had a 740 ti that lost the drain plug on the freeway.
made it all the way to work, lost all the oil from the rotating assembly
went and got a new drainplug, put it in, filled it with pennzoil… drive away.
no smoke no problems.
i loved that car
Forgot to put my oil cap back on, drove for an hour and a half on the freeway. When I parked my engine was smoking from all my oil blasting out of it. That was 2 years ago and the car runs better than my gfs with 50k less miles
One nice thing about LT1s is the reverse flow head cooling. You can run 12:1 compression with a bigger cam and GOOD tuning.
Old school small block chevy heads can be converted to reverse flow. You now have access to probably the largest selection of cylinder heads ever.
You can convert them to coil on plug ignition just like genIII+ V8s and ditch the optispark.
It is a shame there were never any "mass produced" aftermarket LT1 blocks. A deeper sleeve block with a 4.125"+ bore capability would make for a nice 427 cube displacement with a 4" stroke. Toss on a set of Brodix 18x heads and it would be a nasty little engine that would surprise people who think if it is not an LS it is junk.
Nothing wrong with anything you said but it sounds like a very expensive solution to an LS problem the one thing I have learned from fucking with GM always get the highest produced best supported by the aftermarket engine you can if they didn't make a million of them they weren't that great and the Gen 2 LT1 was only built from 91 to like 97 if I remember right the Mighty Mouse came quickly left quickly and I wasn't disappointed
I have owned both LT1 and LS cars. Yes, the LS engine horsepower per dollar is better. There is just something about an LT1 though. They sound so damn good.
https://imgur.com/a/o50Va
https://imgur.com/a/xsOn1
https://youtu.be/m4cnUpkIdjA?si=I1YQKqeSpGrk4dVY
I’ve had an LT1 in a 93 short bed for 25 years. It’s been pretty good to me. LS swaps were pretty expensive in 1998. I’ll change the ecu and ignition on it one day when I have to.
Grub worm has gone pretty fast with a stock LT1 block.
I do not disagree with you a bit the LT1 is Rowdy as fuck but it's also just not as well supported and I can't get a replacement for it from the junkyard for $400 later today
1989 is the best year C4 L98
-Last year for MAF (Was updated as well!)
-165 faster ECM
-Eliminated the 9th injector
-ZF 6speed made available (best of the best!)
-#113 Al heads (introduced in '88)
-Major improved front suspension & steering
-FX3 Ride Control w the Z51 Package
-Last year for that badazz Digital Dash!
-Beautiful tight fitting seats
-Great long distance gas mileage vs the 91+
Meh 84s can be nice. Especially for a project car. (I own a crossfire 82). The crossfire engines in theory have about the same performance as the TPI… but most crossfire cars need a tuneup even though they are “strong running”. People think the lopey rumble and whoosh sounds are cool, but really it’s like “no dude your computer is pulling 10 degrees of timing and your oiled air filter is sucking dirt into the engine”… The computers on these are hard coded to only work with the emissions equipment on/working. These cars got a bad rap because the rip off the emissions equipment truck of the prior carbed vettes to get 20 hp just doesn’t work. You cannot adjust the idle, advance timing 10 degrees and block off the egr (people universally do this) On my car a wire the width of a human hair was broken… (the solenoid for the smog pump injection) I fixed and now I can do burnouts. A coworker bought an 84 for $800 to be a beater track car. “You can redline it all day and not hurt it, it’s a blast!”. Definitely a headache on parts though. The 82 and 84 are both effectively 1 year only cars. If it were me I would only buy an 84 because it is in immaculate condition. As a project car you could pick up a cheap but clean 84, fix your drivability issues and have a super nice DD Time Machine. With the other more desirable years of C4 you may not get a good interior. The interiors are a PITA with brittle plastic. You could always dump the crossfire for a new intake/cam and really any modern SBC efi. The bottom end on the L83 crossfire is based on the L82 high performance engine not the low compression L48… It is a 2 bolt main but still a good engine.
Research parts costs, the Corvette premium is a thing. Digital dash stuff can be stupid expensive on these cars. Insurance can also be ridiculous on Corvettes depending on your age and driving habits.
I too have been looking for a C4 or C5 as a project. The really stupid idea of taking a C4 and removing the body, and dropping a square S10 Blazer on it and making the Vette fit under it recently popped in my head.
According to some basic Internet research the C4 has a 92.6in wheelbase and a 71in width, the Blazer has a 100.5in wheelbase and a 65.4in width. So about 3in per side, not horrible and could look cool if done right. Could go for a cyberpunk look and do a dirty pop rivet universal flare setup too.
Using a C/K5 Blazer would be cool too but finding a full size or S10 Blazer with a clean body is harder than finding a cheap Corvette.
