Convertible ride quality???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 150
Likes: 2
From: Gilbert AZ
Convertible ride quality???
I used to own a few C4 coupes, hated taking the roof off because of the way the car felt flimsy & loose with it removed. Have owned 2 C5 verts, very solid feeling, all the time. How do the C4 verts feel, specifically the 96's?? Do they feel tight like a coupe with the roof on?Somewhere in between? Thanks.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Fuquay Varina North Carolina
I used to own a few C4 coupes, hated taking the roof off because of the way the car felt flimsy & loose with it removed. Have owned 2 C5 verts, very solid feeling, all the time. How do the C4 verts feel, specifically the 96's?? Do they feel tight like a coupe with the roof on?Somewhere in between? Thanks.
I have a '95 vert..feels pretty solid to me no flexible flyer type ride, maybe verts are built stiffer..not sure..I also own two 1970 Mustangs. one is a vert..it does have some extra bracing on the frame that a coupe does not have. I think that accounts for the extra weight in verts, Perhaps Vettes are the same. Not sure I have never owned a vette coupe.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 3
From: Port Orange FL
I have a 94 and it did have some cowl shake and flexing to it when I bought it. I did some additional bracing in the form of boxing the x brace, Camber brace, and a brace between the seat belt points. It is now much more solid, my buddy who has a c5 is amazed by it, thinks it is just as solid as his. Stock for Stock though, there is no comparison.
Roy
Roy
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 505
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From: Guntersville Alabama
I have a 94 and it did have some cowl shake and flexing to it when I bought it. I did some additional bracing in the form of boxing the x brace, Camber brace, and a brace between the seat belt points. It is now much more solid, my buddy who has a c5 is amazed by it, thinks it is just as solid as his. Stock for Stock though, there is no comparison.
Roy
Roy
93cruiser
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Tulsa OK
I used to own a few C4 coupes, hated taking the roof off because of the way the car felt flimsy & loose with it removed. Have owned 2 C5 verts, very solid feeling, all the time. How do the C4 verts feel, specifically the 96's?? Do they feel tight like a coupe with the roof on?Somewhere in between? Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Not easily. If you look closely at the pic of trulytex's car, you can see a number of studs and nuts inside the brace close to the cat. These studs are affixed to the floorpan and are not on the coupe. Also the rear corner mounting holes are not on the coupe frame but are on the front frame corners.
R-D Racing has a Cross-Frame that looks the same as the vert X-frame. It comes with a set of nutserts that are inserted into holes that you drill into the rear corners of the frame. It does not attach anywhere else to the body but their material is boxed tube where the factory X-frame is flat steel that has been stamped.
The factory X-brace helps in longitudinal flex, not in twisting of the frame from side to side.
But add the factory hard top to the 'vert and the car actually becomes stiffer than a coupe.
I never noticed any cowl flex with my 92 vert. It was a solid car that never had any squeaks or rattles.
R-D Racing has a Cross-Frame that looks the same as the vert X-frame. It comes with a set of nutserts that are inserted into holes that you drill into the rear corners of the frame. It does not attach anywhere else to the body but their material is boxed tube where the factory X-frame is flat steel that has been stamped.
The factory X-brace helps in longitudinal flex, not in twisting of the frame from side to side.
But add the factory hard top to the 'vert and the car actually becomes stiffer than a coupe.
I never noticed any cowl flex with my 92 vert. It was a solid car that never had any squeaks or rattles.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Yes, I was in a class put on by Chris Petris a couple of years ago. He had a 93 coupe up on a lift and showed the "road racer" owner how it could easily be done. It seems like the rear bolt holes are already there and he said to bolt those in and then use a punch to make holes for the fronts and then use self tapping bolt/screws to cinch them down. My memory is bad though so it might be the front that already has the holes. You can get a used brace from www.vette2vette.com or cruise the swap area at Carlisle or Bloomington gold to find one from a donor vert. One of our supporting vendors also makes new ones.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 953
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From: Wesley Chapel FL
Yeah mine seems pretty stiff with the top up or down I always wonder why some people post that they have alot of shake and twist.... 
seems like you hear most of it from people with coupes with the targa out...
seems like you hear most of it from people with coupes with the targa out...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 3
From: Port Orange FL
93Cruiser, I dont really have any pics of the Camber brace, its kind of buried down there and you couldnt see much anyhow. Its a standard R&D piece. Here are pics of the rear crossbar and the boxed X brace though.
Roy
Roy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Ponte Vedra
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 505
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From: Guntersville Alabama
93cruiser
