what changes should be made to this 87?
06-28-2008, 11:03 PM
#1
Racer
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what changes should be made to this 87?
Hi everyone. Here are the pics of my car. What would you do to it? I am not sure I'm liking the mufflers/tips anymore and I'm not sure about the zr1 wheels either. One day I want the lt1 exhaust and the next muffler elims. just looking for opinions. Is the exhaust a little too "80's" looking? Thanks for the time and input
06-28-2008, 11:35 PM
#4
Race Director
OK, here we go as I see it..
1. Color - Red.. for sure no need to change.
2. Exhaust looks fine to me.
3. Remove chrome wheels. Not a big fan of chrome wheels I guess.
4. Lower is like 4 inches in the back and 2.5 in the front.
5. Other than that I agree with Arman...drive it!....and might I add drive it like you stole it every once in a while.
1. Color - Red.. for sure no need to change.
2. Exhaust looks fine to me.
3. Remove chrome wheels. Not a big fan of chrome wheels I guess.
4. Lower is like 4 inches in the back and 2.5 in the front.
5. Other than that I agree with Arman...drive it!....and might I add drive it like you stole it every once in a while.
06-28-2008, 11:56 PM
#5
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06-28-2008, 11:58 PM
#6
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OK, here we go as I see it..
1. Color - Red.. for sure no need to change.
2. Exhaust looks fine to me.
3. Remove chrome wheels. Not a big fan of chrome wheels I guess.
4. Lower is like 4 inches in the back and 2.5 in the front.
5. Other than that I agree with Arman...drive it!....and might I add drive it like you stole it every once in a while.
1. Color - Red.. for sure no need to change.
2. Exhaust looks fine to me.
3. Remove chrome wheels. Not a big fan of chrome wheels I guess.
4. Lower is like 4 inches in the back and 2.5 in the front.
5. Other than that I agree with Arman...drive it!....and might I add drive it like you stole it every once in a while.
06-29-2008, 09:23 AM
#7
Le Mans Master
What I would do:
sawblades powdercoated white to match top
muffler elmins with LT-1 Tips
lower 1" - any thing more and you'll probably be dragging the x-frame all the time.
Then, just add gas, drive and enjoy.
sawblades powdercoated white to match top
muffler elmins with LT-1 Tips
lower 1" - any thing more and you'll probably be dragging the x-frame all the time.
Then, just add gas, drive and enjoy.
06-29-2008, 01:48 PM
#9
Team Owner
Very pretty car 
The biggest issue with wheels is the 87'sa 38mm offset requirement. You can run any wheel made for 88 and leter C4's but you will need 3/4" adapters to get them to sit "right" in the wheelwell. C5 wheels will work the same way.
What emissions requirements do you have? If you don't have a visual check, you can dump the front Y-pipe and go with a Y-pipe with no pre-cats. Then install a good high-flow main cat and run the mufflers you have. That will be a big change in sound but expect some additional resonance inside at cruise speeds.
What's wrong with the rocker panel? It's the stock one but the pic makes it look darker because it's not in the sun. It may have been painted black or something but it should match the body color.
The 'vert typically sits about 1" higher than the coupe. That's because the factory X-brace under the body has to have sufficient ground clearance. The X-brace is about 1" tall. Unless you know for a fact that you will not encounter speed bumps or anything that may cause the car to hit things like steep ramps, don't lower it more than an inch or so. BTDT!
The only way to lower the car in the front is with a kit that requires removal of the front spring for installation grinding off the factory blocks and adding some different blocks using glue. The early C4's also need a different block kit than later cars.
Lowering the rear is easy; simply replace the bolts at the end of the rear spring with longer ones. Don't go to Lowe's or HD for them
They have to be Metric grade 10.9 and the nuts should be the castle type which uses a cotter pin through the bolt just like the OEM bolts. Nylock nuts work too but get the proper grade.
