I love C4s because they are so distinct, and odd/exotic. More than any other generation. So many details are specific to the C4, and/or just exotic. Let’s see: body divider/bumper, clamshell hood, the revolution of the pop-up headlights, the windshield wiper style (not just on C4s, but exotic), black A-pillar (rather than the usual body-colored one, so exotic, but on the other generations as well), the LT-5 engine (very exotic), side lights, the turbine/fan blade style rims, the roof height (very low…so exotic), the battery access (pain in the butt…so exotic), odd interiors (yeah, exotic), those awesome sport seats from the ‘90-‘93 model years, the Callaways (too much exotic goodness in one car), the gas cap location (not just on the C4…but exotic). There are probably some other cool odd and exotic things I missed. I just love C4s. And…I think pineapple DOES belong on pizza.
Yeah the C4 is my favorite gen as well, here’s a couple of things you missed, 1st the most obvious those awesome digital gauges that look like you’re piloting a NASA rocket, 2nd is that the C4 has the same parking brake position as Ferrari, and this is just a personal preference but I think the wide rectangular muffler tips look better than ordinary round tips.
It's so weird they went with a European engine design when GM themselves had originally come up with the twin turbo idea and Callaway had further developed the idea into a hugely successful machine by 1988. Truly incredible they threw it away. They said emissions I guess but we know that wasn't any kind of a problem for Europeans. I do wonder what went through their heads. Not saying the ZR1 was unsuccessful but I doubt it was necessary to pay again for development of a completely new engine.
This most recent comment made me think of another odd detail on the C4. The rear window defroster strips are vertical, rather than the usual horizontal.
Completely agree on the C4 having many exotic aspects. A couple of things I'd add: the very low seating position (which many say makes it hard to get in and out of - me, I like it for its exotic vibe) and the transverse leaf springs made of fibreglass-reinforced plastic - very innovative - I don't think any other car uses anything like them, and they really seems to help it handle.
I currently have an 87 Z52 4+3 vert with 25k miles, and its probably my favorite (attainable) care right now. Its not the fastest thing out there but its just so nice to drive. I STILL feel special when i drive it.
I have a C4 base L98.. I also had a '97 Camaro SS with the LT 1. I replaced the SS's water pump with the better one that did not leak on the Opti spark and never had a problem after that. the L98 in my Corvette is 30 years old and has no problems like that. I would easily give up horsepower for reliability over the course of decades.
My buddy and I have described C3 Vettes as "2 seat muscle cars" for years. Im a huge C4 fan...cant beat the performance for the money! I just did a vid using my 93...i ran 0-60 in 5.9...but im very smooth on clutch/trans!
Honestly it's pretty easy to beat their performance now adays. C4 vettes and sn95 mustangs are probably the two most popular cars to pick on at a light.
In '96 I was working as a salesman at a Chevy dealer and I read the specs on the LT4 and I thought then that just 30 more hp than the LT1 just didn't sound right. Bigger sodium filled valves, different cam and heads, higher rpm range plus other changes just didn't add up. I always thought it would be a screamer! 350 to 360 hp makes more sense. Unfortunately, most Corvette buyers at that time were looking for automatics so they just didn't sell many and I never got a chance to drive one. The only external difference I believe was some red paint on part of the intake manifold.
The 1996 Corvette grand sport is the best looking corvette from the whole C4 generation including the zr1, the special blue color with red racing lines look so freaking nice!!! Especially with those grand sport specific dark colored wheels! I just love it!!! Give it to me now! Give it to me now!! Yeah! Yeah ! Give it to me now! Yeah!
Great overview through the years. I am on the hunt for a nice 1988-89 (I prefer the squared off style and original dash) with a manual transmission because manual cars had the Dana 44 differential. I was also told that the bump steer issues they had with earlier C4's was resolved in 1988. I'd like to put an aluminum LS in it and make it a fun track day car too. Something about these C4's I just love because I am an 80's kid.
I know Dana 44 very well I’ve got it in my F-100 SR Country/ Bumpside bronco , those Dana 44 were used in the Ford F-Series , Chevrolet , Chrysler and Jeep in Brazil they are bullet proof
Congratulations sir. The LT4 is a great engine. I've driven a 96 and that engine loves to rev. I would purchase a 96 in a heartbeat just for that power plant. Good luck with the videos and Corvette racing.
The Doug Nash 4+3 transmission isn't a "three-speed overdrive" with "three buttons", and it isn't a nightmare to rebuild. It is a variation on what had been done many times in the past, often in British sports cars with four-speed transmissions; it has a single-speed, electronically controlled overdrive attached to the back of a conventional gearbox. In the Corvette, overdrive can be engaged in second through fourth gears, but it's really only useful as a 'fifth' gear (fourth-overdrive), where it works very well for highway fuel-economy, which is exactly why the system was used. Without it, _there would have been no C4 Corvette_ until at least several years later, if at all. GM had no manual gearbox capable of handling the torque of the 5.7L SBC, but they spoke with Doug Nash, who by then owned the rights to the Borg-Warner T-10 design. He came up with the 4+3 concept, and Corvette Engineering paid him to build it. It's durable, it's cheap to rebuild, and it works just fine. As an old-school box with 'single-cone' synchronizers, the T-10 doesn't shift as quickly as a modern 'dual-cone' type, but it has a kind of hefty, rifle-bolt action that I like, personally. You can still get parts from www.5speeds.com, which is run by Paul Cangialosi -- one of guys who helped develop it and iron-out some early kinks. Check out his YT video, "How a Corvette 4+3 Doug Nash DNE Overdrive Functions", here: ruclips.net/video/cS6vA3UR4jM/видео.html .
This dude has a ton of misinformation don’t even bother with this video. Also it was a 2 speed overdrive unit, direct (1:1) or overdrive (.60 or .68:1 for the Corvette)
If you had a manual 96 lt4 they were rated at 330 hp. Headers, get rid of the catalytic converte, front resonator muffler, add an x pipe and it would jump the power over 350 without touching the tune or engine, if you did the gm lt4 hot cam with the mods I mentioned and a tune it was not uncommon to see 325-330 rwhp, if you ported the intake and heads and used the right cam 400-420 rwhp was not uncommon. A stroker kit made it easier to get 425-440 rwhp. That's respectable even by today's standards. A 3500 pound car with a six speed and close to 500 flywheel horsepower is good, and these cars were doing that 25 years ago. Way ahead of their time. The reverse cooling allowed the sbc to see power and efficiency, fuel economy that was unimaginable prior to that time. But the ls1 release killed the lt1/lt4 platform. And the fact that nobody makes an aftermarket big bore block has stopped it from being a viable base to build from for high power. Most usually go to a dart or world products sbc 400 bore block once they get over 500 hp, or just do an ls. Still the ltx was king from 92-97, you can even get afr CNC eliminator heads for the ltx now. But aside from "stock" style racing classes where you must use the OEM block there are easier ways to make power. Also the OEM design intake manifold is less than desirable for builds over 500-550 hp. Still for a real pump gas 383-396 ltx the stock block, heads, and intake can be ported to make a killer street car. Always thought what would have happened if gm had stayed with the ltx platform for another decade. The LS is a conglomerate of the best of the gen 1 and ltx sbc and a natural progression. It really does address all the weak links of the original sbc. They raised the cam tunnel to allow bigger cam cores, they raised the deck to allow longer rods, they made the main caps and bottom of the block sturdier, they used a shallow valve angle, and symmetrical port layouts. All of the things that racers were doing with the sbc Buick headed nascar engines, the sb2 etc. The fact that they put so much performance enhancements into the LS and made it a production engine is simply amazing. But it all started with the sbc, and progressed through the lt1/lt4, l31 vortec to what we have now.
@@b.c4066 mine is a 397 Stroker from a factory LT1 LT4 block. Mine made well North of 400 to the wheels. Plus the light weight crank and rotating assembly really make it accelerate!