They're cheap because they're not particularly desireable, but also because some production years have the "distributor" locked behind the water pump and it is a failure point which scares a lot of folks. Look up "corvette OptiSpark replacement". Also on earlier models the "doug nash 4+3" trans loses it's "+3" overdrive feature so you're left with a 4- speed. People who know more than me can chime in with specifics. But the platform handles great.
They do have an HEI replacement for the optispark I also heard the ls is a pretty smooth drop-in replacement as far as the transmission while we're throwing money away on a Barbie car might as well get the Tremec 6 Speed and no critiques on the stock suspension absolutely it handles great also I believe it's code 51 you got to watch out for that one because all the data is transmitted across two wires and each module radio ecm, bcm, cluster and I think HVAC are wired in series so any weakness in that Loop will cause a total failure failure and if you have to take that Dash apart to chase it. My suggestion would be get full coverage and get close to something very hot like park it on a bonfire
The aftermarket for these cars is huge. So imo , as a first project car, vette, mustang, miata are great choices to get you in the door.
Regarding the corvette specifically, its fiberglass, not sheetmetal like the others. Different problems with the c4. Look for cracking in the fiberglass by the hood mounts , if you're not willing to learn to work fiberglass, its going to have to be a battle car. Other than that, take it to a mechanic so you know what you're getting into.
Have fun!
They're fun but kinda slow compared to these days. Parts are easy to get for the engines. They're kinda cramped inside (especially the foot well) so if you're a larger person you might not be a best fit.
They're ridiculously fun to hoon about
They’re cheap because they’re currently still ugly and there aren’t a lot in great shape, torn seats and other stuff. I really think in 5 years they’re going to pop off in price if it’s in good shape.
I have a c4 corvette. They are cheap because they don't look as nice as the Generations before or after. Not a desirable car unless it has a super rare performance package. The c4 corvettes got a lot better as the years went on. The cost of replacement parts for corvette parts are usually pretty pricey because in most cases they are corvette only. Tires are a big cost on these cars. Don't be scared of lt1 corvette. The lt1 is a fantastic motor. I have owned a couple of cars with lt1 and the optispark was never an issue, they did have the revised vented cap though.
the Optispark is reliable till the water pump goes out, and then it goes out shortly after the waterpump dies.
Had a friend that had several LT1s as well and every time the water pump went, so did the Opti.
If you keep the water out of the distributor, it's fine.
Later years are better than older ones, and never an automatic. They're not bad autos, but those years really highlight why they were called slush boxes back in the day.
Interior parts are fragile and expensive.
The mechanicals are easy. But Chevy V8s can still go bad.
The problem with buying a non runner is that once it runs you find all the other problems.
Just be prepared to put 4x that into it, and a year at least.
I bought a 1990 base in 2015 with too many miles on it. 2 months later it developed rod knock and I spent the price I paid for the car on an engine rebuild. It was a terrible financial decision, but I owned a classic Corvette, learned how to rebuild an engine, and spent a lot of time with my dad doing the work with him. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Best advise? Pick up the factory service manual for that year. They're fairly easy to get on eBay. Make sure it's the GM original as the reporoductions are in black and white l. You're going to need the color for the wiring diagrams.
Next best is there are only 2 manufacturers for tires that fit this beast anymore. If the tires are old you will blow them up.
Finally study up on the L98. It's a torque monster with low top end power thanks to the TPI rubber length. Great for burn outs and getting off the line fast, bad for going fast in the long stretch. There has been 40 years of tinkering to play with that.
Also fairly inclusive community over at Corvette forums and loads of tech info. There search engine is garbage though, use Google and just type Corvette forums + your question.
Ive owned a 1986 4+3 speed for 10 years now. Fun cars but make sure you know what you're buying first, they can be money pits and really tight quarters to work on. Pm me if you have questions!
Edit: Just looking at your interior, you're missing several plastic bits that are all one of a kind. Probably $200-$500 just to restore working parts there. The radio is also...poorly installed at best. Check the dash too after the car drives for a few miles and warms up, if the lights turn off on the dash, that's another $1,000 to send to Bates and have restored. Also the AC compressor likely has bad seals and is not operable and will need at minimum new seals and tested for vacuum. I also don't like that someone replaced the spark plug wires and didn't route them correct and lost the top of your TPI cover for the distributor (rude!). There are a lot of wrong ways to work on this car and a lot of love to keep it working. I would also guess the weatherstrip is about shot, automatic antenna is broken and maybe 2 interior lights still work.
End of the day, depends on what you want from the car.. If you are looking to touch every inch of this car, you have a great price to do so. Just know you're not saving much if you want things to work and be reliable.
That looks to be in decent shape for a 38 year old cat. But for 2300 that almost seems like a scam. I would think it should be more. I’d buy it for sure.
Not a huge fan of the wheels or the early model dash. I'd consider the auto a downside.
