Opinions on Purchase
03-18-2017, 02:05 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
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Opinions on Purchase
Would you consider this deal?
2 owner
85
4+3
64,000 ,miles
light blue
cloth interior
new tires
$6400.
Overall nice paint, very nice interior A/C might need work, aftermarket cd player, clutch replaced 6500 miles on it now
The seller says that the tachometer goes up and down, but the engine does not change rpm. Anyone know what that could be?
I don't think the color is a very desirable choice, but the cloth interior is different. Not a lot of service history, but not many miles driven. Its almost what I've been looking for with the exception of the color, but I can overlook that because the paint/clear it is in good condition.
2 owner
85
4+3
64,000 ,miles
light blue
cloth interior
new tires
$6400.
Overall nice paint, very nice interior A/C might need work, aftermarket cd player, clutch replaced 6500 miles on it now
The seller says that the tachometer goes up and down, but the engine does not change rpm. Anyone know what that could be?
I don't think the color is a very desirable choice, but the cloth interior is different. Not a lot of service history, but not many miles driven. Its almost what I've been looking for with the exception of the color, but I can overlook that because the paint/clear it is in good condition.
03-18-2017, 02:16 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
Clutch replaced on a car with 60k miles? Not a good sign. The light blue looks great on the early c4's, I considered it one of my colors to pick from. The 85 is the first year of the L98, and I know there's some parts that are one year off parts. These are hard to find as far as I know, but other members will chime in.
03-18-2017, 02:21 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
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Clutch replaced on a car with 60k miles? Not a good sign. The light blue looks great on the early c4's, I considered it one of my colors to pick from. The 85 is the first year of the L98, and I know there's some parts that are one year off parts. These are hard to find as far as I know, but other members will chime in.
03-18-2017, 02:54 PM
#4
I would consider it a deal but probably not a good deal. I picked up my '84, 4+3, Z51, 36k mile car last spring for $4300. Came with new tires and battery. Needed nothing but a new coolant sensor.
Somewhere between $5-6k would be a good deal.
Somewhere between $5-6k would be a good deal.
03-18-2017, 03:27 PM
#5
Melting Slicks
Cloth interior.....
A 350 cubic inch, 230 horsepower engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, removable body-color roof panel, and cloth seats were included in the base price.
http://www.corvsport.com/1985-c4-corvette/
A 350 cubic inch, 230 horsepower engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, removable body-color roof panel, and cloth seats were included in the base price.
http://www.corvsport.com/1985-c4-corvette/
03-18-2017, 04:03 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
It depends on what you want to do with it.
I had an '85 4+3 for about 25 years. Loved it. The only reason I kept it so long was that it was a great car.
However, I had some mods in mind that I thought I would prefer a different car to start with. There are a few things on the '85 that swayed me to another car instead of modding mine. The engine is a flat tappet vs the later roller lifters. It is a two piece main seal vs the later 1 piece. It has the cast iron heads. The TPI intake is limiting to higher rpm power. The engine computer is an early type and is slower. The suspension is the early style with different offset so there are not as many choice for wheels without spacers. The early brakes are smaller (than the J55) and have a rear drum parking brake. The transmission is a 4+3 instead of a later 6 speed. The tops are limited supply used since only used from '84 to '86E. The exhaust has very poor manifolds and the rest of the system is not as good as the LTx exhaust. The window regulators are the slow ribbon type. The AC is freon instead of R134. The hood support is the early scissor type instead of the pressure tube.
Subjective it is the early body and interior vs the later versions. I had the Z51 which is quite stiff, but I liked it and loved the quicker steering ratio.
Like I said to start out, I kept it for 25 years because it was a great car. But I finally sold it and got a '96 LT4 to start off with the different car for mods.
You can't go wrong with your choice of a C4 since they are great cars, just decide what you want to do before jumping at the first car.
Good luck
I had an '85 4+3 for about 25 years. Loved it. The only reason I kept it so long was that it was a great car.