@@FugitiveVette very nice! I just have a 91, but it's a factory six speed car. Did a 385 (.040" over) from blueprint , afr 195 heads, shaft rocker arms, 276/280 advertised 228/232@50 576/576 110 lsa, hooker super comp headers, 92-96 OEM catback exhaust, miniram, accel 58mm throttle body, custom cam and Holley HP msd 6a ignition.ram aluminum flywheel and clutch kit. It's not an ltx but it's way more power than I can use, easily 375-400 whp. Biggest gripe is the noisy black tag zf at idle in neutral it's pretty obnoxious. But it's a beast. Not even Dyno tuned yet, very very conservative ignition timing and fuel is to the safe side. On new Conti extreme contact sport+ aired down to 20 psi first and second gear are useless at anything above 40% throttle. I'm sure there's a lot more in it. But it's fun as is, and in no danger of detonation. When you consider I paid $3200 for the car, put 11-13 into the engine and efi (and still have the original L98 with harness and ecm, with stock dual mass flywheel and clutch) it's a lot of car for the money. It's been a fun journey getting it where it is. I'll never sell it, if it gets wrecked it will become a Vette kart 😁. Now if they'd just drop gas back down to $4.50 a gallon I'd be a happy man.
Fun video to watch and learn some history about the C4. I have a '94 C4 and planning on doing the Torqhead 24X LS PCM conversion on my car since I find the MSD OS too expensive when I can fox the problem right away for a little bit more money.
Hi, great video. I have a 1990 Coupe. The digital/analogue gauges were started in the 1990 as was the new interior. The 1990 was the last of the original body style but with the modern dash. that L-98 is a pretty good engine that as you state had most of the bugs worked out by 1990. It is pretty easy to work on too (changing sparkplugs is still an effort!). As others have stated here, great performance for the money!
1990 was the last of the original body style. 1991 has the round back end and square taillight with the ZF6 and L98. Last of the L98. 1991 had the nicer interior and dash though, 89 was the last digital dash. So if you wanted the best older style body and digital dash 1989 would be best, the only older style with a 6 speed and digital dash. 1988+ had a suspension redesign. So if you want 4+3 88 would be best as it’s got the later better suspension.
@@FugitiveVette This video had me so fucked up. 1990 had the old back end. ZR1 had the round back end and was a bit wider for the 305 tires. Yes 1991 was the round back end L98 6 speed. 1992 was the start of the LT1. 1990 however has the new interior but the old body style.
I’m owner of a 90 ZR-1 in Germany- it is so cool to drive with a 34 year old car 185 mph on the autobahn 😎💪🏻before I had a 90 L98 also with 6 speed ZF , FX3 and Z51 - makes also a lot of fun to drive but only max 146 mph
@@FugitiveVette that’s the problem- our rules for technical provement each 2 Years are very strictly - my ZR1 is absolutely stock.I have the best Michelin tyres and a borla cat back exhaust- that’s it
@@FugitiveVette emission rules are not the problem because over 30 years age of the car it is an “historical car” and our stupid government can’t do anything against my Vette 😅
The DN 4+3 is a Borg-Warner Super T-10 with the Doug Nash OD unit in place of the tailshaft housing. It is actually a 2-speed unit [direct and overdrive]. The OD unit is designed to automatically engage in 2nd/3rd/4th gear under low RPM/light-torque cruising around town. This trans was strictly for fuel mileage. It can be shifted 1st, 2nd, 2nd OD, 3rd, 3rd OD, 4th, 4th OD; hence the 7-speeds. The ZF-6 debuted in 1989, not 1998 as you mis-spoke.
i have a 85 and while it has it quarks, it's power to weight is very balanced and you could do turns a higher speed then most cars , but i have experienced that the engine is very pick and hates cruising but loves being beat on. beside that it a very decent car. i daily mine in the summer to octoberish
I am Seriously Torn between a 96 Manual Transmission C4 ( GrandSport ) and a 2012/13 Jaguar XKR Convertible and a Manual Transmission C6 GrandSport ... Whoa is Me !!! I have Love Jag's since I saw a Convertible XKE in a Road and Track Magazine, while sitting in the Barber Shop..this was a 63 XKE. Then the 68 Corvette Stingray L-88 , My 2 favorite Dream Cars b4 the Lamborghini Countach. Now, I My Personal Opinion, the 93 - 96 C4 , can be parked right next to a Countach and not Look Out of Place. Secondly, next to My 012, E550 BiTurbo Coupe, a Jaguar XKR 2011 - 2015 is the Ultimate Sleeper....a Convertible of Course. I loved the ZR1, unfortunately they didn't come with a Targa Top till later in the C7. I will probably eventually get a C4 ZR1 for its Outstanding Performance and Value.....the Records have Not been broken......Damn, it Truly was the King of the Hill and the newer C6 / C7 ZR1 will Smoke a GTR !!! It's on RUclips, ZR1 vs GTR vs 458 and 911 !!! SMOKE them All !!!! Whoa is Me !!!! I need the Right 6 Numbers !!! My Garage would have the XKR, the C4 , the C4 ZR1 and the C6 ZR1... and a AMG GTC , don't tell !!!! Can't wait to finish the build out on My E550 Coupe, 555hp 705tq
I had a clean ‘94 coupe. My first Vette. It was fast(I thought 💭 it was until I got my ‘02 convertible). I thought 💭 my ‘02 was fast until I got my ‘08 coupe. That LS3 is a beast at WOT.
@@MaisonPulaski find out how many times the differential and automatic transmission has been serviced ie fluids. Check to see if there are any misfires. Look underneath to see if there are oil leaks off the main seal. Another is take pics of the transmission to see if it’s leaking.
I bought an '89 convertible last fall. Haven't driven it much since winters are harsh here. But, from what I have driven, it's a blast. AS far as things to look at are to make sure all of the dash lights work correctly. Depending on where you live, check tire dates. In areas of bad winters many Vette's don't get driven a lot and the tires will age before they wear out. If you did buy the car, I hope you'll enjoy it.
Love your explanation. So the LT 1 output with the manual transmission was the real reason for the ZR 1 sales decline from 1992 to 1995. I never put those facts together. There for the LT 4 made the ZR 1 obsolete in a way. Great review. Thanks .
@@FugitiveVette I can see now how that could have heart their pride. Which later led to the superior creation of the LT 4 and LS motors. Interesting. Thank you.
I'd say the $35 grand upcharge for the zr1 was the main reason for sales declining, especially when you could get a base model 92-96 lt1 zf s6-40 car at base price. Everyone knew they were a solid 275-300 hp. Doesn't sound like much now but it was huge during that era, and more power than most could use on the street. The traction control wasn't as refined as it is now, so a 3400 pound car with close to 300 hp was nothing to sneeze at. Why pay $35,000 more, pay higher insurance premiums for power you couldn't utilize was the thought of many back then.
Hello good sir! I know this is an old post but a goodie. Quick question so the 93’s had LT1’s and in 94 the Vetts had a LT4? For only one year? And still a 350ci just different heads and intake? Again great video!
I love the 4+3 transmission ('88 coupe), but it was a bear to rebuild. Fortunately for me it was very sturdy. I only had to have it rebuilt once in 150,000 miles of driving.
If I recall, the Flowmaster Force II Exhaust which I have on my 96 is 2-1/2 inch inside which matches the stock inside diameter. The outside diameter of the stock exhaust is 2-3/4. Flowmaster's Force II resonator is flowthrough with no restrictions. Compared to stock if you saw the inside of both, Flowmaster is much better. They may have made changes over the years but today's system is better than stock in every way. It's a slight upgrade, not a downgrade.
How long have you had your flowmaster system on your Vette? My Force 2 didn’t last 10 years. The whole system corroded and rusted.. I much prefer the Borla System.
@@FugitiveVette well, mine is also 409 not 304 but I don't drive or store mine in wet weather. Always in a dry environment and garaged if I'm not driving it so I'm not too worried.
The iron -882 heads of the '85 TPI flowed slightly better than the later aluminum heads and cam was hotter and so '85 was faster: ruclips.net/video/M9FwU9iUmfo/видео.html
@@BuzzLOLOL 85 Vettes had 624 heads. They were about as suck as the 882s. Every year after got faster because aluminum heads came in late 86 and then roller cams in 87.
