I have an 86 Corvette roll over. Rare body style. It is one of the yellow Corvettes that were produced and is NOT a kit car!!!
Am buying a 94 Corvette that the owner stripped out the drivetrain. Engine, trans, complete rear IRS diff., front steering and crossmember. Can I use the suspension and drivetrain from the 86?
NOTE: I AM a Corvette restorer and old drag racer from the 60's. I taught Auto body courses too in Florida. For several years I was an Ecklers dealer and owned Florida Fiber-Fab in the Apollo Beach area. So I am NOT a newby.
I do know that their is a difference between the two as wheels from a 95 did NOT fit on my '86 Convertible. The wheels and tires rubbed on the inner fenders.
I also need to know IF there is anyone who can inform me on the rarity of the yellow car. Someone in Florida told me several years ago what the name of the series was who built this car and told me it was rare and to not junk it out! I was at the Cypress Gardens show and swap. I had just bought the car and thought it to be a kit addition. After our talk I got into the car and there are NO reglassed seams nor additions from a kit!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I believe him to be correct in his information. When I bought this car someone HAD stripped it out! Suspensions front and rear WERE damaged. I have since foxed all of that BUT I lack too much parts to buy to put it back. I have ran across a complete 94 I have picked up with title and ALL interior. I have a 95 LT1 engine and tranny. The 94 is complete w/o susp. I have no 94 suspensions
Is the 86 really that rare and needs to be built back to original? I have the complete rear body panels and spoiler. The side vents but no hood assy nor front bumper. Steering column, seats, dash in total is GONE! All sold by the previous interum owner! Wiring is trashed as he cut out to remove the dash assy and the engine and trans. I did buy the auto trans out of the car but missed everything else.
There are kit parts out there that were MADE from these cars after they were built. So these parte are available. I need more information on this car.
Here is my delima:
Do I use the 86's susp. in the 94? Even though they are narrower if I ran deep reversed mag wheels would it fit into the 94 frame assy and work? I LIKE the idea of running reversed wheels as I do not LIKE the flat aluminum wheels on the C4 series cars anyway. (Still the old drag racer).
Sell the 86 yellow car on Ebay and buy the '94 Susp.?
Or sell the yellow car as is and build the 94?
I am no longer 30 years old LOL.
I like some professional information here please. 417-Three hundred- 59nine zero.
Thank you!!!!

 

The rear suspensions are largely the same, the front's geometry was changed in 88 when they altered the track width, so unless you want to fab things up, no the 94 suspension will not go into the 86s or vice versa. If you intend to do a 100% switch over, there would still be some differences in mounting points.

The only "rarish" 86s are Malcolm Konner editions, and they really arent that special.

 

Would this be a Rick Mears edition by Shinoda?

 

There were 1,464 yellow '86 cars produced and that was the color for the 1986 Indy Pace Car. The two small pics of a yellow car look somewhat like a Greenwood kit. That kit could be installed by Greenwood, or the parts could be purchased and any competent body shop could do the install. IIRC, Eckler's sold the Greenwood kit.

I think it would be best to part out what remains of the yellow '86. Given your description of its condition, it sound like lots of work and lots of money. From the pic, the right rear quarter panel looks to have all sorts of filler material. There is no high-mounted 3rd brake light so the rear hatch glass and the black panel is from an 84 or 85. Also, the mirrors look like they are from a C5 and the door side mounding is certainly not stock. Maybe also a C5 piece.

The '94 would be easier to get back on the street especially because you already have an LT1 engine and trans. There are a couple of supporting vendors here that deal in used C4 components, They are members "See4parts" and "Northern Corvette" and often have parts advertised in the C4 Parts For Sale section. It may be worth contacting them to see what they have. And that whole section is worth checking on a regular basis to find deals on stuff.

As far as the wheels, the early C4 wheels had a 38mm offset and the later C4's had 56mm offset wheels. There are a wide variety of wheels available for the later C4. Look for 17x9.5" wheels and 275/40-17 tires.

 

No.
Sell the yellow car on eBay and MAYBE purchase parts to restore the 94. BUT be aware that wiring issues and computer issues could break the bank.
Even restored to perfection the 94 may ideally sell for well under $10K.
Unless you need a hobby to tinker with for many months you would be better off to cut your losses and bail out now.
Remember the Kenny Rogers song? You need to know when to fold 'em.
Most C4s will not be rising in value until we are both dead and gone.

 

I know where there is one.