The biggest issue with wheels is the 87'sa 38mm offset requirement. You can run any wheel made for 88 and leter C4's but you will need 3/4" adapters to get them to sit "right" in the wheelwell. C5 wheels will work the same way.
What emissions requirements do you have? If you don't have a visual check, you can dump the front Y-pipe and go with a Y-pipe with no pre-cats. Then install a good high-flow main cat and run the mufflers you have. That will be a big change in sound but expect some additional resonance inside at cruise speeds.
Originally Posted by Calderone
i dont like the rocker panel ,looks like it sits higher
The 'vert typically sits about 1" higher than the coupe. That's because the factory X-brace under the body has to have sufficient ground clearance. The X-brace is about 1" tall. Unless you know for a fact that you will not encounter speed bumps or anything that may cause the car to hit things like steep ramps, don't lower it more than an inch or so. BTDT!
The only way to lower the car in the front is with a kit that requires removal of the front spring for installation grinding off the factory blocks and adding some different blocks using glue. The early C4's also need a different block kit than later cars.
Lowering the rear is easy; simply replace the bolts at the end of the rear spring with longer ones. Don't go to Lowe's or HD for them
They have to be Metric grade 10.9 and the nuts should be the castle type which uses a cotter pin through the bolt just like the OEM bolts. Nylock nuts work too but get the proper grade.
06-29-2008, 09:22 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
what to do........
1. I don't like the exhaust from the side.
2. You might try taping off just the tips and painting the rest of the chrome part with barbeque black from Home Depot.(the high heat paint at auto parts stores is expensive, but plain 'ol barbeque high heat paint lasts longer and is way cheaper)
3. I would paint the rocker panels back to body color.
4. i would check around the forum for a different top color. Someone has to have a red car with a top that doesn't make the car look "restoed" like the white one. Maybe a tan one, or maybe a red one. or maybe pick up a hard top for it, and paint it body color. It would more closely resemble a Z06 style top/trunk look. It looks too patent leathery looking.
5. I personally like the Zr-1 wheels, just not chrome on a red car. Polished aluminum gets my vote. Not painted either.
6. Try getting red electrical tape and put the tape on the beltline to see if you like the all red look. If you don't like it, just simply peel off the tape. If you like it red, see if you can get a body shop to professionally prep and paint the body line to red so it will stay. The rough plastic sometimes will shuck the paint off in places where it's not prepped well.
WELL...that's my 2c worth
But thats a really nice car. you should be proud of it. And drive it when you can, people should see a nice car like that.
2. You might try taping off just the tips and painting the rest of the chrome part with barbeque black from Home Depot.(the high heat paint at auto parts stores is expensive, but plain 'ol barbeque high heat paint lasts longer and is way cheaper)
3. I would paint the rocker panels back to body color.
4. i would check around the forum for a different top color. Someone has to have a red car with a top that doesn't make the car look "restoed" like the white one. Maybe a tan one, or maybe a red one. or maybe pick up a hard top for it, and paint it body color. It would more closely resemble a Z06 style top/trunk look. It looks too patent leathery looking.
5. I personally like the Zr-1 wheels, just not chrome on a red car. Polished aluminum gets my vote. Not painted either.
6. Try getting red electrical tape and put the tape on the beltline to see if you like the all red look. If you don't like it, just simply peel off the tape. If you like it red, see if you can get a body shop to professionally prep and paint the body line to red so it will stay. The rough plastic sometimes will shuck the paint off in places where it's not prepped well.
WELL...that's my 2c worth
But thats a really nice car. you should be proud of it. And drive it when you can, people should see a nice car like that.
Last edited by coupeguy2001; 06-29-2008 at 09:25 PM.
06-29-2008, 09:32 PM
#11
Racer
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I'm not worried about emissions or anything. I was looking at the ecklers true dual exhaust with a crossover on it. I have also seen chat on the LT1 exhaust but not sure whats involved in putting it on. So i'm not opposed to either one. Which one gives better sound and performance gain.