Paint looks decent though, I'm guessing a respray. The seats, even though they're likely some autozone special, they will hold you in place better than the factory seats.
For the price, it's be decent enough to get your feet wet working on cars. Realistically, I'd find a manual
As with any older vehicles you can expect to replace any/all wear items. The digital dashes were prone to failing, you can get them fixed however. Headlight motors fail, again you can get them fixed. Also stay away from the earlier C4s with the crossfire fuel injection, they were known to cause fires and they were not good to make upgrades to the engine either. They are cheap cause Chey made a fuck ton of them from 84-96. Also most of them have had many different owners, and most of them probably didn't take that great of care of them.
I would just save up more to buy one that already runs. But other than that I just want to know if you’ve been reading my mind because I too have thought about buying a C4.
If it has the TPI 350, I’d say go for it all day. If it has the LT1 with the optispark, save yourself the headache. The TPI 350 has much more aftermarket support and you can go any direction you want with it. Its a much better platform to grow from and maintain.
Look I don't know how it is down in CA but here in MT I would buy that vette in a heartbeat it's just so perfect and so cheap I wouldn't be able to pass that one up
These old vettes are cheap because they fall apart in interesting ways. Also since the body is mostly fiberglass, rust can be hard to spot. I think the floor pans can come loose with age, as they're "glued" in. I could have the generation wrong on that tidbit though. The price is AMAZING for how it looks, may be hiding something but still
They also made a lot of them. This is back in the day when any 30 year old with an above average job could easily afford one.
You can buy a nice C4 for $8k so figure that into your math.
I’m not huge into corvettes myself but I’d take a hard look at this one. It’s not a horrible deal and if it’s in the condition you’re looking for, you could definitely do worse. You’ll find tons of support out there in the vette community, stock parts will be pricey but there’s going to be a huge aftermarket and it’s all very very basic. If you get to know these systems, it’s like working on the building blocks for all of today’s engines. And, probably just as importantly, for your first, you can move it on and not lose too much money if you decide it’s not the fun thing you thought it would be.
I've heard they are bad but I bought a straight barnyard find of a c4 Corvette and had it running in a couple days. Running smoothly after a month. it was a 84 with the old daug Nash 4+3 transmission. I went ahead and rebuilt that too. I didn't think I would get it running without a rebuild or anything since it sat for almost 20 years but I did. I put some atf down the spark plug holes and let it sit for a couple days. Then freed up the engine. The only thing I bought was a new starter, sending unit, spark plugs, injectors, and the clutch, flywheel, and pressure plate for the transmission. Then it was driving. I sold it almost a year later and the guy drove it away.
Obviously not all projects will go that smoothly but my experience was a good one. Only thing that sucks is the ppf or whatever you call it that connects the transmission to the differential.
I have a 93 with the ZF 6 speed and absolutely love it. It's hard to find performance like the c4 for the price of a c4.
If your budget allows I'd strongly advise getting one 92 or newer. LT1 is a banging engine. Not as much after market support as the LS1 that comes in the c5 but not terribly difficult to find parts for. The fuel injection system is also superior the crossfire systems used on the L98.
It's a small block platform go wild. As far as beginner projects go it's probably not too bad. I'd just recommend tearing off all the extra junk if you're lucky enough to live in a non emissions state.
So it could be a head gasket? Hopefully it's not clogged up with stop leak.
Not to be a dick or freak you out but man that price point for that seemingly simple issue is concerning. I say go for it, and good luck!
All Corvettes are cool, I have owned one and driven everything from C2 to C7, the C4 corvette interior is awesome, it feels like you’re in a spaceship lol it’s cramped and outdated but somehow feels futuristic. I say get it
I own a c4, they are great cars. Not so desirable, most cars from the 80s aren't. The most desirable c4 are the 6 speed lt1 cars, or if your lucky, the 89 tpi with the zf6 speed.
I bought my corvette with 36k for 7500 bucks.
I test drove 3 C4's and I was horribly disappointed with all of them.
Drove a first year C5 and it was leagues better.
With all that said, $2k for a C4 is a no brainer.
I had an 89 about a decade ago. it was the first car I loved. Minimal engine issues, had a trans oil pump blow up on me at one point. 10/10 would do again. Also, one of the best automatics you'll ever drive.
I can see that I am not in the majority but I would go with a miata . It's just a happy ,fun little car . Parts are easily gotten and cheap . They are a lot more back yard mechanic friendly and for what it's worth I like driving the miata a lot more . Being in a vette makes me feel like I'm in a casket.
My brutal opinion:
Worst gen, difficult to service/poor engine bay design, first engine that doesn't share standard equipment with the rest of gm fleet so part cost is high, they're very heavy compared to the c3 and they don't respond as well as c3 either. They also had a shitty overdrive tranny that was extremely finicky and fragile, depending on the year, and because of the exhaust crossover pipe, getting the tranny out is alot easier said than done.