 

Thank you ALL for the heads up!
That is what I was told at Cypress meet.
Yes this would be one of those. Rick Mears eddition. Shinoda WAS the name I was given also at Cypress G.
So is it worth saving?
There is NO filler in this car to date! It is all small tears and punctures from the roll over. We have tall hills here in Missouri. If you slid off of the pavement it can be along way down some of the hills. Thankfully it wasn't hurt that bad. I do not see anything I cannot glass back, What hurt this car was the person who got it first after the wreck.
AGAIN it is NOT a kit! But thank you for responding.
I have Autoworld Corporation and do NOT need a hobby!!! I restore cars and build old hot rods.
Again is there any value to the Shinoda cars? I HATE to cut it up and piece it out. But it has been sitting here at the shop for 5 years now. I am gonna soon make up my mind on its future.
Keep the ideas coming.
I am trying to KNOW when to fold em (lol)
I have too many other cars in the works to keep me busy. I need more info on the Shinoda cars.
Also, may skip the 94 if it is too different and the susp. will NOT definitely fit up to the mounting points. Also he kept the ECU so I might have trouble there unless he would let me buy him one for his hot rod that the susp and drive train went into..

 

I would say that it's likely one of these DuraFlex conversions BUT I don't believe they were marketed as DuraFlex early in production. If the left side looks like the right side I'd say it confirms it. If you don't have the front and rear packages that went with the kit it's next to worthless I'd say. You could maybe sell the doors as a being part of this conversion.

If the '94 isn't a "roller" I'd suggest passing on it also.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1984-1996-Chevrolet-Corvette-C4-Duraflex-C5-Conversion-Kit-8-Piece-103801-/151577729924?fits=Model%3ACorvette&hash=item234abc9b84&vxp=mtr
I'm guessing the front and rear were sold off as a package unless you've got them stashed!

 

Indianavette lover, Need more info on the Shinodas. If I had to guess as to its authenticity I would say definitely yes this would be one of those cars. I watched this car drive to and from Branson on the Highways for about 3 years back in the early 90's. It belonged to a Principal who is no longer at the school he was at. I have not gotten serious to looking him up but tried 3-4 years ago (to have him apply for a lost title). It is possible to do this though. I do not have the title! All the plates are on the car. The fella I bought it from (traded) told me he LOST it. ?????? I doubt that. He wanted me to use it in a kit car Cobra. But never came up with any $$$. So that died. He still had the Auto trans. for THAT car which I bought. It IS the one from the car! The interior was sold as a package deal. Column went with that sale. I have 3 days shop time and about $600.00 in it as is. I am tired of looking at it. I can fix anything (almost) but is it worth anything when done? The fella who was scrapping it out went away for a few years (drugs).
I have been dealing in Vettes since 1965. Owned over 20 of them. I hate to just pass on one but or scrap one out. Sell the parts.
By the way I lived in Terre Haute in 1956-57 as a kid.
As far as engines I have several old vette engines in house. I will be using these in some of the hot rods I build. They need rebuilding. I have some that I have had rebuilt over the years while I was teaching in Florida. When you drag race them you do remove engines!!!!! Like changing shoes! Engines and trannys along with diffs you go thru. I will be either selling some of these on here or using them in my builds that I sell. I just need to make a decision on THIS car soon.
Thank you for your response

 

The Rick Mears/Shinoda body kits or even portions of them will be very difficult to find and probably require cubic yards of money. The kits were bolt-on, so that's probably why you didn't find anything in the body that looks like non-factory mounting holes.

GM never installed these kits on the BG assembly line so they were all aftermarket and privately installed. The car owner could certainly choose whatever paint color he wanted when the kit was installed. Some probably just chose to go with the factory paint color, others may have decided on a complete re-paint.

Even getting the 86 back to a driveable condition is going to be costly. If you haven't, do a Google search for both Larry Shinoda and rick Mears. Larry Shinoda did a lot of design work for GM and was very influential in the designs of the C2. C3 and the C4 kits. He even did some design work at Ford for Mustangs later on in his career.

 

OP - I missed in your original post where you mentioned that "THIS IS NOT A KIT CAR" I seriously doubt that you'll be able to substantiate that comment. It "screams" kit car.

What is the reason for the pair of smaller snapshots in your original post? It's obviously NOT the same car. I don't understand that at all.

