Hello all.

After carlisle, I was going to start my rebuild on a 59' corvette. My intention was to either use my existing frame with a C4 front and rear or possible buy a frame that will accomodate the pieces already.

I wanted to know from all the C4 owners how well the car handles. I'd hate to say it, but a guy at Art Morrison said those cars (via the suspenson) were very bad.

Now I would expect to have much better handling than what was in 1959, but is the C4 really that horrible. There are a few guys making frames specifically for the C4, so how bad can it be?

My take on it is the later you get, i.e a C4 is better than a C3, but a C5 should be better than C4 and so on.

So what do you guys think.

 

The base FE1 C4 suspension is very Good and handles nicely on my daily driven "91".

I've heard the C5 suspension rides a little plusher compared to the C4 but, performs very well.

 

Not sure how a C5 rear suspension would work since C5s have rear tranaxles.

 

My '90 with the Z51 option handles very well. I did some things to make it better bet it felt on rails with the stock stuff.

 

What level of performance are you actually after? Are you looking for a seriously optimized track suspension? Autocross? Drag? Or just something that'll track well on the street?

Since you're looking at something custom, a lot of bets are off when it comes to comparing stock models to each other - you're going to be able to change pieces as you build it to "fix" things that may have been wrong (for your application) from the factory - pickup points, bushing hardness, spring rates, etc.

Unless you have some very specific performance goals, you may be better served by seeing which will package/integrate better with your overall project. Once the basics are there, you're going to be able to get to 90+5 on either solution using the usual tuning tools - alignment, springs, shocks, bars. If there's a well sorted kit out there for putting the C4 bits under a '59, it may be a better option than starting from scratch with newer bits, unless you have someone who really knows what they're doing on the build. I'm referring to being able to accurately model the suspension and put the pieces where they will work correctly for the intended application - roll centers, squat, camber curves, etc. As far as I know, the conversion isn't going to be "stick a c4 frame under a '59" since the c4 frame really isn't a separate item. It's all going to be taking the GM parts and attaching them to the right places on a new, custom frame. The Newman solution (using C4 parts) seems to have been around a while and one would assume has had most of the bugs worked out.

I'd say that the C5 perhaps has an edge in support being newer -- I just checked VB&P and at least according to their online catalog the selection of springs isn't that great on the C4 any more for new stuff. You may end up tracking down things in salvage yards and places like Carlisle that may or may not be in good condition.

At least with springs though, you may be able to go with a coilover setup which will give you a nearly infinite range of options without breaking the bank.

As far as the C4 suspension being "bad" - it's certainly got limitations and compromises, but that's true for just about any car out there. Limited camber on the front is a big one, but that's fixable pretty easily. Spring rates were better or worse depending upon the year. All were compromises to give a reasonable street comfort level vs. overall performance. It's still a pretty versatile, adjustable system though that doesnt' suffer from some of the issues that the C5 has (busing creep comes to mind).

 

Life is full of choices
This is C6z rear




9 inch



C4

 

Copo,
Nice pics. Are you with the StreetShop company. If so I would love to pick your brain as a do it yourselfer.

TravisD,
I am looking to upgrade to a C4 more for better handling and ride comfort compare to a original C1 suspension. I will use the car as a cruiser and driver for my wife and I to enjoy. I do not race or do track, so going extreme is not neeed for me.
I would believe that a C5 and C6 are better suspensions, but as an upgrade from the original, I want to think that a C4 will give me a very enjoyable ride.

Am I right?

 

Send me a PM

 

The C4 suspension is practically famous for street rod builds - there are TONs of street rods running around with C4 suspensions so I'm surprised the guy at Morrison said that.

Though I'm sure a C5/6 suspension might ride a little better I doubt its much - those cars ride nicer than C4s because the frame is exponentially stiffer (therefore the suspension can more easily do its job), not really because the suspension design is any better.

 

as to the availability of springs for a C4, Vette Brakes and Products make their own springs and they can cook up (literally) any spring rate you desire. They do the whole C4 suspension and I am sure they can tailor any kind of suspension you desire.

When choosing a spring rate, bear in mind that your 59 will end up lighter than an original 59, and will probably be at least a couple hundred pounds lighter than a C4. A 59 is a small car to begin with and it wasn't weighted down with federally mandated side impact beams or bumpers. Most of the rear end and front and rear suspension, transmission case, bellhousing, heads and intake manifold, originally steel and cast iron, are probably going to be replaced with aluminum; the original brass radiator will also probably be replaced with aluminum.

I had a 61 with a 365 horse 327 and I now have a 96 LT4. Make no mistake, they are entirely different cars, but if I could have taken the best of each...., yes, you should have a really nice car when you're done. Which will handle fabulously.

 

I had a feeling, thanks guys appreciate the input. I'll keep you guys posted.