However, I had some mods in mind that I thought I would prefer a different car to start with. There are a few things on the '85 that swayed me to another car instead of modding mine. The engine is a flat tappet vs the later roller lifters. It is a two piece main seal vs the later 1 piece. It has the cast iron heads. The TPI intake is limiting to higher rpm power. The engine computer is an early type and is slower. The suspension is the early style with different offset so there are not as many choice for wheels without spacers. The early brakes are smaller (than the J55) and have a rear drum parking brake. The transmission is a 4+3 instead of a later 6 speed. The tops are limited supply used since only used from '84 to '86E. The exhaust has very poor manifolds and the rest of the system is not as good as the LTx exhaust. The window regulators are the slow ribbon type. The AC is freon instead of R134. The hood support is the early scissor type instead of the pressure tube.
Subjective it is the early body and interior vs the later versions. I had the Z51 which is quite stiff, but I liked it and loved the quicker steering ratio.
Like I said to start out, I kept it for 25 years because it was a great car. But I finally sold it and got a '96 LT4 to start off with the different car for mods.
You can't go wrong with your choice of a C4 since they are great cars, just decide what you want to do before jumping at the first car.
Good luck
Last edited by QCVette; 03-18-2017 at 04:06 PM. Reason: spelling
03-18-2017, 04:39 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
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It depends on what you want to do with it.
I had an '85 4+3 for about 25 years. Loved it. The only reason I kept it so long was that it was a great car.
However, I had some mods in mind that I thought I would prefer a different car to start with. There are a few things on the '85 that swayed me to another car instead of modding mine. The engine is a flat tappet vs the later roller lifters. It is a two piece main seal vs the later 1 piece. It has the cast iron heads. The TPI intake is limiting to higher rpm power. The engine computer is an early type and is slower. The suspension is the early style with different offset so there are not as many choice for wheels without spacers. The early brakes are smaller (than the J55) and have a rear drum parking brake. The transmission is a 4+3 instead of a later 6 speed. The tops are limited supply used since only used from '84 to '86E. The exhaust has very poor manifolds and the rest of the system is not as good as the LTx exhaust. The window regulators are the slow ribbon type. The AC is freon instead of R134. The hood support is the early scissor type instead of the pressure tube.
Subjective it is the early body and interior vs the later versions. I had the Z51 which is quite stiff, but I liked it and loved the quicker steering ratio.
Like I said to start out, I kept it for 25 years because it was a great car. But I finally sold it and got a '96 LT4 to start off with the different car for mods.
You can't go wrong with your choice of a C4 since they are great cars, just decide what you want to do before jumping at the first car.
Good luck
I had an '85 4+3 for about 25 years. Loved it. The only reason I kept it so long was that it was a great car.
However, I had some mods in mind that I thought I would prefer a different car to start with. There are a few things on the '85 that swayed me to another car instead of modding mine. The engine is a flat tappet vs the later roller lifters. It is a two piece main seal vs the later 1 piece. It has the cast iron heads. The TPI intake is limiting to higher rpm power. The engine computer is an early type and is slower. The suspension is the early style with different offset so there are not as many choice for wheels without spacers. The early brakes are smaller (than the J55) and have a rear drum parking brake. The transmission is a 4+3 instead of a later 6 speed. The tops are limited supply used since only used from '84 to '86E. The exhaust has very poor manifolds and the rest of the system is not as good as the LTx exhaust. The window regulators are the slow ribbon type. The AC is freon instead of R134. The hood support is the early scissor type instead of the pressure tube.
Subjective it is the early body and interior vs the later versions. I had the Z51 which is quite stiff, but I liked it and loved the quicker steering ratio.
Like I said to start out, I kept it for 25 years because it was a great car. But I finally sold it and got a '96 LT4 to start off with the different car for mods.
You can't go wrong with your choice of a C4 since they are great cars, just decide what you want to do before jumping at the first car.
Good luck
03-18-2017, 04:40 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
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Cloth interior.....
