LT-4 questions
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
LT-4 questions
Is there anything I should look out for.
The car that Im looking at has 114,XXX on the clock and I dont know much about the C4, I have hear a lot of stories about electrical and the opti spark and Im not sure what thing you can expect to go wrong or need to be replaced at 114k miles.
The car that Im looking at has 114,XXX on the clock and I dont know much about the C4, I have hear a lot of stories about electrical and the opti spark and Im not sure what thing you can expect to go wrong or need to be replaced at 114k miles.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 773
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis MN
Is there anything I should look out for.
The car that Im looking at has 114,XXX on the clock and I dont know much about the C4, I have hear a lot of stories about electrical and the opti spark and Im not sure what thing you can expect to go wrong or need to be replaced at 114k miles.
The car that Im looking at has 114,XXX on the clock and I dont know much about the C4, I have hear a lot of stories about electrical and the opti spark and Im not sure what thing you can expect to go wrong or need to be replaced at 114k miles.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
Lt-4 is a awesome engine.Its also very reliable if maintained properly.My advice when buying a nice used car is ask for maintaince/repair receipts.Also bring car to a good Auto technician or repair shop & HAVE IT INSPECTED BEFORE PURCHASING.That way if you want the car,you can talk them down on price for items that need replacing.Expensive items on your car to check condition are-weatherstripping,tires,worn interior(seats,dash,carpet,etc),worn exterior(paint,headlight motors,trim),leaking engine/drivetrain components,non-working alarm system.When bringing to shop have them throughly check suspension,engine/drivetrain for leaks,do a compression test,check clutch components,check for stored engine/computer codes,fluid levels & condition,signs of being in accident/Carfax,brakes,glass & removable top,everything.Pay for a THROUGH inspection.Also if inspecting yourself,check fluid conditions-that will tell you if the owner really cared for the car(my fluids are always clean).Listen for unusual noises on test drive.You're in a great time to buy anything,so you have the upper hand. Talk em down as you have many options in this buyers market.Post pics on whatever you decide,even if not a vette
And we do a pretty in depth check of any car before we buy it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
in california, most of those miles would probably be freeway miles; no big deal; what are the previous owner(s) driving style ?
a 96 is the first OBII model; which again is no big deal unless theres emission issues, specifically bad cat(s); in California, legal direct fit cats are about $900 each; high flow direct fit 49 state cats about $300 each; generic, much less.
parts for any LT vette are expensive....more so than an earlier C4, and an LT4 with its one year production run and OBII emission system, much more expensive.
on the other hand, the 96 LT4 was, and is, an awesome car; all the incrimental C4 improvements were rolled into the 96 LT4. Even a stripper came with the high horsepower engine, a superb 6 speed transmission, the heavy duty rear end, and the big brake package. sweet.
a 96 is the first OBII model; which again is no big deal unless theres emission issues, specifically bad cat(s); in California, legal direct fit cats are about $900 each; high flow direct fit 49 state cats about $300 each; generic, much less.
parts for any LT vette are expensive....more so than an earlier C4, and an LT4 with its one year production run and OBII emission system, much more expensive.
on the other hand, the 96 LT4 was, and is, an awesome car; all the incrimental C4 improvements were rolled into the 96 LT4. Even a stripper came with the high horsepower engine, a superb 6 speed transmission, the heavy duty rear end, and the big brake package. sweet.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
Well I live in Virginia and we dont have emission test as far as I know.
But I had not thought about that being a limited production car and parts being more expensive, just thought that would pertain to the ZR1 cause the LT-4 is still a push rod v8 right?
But I had not thought about that being a limited production car and parts being more expensive, just thought that would pertain to the ZR1 cause the LT-4 is still a push rod v8 right?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
The LT4 is a pretty special engine. I think your dad will find that in terms of performance it will do every bit that his old '97 did.
As far as the limited production, it's not really all that bad. The block and just about all of the externals are interchangeable with LT1 parts.
The major differences are heads, intake, cam, crank, timing chain. Don't let the optispark thing turn you off. It is a solid reliable distributor, particularly the 95-96 vented versions.
If the car was well cared for, it is as reliable and trouble free as any other 14 year old well driven Chevy performance engine.
I would pay particular attention to the clutch though. The one thing that the C4's had after '89 was the ZF-6 tranny. This included a pull type hydraulic clutch system, and incorporated a dual-mass flywheel for noise reduction. Yes the ZF-6 will make a little bit of noise, gear clatter and whine, but it is almost bullet proof.
Oh, if your into modification, put a hotcam in it, port the heads, and a set of long tube headers, and a C5 zo6 will be looking at your tail lights.
As far as the limited production, it's not really all that bad. The block and just about all of the externals are interchangeable with LT1 parts.
The major differences are heads, intake, cam, crank, timing chain. Don't let the optispark thing turn you off. It is a solid reliable distributor, particularly the 95-96 vented versions.
If the car was well cared for, it is as reliable and trouble free as any other 14 year old well driven Chevy performance engine.
I would pay particular attention to the clutch though. The one thing that the C4's had after '89 was the ZF-6 tranny. This included a pull type hydraulic clutch system, and incorporated a dual-mass flywheel for noise reduction. Yes the ZF-6 will make a little bit of noise, gear clatter and whine, but it is almost bullet proof.
Oh, if your into modification, put a hotcam in it, port the heads, and a set of long tube headers, and a C5 zo6 will be looking at your tail lights.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
So all in all if it has been taken care of the it should be fine just like any other car.
And I am sure it would be faster then his 97 cause it only had 2.73's for gears and a manual tends to be a little quicker with a decent driver.
And I am sure it would be faster then his 97 cause it only had 2.73's for gears and a manual tends to be a little quicker with a decent driver.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
Yes, it's pretty much an old chevy under that clamshell. The rear end gears in the LT4 are 3:45's. Anything but the stickiest of tire will break loose pretty easily. I've set the ASR off doing a 4th to 2nd punch from 45 mph.
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