Might get an 85 corvette..

[jerrys85iroc]

Thanks...im gonna have a heck of a time building it and trying to pay for rent an bills but building cars is what i love to do....but yea it should be a awesome pro-tourer when im done with her....i think she'll need a name...and ima post a rendering...please dont make fun of it, it took me five mintues to do and i havent had the time to do one and do the details but it gives a good idea and yes it steals the look from the 96 grand sport..hehe

[93Polo]

Next time you drive the C5 make sure the tires are inflated

This really is BS. There's only 1 C4 that has somewhat good handling, that's the rock hard 84 Z51. the rest are just okay. The C5 handles so much better (And yes I've driven them 90 & 91, 2001 C5, 2004 C6 and used to have an 84 Z41 before some clown rear ended me and totaled it)

I've owned both (93 base suspension LT1/ZF6 and 00 FRC heads cam, 04 Z06 suspension, M12, 3.73 gears, Brembo big reds etc) if I have another it will most likely be a C4. I was never connected with my C5 despite many more mods due to the drive by wire and steering the seat of the pants feeling just was not there. A few mods (shocks, Grand sport wheels and alignment) on a late C4 and it can handle with C5 Z06s. The weak link on the C4s was chassis flex which a camber brace and 4 point roll bar can more than fix.

[Twin_Turbo]

I think the biggest handicap of the c5 and c6 cars as opposed to the C4s are the crappy seats, c4 seats really hold you in, the later seats are church benches by comparison. Put in some real seats and the car feels completely different, oh and throw away the run flat tires as far as you can..

The c4 rear suspension isn't all that either, has serious jacking issues (high roll center), later cars have revised susps which lessened it quite a bit

[bergsvette]

I have an 85 and I love her!! The only gripe I have is the crappy tranny... I have also attached a photo of my Jennifer.

I say get it!

[93Polo]

I think the biggest handicap of the c5 and c6 cars as opposed to the C4s are the crappy seats, c4 seats really hold you in, the later seats are church benches by comparison. Put in some real seats and the car feels completely different, oh and throw away the run flat tires as far as you can..

The c4 rear suspension isn't all that either, has serious jacking issues (high roll center), later cars have revised susps which lessened it quite a bit

Funny you mention the rear, the C4 was much more friendly to trail brake as the rear came out much more gradually. On a SCCA T1 grid the C5 may handle better but at 95% in the mountains the C4 is more fun to dive and if you are a driver's driver will keep the C5s in their place. You can update the early rear suspensions with DRM or VB&P camber bracket/rods etc.

The C5 was engineered for the average American to drive with built in mild push and wide seats. I've driven C5s with Carravagio and Corbeau seats, the chassis feedback is still no where near as satisfying as a C4. I have been curious if DRM solid mounts or delrin bushings (not on the market) for the steering rack as well as poly on the a arms would get the C5 there but even if so it does not fix the fly by wire throttle response.

[93Polo]

I have an 85 and I love her!! The only gripe I have is the crappy tranny... I have also attached a photo of my Jennifer.

I say get it!

Nice looking C4. I've thought about picking up an '86 4+3 if I found one cheap enough. Swap in a TKO and next year you would have a light weight C4 that is not under emissions here. My C5 passed on the OBD2 readiness (no codes thrown and no sniffer required) test but you have to think the state will be clamping down on that at some point.

[jerrys85iroc]

I have an 85 and I love her!! The only gripe I have is the crappy tranny... I have also attached a photo of my Jennifer.

I say get it!

i like how those wheels look on your car...very nice car...do you know what wheels will fit on our cars??? as far as backspacing and stuff what should i look for???

[406 Q-ship]

C4 are great cars for the price they go for, the early ones have chassis twist (84 - 85). The 86 and 87 were better but the 88 up and the best for chassis and the zero scrub suspension. Add a cage and some minor suspension tweeks they will run with just about any vette for a lot less cash.

I want to build a 88 or 89 manual trans C4 into a track car with a LS3, TKO600, caged, and the 13 brakes. I loved running the wheels off the C4 Corvettes, God I miss my days working for Guldstrand.

[Lowend]

I've always felt a little better connection to the car with a C4...
Not sure it it was because of having a throttle cable, or if it was how deep you sit in the chassis. But some some reason I always felt like I was a little more connected.

That said; without a doubt the C5 is better.

[bergsvette]

i like how those wheels look on your car...very nice car...do you know what wheels will fit on our cars??? as far as backspacing and stuff what should i look for???

My ZR1 wheels that the C-6 Z06 style replaced are 17x9.5 with +38mm offset. I have no idea what that relates to in B.S.
The C-6 wheels that are on it now are 18x9.5's wrapped in 285x35x18's on all 4 corners.

I got them from House of Wheels:
House of Wheels is located in Deerfield Beach, Florida.
[email protected]
Great guys to deal with and it was a great price.

[Jim Nilsen]

I am totally loving this thread. The debate about the handling being as good as a c5 is very interesting.

I have never ridden or drove a c5 and my only experience in a c4 was to drive one for a coworker who needed to have it diagnosed for a suspension noise. I drove it like I stole it becuase he told me to. It was a great experience. I really liked it and also found no problem that he described but it was probably intermitent at the time or I was just having too much fun.

The thing I do know is that when I compare it to my Cormaro it was nowhere as stiff as my car. When I decided to go c4 knowing all well that I was going to a very stiff car to start with I decided to start with all stock components sans the shocks wich are 5 way adjustables on my car. So as a baseline it is a lot better than a stock c4 z51 suspension to me and wonder what you guys would really think if you went for a ride.