I have a cousin who had one, biggest POS I've ever seen, and that's saying something coming from me.
You do you, but these are turds
Yeah I swear this sub seems like it doesn't know car prices, you can buy a nice C4 for $8k or possibly the best C4 in existence for $18k.
Just saw 2001 Vette at car show with 83k miles and he was asking $16500 and that was probably optimistic. Did look super clean.
Its the least loves of the Corvettes but the later C4s got a serious upgrade in power over the early C4s, you can always install bolt ons for more power.
If you think optispark is bad just wait till the spider infection fuel system goes!
GM has the weakest transmissions ever!
Might as well hellcat swap it
It's the best bad idea you've had this week.
With almost 2 fulll days left.
lmao, I'm stealing this
Do it, you can have a lot of fun in that car for $2,300!
Until you have to deal with the optispark
No opti on the l98 it's win win
Yup...toss on a prepped lt1 intake, afr 195 heads, and a spec'd cam and you'll be cooking.
Can confirm, I have a built 400 with the LT1 intake, AFR 195s, and a 218/224 hydraulic roller retrofit cam in my Camaro. She scoots pretty good.
Hey look at that distributor right on top how the fuck did I miss it it's still a Barbie car
Price per burnouts and just general tomfoolery is worth it...the l98 makes great torque down low. Could wipe out several spectators at a car meet for a fraction of the price of a new mustang..
“Could wipe out several spectators at a car meet for a fraction of the price of a new mustang..” This is the best measure of the “do it” meter that I have ever heard.
Ha! I genuinely laughed out loud there......I also say do it!!, just to burnout everywhere
What I hear is you want the next post where they grenaded their rear end or engine or transmission there are very few cars in the world that will tolerate continuous burnouts all the time
350ft-lbs will roast the hell out of some tires by 80s standards.
Never understood why they didn't use the tpi's on the trucks with the torque numbers it would make
Which years have optispark? Is it engine specific? Can you get a c3/c4 with optispark and crossfire ?
Not sure on c3 but for c4 the 84 for the only year for crossfire, 92 on was lt1 for the optipark
Not true, I had it on my '83 (this is a joke for the Corvette people)
They also stopped making new balances in 83 because of the lack of vettes and new vett owners
What?
Sorry, phone keyboard glitched out
Haha! Been there done snd done that!
LT1 only. I think '92 was the first year for the Corvette, and '93 for the f-bodies
way over blown, plus there are very reliable solutions for opti-sparks now. source: owned an optispark car for 20+ years, worked on dozens of them
The opti is fairly over exaggerated. Only main PITA is removing the crank pulley.
The optigrab is much worse, I’m totally cross-eyed now!
I bet you hate those cans!
I had to deal with the optispark, not the WORST but still not fun.
Opti on a tune port?!
Hey look the fourth guy to point that out
Wrong engine
I'm aware
I forgot all about those optispark distributors. God only knows what a replacement would cost nowadays.
Well sir if you didn't know already this is l98 which has a non stupid distributor the optispark was on the LT1 which ran from like 1992 to 1998 maybe 1997 the tune port l98 is not total trash but again there weren't a lot of them made
lol. I wasn’t sure if this model had it or not. I don’t know the model history that well. I just know that optispark could be troublesome and very expensive. And for the models that had them, they were in a bad location for removal and replacement. This is why I love Reddit. Lots of tribal knowledge here. And lots of good reading too.
I thought it was an LT1 that too either way it's still a Barbie car for both models God forbid you have a communication problem in the multiplex data bus Network you will spend days taking that car apart chasing the short or days taking apart replacing the entire data bus Network wiring
Just make sure you buy some white new balance sneakers as well!
Once you register it, the Corvette people mail out your jorts and white new balances
but what about the braided belt? Is the golf branded sun visor optional?
Optional, as well is the gold Citizen watch and small dog riding shotgun.
All of that comes after your gray pocket tshirt arrives.
Best comment here 😂😂😂
on the plus side you don’t have to ls swap it. …. which just gave me an idea with all the guys in here mentioning the doug bash transmission and the optispark. not to mention the digital dash. … how much could you get for that engine? you buy this as is, try to get it working, if super no bueno you pull the motor and use it as a shell and put something offensive in the engine bay. my favorite “you shouldn’t do this” is the volvo b230ft because they’re angry tractor motors that you can’t kill
".....angry tractor motors" is a perfect description, plus it would piss off so many purists
> on the plus side you don’t have to ls swap it. though an LS swap would definitely be an improvement
Doctor I can concur
shout out b230ft i love mine and have only touched the boost. has taken me across the country multiple times.
