I want to buy a C4, but which year?
06-11-2018, 01:54 PM
#1
I want to buy a C4, but which year?
I'm looking at the '84, manual. To me the 80's is the '84 C4, the Countach, and the Testarossa. Obviously I can only afford one of these. I'd prefer to keep it in the 80's since (gonna catch flak for this) the C4 design just seems too outdated for the 90's to me.
Now I've done some research on the 84 (very little), and know about the Crossfire, and the air starved engine. Any way to squeeze some horse out of it without getting all kinds of performance parts? I'm *KIND OF* a purist, but not that much. Now, enough about the '84 - I'm not 100% set on it - 50% of me wanting it is cause of the rims and dash.
What years are good? Can you guys give me a run down on the pros, and cons, and what I'll inevitably have to do/swap/fix once the car is in my hands?
Now I've done some research on the 84 (very little), and know about the Crossfire, and the air starved engine. Any way to squeeze some horse out of it without getting all kinds of performance parts? I'm *KIND OF* a purist, but not that much. Now, enough about the '84 - I'm not 100% set on it - 50% of me wanting it is cause of the rims and dash.
What years are good? Can you guys give me a run down on the pros, and cons, and what I'll inevitably have to do/swap/fix once the car is in my hands?
The following 2 users liked this post by CVG323:
Blackfuriesfan Hawthorne (06-16-2018),
Jaysho (06-11-2018)
06-11-2018, 02:23 PM
#3
when a 4 Cylinder honda whoops you, you wont feel the same.
The following 4 users liked this post by CVG323:
06-11-2018, 02:26 PM
#5
Buy an 85 instead. You'll be much happier. They made almost 40,000 85's so they are as easy to find in used-up "cheap" condition as used-up "cheap" 84's. The 85 is easier to live with, find support for, and makes more HP stock than a crossfire will make even with extensive mods. Same dash (almost), exterior colors, and wheels too, if that's what floats your boat about an 84.
06-11-2018, 02:39 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
Buy an 85 instead. You'll be much happier. They made almost 40,000 85's so they are as easy to find in used-up "cheap" condition as used-up "cheap" 84's. The 85 is easier to live with, find support for, and makes more HP stock than a crossfire will make even with extensive mods. Same dash (almost), exterior colors, and wheels too, if that's what floats your boat about an 84.
06-11-2018, 03:00 PM
#7
Safety Car
If you like the turbine wheels and digital dash, they were available on the '84s-'87s. The wheels on the '84s and '85s had black centers.
The following users liked this post:
Jaysho (06-11-2018)
06-11-2018, 03:03 PM
#8
The following 3 users liked this post by Aerovette:
06-11-2018, 03:30 PM
#10
Yeah, the digi dash, and the black center rims! If I get an 87, and throw 85 rims on it I'm afraid my purism might kick in since one of my pet peeves is not being period correct.
06-11-2018, 04:02 PM
#11
Safety Car
The following users liked this post:
SurfnSun (06-16-2018)
06-11-2018, 11:44 PM
#13
06-12-2018, 02:50 AM
#14
Team Owner
Member Since: Dec 2000
Location: SE NY
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 0
Received 300 Likes
on
274 Posts
Cruise-In II Veteran
'88 had lots upgrades, if you like the digi I would suggest '89 6spd, z51
The '89 had 18" wheels, no 9th injector, digidash, "best" TPI engine, IMO.
I suggest you pick a copy of "The Corvette Black Book". It has a rundown on Corvette features and options for all years of Corvette.
06-12-2018, 04:21 AM
#15
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
Posts: 81,242
Received 3,043 Likes
on
2,602 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05
noones gonna know if you have 87 wheels on an 85. If you like the car get it and make it the way you want it.
You have to drive some to get the feel , we cant tell you that.
Buy on condition over yr.
You have to drive some to get the feel , we cant tell you that.
Buy on condition over yr.
06-12-2018, 10:15 AM
#18
Drifting
How about buying the latest of the C4s...1996 with the LT1 300HP engine with tuned port injection? It should have more "glitches" worked out than most of the older C4s. Just keep your Opti-Spark dry.
Last edited by RetroGuy; 06-12-2018 at 10:16 AM.
06-12-2018, 10:18 AM
#19
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
Posts: 81,242
Received 3,043 Likes
on
2,602 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05
Hi Jim good to see ya posting.
Having all my guts removed over the next month and hoping to avoid chemo. Other than that great.
Having all my guts removed over the next month and hoping to avoid chemo. Other than that great.
06-12-2018, 10:23 AM
#20
Le Mans Master
Man everyone rags on the crossfire... I've rescued my cousin in his L98 more times then I can count now lol. (1/4 of the miles on his vs mine too...)
But yes, certain parts are hard to get, the intake is foobar and there are a lot of things specific to the year. I still like the 84 dash better, the blind man sized numbering on the later dashes annoys me a little tbh. I'd personally look at 86-L as you get better heads and roller cam iirc. The 89 l98 has the wildest stock cam I believe so depending on what you're looking for that's also something to consider.
But yes, certain parts are hard to get, the intake is foobar and there are a lot of things specific to the year. I still like the 84 dash better, the blind man sized numbering on the later dashes annoys me a little tbh. I'd personally look at 86-L as you get better heads and roller cam iirc. The 89 l98 has the wildest stock cam I believe so depending on what you're looking for that's also something to consider.