I keep asking my self how far I will go with modifications that are normally done to make it better. From the sounds of it ,the biggest help would be to stiffen the chassis to get it to be as close to a c5 as possible. But when several of you state that you like the c4 better it has me sitting with a smile knowing that I have a long way to go with mods to make it handle even better or possibly better.

Having 12 more inches to the wheelbase also may add to comfort level and surely changes a lot.How much is going to be interesting to here from you guys who have had both. I will be giving as many rides as I can to get feedback.

So far the car has been up to 1.03 in steady state circle test with all of the camber possible up front and a lot in the rear on 255 /50's. It dropped down to around .95 when it was aligned to -1 camber in the rear and front. The handling has been very good and the rear is definately in need of a swaybar which was left off to see what it would be like and it pushes with no hint of understeer.

Better tires and wheels are the next step along with a rear bar.

So far the car is as flat in front as could everr be expected. I went with the 84 front bar as I was told it was much stiffer, is that really true from the experiences you guys have? I keep thinking of a hollow bar but that is down the road and will come after I get the car dialed in for tires and the right pressures for the tires. Gotta get a baseline I can work from that has balanced handling.

A big question I have is how many of you have experienced a c4 with the same size tire all around? I keep thinking that it may be a good thing as I am 52/48 f/r on the scales and with the finishing of the interior and the rear bar it should go closer to 50/50. I do realize that tire pressure can balance a lot out with bigger tires in the back but I like the idea of being able to get more life out of the tires by moving them front to back.

That's enough questions for now to answer.

Thanks for the open ear and I look forward to hearing from you guys.

Sorry for stealing into the thread but hey you guys finally all showed up with opinions and we could all use some

[2ndgenhunter]

Here you go Jerry. They have some good deals. They have the the GS wheels for 800 bucks with tires. Hope this helps you.
http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Corvette-Wheels/c304233/

[Jim Nilsen]

Here you go Jerry. They have some good deals. They have the the GS wheels for 800 bucks with tires. Hope this helps you.
http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Corvette-Wheels/c304233/

Thanks for the link, I have found other places that have been comparable in pricing and sizes and one more will give me options on shipping.

The hardest thing is to find the right offsets in the newer style wheels for an 84-7 C4. I have been told that the 11' wheels with the 50-54mm offset will work with no problem and the 38mm will work up front with a 9.5" wheel. The big question I have is how much bigger than 9.5 can I go up front? When I just read that you can stuff an 11" wheel up front I wonder what that offset would be on the 84-7? I would really like to go 10.5 wheels all around if possible. I have different clearance issues possibly with the camaro body style but I think I will be alright with what fits a vette.

Thanks again for the link and any thoughts and experience you have.

[Lowend]

I've run 17x11" all around on later C4's. It's just the "Gransport" offset.

The 84-7 Use a Lower offset to put an 11" out back, I want to say 36mm... but it's been awhile.
I seem to reall that if you used the 50mm-ish offset on the front of the earlier cars that 11" would fit

[Jim Nilsen]

Here you go Jerry. They have some good deals. They have the the GS wheels for 800 bucks with tires. Hope this helps you.
http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Corvette-Wheels/c304233/

Just got off the phone with the guys at the link and they do not have any sizes that will fit 84-7 cars unless you go with the 11" zr1 wheels that will work on the rear already for the 88 and up vettes.

Now maybe if someone can verify that the 11" will work up front and know the correct offset we could get them from there.

Great prices for sure.

[jerrys85iroc]

lol thanks jamie...and anyways...back to the name on the thread, i went and looked at it, not bad for 500 bucks. So far the list comes to needing...
-Paint and body work(can be done last)
-door panel carpet on both sides
-there is some stuff on the dash...if it doesn't come clean i will get some of those carbon fiber inlay plastic thingys(dont know the name right this second)
-seat upholstery
-prolly some plastic here and there(havent seen any yet)
-carpet
-glass top
-rear end(or just dana 36 gears)
-drive shaft
-exhaust
-aftermarket wheels

and does anyone know if they make an aftermarket automatic console shifter???
When i get the car here ill take a ton of pics and the rest of the list if there is one.

[Jim Nilsen]

It would be great if you keep tabs on the cost of everything so we can all get an idea what buying one altogether and in not so good shape would really be worth?

I'm envious already!

[jerrys85iroc]

alright i will...i can already give everyone the price on my drivetrain...it gonna me a 5.3 ls and its parts include

Carb kit w/o carb $714
Cam 568 lift $250
comp cam springs $175
head work $600
flywheel plate spacer $45
and i found a 700r4 for $200 that can hold up around 450 hp

to replace the rear i found one near me for $450...so if i get all that it should be around...*calculating*...$2034...but ill be sure to keep a list of all actuall bought items...interior is good but you saw from the list it could be freshened to look new...oh and btw thanks everyone for all the great info and help

[93Polo]

Just got off the phone with the guys at the link and they do not have any sizes that will fit 84-7 cars unless you go with the 11" zr1 wheels that will work on the rear already for the 88 and up vettes.

Now maybe if someone can verify that the 11" will work up front and know the correct offset we could get them from there.

Great prices for sure.

I ran 315s up front for a short time on factory 9.5s. They scrubbed at just short of full lock. 335/30 18s have been run on the front of C4s naturally you can't go lock to lock but it worked on an autox. http://www.ccwheel.com/files/home.php made the wheels.

Corvetteactioncenter.com, corvetteforum and http://www.corvette-guru.com/ were all good sources for information. Brian Cunningham on Guru and Corvetteforum was one of the guys that had the 335s all the way around.

[2ndgenhunter]

Jim I'll find out the easy way if they'll fit. I got 4 of the 11" GS wheels with 295 on them and I'll bolt them on my 84 POS and see what happens. I'll try and do it this weekend and post up pics to see the fitment.

Sorry for the Hijack Jerry.