@@dustinmccain1215 - Both the -882 and -624 heads outflowed the '87 - '92 aluminum heads... Hot Rod did some basic porting on them and they got even worse... you had to hog the hell out of those aluminum heads like Lingenfelter did to get any performance out of them... Of course, first problem to overcome, is aluminum bleeds off heat/power faster than Iron heads! So need to bump up compression ratio...
You're doing really high quality work here - I truly mean that. That's why I'll nit pick a little: you say regarding the ZR1 development that dual overhead cam engined European cars were beginning to surface at that time. The truth of the matter is Europe had been producing street cars with DOHC heads since the fifties. Not only on sports cars like the Jaguar XKs and Mercedes SLs but also family cars like the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The notion in Europe was that OHV design simply wouldn't do after the sixties. Apologies for the nit pick.
No reason to apologize, that’s what the comments section is for. I was really thinking of the Porsche 928 which was all aluminum and had overhead cams. I didn’t think 🤔 about the vast majority of Euro cars. Thanks 🙏 for the knowledge ✊
@@FugitiveVetteI know European cars didn't have the same sort of foothold on US soil in the early days, but Lamborghini did put a full aluminum quad cam engine into street production in 1963 - their famous Bizzarrini V12. That being said the C4 Corvette is one of my favorite cars so I always appreciate good quality work on it, such as yours. BTW, Lotus had not only DOHC but even quad valve combustion chambers in 1972 so it makes sense Lotus was the European partner of choice when ZR1 went for European design.
@@CC_Top_Solutions - Couple websites about mental health... no video channel... yet... SBC 405 built like this 400" engine but with better MoTown Lite 220cc USA heads: ruclips.net/video/MQojldctz-s/видео.html
He doesn’t have knowledge there is a ton of misinformation. 3 buttons for the overdrive? 3 speed overdrive??? It’s a 2 speed over drive with direct or overdrive and it’s ONE button. On or off. And the runner length gave it the torque not the ability to rev higher! On top of a lot of other things!
@@FugitiveVette All good! Very nice video. 'Bout to do the exact opposite of what you suggest and look at an 86 and turn it into an LSx test bed for a 6.0 LQ4 and 4L80.
hey man, I gotta tell you. love your posts and videos, love the info you give us.. I own basicly the same car.. polo green 96 c4 Lt4 .. I've got 64,000 miles on it... I've had no problems with ignition..yet... when should I change it out?
I would wait until the OptiSpark fails. When it does replace with the MSD and replace the water pump at the same time. Thanks 🙏 appreciate the feedback! 😃 happy you’re enjoying the vids!
What year did the c4 ditch the all digital dash and got rid of the lights in the back what's the best year if I want the old lights and old dash but best performance
1991 was the year they changed the dash and body style. 1992 was the first year of the LT1. 1990 is the best year of the old dash and body style with the round tail lights . 1990 had the L98 engine. Hope this helped.
I love c4 corvettes because there American but they give kind of a foreign feel..kinda like a Supra…you can put a c4 next to a tuner car and it won’t look out of place 💯💯
people say the C4 is slow. Sure, by today's standards in a straight away. Back in the day though it was no slug. But challenge a C4 in the curves today and then let's see if you can lose it.
Stainless Steel Works. Keep in mind the primaries are only one and 5/8 inch. The collector was 2 1/2 inch I have modified it to 3 inch collector that made a really big jump in power with my set up. I’d you have any questions feel free to DM. Thanks 🙏
Classic cars eventually become so old that delineating performance differences really isn’t significant. 230hp vs 360hp is pretty average compared to today’s family car. I prefer the original C4 1984-1990 in terms of capturing the essence of that generation.
probably gonna buy a c4 as my first/only car, whenever they show up they're in very good condition and have fairly low miles on them. Now how does this perform in the rain and can you drive it in the winter time? (Using winter tires of course)And one more thing! I like the earlier models with the full digital dash more, but apart from the airbag does the 84-89 tend to break more ? Btw: How is the speakers and AC on this car?
Honestly I’m terms of reliability I would say the 92 to 96 for the most part are more reliable and a lot more refined. The one major knock is the optispark but like I said you can replace with the MSD. As far as driving in the winter ❄️ I can’t really saying live in California where it never snows. But in terms of rain I find it easy. One thing to remember the 93 to 96 years are the only ones equipped with ASR traction control.
WInter driving in a C4 is terrible and dangerous. My wagon was in the shop up in Minot, ND. So, I had to take my 84 to work with snow on the highway. Everything was fine until about 30 mph. Then the car turned into an air hockey puck. I did a few 360's. When the car came to a halt (in the median) I was trembling. I thought it was a fluke. So, I got back on the highway and drove about 30. At 30 it was rock soid. At 31, it went out of control again. Braking in any gear would barely slow the car down on a slippery surface. In Neutral, it would not slow down great either, but it was better than trying to slow down in any forward gear. Recommend against.
I’d love to throw the money towards building my c4 up to be like the sledgehammer. Or Atleast close in performance. Have been debating a 383 stroker with a turbo/twins or just slapping nitrous on it and skipping the turbos
There’s a lot of different ways to go. I f I was going the boost route I would build a 355 with AFR Heads low compression and a Pro Charger on 15 or 16 psi.
@@FugitiveVetteI'm quite impressed by your knowledge. My issue in choosing a base for a similar idea is that only early C4s come with the quick steering rack on the Z51. I remember there being an issue retro-fitting that to a later car. I can't imagine working with the slow steering though. Are you aware of a quick rack solution for the later cars?
@@varmastiko2908 I really think you can rectify that with an aggressive track alignment. My steering feels very quick and responsive. Might want to try that first the advantage of Corvettes is they have 4 wheel alignment which makes them handle extremely well.
@@FugitiveVetteThe handling is great but the steering rack on the later Z51 is still a downgrade. Am I correct though, that I can't fit an '85 steering rack on an '89 car?
@@FugitiveVette what year had transmission temperature gauge, I've owned two c4, been around many and never seen a transmission temperature gauge in them. Crankcase oil temperature gauge yes, but not transmission fluid temperature gauge.
@@juanmontoya5331 You’re right, there were no v6 Vettes. The early 50s cars were powered by straight 6s. I think it’s towards the middle of the C1 generation where the Vette finally got the V8 and it became the mainstream engine choice.
Major issues with that poorly designed Opti-spark ignition on the the later models that were not properly vented, and the fit and finish of the plastic f16 cockpit style and cheap looking gauges really made the c4 look cheap. They could of used better quality material in terms of the gauges. Like the digital even though i prefer analog gauges. Also the 96 were the higher performance motor and grand sports ,but the ZR1 was the king and cost 80 thousand plus tax in Canada. Also the Opti spark which was similar to the one used in the Pontiac grandam was properly vented and did not have thge same issue as the vetted Opti spark.
Well on o believe 95 and 96 they definitely vented the opti but they still are susceptible to damage to the optical trigger. Bottom line it was a shit design.
Duh it, a 4 speed w a 2 speed automatic (laycockdenormanvile type) the 4 plus 3 designation comes from being able to use the overdrive in 2nd 3rd and 4th gear 😮😅😂❤
6:01 Bruh what? The intake runners weren’t too short, but they were short? It could breathe better??? That’s shite. The runners are so damn long it’s hard to rev high with an after market ported base, runners and intake! They’re DAMN long. And it would stop breathing at 4.5k rpm because power flattened after 4.3k rpm. And the torque went up, because they could rev the engine more???? The torque maxxed at 3,200rpm revving higher didn’t mean shit for torque, it was the runner length. 7:36 No! It didn’t stop in 1987 because I got an 88 with a 4+3. My god did you do any research???? The 6 speed ZF6 didn’t come in until 1989. And you’re acting like a 4 speed manual is shite, but you know that the Super T-10 (which is what the 4 speed is) is the same trans in the original 60s Shelby Cobra? It’s a damn good transmission. 7:45 And it wasn’t a 3 speed overdrive, it was 2 ratios (2 speed overdrive) that electronically could go between the 2 ranges, direct or overdrive. .60 or .68 for the overdrive (changes for different suspension packages) 8:07 OMFG IT WAS ONE BUTTON, OVERDRIVE ON OR OFF HOLY SHIT. Also you say it’s difficult to rebuild but it’s just a little overdrive unit that would need to be fixed, it’s not that hard. It’ll just stay direct instead of going into overdrive. The 4 speed is very robust, it won’t break under normal conditions. 9:01 You misspoke and said 1998 (C4 ended in 1996) even then in 1988 it was still the 4+3, 1989 got the ZF6. And the ZR1 didn’t come along until 1990, the ZR1 had some concepts in 1989 but they’re rare. Also you didn’t even mention the suspension change in 1988 and you were wrong! 1990 still had the L98! 1992 started the LT1! SO MUCH MISINFORMATION IT’S INSANE.