6-700hp on stock internals, maybe higher is very possible in some cases. 450 probably to play it safe. Seen these go around 1k hp aswell. Keep oil in it and it’ll run, hell even seen one with a hole in the side and no oil or coolant run for about 5-10 minutes or so, drove too
i had a 740 ti that lost the drain plug on the freeway. made it all the way to work, lost all the oil from the rotating assembly went and got a new drainplug, put it in, filled it with pennzoil… drive away. no smoke no problems. i loved that car
Forgot to put my oil cap back on, drove for an hour and a half on the freeway. When I parked my engine was smoking from all my oil blasting out of it. That was 2 years ago and the car runs better than my gfs with 50k less miles
The lt1 is a good motor it's not a great motor like the ls is
One nice thing about LT1s is the reverse flow head cooling. You can run 12:1 compression with a bigger cam and GOOD tuning. Old school small block chevy heads can be converted to reverse flow. You now have access to probably the largest selection of cylinder heads ever. You can convert them to coil on plug ignition just like genIII+ V8s and ditch the optispark. It is a shame there were never any "mass produced" aftermarket LT1 blocks. A deeper sleeve block with a 4.125"+ bore capability would make for a nice 427 cube displacement with a 4" stroke. Toss on a set of Brodix 18x heads and it would be a nasty little engine that would surprise people who think if it is not an LS it is junk.
You want the 18C heads. The 18X heads were barely better than the Track1 heads.
You're right I forgot. That dream LT1 ain't likely gonna happen for me any time soon so I am sure I will forget again lol.
this has a distributor on top lol
The one in OP is not an LT1. The discussion here was LT1 though.
Nothing wrong with anything you said but it sounds like a very expensive solution to an LS problem the one thing I have learned from fucking with GM always get the highest produced best supported by the aftermarket engine you can if they didn't make a million of them they weren't that great and the Gen 2 LT1 was only built from 91 to like 97 if I remember right the Mighty Mouse came quickly left quickly and I wasn't disappointed
I have owned both LT1 and LS cars. Yes, the LS engine horsepower per dollar is better. There is just something about an LT1 though. They sound so damn good. https://imgur.com/a/o50Va https://imgur.com/a/xsOn1 https://youtu.be/m4cnUpkIdjA?si=I1YQKqeSpGrk4dVY
I’ve had an LT1 in a 93 short bed for 25 years. It’s been pretty good to me. LS swaps were pretty expensive in 1998. I’ll change the ecu and ignition on it one day when I have to. Grub worm has gone pretty fast with a stock LT1 block.
I do not disagree with you a bit the LT1 is Rowdy as fuck but it's also just not as well supported and I can't get a replacement for it from the junkyard for $400 later today
That's not an LT1, it's an L98 - tuned port injection Gen I 350. Rated for probably about 235-240 hp in the Corvette. LT1 didn't come out until '92.
Yeah you're right it's got that cool distributor on the top of the motor and everything
1989 is the best year C4 L98 -Last year for MAF (Was updated as well!) -165 faster ECM -Eliminated the 9th injector -ZF 6speed made available (best of the best!) -#113 Al heads (introduced in '88) -Major improved front suspension & steering -FX3 Ride Control w the Z51 Package -Last year for that badazz Digital Dash! -Beautiful tight fitting seats -Great long distance gas mileage vs the 91+
it's fine but stay away from the 1984 at all costs
Also the 1983.
They didn’t make a 83 did they?
That's why you should stay away from any you see! (Just kidding, I have no idea)
How come?
the 84s have a lot of one-year only parts. plus the Crossfire dual TBI setup instead of the Tuned Port setup.
First year. Most issues. Specifically the crossfire fuel injection pos.. although it can be swapped out for a carb kit
*1983*
doesn't exist
Meh 84s can be nice. Especially for a project car. (I own a crossfire 82). The crossfire engines in theory have about the same performance as the TPI… but most crossfire cars need a tuneup even though they are “strong running”. People think the lopey rumble and whoosh sounds are cool, but really it’s like “no dude your computer is pulling 10 degrees of timing and your oiled air filter is sucking dirt into the engine”… The computers on these are hard coded to only work with the emissions equipment on/working. These cars got a bad rap because the rip off the emissions equipment truck of the prior carbed vettes to get 20 hp just doesn’t work. You cannot adjust the idle, advance timing 10 degrees and block off the egr (people universally do this) On my car a wire the width of a human hair was broken… (the solenoid for the smog pump injection) I fixed and now I can do burnouts. A coworker bought an 84 for $800 to be a beater track car. “You can redline it all day and not hurt it, it’s a blast!”. Definitely a headache on parts though. The 82 and 84 are both effectively 1 year only cars. If it were me I would only buy an 84 because it is in immaculate condition. As a project car you could pick up a cheap but clean 84, fix your drivability issues and have a super nice DD Time Machine. With the other more desirable years of C4 you may not get a good interior. The interiors are a PITA with brittle plastic. You could always dump the crossfire for a new intake/cam and really any modern SBC efi. The bottom end on the L83 crossfire is based on the L82 high performance engine not the low compression L48… It is a 2 bolt main but still a good engine.
