C4 corvettes

[69496]

Hey guys I am very close to buying a 94 corvette for 6500. This car is very clean for its age. Anybody have experience with this generation of corvette. I would like to know anything I should look out for, fair pricing, popular mods, advantages and disadvanteges of the car, etc.

Please post anything you can tell me about these vets as well as any pics you may have of ones that have been given a little pro-touring treatment. I know they are pretty good stock, just curious on popular mods. Thanks guys.

[bergsvette]

I have had an 85 vette for the past 8 years. Yours has a different motor and a different trans but I would be more than happy to help with whatever I can. Just ask...
Nick

[69496]

I guess I can give a few more details. I know it has a new opti-spark and water pump (common problem from what I have seen), new rotors and pads and 119,000 miles. For the last few years it has only been driven a couple days a week. It is an automatic (wish it was stick). The only obvious problems are a broken antenna, cd player and a couple leather tears. However it is so clean especially on the outside that you would think it was only 1 year old.

One problem is I live in california so I want to know how much I can do to the motor before it will have problems passing smog. Are these cars reliable enough at this age to consider using as a daily driver. I really don't like the sawblade wheels and I don't recall seeing too many with aftermarket wheels.

I am only posting on this forum because I assume that many people who are members on this forum either have a corvette in their collection and/or have had some experiences with them.

Really looking for peoples overall impression of these cars, common problems I will have to be ready for, driving impressions, common or worthwhile mods, etc. Looking for a little push to convince me I need this car. Thanks.

[2ndgenhunter]

If you buy it go ahead and get a new opti spark distributor for it and replace the water pump. These are two of the most common issues with the LT1 cars. The water pump starts leaking and kills the optispark. (you posted befor i got done typing LOL )

[69496]

If you buy it go ahead and get a new opti spark distributor for it and replace the water pump. These are two of the most common issues with the LT1 cars. The water pump starts leaking and kills the optispark.

Funny you posted this as I was typing my response above. Yes the opti-spark and water pump were replaced about a year ago. Does anyone make a aftermarket replacement for it that is not as prone to failure.

[2ndgenhunter]

I've had a msd opti on my 93 beater for about 70k miles. no trouble at all from it. I got a 93 auto with salvage history and 187k those are the only things i had problems with besides leather rips.

[bergsvette]

There are a ton of corvette forums on the web I am a member of a couple, just google it and you will find your answer. I included a pic of my girl. She is the longest relationship I have ever had... I have heard of guys who use their vettes as daily drivers. Good Luck with her.

[69496]

There are a ton of corvette forums on the web I am a member of a couple, just google it and you will find your answer. I included a pic of my girl. She is the longest relationship I have ever had... I have heard of guys who use their vettes as daily drivers. Good Luck with her.

Thanks for the input, I like those wheels, are they C5 wheels? I totally blanked about looking up corvette forums, I am just used to talking to you guys here. I will look some up and snoop around over there. In the mean time keep the comments coming. What do you guyus think of the price of 6500?

[bergsvette]

The wheels are C-6 Z06 fronts. And thanks! Smokinvette is a good forum, digitalvette are the top two that I use. Vette's are great just not a ton of room in the motor compartment to play with. I know from what I have looked into or have heard either stroking the motor or turbo's.

[cheapthrillz]

C4's are my favorite body style for some reason. Here's some cool pics I found...

[WS6]

I wouldn't daily drive it. Aside from that, the price sounds reasonable. Check everything out especially all the options. Press all the buttons and scroll through all the info displays on the dash.

[Lowend]

Big things to watch on C4 vettes

1) Wheel Hubs... they tend to nuke the hub assemblys
2) Intake Manifold leaks
3) Interior pieces, a lot of this stuff isn't made anymore
4) Weatherstrip - Especially the windows/removable roof. It wears out and is expensive as hell.
5) FX3 suspension - expensive and absolute crap.

[srh3trinity]

That last red one looks awesome. Wheels and stance, big brakes and the diffuser make that car look like it is all business.

[dropit69]

guy i work with just sold his 85 for 2500 it had the 4+3 stick in it....interior needed redone and exhaust and tires were shot..i notice the interiors on that year car goes to crap quick..im not sure how many miles his had on it..but it was kinda rough

[Weezy F]

Sounds like an alright buy, if your really set on buying an lt1 vette you should wait for a stick car to come around. Much more dependable than the auto, espescially if you want to "pro-tour it." You could easily find one with a 6spd for the same price. I used to work at a shop that worked on a lot of LT1's and in a nut shell, they are problematic. I know there's people out there that have had them for so many years with no problems and blah blah blah but most of them do. If you do buy it, the best mod you can do is get a DelTeq conversion, to get rid of the opti spark and convert to coilpacks. I know it was just replaced on the car but belive me it will go out again! And boy are they a pain to replace. Other than that, theres plenty of aftermarket bolt on goodies for the LT1, you could go with a bigger throtle body some underdrive pulleys, long tube emission friendly headers and a good dynotune and make a whopping 300rwhp or so on a good day. Ive never played around witht the suspension of the LT1 vettes, but ive driven one that was only lowered with some nitto nt01's all around and it felt great. Of course nt01's make anything feel great. Personly id take that 6500 and buy a LS1 Camaro. You can find clean ones going for that all time in SoCal and they are faster, more reliable, get better mpg and have tons of aftermarket everything for them. Not to mention you can get 450rwhp out of them and past Ca Smog. Anyways im rambling and going off topic, just my .2 cents. Good Luck with whatever you decide to do!

[69496]

Weezy F: Thanks for your input. I actually like your idea of buying a ls camaro instead. In the end I really need a back seat and that seems like a good buy. I haven't been looking for cars in awhile and had no idea LS camaros are that cheap now. I guess its time to start buying the auto trader and start shopping. Thanks to everyone for there input.

[Desert68]

Replacing a heater core in them is quite the job.

[JEFFTATE]

An inexpensive LS powered car would be a good way to go..

[Lowend]

Personally - I would take an LT Corvette over an LS Camaro.
The whole chassis is better done.

[ITLBTU]

Personally - I would take an LT Corvette over an LS Camaro.
The whole chassis is better done.

Ditto! I had an '89 Vette, and a 2000 SS Camaro. The Vette would run circles around the Camaro in every category except acceleration. Get it and put an LSX in it! That would be cool!