A 350 cubic inch, 230 horsepower engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, removable body-color roof panel, and cloth seats were included in the base price.
http://www.corvsport.com/1985-c4-corvette/
A 350 cubic inch, 230 horsepower engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, removable body-color roof panel, and cloth seats were included in the base price.
http://www.corvsport.com/1985-c4-corvette/
03-18-2017, 04:58 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
03-18-2017, 05:03 PM
#10
Melting Slicks
03-18-2017, 05:04 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
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03-18-2017, 05:15 PM
#13
Melting Slicks
I'm struggling with the 89's and earlier due to the retro looking dash. Still in shopping mode for my very 1st Vette. The waiting is trying as the 92 that I have my eye on can't be taken out of storage until the 1st of May. What do they say about people who wait?
"Good things come to those who wait"
Now if I can find one (1990-1996) that exceeds the 92 and is under $10k, I will take a lookie.
Last edited by Cool Runnings; 03-18-2017 at 05:16 PM.
03-18-2017, 05:46 PM
#14
Le Mans Master
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I'm struggling with the 89's and earlier due to the retro looking dash. Still in shopping mode for my very 1st Vette. The waiting is trying as the 92 that I have my eye on can't be taken out of storage until the 1st of May. What do they say about people who wait?
"Good things come to those who wait"
Now if I can find one (1990-1996) that exceeds the 92 and is under $10k, I will take a lookie.
"Good things come to those who wait"
Now if I can find one (1990-1996) that exceeds the 92 and is under $10k, I will take a lookie.
03-18-2017, 05:56 PM
#15
Melting Slicks
Yea, I know the dash gets allot of grief.... same as the 4+3 and the 84 model year.... blah, blah, blah! After having 7 Vettes, at this point not having one for 2 years is just like missing a limb or something. Of the C3, C4;s and 2 C5's Ive owned, the C4's were the most fun to drive overall. My ZR-1 was a hoot.... wish I didnt have to sell that one. Now, Im just looking for a clean, good looking C4 to shine, engine detail, tinker with and just drive.... bone stock is just fine with me.
Good to hear you like the C4's. I sure like the 'cockpit' and there seats. Test drove a 98 C5 and thought the drivers seat was tilted like a recliner? Not impressed.
03-18-2017, 06:01 PM
#16
Melting Slicks
Yea, I know the dash gets allot of grief.... same as the 4+3 and the 84 model year.... blah, blah, blah! After having 7 Vettes, at this point not having one for 2 years is just like missing a limb or something. Of the C3, C4;s and 2 C5's Ive owned, the C4's were the most fun to drive overall. My ZR-1 was a hoot.... wish I didnt have to sell that one. Now, Im just looking for a clean, good looking C4 to shine, engine detail, tinker with and just drive.... bone stock is just fine with me.
I kinda have my eye on an yellow 89, but this 92 has only 46,000 miles and owned by a fanatic with a asking price of $9.5k.
03-18-2017, 06:39 PM
#17
Race Director
Sounds like a nice car. I'm not a big 4+3 guy, but it sounds like a nice car for the money.
03-18-2017, 07:36 PM
#19
Instructor
Yes there are inherent issues.
These units are forgotten and not serviced properly. This leads to early failures. Parts are getting very hard to find and they are expensive to rebuild.
However, rebuilding is less expensive that converting to a Tremec unit.
Jonathan.....
These units are forgotten and not serviced properly. This leads to early failures. Parts are getting very hard to find and they are expensive to rebuild.
However, rebuilding is less expensive that converting to a Tremec unit.
Jonathan.....
03-18-2017, 07:41 PM
#20
Le Mans Master
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Yes there are inherent issues.
These units are forgotten and not serviced properly. This leads to early failures. Parts are getting very hard to find and they are expensive to rebuild.
However, rebuilding is less expensive that converting to a Tremec unit.
Jonathan.....
These units are forgotten and not serviced properly. This leads to early failures. Parts are getting very hard to find and they are expensive to rebuild.
However, rebuilding is less expensive that converting to a Tremec unit.
Jonathan.....
Doing a little research and it seems the 84 & early 85 are the problem transmissions.... figures, the 85 Im looking at has a manufacture date of 02/85..... well, I guess the search goes on....