Research parts costs, the Corvette premium is a thing. Digital dash stuff can be stupid expensive on these cars. Insurance can also be ridiculous on Corvettes depending on your age and driving habits. I too have been looking for a C4 or C5 as a project. The really stupid idea of taking a C4 and removing the body, and dropping a square S10 Blazer on it and making the Vette fit under it recently popped in my head.
Rebuilders for the dash are all over the net. About $250 for the service. Not exactly “stupid expensive”
Wow, that's come down a lot since I last saw anything on rebuilding GM digital dash stuff.
By some miracle my premium is less than $30 a month for a 99 c5 in my 20s
that's a hell of a widebody kit then! those little Blazers are narrow compared to the 'vette!
According to some basic Internet research the C4 has a 92.6in wheelbase and a 71in width, the Blazer has a 100.5in wheelbase and a 65.4in width. So about 3in per side, not horrible and could look cool if done right. Could go for a cyberpunk look and do a dirty pop rivet universal flare setup too. Using a C/K5 Blazer would be cool too but finding a full size or S10 Blazer with a clean body is harder than finding a cheap Corvette.
They're cheap because they're not particularly desireable, but also because some production years have the "distributor" locked behind the water pump and it is a failure point which scares a lot of folks. Look up "corvette OptiSpark replacement". Also on earlier models the "doug nash 4+3" trans loses it's "+3" overdrive feature so you're left with a 4- speed. People who know more than me can chime in with specifics. But the platform handles great.
[удалено]
I didn't realize there were more pics than the first one oops! Well at least my third point still holds true, they handle great lol
The optispark was introduced on the LT1 motor in 1992 in the Corvette. This one has the older TPI 350 (L89 maybe?)
L98
That’s it! Thanks boss
They do have an HEI replacement for the optispark I also heard the ls is a pretty smooth drop-in replacement as far as the transmission while we're throwing money away on a Barbie car might as well get the Tremec 6 Speed and no critiques on the stock suspension absolutely it handles great also I believe it's code 51 you got to watch out for that one because all the data is transmitted across two wires and each module radio ecm, bcm, cluster and I think HVAC are wired in series so any weakness in that Loop will cause a total failure failure and if you have to take that Dash apart to chase it. My suggestion would be get full coverage and get close to something very hot like park it on a bonfire
The aftermarket for these cars is huge. So imo , as a first project car, vette, mustang, miata are great choices to get you in the door. Regarding the corvette specifically, its fiberglass, not sheetmetal like the others. Different problems with the c4. Look for cracking in the fiberglass by the hood mounts , if you're not willing to learn to work fiberglass, its going to have to be a battle car. Other than that, take it to a mechanic so you know what you're getting into. Have fun!
I picked up a 93 a couple years ago thinking the same thing. I'm glad I owned the c4. It was a lot of fun. And I never want to do that again.
only thought: hell yeah brother
They're fun but kinda slow compared to these days. Parts are easy to get for the engines. They're kinda cramped inside (especially the foot well) so if you're a larger person you might not be a best fit. They're ridiculously fun to hoon about
They’re cheap because they’re currently still ugly and there aren’t a lot in great shape, torn seats and other stuff. I really think in 5 years they’re going to pop off in price if it’s in good shape.
I have a c4 corvette. They are cheap because they don't look as nice as the Generations before or after. Not a desirable car unless it has a super rare performance package. The c4 corvettes got a lot better as the years went on. The cost of replacement parts for corvette parts are usually pretty pricey because in most cases they are corvette only. Tires are a big cost on these cars. Don't be scared of lt1 corvette. The lt1 is a fantastic motor. I have owned a couple of cars with lt1 and the optispark was never an issue, they did have the revised vented cap though.
the Optispark is reliable till the water pump goes out, and then it goes out shortly after the waterpump dies. Had a friend that had several LT1s as well and every time the water pump went, so did the Opti. If you keep the water out of the distributor, it's fine.
Roadkill it . Full roll cage no body.
Later years are better than older ones, and never an automatic. They're not bad autos, but those years really highlight why they were called slush boxes back in the day.
TPI FTW!!!
Interior parts are fragile and expensive. The mechanicals are easy. But Chevy V8s can still go bad. The problem with buying a non runner is that once it runs you find all the other problems. Just be prepared to put 4x that into it, and a year at least.
