Car I'm picking up!
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Winnebago IL
Car I'm picking up!
I'm buying a higher milage 92 C4 with ZF-6 for a project/tinker car!
Has about 120k miles.
Reason I want a C4--- well there are several
1) I do have a 2007 C6 Z06 that I just picked up in December 06'. However, I'm hella afraid to mod/tinker with it due to warranty issues. Also, I like to have a 2nd car to "project" so I can play with it and not worry about nicks/scratches and parking it 10miles from a store(only back 40 of a parking lot with a C4 will do
)
2) I like the C4 style---graduated 1989--vividly remember the "king of the hill" Motor trend covers with the ZR-1 basically making me proud and wanten of the C4 vettes of the era.
3) Would like a project car to take to a local track and road race and even drag on occasion without feeling as if I'm destroying the C6Z.
Well that about sums it up!
So anyway! My questions are, what will a relatively stock 92 C4 with a 6spd run in the 1/4 mile. Reason I ask is this! I am somewhat spoiled! Egad! I have had a variety of nice cars and to "entertain" me I want/need a low 13 second ride at least! Low 12's/high 11's will eventually be the goal, but in any event, the low 13's will suffice for now. I'm expecting this car to be a low 14 second car at my local track, which runs a bit slow compared to most, due to crap traction. So when I qualify low 13 second assume poor 60ft's due to poor track prep and poor driver lol!.
I'm thinking of mods!
LE stage II heads and cam. Refresh the motor with rings/main/rod bearings. ARP rod bolts. Headers. Tune should get me 350-380 rwhp and that should get me into the solid 12's.
Just wanting some feedback!
thx
John
Has about 120k miles.
Reason I want a C4--- well there are several
1) I do have a 2007 C6 Z06 that I just picked up in December 06'. However, I'm hella afraid to mod/tinker with it due to warranty issues. Also, I like to have a 2nd car to "project" so I can play with it and not worry about nicks/scratches and parking it 10miles from a store(only back 40 of a parking lot with a C4 will do
)2) I like the C4 style---graduated 1989--vividly remember the "king of the hill" Motor trend covers with the ZR-1 basically making me proud and wanten of the C4 vettes of the era.
3) Would like a project car to take to a local track and road race and even drag on occasion without feeling as if I'm destroying the C6Z.
Well that about sums it up!
So anyway! My questions are, what will a relatively stock 92 C4 with a 6spd run in the 1/4 mile. Reason I ask is this! I am somewhat spoiled! Egad! I have had a variety of nice cars and to "entertain" me I want/need a low 13 second ride at least! Low 12's/high 11's will eventually be the goal, but in any event, the low 13's will suffice for now. I'm expecting this car to be a low 14 second car at my local track, which runs a bit slow compared to most, due to crap traction. So when I qualify low 13 second assume poor 60ft's due to poor track prep and poor driver lol!.
I'm thinking of mods!
LE stage II heads and cam. Refresh the motor with rings/main/rod bearings. ARP rod bolts. Headers. Tune should get me 350-380 rwhp and that should get me into the solid 12's.
Just wanting some feedback!
thx
John
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
hey, your ride sounds a lot like mine!
I have a 92 LT1/ZF6, too! Good choice, but I am a bit biased.
A few thoughts:
1) Mr Mojo has a 1995 LT1 that before the stock LT1 blew up was running in the mid-12s. It too was a ZF6. you need to learn to drive the manual and mid-13s are at your disposal.
2) The opti isn't all that bad, but I prefer the LTCC conversion. It is more reliable. Hell, I liked it so much, I rewrote the manual. www.bailey-eng.com
3) The ZF6 of 1992 is still the vaunted "Black Tag." These are a bit louder and a bit stronger than the later "Blue Tag" units. The clutch can be a bit annoying, but it's something that can be dealt with.
4) The rear diff is killer. It has the D44 with an 8.5" ring gear. Seriously stout. The base ratio is 3.42, with 3.54 sometimes available... it's rare, tho. The D44 will support upto 4.10 gears without a problem. 3.73 is a nice ratio, as I understand it.
5) The factory cats are very nice... but are beginning to age. There are some nice high flow bullet cats that will weld up ok, but are required if you add long tube headers. An x-pipe and Corsa cat back are a nice option. Corsas ROCK on the C4.
6) The LT1 really responds well to the LT4 hotcam kit.
I have a 92 LT1/ZF6, too! Good choice, but I am a bit biased.
A few thoughts:
1) Mr Mojo has a 1995 LT1 that before the stock LT1 blew up was running in the mid-12s. It too was a ZF6. you need to learn to drive the manual and mid-13s are at your disposal.
2) The opti isn't all that bad, but I prefer the LTCC conversion. It is more reliable. Hell, I liked it so much, I rewrote the manual.
www.bailey-eng.com3) The ZF6 of 1992 is still the vaunted "Black Tag." These are a bit louder and a bit stronger than the later "Blue Tag" units. The clutch can be a bit annoying, but it's something that can be dealt with.
4) The rear diff is killer. It has the D44 with an 8.5" ring gear. Seriously stout. The base ratio is 3.42, with 3.54 sometimes available... it's rare, tho. The D44 will support upto 4.10 gears without a problem. 3.73 is a nice ratio, as I understand it.