MSD optispark are JUNK, the best ones are the original OEMs. I service and repair a lot of C4s, and i'm yet to see a real OEM optispark actually fail in a way it couldn't rebuilt. Good luck with that MSD and it's chinese optical sensor, they're hit and miss at best.
@@FugitiveVette They're all sealed around the cap, even the cheapest chinese junk ones are. If that seal is good they won't fail from hosing them or leaking water pumps. Problem is that seal is not going to last forever. Any distributor will be f***ed if you get water into it while there is HV present. Using an MSD cap and rotor kit on an OEM unit is the best option to swap a 92-94 unit to vented, the allows for the holes in the bottom to be sealed (and contrarty to popular rumour, this isn't where water gets in) I have rebuilt a lot of optisparks, and i've seen a lot of OEMs go well over 100,000 miles and 30+ years without being touched.
Iv owned a 92 for over a year and can say do not buy a c4 if you can afford a c5 or c6. C4s are dogs dont fall for the bs a lot of c4 people say. They think c4s are the best thing since sliced bread.
Dude.... This video is terrible. In the first 5 minutes alone you got several basic Corvette facts wrongs. First, there was no 1983 Corvette, that model year corvette simply did not exist. The L83 Crossfire motor that was used in the 1984 was not a carryover from 1983, since there was no actual 1983 model. Second, the Doug Nash 4+3 was used until 1988, not 1987 like you said. There was no factory transmission temperature gauge. That image of the digital dash was from a 1985-1989 Corvette, not a 1984. Ignorance is one thing, and is excusable. Ignorance of one's own ignorance, then a willingness to espouse "facts" that are in fact, wrong, is something else.
Thanks for the correction. Although I never said 83 was the first year of the C4. It was supposed to be 83 but it was not produced until 84. The 84 also shared the cross fire fuel injection that the previous year C3 had.
@@BuzzLOLOL no, none were ever made available to the public as a 1983 model. So for all intentions and purposes they were prototype, research and development, demo for magazine writers to use, write stories about and pump up anticipation of the 84 model when it got released. They were subsequently destroyed. The fact that the one in the Corvette museum exists is a mistake, if people had followed gm protocol the car would've been dismantled and destroyed.
@@b.c4066 - Fortunately many concept cars mysteriously slipped away without being destroyed so that automakers could take a tax exemption on them... some even disappeared out of the auto crushers yards... ruclips.net/video/MIi4RfK4cEM/видео.html
And the 3 buttons for the ‘3 speed overdrive’ which it’s 1 button On and Off for the 2 speed overdrive (he says it basically a 3 speed automatic connected to a 4 speed manual 💀) it’s direct and overdrive. 1:1 and .60:1 or .68:1
I love C4s because they are so distinct, and odd/exotic. More than any other generation. So many details are specific to the C4, and/or just exotic. Let’s see: body divider/bumper, clamshell hood, the revolution of the pop-up headlights, the windshield wiper style (not just on C4s, but exotic), black A-pillar (rather than the usual body-colored one, so exotic, but on the other generations as well), the LT-5 engine (very exotic), side lights, the turbine/fan blade style rims, the roof height (very low…so exotic), the battery access (pain in the butt…so exotic), odd interiors (yeah, exotic), those awesome sport seats from the ‘90-‘93 model years, the Callaways (too much exotic goodness in one car), the gas cap location (not just on the C4…but exotic). There are probably some other cool odd and exotic things I missed. I just love C4s. And…I think pineapple DOES belong on pizza.
👏🏿 👏🏿
Yeah the C4 is my favorite gen as well, here’s a couple of things you missed, 1st the most obvious those awesome digital gauges that look like you’re piloting a NASA rocket, 2nd is that the C4 has the same parking brake position as Ferrari, and this is just a personal preference but I think the wide rectangular muffler tips look better than ordinary round tips.
It's so weird they went with a European engine design when GM themselves had originally come up with the twin turbo idea and Callaway had further developed the idea into a hugely successful machine by 1988. Truly incredible they threw it away. They said emissions I guess but we know that wasn't any kind of a problem for Europeans. I do wonder what went through their heads. Not saying the ZR1 was unsuccessful but I doubt it was necessary to pay again for development of a completely new engine.
This most recent comment made me think of another odd detail on the C4. The rear window defroster strips are vertical, rather than the usual horizontal.
Completely agree on the C4 having many exotic aspects. A couple of things I'd add: the very low seating position (which many say makes it hard to get in and out of - me, I like it for its exotic vibe) and the transverse leaf springs made of fibreglass-reinforced plastic - very innovative - I don't think any other car uses anything like them, and they really seems to help it handle.
Nothing cooler than a driveway full of corvettes .
1989 was the first year of the ZF6. I owned a 1987 Z-52 convertible with the 4+3. I loved it. It was a fast autocrosser in it's day.
How long did you own it?
I currently have an 87 Z52 4+3 vert with 25k miles, and its probably my favorite (attainable) care right now. Its not the fastest thing out there but its just so nice to drive.
I STILL feel special when i drive it.
I have a C4 base L98.. I also had a '97 Camaro SS with the LT 1. I replaced the SS's water pump with the better one that did not leak on the Opti spark and never had a problem after that. the L98 in my Corvette is 30 years old and has no problems like that. I would easily give up horsepower for reliability over the course of decades.
Good point that’s one of the things that still makes the L98 such good engine to this day.
My buddy and I have described C3 Vettes as "2 seat muscle cars" for years. Im a huge C4 fan...cant beat the performance for the money! I just did a vid using my 93...i ran 0-60 in 5.9...but im very smooth on clutch/trans!
That’s great 😀 definitely don’t want to wreck the clutch!
I had 2 C-4's....OK cars....Would seriously consider a -6, 2008-2013.
But, at 77, kind of getting long in the tooth for this kind of fun clutchbutt.
Honestly it's pretty easy to beat their performance now adays. C4 vettes and sn95 mustangs are probably the two most popular cars to pick on at a light.
That's actually not bad for a C4.
Awesome video. I bought a 94 C4 a month ago.
Turns many heads :)
I do remember when this Corvette came out in 1984… it was a landmark in the car 80’s culture!
It really was a tremendous success.
In '96 I was working as a salesman at a Chevy dealer and I read the specs on the LT4 and I thought then that just 30 more hp than the LT1 just didn't sound right. Bigger sodium filled valves, different cam and heads, higher rpm range plus other changes just didn't add up. I always thought it would be a screamer! 350 to 360 hp makes more sense. Unfortunately, most Corvette buyers at that time were looking for automatics so they just didn't sell many and I never got a chance to drive one. The only external difference I believe was some red paint on part of the intake manifold.
You called it! The bright red intake manifold!
The 1996 Corvette grand sport is the best looking corvette from the whole C4 generation including the zr1, the special blue color with red racing lines look so freaking nice!!! Especially with those grand sport specific dark colored wheels! I just love it!!! Give it to me now! Give it to me now!! Yeah! Yeah ! Give it to me now! Yeah!
Great overview through the years. I am on the hunt for a nice 1988-89 (I prefer the squared off style and original dash) with a manual transmission because manual cars had the Dana 44 differential. I was also told that the bump steer issues they had with earlier C4's was resolved in 1988. I'd like to put an aluminum LS in it and make it a fun track day car too. Something about these C4's I just love because I am an 80's kid.
