I'm looking at buying an 80-82 corvette, but I always hear how they just don't handle all that great. I also hear a lot about upgrading to c4 and c5 parts, but is that the only option. Are kits from vb&p equivalent to c4 and c5 parts. This car will be cruiser, but I'd still like it to corner pretty well.

 

A stock C3 the day it was new was the best handling thing on the road. 25 or 30 yrs later it isn't. But, a rebuild kit from VBP or several others will make it better than new, enough to make the passenger puke when handled correctly. You can upgrade to c4 or c5 if your going to race, but for a driver or weekend tou, you can just put in a regular rebuild kit with urethane and upgraded springs and will be good to go

 

Zora fought for the IRS for a reason. It will outhandle any other American car from that era.

 

I love the way my 80 handles, but has been rebuilt with new bushings and shocks

 

Upgrade to 17" wheels with good tires, is the first thing you should do.

Assuming your suspension is tight.

After that, Steeroids is recommended

Keith

 

In my opinion....
A C3 will out handle over 95% of the cars on the road today!!
replace all the front and rear suspension rubber parts, make sure the steering and wheel bearings are tight add some fresh performance tires & A C3 is one of the best handling cars in the world!!
a C4 is a little better
a C5 is even better
a C6 is one of the best ever

 

 

thanks for the info guys. Are their other companies that you would recommend other than vbp for suspension kits?

 

my 74 corvette has out handeld a newer (92-96) honda CRX

my vette's suspention is stock, not sure bout the CRX tho

Miles

 

Guldstrand Motorsports

 

I've got VB&P Performance Plus front kit and glass spring in the rear and it's as flat as a go cart and rides great. If you want to improve on that handling you would need taller wheels and shorter tires with less side-wall flex.

If you're not going to race it . . . . . . . .why would you need more?

 

i dont know about him, but i dont enjoy racing near as much as i enjoy cornoring, i have more fun with that then i ever had yle raceing

Miles

 

A C3 will handle for you on a smooth road.When the road gets somewhat bumpy or treacherous....they do lack travel,then again thats not just a C3 problem.

 

As has been alluded to, the suspension came out in the 1963 Vette. Lots of new technology in 35 years to upgrade the suspension.

If you look at it, the C3 and C6 both use IRS with transverse mounted spring. I put a fiberglass rear spring on my 72 and that helped the ride (and maybe handling) alot.

The C3 has a coil spring front suspension similar to my truck. You can change to a transverse leave spring like the newer Vettes. Obviously there was an improvement so GM went to that setup.

In addition to springs, I think the following will make a difference:
I think a good alignment does wonders for handling (on any car).
I also think going to rack-n-pinion will help handling as well.
Replace bushings and other suspension components.

 

My '80 is equipped with the Gymkhana suspension and I love the way it handles compared to newer cars I've driven.

 

One word........ALIGNMENT!

Some times C3s get a bad rap about the way they drive when all they needed was a good alignment & maybe a new set of tires........

 

you guys are probably right. I don't need top of the line stuff. I guess I just want it to be on par with the other cars that i've owned(92 b4c camaro, 2000 ws6 trans am). Will a c3 with vbp or gulstrand kit compare or beat these in handling.

 

First off the biggest component in how well a car handles is the driver by far, next is the tires.

I have a '90 C4 (with the FX3 suspension) in good condition but completely standard with goodyear eagle F1 GSD3 275/35R17 tires all round. I also have a '70 with the complete VBP suspension, bilstein shocks with poly bushing and 255/45R17 tires front and 255/45R18 tires rear, it handles well but nothing short of putting a tube chassis with C4 suspension and steering is going to make the C3 handle like the C4.

Having said all that the C3 handles just fine and it turns way more heads than my '90 ever will. Put a complete VBP kit on, get some nice tires and you will be happy, especially if it is all original (and probably very worn out) suspension on your car at the moment.

 

 

The rear has issues with suspension geometry. WHen you are hard in a turn, don't shift or lift. I think it may have something to do with only having lower control arms?

Maybe my bushings are just shot too. Dunno.