Poor C4
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
cheap cars that costs six times it's value to repair.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,061
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
Whenever I see any sports car in that condition I always think that there was a time when someone drove that fresh off the dealers lot with a big grin on his/her face. Now it's just a car that is a shell of it's former self...such a waste!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
Sad, but any of us, would start calculating what it would take to get that early C4 back on the road and if it was worth it, time and money wise. That process takes about five seconds and the answer is obvious!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
PS: From personal experience, I'm viewing those who keep the early C4's going as heroic. A lot of them are getting disposed of and for 'good' reason. My fiance has put at least double the amount of what her 87' is worth into it. It has a brand new blue leather interior, the entire starting system has been rebuilt, the heads, shocks, etc, etc. It's going to get painted this year too. You are starting to see less and less of the early C4's for this reason. They made a ton of them, but the build quality and performance weren't exactly over the top, that's for sure. The late C3's at least had the 'look' of the Stingray to save them, but the early C4?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 296
Likes: 1
From: Tipp City Ohio
But, given it sat for so long, it has a lot of work to go to get it working like it should. Lots of parts just got old and dried out. Fuel lines had old gas, rust particles, etc, so lots of work to clean that up but now it runs fairly nice now after only $600 in parts and countless hours of personal wrenching and hand wringing.
I'm excited to restore it "fully" and expect an investment of probably just $2000 or so. Any tips from the sages? Priorities?
Last edited by Tony A.; Jun 7, 2011 at 06:41 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
I was absolutely blessed as I got to start off with an investment of just $1 to buy my 88 Convertible that has been garaged all of its life, one that hasn't been driven but 300 miles in the last 12 years. Yes, my father-in-law basically gave it to me to express his gratitude for being so good to his daughter all of these years. I knew that would pay off...lol
But, given it sat for so long, it has a lot of work to go to get it working like it should. Lots of parts just got old and dried out. Fuel lines had old gas, rust particles, etc, so lots of work to clean that up but now it runs fairly nice now after only $600 in parts and countless hours of personal wrenching and hand wringing.
I'm excited to restore it "fully" and expect an investment of probably just $2000 or so. Any tips from the sages? Priorities?
But, given it sat for so long, it has a lot of work to go to get it working like it should. Lots of parts just got old and dried out. Fuel lines had old gas, rust particles, etc, so lots of work to clean that up but now it runs fairly nice now after only $600 in parts and countless hours of personal wrenching and hand wringing.
I'm excited to restore it "fully" and expect an investment of probably just $2000 or so. Any tips from the sages? Priorities?
Bitchin' looking Vert'!!!
If you haven't done fuel injectors, that's a good place to start. The early C4's benefit from a good set of rebuilt injectors from FIC. And while you're at it, replace the EGR and Fuel Pressure regulator under the plenum and save yourself some trouble later on! Also looks like that 88' had a rear end conversion to a late C4. Nice job!
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 296
Likes: 1
From: Tipp City Ohio
Bitchin' looking Vert'!!! If you haven't done fuel injectors, that's a good place to start. The early C4's benefit from a good set of rebuilt injectors from FIC. And while you're at it, replace the EGR and Fuel Pressure regulator under the plenum and save yourself some trouble later on! Also looks like that 88' had a rear end conversion to a late C4. Nice job!
If you haven't done fuel injectors, that's a good place to start. The early C4's benefit from a good set of rebuilt injectors from FIC. And while you're at it, replace the EGR and Fuel Pressure regulator under the plenum and save yourself some trouble later on! Also looks like that 88' had a rear end conversion to a late C4. Nice job!Thanks for the advice! I am planning on injectors and cat back exhaust (Corsa) next.
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 468
Likes: 10
From: NE Georgia GA
Reminds me of my '84. 54k miles, and the guy I bought it from let it sit outside like the one in that pic. Sat outside unprotected for almost seven years. It's tearing up the streets again now, though! 
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
From: Lake Hughes Ca.
St. Jude Donor '10
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 296
Likes: 1
From: Tipp City Ohio
Thank you for the details....I'm a new corvette owner so what I saw was a guess on the rear end as a later generation C4 (91-96) piece. I knew from the square lights that it definitely wasn't the original for an 88.So ZR1 butt on a Z52? Cool!
Let me ask, is this kind of mod (rear bumper) respectable or considered cheap?