I like the saw blades but I only like the zr1 sawblades for the rear. Once you put an 11 inch tire on the rear its really hard to picture putting on anything else.
Would consider putting a black roof on it. Have been kinda unhappy about the red on red. Was thinking of painting the car white and leaving the red interior or leaving the car red and putting in a black interior.
BTW I should of mentioned the car is all stock. All the has been done is the rear y pipe with a crossover tube and the targa mufflers.
Show me the way........
I like the saw blades but I only like the zr1 sawblades for the rear. Once you put an 11 inch tire on the rear its really hard to picture putting on anything else.
Would consider putting a black roof on it. Have been kinda unhappy about the red on red. Was thinking of painting the car white and leaving the red interior or leaving the car red and putting in a black interior.
BTW I should of mentioned the car is all stock. All the has been done is the rear y pipe with a crossover tube and the targa mufflers.
Show me the way........
06-29-2008, 09:45 PM
#15
Team Owner
The Eckler's "true duals" is more expensive than the same thing from Corvette Central. The CC system uses 16 gauge metal and that is the same as typical custom-bent pipe from muffler shops.
I just finished with true duals on my 87 coupe. I had a set of Walker Super Turbo mufflers that were on the car when I bought it (stock exhaust but with the same rear Y-pipe you have) and used those for mufflers. The car has a really nice throaty roar to it at WOT and a deep sound but tons of interior resonance.
If what you have now are the "muffler eliminators, using those with a true dual system will wake the neighbors for blocks around. I tried the Mid-America "LT1 Targa" mufflers and it was way loud. The tracks I frequent have noise limits and the car would have been way beyond the limits.
A hardtop would look nice but you have to find the old GM conversion kit in order for the 89 and later factory hardtop to fit properly. With the hardtop on and properly installed, the car is actually stiffer than a coupe. But you lose a lot of rear storage and the rear decklid cannot be opened.
A black 'vert top would certainly be easier to keep clean
Not sure about the 87. but later C4 'verts with white tops used vinyl while all of the other colors were cloth. Cloth looks "richer" and is much easier to keep clean.
I just finished with true duals on my 87 coupe. I had a set of Walker Super Turbo mufflers that were on the car when I bought it (stock exhaust but with the same rear Y-pipe you have) and used those for mufflers. The car has a really nice throaty roar to it at WOT and a deep sound but tons of interior resonance.
If what you have now are the "muffler eliminators, using those with a true dual system will wake the neighbors for blocks around. I tried the Mid-America "LT1 Targa" mufflers and it was way loud. The tracks I frequent have noise limits and the car would have been way beyond the limits.
A hardtop would look nice but you have to find the old GM conversion kit in order for the 89 and later factory hardtop to fit properly. With the hardtop on and properly installed, the car is actually stiffer than a coupe. But you lose a lot of rear storage and the rear decklid cannot be opened.
A black 'vert top would certainly be easier to keep clean
Not sure about the 87. but later C4 'verts with white tops used vinyl while all of the other colors were cloth. Cloth looks "richer" and is much easier to keep clean.
06-29-2008, 11:25 PM
#17
I would paint the rockers body color, some Corsa looking exhaust tips and lower the rear a little. The car looks fantastic to me.
06-30-2008, 07:06 AM
#19
Nothing to change if it was mine
I agree with this observation. It looks fine. And if you want to make a change think it through for awhile. Sometimes folks regret modifying their Corvette afterwards if they are on the fence.
06-30-2008, 07:59 AM
#20
...a friend of mine used to customize car, boats, trucks, and planes for the arab sheiks "over there".....(some were million dollar custom jobs) he recommended that, when i had a vinyl top on one of my other cars, that i use a vinyl top wax to preserve the top. in your case, i think turtle wax makes a clear vinyl top wax that if it were me, i'd be applying to the top...makes it look great, seals the stitching, and aids in the water-proofing of same....good luck..