THE HECK YOU SAY!
roads down here suck even more, how many dirt roads and gravel roads do you see in NY? I know for a fact that SC roads suck, potholes everywhere, there isnt a single road between me and the highway that isnt chock full of potholes and half-arsed "patching" and i live in a wealthy area and Spartanburg is a rich county now. No SC likes to redo the interstate every 2 or 3 years and still cant update any of its secondary roads. Hell even the roads around Clemson have potholes everywhere.

 

It limits you to 100 characters, so I left that one out ;)
My point is, my '84 has already lasted 12 years longer than your '96. Kinda a lame argument, I know ;) . I'd trade the '84 for your '96 any day (nice car, by the way!).

I'm really just trying to drive the points that

1) It's a Corvette, and as such, it's deserved the same respect as all other Corvettes!
2) Not all Corvettes are as fast as the Z06 or ZR1, so why say the '84 is shiesa just because it's the slowest C4 (factory that is) ever made? If you want to make something fast, you don't let a crossfire manifold (or a TPI for that matter) stand in your way!
3) Yep, it rides like a UPS truck, but it sure doesn't handle like one! I prefer the stiff ride, it reminds me I have something that sticks to walls in a corner. It also gives it a nice sports car feel. Also, springs can (and usually are) be changed. I'd rather spend $4000 on an '84 than $7500 on an '85 any day.
4) Don't let anyone fool you, the L83 is NOT tempermental. It's a very solid running engine. It sure doesn't beat the rest of the pack in it's unmidified state, but is very dependable. Go ahead, hose it down with a pressure washer, I am sure it will start back up. Let's see you do that with a LT1. If you want stock performance, don't settle for anything less than a LT5 or LT4, the rest (L98, LT1, AND L83) are all slow compared to them.
So please, next time you see a good deal on an '84, don't pass it up because everyone on the CF told you to stay away from it. Grab it, restore it if neccessary, and relish the fact that you have the foundation in C4 heritage, and then go buy a newer model to put beside the '84 in the garage if you want straight-line speed. Look at the first Corvettes ever made. By modern standards, even 10 years after these things were built, they were relics. Look how much one in mint condition goes for nowadays.
-Matt


[Modified by kd4pbs, 1:48 AM 12/23/2001]

 

There's nothing wrong with 84's at all.... in fact by many road racers, they're still considered the best road race set-ups ever made by the factory.... with a 84 Z51, regardless of how stiff it was considered to be.... still a great road car. As far as hp for a the 1/4 mile...yes they have a crossfire intake that won't make any power above 4500 rpm.... but thats not new or old... same deal with the TPI. The lone disadvantage to the CFI is that you also have to replace the ecm and wiring harnass when you're uprading the intake system.....but still not a major problem.

If I was starting over, I wouldn't hesitate from buying an 84..... very versatile set-ups.

cheers,
Beach Bum

 

I had an 84 too, they really get too much of a bad rap. Best handleing car i've ever owned. The only thing i didn't like was the engine & it really has no "easy"(VS a TPI car) mod potential.

 

I think there the best bang for the buck on the market today :cheers:

 

I'll take this 84 anyday!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cg...585802&r=0&t=0

 

I bought an 84 because it is a good buy. I want a c-5 but can't afford at the moment, but hey I'm still enjoying a corvette right now in the 84. You can get around the manifold problem with the x-ram maifold that is a simple bolt on http://www.x-ram.com. I don't have my foot in it all the time and it's not my daily driver so the other points of speed and reliabilty are not that big of an issue. I get alot more looks than if I bought any other car for that kind of money (6k) I don't think I would get the same attention for a mustang in that price range. I hope the car will be part of my down payment on my future c-5 but just thinking about it I bet I will miss it afterwards it's also kind of nostalgic. We have vettes to have fun while were here on the planet right?


[Modified by gfalbert, 2:33 PM 12/23/2001]

 

I have owned my 84 for 7 months and yes it's the slowest C4 made (stock) but for me, It's my first vette and I really love to drive it. Yes I am planning on getting a 91 in the spring but for now my 84 is the best vette I own. And if anyone was looking for a first vette to own I wouldn't hesitate to tell them to try an 84. As far as reliability I've only had to change the oil...thats it. So I guess it's "not very reliable" huh? :rolleyes:

Just my $.02

 

Beach;
the ECM does not have to be upgraded when the intake is modded. my 84 is running proof that the stock ECM is sufficient -13.66/100.5 mph. the car still passes Ohio E-check emissions which is a shortened version of IM240 exhaust gas analysis.
scott

 

Nothing a ZZ4 and a few mods to the intake won't fix. I've taken down plenty of LT-1 cars, stock or not. Should you buy an '84? If you want an "out-of-the-box" fast car, no. But if you're willing to use your brain a little and think outside of the box you can put together a darn fast (and widely regarded as one of the best handling) C4 for less than $10K. :flag

 

What I mean is that if you convert to a TPI aftermarket intake such as a Superram or Miniram I believe you have to replace the ecm with a 85-89 unit and of course the appropriate wiring harnass.... but I agree if you're modifying a crossfire intake system or using the Xram, the stock ecm is plenty sufficient......I think the Xram and a ported Crossfire will certainly help you out, but on the flip side if you are looking for 400+ HP, its my understanding those won't take you their.... but dunno for sure, I have no practical experience with the crossfire.

cheers,
Beach

 

I put over 110,000 miles on mine. Only major problem was I had to overhaul the transmission at 100,000 miles. I drove it year around and now the fuel line at the rear has rusted out and am having trouble finding a pre-bent replacement since it was one year only. :D

 

Hey, I bought an 86 and have had to replace just about everything except the motor and Trans so far. I would have bought an 84 but it got sold before I returned. The way I see it, it's an older car, replacing parts is just the game. I enjoy the look and wouldn't hesitate to buy one. I've learned alot fixing my 86 with the help of the forum and think they are all cool.

