AdmiralRazadup

To make a long story short, I like the early c4 bodies more than the new ones (unpopular opinion I know, but whatever). Call me a sissy, but I also definitely want to have airbags. Can I either replace every exterior body part of a late c4 with those of an early one, or can I replace ever part of the interior of an early model with that of a late one? Also keep in mind, to some extent this is also a hypothetical "it's not about if we should, it's about if we can" question.

tl;dr: are the body parts of a late c4 interchangeable with the body parts of an early one?

pdx-vette

You're not alone, I also prefer the earlier C4 bodies. Fortunately, the 1990 model has the earlier body with the later interior, including the driver's side airbag.

AdmiralRazadup

Isn't there some deal with the zr1's carrying a late rear bumper? Or are those so uncommon that I don't even need to worry about that. Also, only one airbag so a 1990 isn't perfect for me but I legitimately might end up getting one.

JungleCat

Only the ZR-1s had the new style body in 1990.

JWMorrisey

'90 non-ZR1 had the '84-'89 body with the '91-'96 dash w/ driver's frontal airbag.




Jonathan.....

pdx-vette

The ZR-1s had the newer rear end but the rest didn't change until the following year.

JWMorrisey

Nothing screams 1980s like the early C4s.

My license plate is 911VCE. 911 is appropriate as I'm a retired FF/Medic. VCE is short for vice (as in Miami Vice). The plate was actually the luck of the draw as the Ford dealership where I bought the car registered and licensed it for me.

An ***'t chief, before I retired, asked me if the car had belonged to a cop. Actually it had, as it had been traded in by a Kentucky State Trooper on a new Harley-Davidson F-150.


Jonathan.....

JungleCat

but that's part of their charm. I had an '89 IROC-Z around that time. I remember the stories of some folks that would take early C4s and change the bumpers and badges to try to pass them off as ZR-1s to fool people on the street. Those were the days.

belairbrian

do think the early c4 is a great look but to me it is the dash that screams 80s.

When I started looking for a C4 I was dead set on an early one.
No way was I driving a corvette with squared lights.

But every 89 and earlier I found was either over 150K miles or beat.

I gradually expanded my search to all C4s and ended up going with a 92.

JD Shredds

Sounds like you want a '90. So sell yours and go buy a '90.

AdmiralRazadup

So far the concensus is that I need a '90 and that makes sense. It's probably what I'm going to do, even. But it's still be cool to know if it's even possible to swap the exteriors of the late and early models. That also begs the question: if the '90 shares the same-ish dash as the '91-96's, can I install a passenger airbag in the '90?

Thanks for the advice so far

Gibbles

I would think the older bumper should fit for the most part, however the belt line is different.

On my car i want to keep the older bumper and body panels, but i want the later painted belt line.

AdmiralRazadup

That's why I want to replace the front and rear bumpers, hood, doors, roof, side panels, and everything else together. I'd rather do that than have a crusty belt line.

kenpeindl

I own a 90 and enjoy the older body style and newer interior. The 90 was somewhat of a one only car like the 84 with many changes when the 91's came out.

The air bag system in the 90 was unique for that year from what I read. The DERM (Deployment Energy Reserve Module) was one of those one year items that control the driver side airbag. I doubt you can add a passenger side airbag with this. That said the 1990 would be your best choice for the mix of old and new.

Ken

Renfield

Considering the number of horrible aftermarket body kits I see, with the proper determination anything is possible.

But if the same people who designed the PKE or the Opti-spark or (god forbid) the headlight motors designed the airbags, you have a 50/50 chance of them actually deploying.

I wouldn't bet my life on them.

JD Shredds

Do everyone a favor and don't frankenstein yet another Vette.

Not sure if you have options for a passenger airbag in the '90, but that would be the only compromise from what you're looking for.

jay23ls

Nothing wrong w/ wanting airbags. Air bag has saved my *** before in a different car but got 2 in my 94 C4 maybe they wont deploy but have a better chance than having 0 air bags. so Im biased but the stats don't lie. Accidents happen too often.

jay23ls

Most of the body looks very similar except for the rear bumper. I'd just swap out the bumpers but thats me.

billschroeder5842

The 1990 SIR (Supplemental Inflatable Restraint) was good but not without issues. If you get a 90 be ready for the dreaded INFL REST on the DIC as the system is pretty complicated and they throw fault codes flags faster than a high school football referee at homecoming.

The biggest issues is the sensor modules mounted on the rear of both sides of the frame. The modules were mounted/grounded direct to the frame and after a few years of getting wet, the connections rust and loose contact. Not a hard job (I did my '91 as PM) but a PITA. They fixed this for 91 by putting dilectric grease on the mounts.

slow-vette

Back to the OP's original question of "not whether I should or not, just can it be done" I have seen early cars with the late dash so I would think that it would be able to go the other way. I see no reason why the front and rear bumper covers could not be changed and that would likely cover your desire for the look of the early cars. Matter of fact I have been thinking similar thoughts. I love my 86 body style but I do like the style of the dash from the 90 and up. I like it because it's not so flat and much less digital. Maybe one day if I find a wrecked one that I can get the parts from maybe I will give it a try. Wouldn't be the weirdest mod I have done. I out the entire axle and suspension from a 2006 F350 into my 96 F350.