Word! Same here I loved the C4 when it came out! Dreamed of one day wanting one!
I know Dana 44 very well I’ve got it in my F-100 SR Country/ Bumpside bronco , those Dana 44 were used in the Ford F-Series , Chevrolet , Chrysler and Jeep in Brazil they are bullet proof
Congratulations sir. The LT4 is a great engine. I've driven a 96 and that engine loves to rev. I would purchase a 96 in a heartbeat just for that power plant. Good luck with the videos and Corvette racing.
Thanks 🙏 appreciate the feedback! It is a lot of fun to rev down the back straight of a track!
@@FugitiveVette Even driving down a road it’s a blast to drive. I was surprised how fast these are. (:
23:26 What a picturesque looking neighborhood.
The Doug Nash 4+3 transmission isn't a "three-speed overdrive" with "three buttons", and it isn't a nightmare to rebuild. It is a variation on what had been done many times in the past, often in British sports cars with four-speed transmissions; it has a single-speed, electronically controlled overdrive attached to the back of a conventional gearbox. In the Corvette, overdrive can be engaged in second through fourth gears, but it's really only useful as a 'fifth' gear (fourth-overdrive), where it works very well for highway fuel-economy, which is exactly why the system was used.
Without it, _there would have been no C4 Corvette_ until at least several years later, if at all. GM had no manual gearbox capable of handling the torque of the 5.7L SBC, but they spoke with Doug Nash, who by then owned the rights to the Borg-Warner T-10 design. He came up with the 4+3 concept, and Corvette Engineering paid him to build it. It's durable, it's cheap to rebuild, and it works just fine. As an old-school box with 'single-cone' synchronizers, the T-10 doesn't shift as quickly as a modern 'dual-cone' type, but it has a kind of hefty, rifle-bolt action that I like, personally.
You can still get parts from www.5speeds.com, which is run by Paul Cangialosi -- one of guys who helped develop it and iron-out some early kinks. Check out his YT video, "How a Corvette 4+3 Doug Nash DNE Overdrive Functions", here:
ruclips.net/video/cS6vA3UR4jM/видео.html .
4+3 is an awesome trans.
This dude has a ton of misinformation don’t even bother with this video. Also it was a 2 speed overdrive unit, direct (1:1) or overdrive (.60 or .68:1 for the Corvette)
I had a 96 C4 for a while I loved it 350hp handled good for its era.. So I want a C8 real bad now . Well maybe someday.
Yeah the C8 is on another level in terms of engineering. There just so expensive now with the supply chain issues and chip shortages.
@@FugitiveVette I know rite even when crap gets back to normal they will still be a zillion bucks .
If you had a manual 96 lt4 they were rated at 330 hp. Headers, get rid of the catalytic converte, front resonator muffler, add an x pipe and it would jump the power over 350 without touching the tune or engine, if you did the gm lt4 hot cam with the mods I mentioned and a tune it was not uncommon to see 325-330 rwhp, if you ported the intake and heads and used the right cam 400-420 rwhp was not uncommon. A stroker kit made it easier to get 425-440 rwhp. That's respectable even by today's standards. A 3500 pound car with a six speed and close to 500 flywheel horsepower is good, and these cars were doing that 25 years ago. Way ahead of their time. The reverse cooling allowed the sbc to see power and efficiency, fuel economy that was unimaginable prior to that time. But the ls1 release killed the lt1/lt4 platform. And the fact that nobody makes an aftermarket big bore block has stopped it from being a viable base to build from for high power. Most usually go to a dart or world products sbc 400 bore block once they get over 500 hp, or just do an ls. Still the ltx was king from 92-97, you can even get afr CNC eliminator heads for the ltx now. But aside from "stock" style racing classes where you must use the OEM block there are easier ways to make power. Also the OEM design intake manifold is less than desirable for builds over 500-550 hp. Still for a real pump gas 383-396 ltx the stock block, heads, and intake can be ported to make a killer street car. Always thought what would have happened if gm had stayed with the ltx platform for another decade. The LS is a conglomerate of the best of the gen 1 and ltx sbc and a natural progression. It really does address all the weak links of the original sbc. They raised the cam tunnel to allow bigger cam cores, they raised the deck to allow longer rods, they made the main caps and bottom of the block sturdier, they used a shallow valve angle, and symmetrical port layouts. All of the things that racers were doing with the sbc Buick headed nascar engines, the sb2 etc. The fact that they put so much performance enhancements into the LS and made it a production engine is simply amazing. But it all started with the sbc, and progressed through the lt1/lt4, l31 vortec to what we have now.
@@b.c4066 mine is a 397 Stroker from a factory LT1 LT4 block. Mine made well North of 400 to the wheels. Plus the light weight crank and rotating assembly really make it accelerate!
@@FugitiveVette very nice! I just have a 91, but it's a factory six speed car. Did a 385 (.040" over) from blueprint , afr 195 heads, shaft rocker arms, 276/280 advertised 228/232@50 576/576 110 lsa, hooker super comp headers, 92-96 OEM catback exhaust, miniram, accel 58mm throttle body, custom cam and Holley HP msd 6a ignition.ram aluminum flywheel and clutch kit. It's not an ltx but it's way more power than I can use, easily 375-400 whp. Biggest gripe is the noisy black tag zf at idle in neutral it's pretty obnoxious. But it's a beast. Not even Dyno tuned yet, very very conservative ignition timing and fuel is to the safe side. On new Conti extreme contact sport+ aired down to 20 psi first and second gear are useless at anything above 40% throttle. I'm sure there's a lot more in it. But it's fun as is, and in no danger of detonation. When you consider I paid $3200 for the car, put 11-13 into the engine and efi (and still have the original L98 with harness and ecm, with stock dual mass flywheel and clutch) it's a lot of car for the money. It's been a fun journey getting it where it is. I'll never sell it, if it gets wrecked it will become a Vette kart 😁. Now if they'd just drop gas back down to $4.50 a gallon I'd be a happy man.
Fun video to watch and learn some history about the C4. I have a '94 C4 and planning on doing the Torqhead 24X LS PCM conversion on my car since I find the MSD OS too expensive when I can fox the problem right away for a little bit more money.
Sounds awesome LS is nice 👍 thanks 🙏 appreciate
I did the torqhead on my 96. Nice stuff.
Hi, great video. I have a 1990 Coupe. The digital/analogue gauges were started in the 1990 as was the new interior. The 1990 was the last of the original body style but with the modern dash. that L-98 is a pretty good engine that as you state had most of the bugs worked out by 1990. It is pretty easy to work on too (changing sparkplugs is still an effort!). As others have stated here, great performance for the money!
Oh snap! I didn’t realize the 90 had the modern dash. Which do you like better?
@@FugitiveVette Hi I prefer the newer dash as it seems a bit more modern but I can see why others prefer the original.
1990 was the last of the original body style. 1991 has the round back end and square taillight with the ZF6 and L98. Last of the L98. 1991 had the nicer interior and dash though, 89 was the last digital dash. So if you wanted the best older style body and digital dash 1989 would be best, the only older style with a 6 speed and digital dash. 1988+ had a suspension redesign. So if you want 4+3 88 would be best as it’s got the later better suspension.
@@destruxandexploze2552 1990 has round twilights not square. The 1990 ZR1 has square taillights.
@@FugitiveVette This video had me so fucked up. 1990 had the old back end. ZR1 had the round back end and was a bit wider for the 305 tires.
Yes 1991 was the round back end L98 6 speed. 1992 was the start of the LT1. 1990 however has the new interior but the old body style.
C4 Vettes don't get the respect they should. can run Circles around 308 Ferrari.
That red one in the thumbnail is beautiful
I’m owner of a 90 ZR-1 in Germany- it is so cool to drive with a 34 year old car 185 mph on the autobahn 😎💪🏻before I had a 90 L98 also with 6 speed ZF , FX3 and Z51 - makes also a lot of fun to drive but only max 146 mph
@@IcemanC4 that’s incredible! What are the rules in Germany as far as emissions are concerned? Can you do any modifications to the car?