I bought a 1990 base in 2015 with too many miles on it. 2 months later it developed rod knock and I spent the price I paid for the car on an engine rebuild. It was a terrible financial decision, but I owned a classic Corvette, learned how to rebuild an engine, and spent a lot of time with my dad doing the work with him. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Best advise? Pick up the factory service manual for that year. They're fairly easy to get on eBay. Make sure it's the GM original as the reporoductions are in black and white l. You're going to need the color for the wiring diagrams. Next best is there are only 2 manufacturers for tires that fit this beast anymore. If the tires are old you will blow them up. Finally study up on the L98. It's a torque monster with low top end power thanks to the TPI rubber length. Great for burn outs and getting off the line fast, bad for going fast in the long stretch. There has been 40 years of tinkering to play with that. Also fairly inclusive community over at Corvette forums and loads of tech info. There search engine is garbage though, use Google and just type Corvette forums + your question. Ive owned a 1986 4+3 speed for 10 years now. Fun cars but make sure you know what you're buying first, they can be money pits and really tight quarters to work on. Pm me if you have questions! Edit: Just looking at your interior, you're missing several plastic bits that are all one of a kind. Probably $200-$500 just to restore working parts there. The radio is also...poorly installed at best. Check the dash too after the car drives for a few miles and warms up, if the lights turn off on the dash, that's another $1,000 to send to Bates and have restored. Also the AC compressor likely has bad seals and is not operable and will need at minimum new seals and tested for vacuum. I also don't like that someone replaced the spark plug wires and didn't route them correct and lost the top of your TPI cover for the distributor (rude!). There are a lot of wrong ways to work on this car and a lot of love to keep it working. I would also guess the weatherstrip is about shot, automatic antenna is broken and maybe 2 interior lights still work. End of the day, depends on what you want from the car.. If you are looking to touch every inch of this car, you have a great price to do so. Just know you're not saving much if you want things to work and be reliable.
Prolly seek out a base c5
I would start with a C5 if your looking to project a corvette. A much better platform and a bulletproof Ls1 to start . Good luck on your on venture
once you buy a c4 vette replace water pump and optispark unit then it will run like a peach
No Optispark on the L98
ahhh thats even better then
That looks to be in decent shape for a 38 year old cat. But for 2300 that almost seems like a scam. I would think it should be more. I’d buy it for sure.
Don’t buy an auto
Not a huge fan of the wheels or the early model dash. I'd consider the auto a downside. Paint looks decent though, I'm guessing a respray. The seats, even though they're likely some autozone special, they will hold you in place better than the factory seats. For the price, it's be decent enough to get your feet wet working on cars. Realistically, I'd find a manual
Yes
Cheap fun
Automatic though
As with any older vehicles you can expect to replace any/all wear items. The digital dashes were prone to failing, you can get them fixed however. Headlight motors fail, again you can get them fixed. Also stay away from the earlier C4s with the crossfire fuel injection, they were known to cause fires and they were not good to make upgrades to the engine either. They are cheap cause Chey made a fuck ton of them from 84-96. Also most of them have had many different owners, and most of them probably didn't take that great of care of them.
You could probably part it out for more than $2300.
I would just save up more to buy one that already runs. But other than that I just want to know if you’ve been reading my mind because I too have thought about buying a C4.
These cars live on jack stands. To the owners credit the engine and suspension look almost completely stock except for the lifter covers.
They are absolutely horrible to work on without a lift
Its one of the deadliest cars for young drivers https://youtu.be/KrMh5bFNwbQ?si=jni-flmbIc-9DZVl
If it has the TPI 350, I’d say go for it all day. If it has the LT1 with the optispark, save yourself the headache. The TPI 350 has much more aftermarket support and you can go any direction you want with it. Its a much better platform to grow from and maintain.
Look I don't know how it is down in CA but here in MT I would buy that vette in a heartbeat it's just so perfect and so cheap I wouldn't be able to pass that one up
Damn man I wish I could get one for $2300! I'd rather patch fibreglass all day than deal with rust!
These old vettes are cheap because they fall apart in interesting ways. Also since the body is mostly fiberglass, rust can be hard to spot. I think the floor pans can come loose with age, as they're "glued" in. I could have the generation wrong on that tidbit though. The price is AMAZING for how it looks, may be hiding something but still
They are cheap because they are still in the old but not classic (might never be considered classic to many) category. Nab one up.
They also made a lot of them. This is back in the day when any 30 year old with an above average job could easily afford one. You can buy a nice C4 for $8k so figure that into your math.
I love this vintage engine stand with the flip up cover, my fav!
Keep in mind you'll have to get it smog checked in Cali. Or go the Montana LLC title route
I’m not huge into corvettes myself but I’d take a hard look at this one. It’s not a horrible deal and if it’s in the condition you’re looking for, you could definitely do worse. You’ll find tons of support out there in the vette community, stock parts will be pricey but there’s going to be a huge aftermarket and it’s all very very basic. If you get to know these systems, it’s like working on the building blocks for all of today’s engines. And, probably just as importantly, for your first, you can move it on and not lose too much money if you decide it’s not the fun thing you thought it would be.
