Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4
08-06-2002, 07:14 PM
#1
Team Owner
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Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4
If I buy a non-Z51 car ('96 C4 LT4) with the base FE1 suspension, I can always upgrade the car at the expense of making it illegal in its stock SCCA Solo2 class. I have Hib's suspension chart for all the C4 years. That talks about springs and shocks. What about the steering rack, oil cooler, etc., on the '96 C4 LT4 (or other years)? Is that different on ALL the C4 years or just certain ones? Just trying to calculate how many modifications I would need to make to turn the car into a tight handling car?
[Modified by NBM LS1 M6, 11:16 PM 8/6/2002]
[Modified by NBM LS1 M6, 11:16 PM 8/6/2002]
08-07-2002, 12:30 AM
#2
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Re: Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4 (NBM LS1 M6)
steering rack is different for z51 cars, tighter ratio
LT's didnt have an oil cooler, they were eliminated when GM decided to run Mobil 1 synthetic from the factory
LT's didnt have an oil cooler, they were eliminated when GM decided to run Mobil 1 synthetic from the factory
08-07-2002, 03:09 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Re: Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4 (NBM LS1 M6)
Difference between 96 FE1 and a Z51 is fairly minor.
Different springs, shocks, adjustable ride suspension, sway bars, and possibly bushings too.
Brakes are the same as is the steering rack to my knowledge. I do know on early model C4's the Z51 was tighter, but that doesn't carry over to later C4's.
96 Z51 isn't all that 'serious' if you ask me-as the stiffness is quite light compared to say a 90 Z51 or 91 Z07. Can be a blessing to avoid the somewhat complicated FX3 (that you can't rebuild the shocks on) and end up with something that is more capable in the end.
Of course I have a 96 FE1 so little biased...:)
Different springs, shocks, adjustable ride suspension, sway bars, and possibly bushings too.
Brakes are the same as is the steering rack to my knowledge. I do know on early model C4's the Z51 was tighter, but that doesn't carry over to later C4's.
96 Z51 isn't all that 'serious' if you ask me-as the stiffness is quite light compared to say a 90 Z51 or 91 Z07. Can be a blessing to avoid the somewhat complicated FX3 (that you can't rebuild the shocks on) and end up with something that is more capable in the end.
Of course I have a 96 FE1 so little biased...:)
08-07-2002, 04:06 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Re: Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4 (No Go)
bilstein can rebuild/revalve the FX3 shocks for ya
anybody know for sure about the steering rack on the newer C4's??
i guess easy way to find out is the #of turns of the wheel, from lock to lock, but i forgot how many it's supposed to be.
anybody know how many turns for the quick ratio??
anybody know for sure about the steering rack on the newer C4's??
i guess easy way to find out is the #of turns of the wheel, from lock to lock, but i forgot how many it's supposed to be.
anybody know how many turns for the quick ratio??
08-07-2002, 05:19 PM
#5
Melting Slicks
Re: Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4 (NBM LS1 M6)
A guy around here converted an F45 Grand Sport (same as FE1) to Z51 for A-Stock. All you really need are the springs and possibly(?) a rear bar, and 17x9.5s all around (for non-GS).
Fast steering rack was dropped in '90.
Oil cooler dropped in '92.
Big brakes are standard '95-96.
Stiff LCA bushings not available from GM anymore, so standard ones are legal.
Basically any '92-96 is cake to convert to Z07/Z51. Buy the Corvette Black Book, all the changes are listed there year-by-year.
[Modified by JasonL, 1:19 PM 8/7/2002]
Fast steering rack was dropped in '90.
Oil cooler dropped in '92.
Big brakes are standard '95-96.
Stiff LCA bushings not available from GM anymore, so standard ones are legal.
Basically any '92-96 is cake to convert to Z07/Z51. Buy the Corvette Black Book, all the changes are listed there year-by-year.
[Modified by JasonL, 1:19 PM 8/7/2002]
08-07-2002, 05:24 PM
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Re: Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4 (NBM LS1 M6)
If I buy a non-Z51 car ('96 C4 LT4) with the base FE1 suspension, I can always upgrade the car at the expense of making it illegal in its stock SCCA Solo2 class. I have Hib's suspension chart for all the C4 years. That talks about springs and shocks. What about the steering rack, oil cooler, etc., on the '96 C4 LT4 (or other years)? Is that different on ALL the C4 years or just certain ones? Just trying to calculate how many modifications I would need to make to turn the car into a tight handling car?