 

Thank you,
I am unsure of this car is why I am here talking to you all.
No I am not a confused person about kit cars and custom accessories kits. this is why I have been holding onto this car for so long. Something about it tells me it's not a kit.
The bottoms of the doors are not cut, glassed, nor bonded too in any way! So these kits would HAVE to have had complete new doors which I am sure the Shinodas may have had. No seams. Kits do not have complete doors.
I have been inside the doors too looking. I use to do all kinds of flares, and conversions thru my Ecklers hook up while I owned Florida Fiber-Fab. in the 80's and 90's.
I still need to know about the Shinodas. If you guys really read what I first said then act like it. Reread it, please.
I told you I originally thought this car to be a kit didn't I?
I do not know of any kit manufacturers who make complete doors. Do you?
I am wanting serious help on this matter.
I was even thinking of using the susp on the 94 if it would bolt up. I do not know the differences between the 94 and the 86 models except (as stated) the uprites are wider on both the front and the rear. Half shafts are the same length on either. I do not know about the mounting points to the frames. Maybe only a kit car guy may be able to answer this question. ??? I have the rear bumper cover and the spoiler. This car is the same type car as the one in the smaller pictures. Also THANKS for the link for the kit conversion on Ebay or where ever it was. I would have to buy that front bumper cover to make it look like that kit...yes thanks for the tag..
Again, it would be ashame to put this car in the trash can if it IS the real thing. And I think (educated not wishful guess here) it is.
Again I am still here and reading every word. I am use to forums replies. You senior guys know what I mean here. Some useful and some because someone thinks it is this or that. I value you all but the WORD is very helpful. I like the fact I had so many replies too.
Respectfully,
Joe G.

 

Just look at the rockers. They also have a few damaged holes and cracks to fix. I do that type of work if you have READ all of my notes here. I taught fiberglass repair in Tampa Fla at Tampa Bay tech and East Bay High for years. NOT bragging.
These rockers are NOT glassed on to an existing 86 body. They are all part of the car. I looked over the Greenwood kit that you all have mentioned. Those door bottoms are added on and the rockers are too.
These are not.
Me...

 

Well - you've got the car, you have no title I believe. You mention '86 but you've only displayed some early wheels. You asked for help and I suggest you do this. Look at the rear suspension in the car and if it has caliper actuated rear e-brake it's '88+, if it has shoes for an e-brake it's '87 or earlier. On the front - if the spring lays directly into the control arm it's an '88+, if there's a bracket that bolts to the control arm and the spring is seated against it and the shock attaches to the same bracket then it's '87 or earlier.

You wanted to know about suspensions initially so if you would like that answered -you know what to look for.

I'm not challenging your claimed expertise but I'm sorry that car SCREAMS kit.

A Mears/Shinoda C4 is in yellow 8th from the top here:

http://www.corvettereport.com/a-look...larry-shinoda/


here's a post with "theoretical Shinoda builds"

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1553181290

 

Here is a Rick Mears Shinoda C4 that I photographed at Lingenfelter's in Wixom, MI a few years ago:






Here is a pic of a Shinoda C4 that I took at a Mecum auction:

 

According to this article the first Shinoda C4 was built in 1991. I also recall that there were some kits made to convert the 91-96 C4s to a Shinoda car.
http://www.corvettereport.com/a-look...larry-shinoda/

 

I found this one for sale here on the Forum back in April of this year. I don't think he ever sold it though.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-trailer.html

 

I saved this for a separate post so as not to confuse you. Regardless of what the car is the likely only part of the car that might have any value is the rear differential. If you know that the car was a manual transmission then it's likely to be more (substantially) valuable. A manual transmission would have a DANA 44 and they sell well and for relatively more than even a DANA 36 with a desirable ratio.

Here's a snapshot of both and you can look at your car, post which and you can be advised from there. The difference is the top of the rear cover, a 2 bolt is the more desirable, a 3 bolt value would be maybe depending on ratio.

 

You guys!
My hat is off to you all!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the inputs.
That rear photo helps
I will check both of my 86's and see what is under them after it stops raining. Been doing that 4 the last few days.
The Pace Car vert I have is going to get a 91 6 speed tranny when I pull out the engine and trans in it now soon. I only hope I don't have fitment problems there too. ???
Guys keep an eye out on the Yellow car to see if it is anything to save. Otherwise it is going to get scrapped out! Hate to do it. But I must move on. I do not want another C4 as I think they have too many electrical problems for me and I don't have time to worry with it. I have only 34 MORE cars to worry about!!!!! NOT kidding there either. Most all are coupes, roadsters, phaetons, and a FEW tudoors. 3 pick ups.
I was going to add another photo of the side of the car but can't figure out how with this Forum. You all seem to b able 2 do it. ???

 

Here are pics of a C5 West kit I took of an 84 at Chevy Vette Fest in Chicago around 2005. Does portions of it look like what you have?