 

I LOVE MY 84'.

Rides like a wagon, drives like a DREAM!
Handles MUCH better than my TPI 91' coupe.
I don't mean just a little bit better either.

With 129,000 miles on the ORIGINAL engine,transmission and rear end it's realiability is 100%.

The car is absolutely MINT. I have had it painted and replaced the usual stuff you'd expect to replace on a 17 year old car.
Here's a list of standard items I have replaced:

1) Tires
2) Brakes (Pads Only.. Original Calipers)
3) Battery
4) Alternator
5) Water Pump
6) Headlight Bulbs
7) Taillight Bulbs
8) Valve Cover Gaskets
9) Throttle Position Sensor
10) Paint
11) Door Regulators
12) Carpets
13) Seat Covers
14) Floor Mats
15) Dash Mat
16) Cargo Area Mat
17) Transmission Filter & Fluid
18) Wheel Bearings
19) Shocks
20) Pinball Machine Dash Back Lights
21) Radio
22) Speakers
23) Courtesy Light Controller
34) Door Lock Switches
35) Mobil One Oil
36) Front Spoiler
37) Headlight Conversion Kit
38) Windshield Wiper Motor
39) Spark Plugs
40) Complete exhaust with Flowmasters

I'm sure there are a few items I've left out.
Any car that has been properly maintained will have had these items changed, including the older TPI Vettes.

I LOVE this car.. .
It may not be the fastest Vette but it WILL cruise 120mph without any strain.

The CFI has been trouble free with the exception of a faulty TPS that intermittently set a code 32 (I think.. it's been so long I may have forgotten).
The engine STILL ran fine even with the bad sensor.
(I determined the sensor was bad while setting the TPS voltage during one of my tuning sessions. Replaced it and no more "Check Engine" light.
There's really nothing more to go wrong than there is on the TPI engine.
Same EXACT number of sensors, one computer and only TWO injectors instead of eight.

A lot of folks aren't into all the "modding" scene. I like to spend my time cleaning and polishing my engine components and suspension parts.

The 84 is the STIFFEST sprung C4 Vette ever made and some folks might not like that. It's easy to change the springs but I like the firm ride.

AS far as I'm concerned, the 84' Vette is as good and as reliable as any other
Vette.
Like any other Vette, if the price is right, buy it.

 

actually, it' a common misconception that the 84's have the highest spring rate.


Spring rates:

84 z51: 102 / 57 (N/mm)
1988 Z51: 115 / 57.2
1989 * same as 88
1990 *
1991 *

 

Two things an 84 doesn't have, thank god!
1) opti-spark!
2) MAF sensor!
I hear if either one craps out on you, you are screwed.

I have owned an 84 since 1992. It did the 1/4 in 15.6, after a few mods: y-pipe,eliminator mufflers,shift kit,
chip,stat,bosch+4 plugs,8.8mm wires,airpump replacement kit,pulleys,random cat, k+n it runs 14.3 1/4 mile.

This car begs to be modified. Most 84 owners just need to figure out which way to go to modify it. I want to
do an engine transplant. But I want to retain all the gauges on my dash. So an LT-4 is out. TPI is the only route
for low 12's, which is my goal.

 

Actually, it's an uncommon misconception that the '88-'91 had a higher spring rate than the '84. Look at the chart: http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...usp_chart.html
While the front indeed did have 13-1/2 Newtons/mm more, the rear was much softer, coming in a full 30.3 Newtons/mm shy of the '84 model, causing the '88-91 falling a net 17.7 Newtons/mm short. Net effect, all around, the '84 is much stiffer (and stickier). Guess which end of the car your gluteus maximus feels?
Did you forget that most C4's have two springs? ;)
-Matt



[Modified by kd4pbs, 1:59 AM 12/24/2001]

 

?

 

my car was selected by motor trend, as car of the year was your? when the '84 was introduced it was at that time the most advacned car in the world. these are some exerts form road & track and car& driver mags on the '84 vette...
...0-60 in 6.7 seconds...
......1/4 mile 15.2 seconds....
...and a top speed of over 140 mph...
....these figures qualify the corvette as one of the half dozen fastest production cars in the world...
....lateral accleration 0.90g at a time when thest best ferraris and porsches could only manage 0.82g.....
....and its braking bettered that of the porsche 928 and just missed that of the 930, by half a car length, the best tested by c/d.....
road and track results:
....0.896 skid pad, which was approached only by the lamborghini countach.....
R&T also added .......that only the countach along with the ferrari 512BB and the mid engine renault R5 turbo II could top the corvette's slalom speed of 63.8 mph......

before we down something lets do the research.... find out the facts.. this car doesn't look to shabby to me.....

why wasn't the '82 vette with the same motor included in this 'bashing'...
and by the way the '84 is not the slowest vette ever made...
http://www.supercars.net
after checking there then come back and tell me the slowest vette....

this is where the info came from
motor trend : 10/81 p47-49
01/82 p17

c/d 03/83 pp35-39

r/t 03/83 pp34-39

just wanted to se the record straight. also didn't know that motor tren give our the 'car of the year award ' to pieces of crap!! but i guess one of us learned something new..
BTW every new model year they get faster anyway, so does this make the previous year to the car junk?

c/d

 

I dont think 84's suck. I think that GM dropped crossfire in favor of TPI before they developed Crossfire to its potential. I have heard of the cars running the X-Ram and making decent power with CFI. Beechbum is right, dont count out a C-4 just because its an 84, you could find yourself being smoked !!!