[Modified by NBM LS1 M6, 11:16 PM 8/6/2002]
[Modified by NBM LS1 M6, 11:16 PM 8/6/2002]
If you upgrade with all the Z51 parts you can still run it in the stock class, I think it's AS this year. Was Super Stock (SS) last year.
08-07-2002, 05:25 PM
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Re: Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4 (vader86)
steering rack is different for z51 cars, tighter ratio
LT's didnt have an oil cooler, they were eliminated when GM decided to run Mobil 1 synthetic from the factory
LT's didnt have an oil cooler, they were eliminated when GM decided to run Mobil 1 synthetic from the factory
Since when?
08-07-2002, 05:33 PM
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Re: Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4 (No Go)
[QUOTE]Difference between 96 FE1 and a Z51 is fairly minor.
96 Z51 isn't all that 'serious' if you ask me-as the stiffness is quite light compared to say a 90 Z51 or 91 Z07. QUOTE]
Yeaper. 1991 FE1 has the same spring rate as a 96 Z51 spring. My 91 FE1 handled better than my current 96 CE LT4 with FE1. I'm shocked I can run the times I do as compared to some really good drivers with modded suspensions/alignment in my club. Shocked because my car ride like a caddy, way too soft. High speed stabilty sucks when hitting the curves and bumps in the road.
96 Z51 isn't all that 'serious' if you ask me-as the stiffness is quite light compared to say a 90 Z51 or 91 Z07. QUOTE]
Yeaper. 1991 FE1 has the same spring rate as a 96 Z51 spring. My 91 FE1 handled better than my current 96 CE LT4 with FE1. I'm shocked I can run the times I do as compared to some really good drivers with modded suspensions/alignment in my club. Shocked because my car ride like a caddy, way too soft. High speed stabilty sucks when hitting the curves and bumps in the road.
08-07-2002, 11:10 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
Re: Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4 (SonnyinVA)
I don't believe the shocks are Bilstein on a 96, they were up thru 95 though. I don't believe the 96's are rebuildable-Dephins or something like that.
:nonod:
:nonod:
08-08-2002, 05:31 AM
#10
Le Mans Master
Re: Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4 (No Go)
QUOTE]I don't believe the shocks are Bilstein on a 96, they were up thru 95 though. I don't believe the 96's are rebuildable-Dephins or something like that.
:nonod: [/QUOTE]
96's are Bilsteins on the FE1 and Z51...not sure about the F45 though. I had my FE1's revalved by Bilstein about 3 months ago, what a difference!
[Modified by Zix, 3:32 AM 8/8/2002]
:nonod: [/QUOTE]
96's are Bilsteins on the FE1 and Z51...not sure about the F45 though. I had my FE1's revalved by Bilstein about 3 months ago, what a difference!
[Modified by Zix, 3:32 AM 8/8/2002]
08-08-2002, 04:34 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
Re: Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4 (NBM LS1 M6)
Send mail/IM to "LT4 FTD" - he did a z51 conversion on his LT4 CE I believe. Springs/bars/wheels were it I believe. Trick is getting the right parts with the right codes on them - apparently the rear spring is pretty much a dealer-only part...
08-09-2002, 04:58 PM
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Re: Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4 (TravisD)
Send mail/IM to "LT4 FTD" - he did a z51 conversion on his LT4 CE I believe. Springs/bars/wheels were it I believe. Trick is getting the right parts with the right codes on them - apparently the rear spring is pretty much a dealer-only part...
Easier to find.
08-09-2002, 06:14 PM
#14
Re: Non-Z51 '96 C4 LT4 (ConeKLR)
So theoretically, I can easly change my NON FX3, FE1 92 to a Z07?
I need a bigger sway bar in the back? And stiffer springs?
Since 92 had the same wheels all around i dont have to worry about that.
I need a bigger sway bar in the back? And stiffer springs?
Since 92 had the same wheels all around i dont have to worry about that.