@@FugitiveVette that’s the problem- our rules for technical provement each 2 Years are very strictly - my ZR1 is absolutely stock.I have the best Michelin tyres and a borla cat back exhaust- that’s it
@@FugitiveVette emission rules are not the problem because over 30 years age of the car it is an “historical car” and our stupid government can’t do anything against my Vette 😅
@@IcemanC4 that’s great! Borla is the absolute best!
@@IcemanC4 nice 👍 I wish we still had the 30 year rule in California
The DN 4+3 is a Borg-Warner Super T-10 with the Doug Nash OD unit in place of the tailshaft housing. It is actually a 2-speed unit [direct and overdrive].
The OD unit is designed to automatically engage in 2nd/3rd/4th gear under low RPM/light-torque cruising around town. This trans was strictly for fuel mileage.
It can be shifted 1st, 2nd, 2nd OD, 3rd, 3rd OD, 4th, 4th OD; hence the 7-speeds.
The ZF-6 debuted in 1989, not 1998 as you mis-spoke.
i have a 85 and while it has it quarks, it's power to weight is very balanced and you could do turns a higher speed then most cars , but i have experienced that the engine is very pick and hates cruising but loves being beat on. beside that it a very decent car. i daily mine in the summer to octoberish
Glad it runs good and you enjoy 😉 it! Fun cars.
I am Seriously Torn between a 96 Manual Transmission C4 ( GrandSport ) and a 2012/13 Jaguar XKR Convertible and a Manual Transmission C6 GrandSport ...
Whoa is Me !!! I have Love Jag's since I saw a Convertible XKE in a Road and Track Magazine, while sitting in the Barber Shop..this was a 63 XKE. Then the 68 Corvette Stingray L-88 , My 2 favorite Dream Cars b4 the Lamborghini Countach. Now, I My Personal Opinion, the 93 - 96 C4 , can be parked right next to a Countach and not Look Out of Place.
Secondly, next to My 012, E550 BiTurbo Coupe, a Jaguar XKR 2011 - 2015 is the Ultimate Sleeper....a Convertible of Course. I loved the ZR1, unfortunately they didn't come with a Targa Top till later in the C7. I will probably eventually get a C4 ZR1 for its Outstanding Performance and Value.....the Records have Not been broken......Damn, it Truly was the King of the Hill and the newer C6 / C7 ZR1 will Smoke a GTR !!! It's on RUclips, ZR1 vs GTR vs 458 and 911 !!!
SMOKE them All !!!! Whoa is Me !!!! I need the Right 6 Numbers !!! My Garage would have the XKR, the C4 , the C4 ZR1 and the C6 ZR1... and a AMG GTC , don't tell !!!! Can't wait to finish the build out on My E550 Coupe, 555hp 705tq
I've owned a '96 c4 (great car) and currently have a 2012 Jag XKR . Jag, all day, all night.
AMEN !!!! Thanks for Sharing!!! That XKR is definitely Calling Me !!!!
I had a clean ‘94 coupe. My first Vette. It was fast(I thought 💭 it was until I got my ‘02 convertible). I thought 💭 my ‘02 was fast until I got my ‘08 coupe. That LS3 is a beast at WOT.
So true they keep getting better!
You've got the intake runner thing backwards. Long runners=low end torque and vice versa. Thanks for the video very cool production.
Yes I clearly do. Meant to say the opposite but then I already had it done and uploaded 😂
@@FugitiveVette I'm sure you've gotten that response before lol. Man after watching this video I checked out your C4 and that thing is sweet!
@@danielphillips1094 thanks 🙏 brotha! Appreciate it
I am going to look at a 1989 tomorrow. Thanks for sharing the video.
Oh nice! 6 Speed?
@@FugitiveVette unfortunately no. Any major tips...? Things I should be considering? Cheers
@@MaisonPulaski find out how many times the differential and automatic transmission has been serviced ie fluids. Check to see if there are any misfires. Look underneath to see if there are oil leaks off the main seal. Another is take pics of the transmission to see if it’s leaking.
@@FugitiveVette thank you so much for your help!
I bought an '89 convertible last fall. Haven't driven it much since winters are harsh here. But, from what I have driven, it's a blast. AS far as things to look at are to make sure all of the dash lights work correctly. Depending on where you live, check tire dates. In areas of bad winters many Vette's don't get driven a lot and the tires will age before they wear out. If you did buy the car, I hope you'll enjoy it.
Love your explanation.
So the LT 1 output with the manual transmission was the real reason for the ZR 1 sales decline from 1992 to 1995. I never put those facts together. There for the LT 4 made the ZR 1 obsolete in a way. Great review.
Thanks .
Yes 🙌 that was my read on the whole situation. Plus lots of discontent among GM engineers during the ZR1 development.
@@FugitiveVette I can see now how that could have heart their pride.
Which later led to the superior creation of the LT 4 and LS motors.
Interesting.
Thank you.
I'd say the $35 grand upcharge for the zr1 was the main reason for sales declining, especially when you could get a base model 92-96 lt1 zf s6-40 car at base price. Everyone knew they were a solid 275-300 hp. Doesn't sound like much now but it was huge during that era, and more power than most could use on the street. The traction control wasn't as refined as it is now, so a 3400 pound car with close to 300 hp was nothing to sneeze at. Why pay $35,000 more, pay higher insurance premiums for power you couldn't utilize was the thought of many back then.
@@b.c4066 good 👍 point Bill plus you could do a heads and cam package on LT4 LT1 engines and make around 500 hp!
Hello good sir! I know this is an old post but a goodie. Quick question so the 93’s had LT1’s and in 94 the Vetts had a LT4? For only one year? And still a 350ci just different heads and intake?
Again great video!
I love the 4+3 transmission ('88 coupe), but it was a bear to rebuild. Fortunately for me it was very sturdy. I only had to have it rebuilt once in 150,000 miles of driving.
Good to hear! Glad that worked for you.
If I recall, the Flowmaster Force II Exhaust which I have on my 96 is 2-1/2 inch inside which matches the stock inside diameter. The outside diameter of the stock exhaust is 2-3/4. Flowmaster's Force II resonator is flowthrough with no restrictions. Compared to stock if you saw the inside of both, Flowmaster is much better. They may have made changes over the years but today's system is better than stock in every way. It's a slight upgrade, not a downgrade.
How long have you had your flowmaster system on your Vette? My Force 2 didn’t last 10 years. The whole system corroded and rusted.. I much prefer the Borla System.
@@FugitiveVette had it installed last summer, it's stainless steel.
@@kirkcunningham6146 nice 👍 I think mine was 409 stainless. Which of course is the lower quality.
@@FugitiveVette well, mine is also 409 not 304 but I don't drive or store mine in wet weather. Always in a dry environment and garaged if I'm not driving it so I'm not too worried.
I have a 84 c4 and never liked them till I drove it rips the corner with no problem
Yeah C4s really handle! Especially when they align then aggressively!
Betsy for is the 88 35th anniversary edition or the 89 with a six-speed. Love the retro 80s digital dash
Really enjoyed your video....learned a lot too. Great job. :)
Thank you 🙏 appreciate it!
You learned a lot of misinformation. He messed up a LOT on quite a bit of information. Try a different video. This one is really bad.
I have a 1985 L98 automatic with Long tube headers. And Borla exhaust with the jet chip never had no problems with my 85 with a rebuilt transmission.
That’s nice! How long have you owned it?
5 years
The iron -882 heads of the '85 TPI flowed slightly better than the later aluminum heads and cam was hotter and so '85 was faster:
ruclips.net/video/M9FwU9iUmfo/видео.html
@@BuzzLOLOL 85 Vettes had 624 heads. They were about as suck as the 882s. Every year after got faster because aluminum heads came in late 86 and then roller cams in 87.
@@dustinmccain1215 - Both the -882 and -624 heads outflowed the '87 - '92 aluminum heads... Hot Rod did some basic porting on them and they got even worse... you had to hog the hell out of those aluminum heads like Lingenfelter did to get any performance out of them...