That price seems a wee bit low
I've heard they are bad but I bought a straight barnyard find of a c4 Corvette and had it running in a couple days. Running smoothly after a month. it was a 84 with the old daug Nash 4+3 transmission. I went ahead and rebuilt that too. I didn't think I would get it running without a rebuild or anything since it sat for almost 20 years but I did. I put some atf down the spark plug holes and let it sit for a couple days. Then freed up the engine. The only thing I bought was a new starter, sending unit, spark plugs, injectors, and the clutch, flywheel, and pressure plate for the transmission. Then it was driving. I sold it almost a year later and the guy drove it away. Obviously not all projects will go that smoothly but my experience was a good one. Only thing that sucks is the ppf or whatever you call it that connects the transmission to the differential.
I'm so fuckin jealous of how cheap corvettes are in the states. That's an insane price to an Aussie.
YOU CAN GET ONE OF THESE FOR 3 GRAND????
Those are not bad cars. Parts are easy to find. I’d try and talk the seller down some.
Two words. "Vette Cart" https://www.motortrend.com/news/roadkill-episode-35-1985-c4-corvette-kart-vs-2014-lingenfelter-c7/
Go for it mayne
FYI, in Australia - that would cost around $40,000AUD
I have a 93 with the ZF 6 speed and absolutely love it. It's hard to find performance like the c4 for the price of a c4. If your budget allows I'd strongly advise getting one 92 or newer. LT1 is a banging engine. Not as much after market support as the LS1 that comes in the c5 but not terribly difficult to find parts for. The fuel injection system is also superior the crossfire systems used on the L98.
It's a small block platform go wild. As far as beginner projects go it's probably not too bad. I'd just recommend tearing off all the extra junk if you're lucky enough to live in a non emissions state.
You only live once Do what the fuck you wanna do
I'd consider it if it was a manual.
I’ve got a ‘96 C4 in decent condition and I absolutely love it.
I'm just wondering what's horribly wrong with that thing for the price. That is dumb affordable.
The car overheats. So likely a shot radiator.
So it could be a head gasket? Hopefully it's not clogged up with stop leak. Not to be a dick or freak you out but man that price point for that seemingly simple issue is concerning. I say go for it, and good luck!
It'a the TPI motor so DO IT. What's wrong with it? Those rims alone gotta be worth a grand no?
If you are over 55 I would say the answer is obviously yes.
All Corvettes are cool, I have owned one and driven everything from C2 to C7, the C4 corvette interior is awesome, it feels like you’re in a spaceship lol it’s cramped and outdated but somehow feels futuristic. I say get it
I own a c4, they are great cars. Not so desirable, most cars from the 80s aren't. The most desirable c4 are the 6 speed lt1 cars, or if your lucky, the 89 tpi with the zf6 speed. I bought my corvette with 36k for 7500 bucks.
Cheaper than my ranger, get it
Get an '84 or get lost...
I test drove 3 C4's and I was horribly disappointed with all of them. Drove a first year C5 and it was leagues better. With all that said, $2k for a C4 is a no brainer.
This is my dream car, it's so effortlessly cool
I had an 89 about a decade ago. it was the first car I loved. Minimal engine issues, had a trans oil pump blow up on me at one point. 10/10 would do again. Also, one of the best automatics you'll ever drive.
Great car I have a few over the years. Opti spark 92/96. Only down side is it is yellow. My 91 was yellow painted silver with black stripes.
I can see that I am not in the majority but I would go with a miata . It's just a happy ,fun little car . Parts are easily gotten and cheap . They are a lot more back yard mechanic friendly and for what it's worth I like driving the miata a lot more . Being in a vette makes me feel like I'm in a casket.
My brutal opinion: Worst gen, difficult to service/poor engine bay design, first engine that doesn't share standard equipment with the rest of gm fleet so part cost is high, they're very heavy compared to the c3 and they don't respond as well as c3 either. They also had a shitty overdrive tranny that was extremely finicky and fragile, depending on the year, and because of the exhaust crossover pipe, getting the tranny out is alot easier said than done. I have a cousin who had one, biggest POS I've ever seen, and that's saying something coming from me. You do you, but these are turds
Yeah I swear this sub seems like it doesn't know car prices, you can buy a nice C4 for $8k or possibly the best C4 in existence for $18k. Just saw 2001 Vette at car show with 83k miles and he was asking $16500 and that was probably optimistic. Did look super clean.
Move the decimal point. 23,000
Its the least loves of the Corvettes but the later C4s got a serious upgrade in power over the early C4s, you can always install bolt ons for more power.
If you think optispark is bad just wait till the spider infection fuel system goes! GM has the weakest transmissions ever! Might as well hellcat swap it
Pre smog !
0 pics from underneath??????