5) The factory cats are very nice... but are beginning to age. There are some nice high flow bullet cats that will weld up ok, but are required if you add long tube headers. An x-pipe and Corsa cat back are a nice option. Corsas ROCK on the C4.
6) The LT1 really responds well to the LT4 hotcam kit.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Winnebago IL
hey guys! Thanks for the replies!
I had a few under the belt last night
prior to the post lol, anywho I'll explain further a bit!
I can drive stick well, not a pro but pretty well. Our track at Byron IL, is just hard to launch IMO. I can launch alot better on the street anyway, but as I age I won't race on the street as I have wife/kids/responsibilities that I don't need to be doing stupid stuff on the street anymore.
Anywho! I guess I should explain a bit my goals a bit more, and some thoughts I had.
First, as stated above I want to see if I can get power up a bit over stock. I see in various research of old car mags that the LT-1's were a low 14 or high 13 second car. Guessing this will be about or a touch quicker than some various Fbody LT-1's I owned, and or about the same as the LS-1 Fbodies I owned. Acceptable, but still room for improvement.
So I was thinking I would add headers x pipe and the car already has a flowmaster cat back(not my first choice, but for me not going to spend extra $$ to replace it). Might do some free mods past that and see how she goes! Might use this setup until stock shortblock gets tired or I get a hair under the saddle to upgrade further.
I'm a bit scared to throw heads/cam into a stock high milage shortblock as the bearings might already be a bit long in the tooth and due to stock headbolts being a weaklink past 6100 or 6300 rpm depending on who you listen to. So again, I either might wait, or maybe pull the motor and decide if I want to go full out race build, or if I just want to do a budget refresh.
I have a lot of different ideas floating around and I really don't want the budget of this car to get out of hand
Oh one more thing, I need to replace the drivers seat cover with saddle/tan leather. Anyone have any tips on just getting one seat cover. Ecklers only sells a set. The pass seat looks near new so I won't be addressing that one.
Also, I should have mentioned I had a nice 96 Trans AM that I put a built motor in and put that in the 12's w/out any traction lol. Was a solid 11 second ride w/DR's. So I'm somewhat framiliar with the motor, but I do appreciate the information you guys are giving as I'm still into my crash course learning about the C4.
Part of the reason I wanted this car is the ZF-6, the Dana44 etc...
Having not driven a C4 in about 15 or more years though, I'm curious as to the ability of the car to blaze the tires at whim
I do love a smokey burnout
Of course turning off ASR
I had a few under the belt last night
prior to the post lol, anywho I'll explain further a bit!I can drive stick well, not a pro but pretty well. Our track at Byron IL, is just hard to launch IMO. I can launch alot better on the street anyway, but as I age I won't race on the street as I have wife/kids/responsibilities that I don't need to be doing stupid stuff on the street anymore.
Anywho! I guess I should explain a bit my goals a bit more, and some thoughts I had.
First, as stated above I want to see if I can get power up a bit over stock. I see in various research of old car mags that the LT-1's were a low 14 or high 13 second car. Guessing this will be about or a touch quicker than some various Fbody LT-1's I owned, and or about the same as the LS-1 Fbodies I owned. Acceptable, but still room for improvement
.So I was thinking I would add headers x pipe and the car already has a flowmaster cat back(not my first choice, but for me not going to spend extra $$ to replace it). Might do some free mods past that and see how she goes! Might use this setup until stock shortblock gets tired or I get a hair under the saddle to upgrade further.
I'm a bit scared to throw heads/cam into a stock high milage shortblock as the bearings might already be a bit long in the tooth and due to stock headbolts being a weaklink past 6100 or 6300 rpm depending on who you listen to. So again, I either might wait, or maybe pull the motor and decide if I want to go full out race build, or if I just want to do a budget refresh.
I have a lot of different ideas floating around and I really don't want the budget of this car to get out of hand
Oh one more thing, I need to replace the drivers seat cover with saddle/tan leather. Anyone have any tips on just getting one seat cover. Ecklers only sells a set. The pass seat looks near new so I won't be addressing that one.
Also, I should have mentioned I had a nice 96 Trans AM that I put a built motor in and put that in the 12's w/out any traction lol. Was a solid 11 second ride w/DR's
. So I'm somewhat framiliar with the motor, but I do appreciate the information you guys are giving as I'm still into my crash course learning about the C4. Part of the reason I wanted this car is the ZF-6, the Dana44 etc...
Having not driven a C4 in about 15 or more years though, I'm curious as to the ability of the car to blaze the tires at whim
I do love a smokey burnout
Of course turning off ASR
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 718
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From: Winnebago IL
why's that?
I've had 500+hp Mustangs, a 2001 Z06 with heads/cam/headers and 393 RWHP. ASR as far as I know only can neuter my times. Not saying that day to day it won't be on, but a good roasty burnout, or 1/4 mile runs will be w/out.
Hell if I can handle my 07 Z06 I think the C4 will be ok.
I've had 500+hp Mustangs, a 2001 Z06 with heads/cam/headers and 393 RWHP. ASR as far as I know only can neuter my times. Not saying that day to day it won't be on, but a good roasty burnout, or 1/4 mile runs will be w/out.
Hell if I can handle my 07 Z06 I think the C4 will be ok
.