Of course, first problem to overcome, is aluminum bleeds off heat/power faster than Iron heads! So need to bump up compression ratio...
You're doing really high quality work here - I truly mean that. That's why I'll nit pick a little: you say regarding the ZR1 development that dual overhead cam engined European cars were beginning to surface at that time. The truth of the matter is Europe had been producing street cars with DOHC heads since the fifties. Not only on sports cars like the Jaguar XKs and Mercedes SLs but also family cars like the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The notion in Europe was that OHV design simply wouldn't do after the sixties. Apologies for the nit pick.
No reason to apologize, that’s what the comments section is for. I was really thinking of the Porsche 928 which was all aluminum and had overhead cams. I didn’t think 🤔 about the vast majority of Euro cars. Thanks 🙏 for the knowledge ✊
@@FugitiveVetteI know European cars didn't have the same sort of foothold on US soil in the early days, but Lamborghini did put a full aluminum quad cam engine into street production in 1963 - their famous Bizzarrini V12. That being said the C4 Corvette is one of my favorite cars so I always appreciate good quality work on it, such as yours. BTW, Lotus had not only DOHC but even quad valve combustion chambers in 1972 so it makes sense Lotus was the European partner of choice when ZR1 went for European design.
I see that ATI Super Damper. I replaced my OEM balancer with that.
You sure do! Good shit!
I love the Magnesium valve covers! You ever hang a set of restored ones on a wall?! Sharp!
I have my magnesium valve covers screwed to the wall while my 550 HP SBC 405" is painted up to look like a stock 283" engine...
@@BuzzLOLOL haha, I have two sets of magnesium covers hanging my my ceiling...and 3 more sets awaiting restoration...someday I'll get to them!
@@CC_Top_Solutions - Be careful... magnesium ignites easily... and will even burn under water...
@@BuzzLOLOL I keep them away from open flames! I'd love to see you 405! You have a channel?
@@CC_Top_Solutions - Couple websites about mental health... no video channel... yet...
SBC 405 built like this 400" engine but with better MoTown Lite 220cc USA heads:
ruclips.net/video/MQojldctz-s/видео.html
what are those rims you got on you c4 they look really nice great video man
Thanks 🙏 brotha! It’s CCW Wheels 17 x 11 front with 17 x 12 on the rear. Tires are 315 35R17. Hoosiers
Great video! But for clarity the new gauges started in 90 and I think ony the Z51 with the sport rear diff had 250 hp.
Correct I made a few mistakes in that video. 1990 definitely had the later tech gauges.
I appreciate your knowledge and admire the car.
Thanks 🙏 appreciate
He doesn’t have knowledge there is a ton of misinformation. 3 buttons for the overdrive? 3 speed overdrive??? It’s a 2 speed over drive with direct or overdrive and it’s ONE button. On or off. And the runner length gave it the torque not the ability to rev higher! On top of a lot of other things!
A 1985 Opel Kadett (GM brand) Gsi also had an digital dash.
Thanks 🙏good to know. I reply like Opel!
Lots of cars in the 80s did.
Nice video review! However, longer intake runners produce more torque and shorter runners rev out higher, provided the cam isn't garbage.
@@marshallnoise3557 correct 👍 I had that backwards 😂
@@FugitiveVette All good! Very nice video. 'Bout to do the exact opposite of what you suggest and look at an 86 and turn it into an LSx test bed for a 6.0 LQ4 and 4L80.
Does anybody still use "old school" Porter performance mufflers?
hey man, I gotta tell you. love your posts and videos, love the info you give us.. I own basicly the same car.. polo green 96 c4 Lt4 .. I've got 64,000 miles on it... I've had no problems with ignition..yet... when should I change it out?
I would wait until the OptiSpark fails. When it does replace with the MSD and replace the water pump at the same time. Thanks 🙏 appreciate the feedback! 😃 happy you’re enjoying the vids!
@@FugitiveVette good deal... thanks for answering me back I appreciate it
@@caseyhanneman1564 my pleasure 😇
What year did the c4 ditch the all digital dash and got rid of the lights in the back what's the best year if I want the old lights and old dash but best performance
1991 was the year they changed the dash and body style. 1992 was the first year of the LT1. 1990 is the best year of the old dash and body style with the round tail lights . 1990 had the L98 engine. Hope this helped.
@@FugitiveVette yes it did thanks for the response and the fast informative one at that 😁
Got a 95’ lt1 zf6 car with 62k miles
Sits on zr1 wheels front n back
Sounds great! Found one with really low miles!
I love c4 corvettes because there American but they give kind of a foreign feel..kinda like a Supra…you can put a c4 next to a tuner car and it won’t look out of place 💯💯
Agree plus the styling is aging really well. You can put any number of wheel combinations on it and it looks great 😊
Didn’t the first zr1’s make 375hp and 375 torque before it was bumped up to 405hp?
people say the C4 is slow. Sure, by today's standards in a straight away. Back in the day though it was no slug. But challenge a C4 in the curves today and then let's see if you can lose it.
Love my 86 Z51...
Yeah those are nice! Is it a coup or convertible? Manuel or automatic?
At the very end of the video, what headers are those? I have an LT4 and if I can save some money by not going with ARH headers that would be great lol
Stainless Steel Works. Keep in mind the primaries are only one and 5/8 inch. The collector was 2 1/2 inch I have modified it to 3 inch collector that made a really big jump in power with my set up. I’d you have any questions feel free to DM. Thanks 🙏
I also had the headers ceramic coated. Worth the money 💰
@@FugitiveVette definitely agree with that. What cam are you running? Also looking at aftermarket oil pans since road courses are my thing
@@TheFamilyCarGuy thanks I will have to look up the cam specs but it’s something like a 228 - 245 with a LSA of 110.
@@TheFamilyCarGuy I would do the AccuSump rather than a Millidon pan. After market pans make it harder to change the starter.
Dude you need to take my Class about Theory of Fuel Injection you really stumbled threw It
Classic cars eventually become so old that delineating performance differences really isn’t significant. 230hp vs 360hp is pretty average compared to today’s family car. I prefer the original C4 1984-1990 in terms of capturing the essence of that generation.
Most definitely plus they didn’t have the opti Spark ⚡️ issue.
Best Corvettes made before the C8
Great video
Thanks 🙏 appreciate it! ✊
probably gonna buy a c4 as my first/only car, whenever they show up they're in very good condition and have fairly low miles on them. Now how does this perform in the rain and can you drive it in the winter time? (Using winter tires of course)And one more thing! I like the earlier models with the full digital dash more, but apart from the airbag does the 84-89 tend to break more ?
Btw: How is the speakers and AC on this car?
Honestly I’m terms of reliability I would say the 92 to 96 for the most part are more reliable and a lot more refined. The one major knock is the optispark but like I said you can replace with the MSD. As far as driving in the winter ❄️ I can’t really saying live in California where it never snows. But in terms of rain I find it easy. One thing to remember the 93 to 96 years are the only ones equipped with ASR traction control.
Hope that comment helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
WInter driving in a C4 is terrible and dangerous.
My wagon was in the shop up in Minot, ND. So, I had to take my 84 to work with snow on the highway. Everything was fine until about 30 mph. Then the car turned into an air hockey puck. I did a few 360's. When the car came to a halt (in the median) I was trembling.
I thought it was a fluke. So, I got back on the highway and drove about 30. At 30 it was rock soid. At 31, it went out of control again.
Braking in any gear would barely slow the car down on a slippery surface. In Neutral, it would not slow down great either, but it was better than trying to slow down in any forward gear.
Recommend against.
Corvettes have always been driven year around including mild snowfall... but need all weather tires... no car is safe in rain/snow/ice with slicks...
@@FugitiveVette - MSD stuff isn't very reliable, probably 1 in 4 is junk when new...
I’d love to throw the money towards building my c4 up to be like the sledgehammer. Or Atleast close in performance. Have been debating a 383 stroker with a turbo/twins or just slapping nitrous on it and skipping the turbos
There’s a lot of different ways to go. I f I was going the boost route I would build a 355 with AFR Heads low compression and a Pro Charger on 15 or 16 psi.
@@FugitiveVetteI'm quite impressed by your knowledge. My issue in choosing a base for a similar idea is that only early C4s come with the quick steering rack on the Z51. I remember there being an issue retro-fitting that to a later car. I can't imagine working with the slow steering though. Are you aware of a quick rack solution for the later cars?
@@varmastiko2908 I really think you can rectify that with an aggressive track alignment. My steering feels very quick and responsive. Might want to try that first the advantage of Corvettes is they have 4 wheel alignment which makes them handle extremely well.
@@FugitiveVetteThe handling is great but the steering rack on the later Z51 is still a downgrade. Am I correct though, that I can't fit an '85 steering rack on an '89 car?
@@varmastiko2908 I believe it is different. Let me ask my mechanic Dave Bonar. I’m sure he will have a lot of info on that subject.
Anybody know what wheels are on the black vette at 13:22?
CCW
Nice Channel
Thanks 🙏 appreciate
The C4 has a transmission temperature gauge?
Yes transmission fluid temperature.
@@FugitiveVette what year had transmission temperature gauge, I've owned two c4, been around many and never seen a transmission temperature gauge in them. Crankcase oil temperature gauge yes, but not transmission fluid temperature gauge.
@@b.c4066 my dads 96 Corvette is an auto with an LT1 and it has a transmission temperature fluid gauge.
auto trans only
@@ralphhbernstein6798 yup 👍
Anyone know what wheels are on the ZR-1 in the picture at 17:31?
I believe those are CCW. Check out their website.
I HAVe a C4 Right Now Sky BLue
Is it a 94?
The classic big block Corvettes were muscle cars. All 6 cylinder and sbc equipped Vettes are sports cars. The C8 is neither; it is an exotic.
There's no v6 vettes and they're sports cars since 53
@@juanmontoya5331 You’re right, there were no v6 Vettes. The early 50s cars were powered by straight 6s. I think it’s towards the middle of the C1 generation where the Vette finally got the V8 and it became the mainstream engine choice.
V6??? You’re thinking Camaro. That had a V6 or a V8. Corvette is only V8 for this era, and every era after C1.
Major issues with that poorly designed Opti-spark ignition on the the later models that were not properly vented, and the fit and finish of the plastic f16 cockpit style and cheap looking gauges really made the c4 look cheap. They could of used better quality material in terms of the gauges. Like the digital even though i prefer analog gauges. Also the 96 were the higher performance motor and grand sports ,but the ZR1 was the king and cost 80 thousand plus tax in Canada. Also the Opti spark which was similar to the one used in the Pontiac grandam was properly vented and did not have thge same issue as the vetted Opti spark.
Well on o believe 95 and 96 they definitely vented the opti but they still are susceptible to damage to the optical trigger. Bottom line it was a shit design.
Is this car vet a race car? Does this car has v8
?
has v4 and optonall v1 race enjin
it's a V8 and was designed on the track, as well as winning 29-0 against Porsche and others in the SCCA so yes I'd call it a race car.
Duh it, a 4 speed w a 2 speed automatic (laycockdenormanvile type) the 4 plus 3 designation comes from being able to use the overdrive in 2nd 3rd and 4th gear 😮😅😂❤
Interiors were cheap and cheesy IMO. LT1 could be problematic. I like the rest of the car..lol.
They’re awd vette coming 2025 or around then
Zora edition c8
Nice cars! But, the only C4 I like is a convertible. The coupes look bland as heck to me.
6:01
Bruh what? The intake runners weren’t too short, but they were short? It could breathe better??? That’s shite. The runners are so damn long it’s hard to rev high with an after market ported base, runners and intake! They’re DAMN long. And it would stop breathing at 4.5k rpm because power flattened after 4.3k rpm.
And the torque went up, because they could rev the engine more???? The torque maxxed at 3,200rpm revving higher didn’t mean shit for torque, it was the runner length.
7:36 No! It didn’t stop in 1987 because I got an 88 with a 4+3. My god did you do any research???? The 6 speed ZF6 didn’t come in until 1989. And you’re acting like a 4 speed manual is shite, but you know that the Super T-10 (which is what the 4 speed is) is the same trans in the original 60s Shelby Cobra? It’s a damn good transmission. 7:45 And it wasn’t a 3 speed overdrive, it was 2 ratios (2 speed overdrive) that electronically could go between the 2 ranges, direct or overdrive. .60 or .68 for the overdrive (changes for different suspension packages) 8:07 OMFG IT WAS ONE BUTTON, OVERDRIVE ON OR OFF HOLY SHIT. Also you say it’s difficult to rebuild but it’s just a little overdrive unit that would need to be fixed, it’s not that hard. It’ll just stay direct instead of going into overdrive. The 4 speed is very robust, it won’t break under normal conditions.
9:01 You misspoke and said 1998 (C4 ended in 1996) even then in 1988 it was still the 4+3, 1989 got the ZF6. And the ZR1 didn’t come along until 1990, the ZR1 had some concepts in 1989 but they’re rare.
Also you didn’t even mention the suspension change in 1988 and you were wrong! 1990 still had the L98! 1992 started the LT1!
SO MUCH MISINFORMATION IT’S INSANE.
MSD optispark are JUNK, the best ones are the original OEMs. I service and repair a lot of C4s, and i'm yet to see a real OEM optispark actually fail in a way it couldn't rebuilt. Good luck with that MSD and it's chinese optical sensor, they're hit and miss at best.
True the only thing better about MSD is it’s a sealed unit which keeps it dry. Other than that I agree they junk.
@@FugitiveVette They're all sealed around the cap, even the cheapest chinese junk ones are. If that seal is good they won't fail from hosing them or leaking water pumps. Problem is that seal is not going to last forever. Any distributor will be f***ed if you get water into it while there is HV present.
Using an MSD cap and rotor kit on an OEM unit is the best option to swap a 92-94 unit to vented, the allows for the holes in the bottom to be sealed (and contrarty to popular rumour, this isn't where water gets in)
I have rebuilt a lot of optisparks, and i've seen a lot of OEMs go well over 100,000 miles and 30+ years without being touched.
Iv owned a 92 for over a year and can say do not buy a c4 if you can afford a c5 or c6. C4s are dogs dont fall for the bs a lot of c4 people say. They think c4s are the best thing since sliced bread.
My 93 C4 ZR-1 is a classy screamer!
TLDR
Dude.... This video is terrible. In the first 5 minutes alone you got several basic Corvette facts wrongs. First, there was no 1983 Corvette, that model year corvette simply did not exist. The L83 Crossfire motor that was used in the 1984 was not a carryover from 1983, since there was no actual 1983 model. Second, the Doug Nash 4+3 was used until 1988, not 1987 like you said. There was no factory transmission temperature gauge. That image of the digital dash was from a 1985-1989 Corvette, not a 1984. Ignorance is one thing, and is excusable. Ignorance of one's own ignorance, then a willingness to espouse "facts" that are in fact, wrong, is something else.
Thanks for the correction. Although I never said 83 was the first year of the C4. It was supposed to be 83 but it was not produced until 84. The 84 also shared the cross fire fuel injection that the previous year C3 had.
Some '83 Corvettes were made and existed, but not sold... at least, not publicly...
@@BuzzLOLOL no, none were ever made available to the public as a 1983 model. So for all intentions and purposes they were prototype, research and development, demo for magazine writers to use, write stories about and pump up anticipation of the 84 model when it got released. They were subsequently destroyed. The fact that the one in the Corvette museum exists is a mistake, if people had followed gm protocol the car would've been dismantled and destroyed.
@@b.c4066 - Fortunately many concept cars mysteriously slipped away without being destroyed so that automakers could take a tax exemption on them... some even disappeared out of the auto crushers yards...
ruclips.net/video/MIi4RfK4cEM/видео.html
And the 3 buttons for the ‘3 speed overdrive’ which it’s 1 button On and Off for the 2 speed overdrive (he says it basically a 3 speed automatic connected to a 4 speed manual 💀) it’s direct and overdrive. 1:1 and .60:1 or .68:1
Get the torghead for reliability and tunability.