Now that my steel blue is finally "Close to completion", I would like to share to the rest of the forum members what I think were the best mods that made my C-4 what it is now, and I will use this knowledge to mod my GS.

The best mod hands down was the DRM coilover suspension. The C-4 chassis benefits from this greatly due to the lack of rigidity. You can buy stiff leaf springs all day but the coilovers will make your C-4 run with any exotics under any road conditions. The camber brace and roll bar also increase the stiffness of the chassis.

The next best mod to me is the HOT cam. The Hot cam is the perfect street cam for any LT-1 or LT-4 cars. The idle is so intimidating and it pulls so smooth and strong to 6300rpm. It really makes good power also. Of course, the Miniram is also a part of this combo for L98 people.

next, is the brake package. Although I only have the Baer track calipers, with EBC pads, and eradispeed rotors but this is far better than the 12" stocker that came on the car. Without these brakes I probably wouldn't be driving my vette right now, it would probably be hanging off a cliff. I am in the process of converting to the Porsche 993 big red caliper and discs. I think my car is outpowering the 13" Baer setup, but that is not to say they are not good brakes.

Last, I would have to say it is the Sparco steering wheel. This steering wheel is much smaller and ligher so the steering feel is now "race like heavy and precise." I feel like a driving hero everytime I go cayon carving with my hands on the wheel.

I am still waiting for the D-44 3.73 rear end and shortly after the single turbo kit. After that, the steel blue will be complete, and let the mods begin with the GS!


[Modified by zelement, 11:50 PM 7/14/2002]


[Modified by zelement, 11:52 PM 7/14/2002]

 

when you put coilovers on a C4, do you do away with the transverse springs?
does it all fit in there perfectly?

 

I had coilovers on my 1996 collectors edition LT-4. I had 18" hickocks and the car was slammed on the ground. The coilovers made a HUGE difference. The only problem was if your car is really low it rides like shi$. The C4 has bump stops in the back. Look in my sig and youll see how dumped my c5 is. Unfortunatley I had to give the car back this week because of a business BK. I am going back to a 1996 LT-4 and really hope I can find a way to shave the bumpstops down or cut them off all together because the car was unbearable. But I would highly recemmend the for the C4. If anyone knows if it's possible to shave down the bumpstops please chime in. :cheers:

 

WHOA! You crazy boi?!?! :eek: :crazy:

 

The coil overs are quite affordable from DRM. I thought they'd be more. How difficult was the install? I Saw a few cars equipped with them at a show today. C4's have a tendency to be un-even from side to side anyway.

Thanks!

J
A
Y

 

pardon my ignorance but what is a bumpstop? My car rides better with the coilovers than it ever did with the leafspring setup. If you see my car in some of the other posts you know how low it is. I doubt anyone can drive a vette that is lower. To me the ride quality is very good, but that is just me.

JD, I didn't install my coilovers so I can't really tell you how hard it is. All I can say is that the shop did it in less than one day. From what I know they had to move the sway bar forward, I already have DRM adjustable links so they were fine. In the back they had to drill one new mounting hole for the shock tower so the springs don't hit, this makes it better because the shocks now sit vertical. They also had to shave one of the bolt on the kunckle by 1/4" so the shocks don't scrape when it moves up and down. If a shop has done it before they can do it in less than 5 hours.

BTW: Yes the leaf springs have to come off. Some race cars run both leaf and coil springs at the same time but that would be way way too stiff for street use.


[Modified by zelement, 2:02 AM 7/15/2002]

 

Your steel blue is inspiring to say the least... Exactly the way I would "build" mine. Clean, well thought out, intimmidating and set-up to handle. Do you have any pictures that you could post??
-Chip

 

When its time to replace shocks (who knows when) I'll most likely be going with coil overs as well. Better handling, smoother ride, and the ability to adjust ride hight sounds :cool:

 

a 383 stroker! :p: :jester

 

From what corvette mike told me they were the bottom part of the suspension in the back. The last time I took my car back they said "THE CAR IS SITTING ON THE BUMPSTOPS AND YOU HAVE NO SUSPENSION TRAVEL". I actually sold the car before I addressed the problem. My c5 rode perfect and the tires are tucked all the way around. Are these rippie coil overs? Do you have any close up pictures you can send me, I cant really see how low it is from your avatar. Like I said my on my 96 the front tires were tucked and the back sat right on the tires, and yes it did scrape. Nice looking fleet you have by the way! :yesnod: :cheers:

 

Justin, shocks will start downhill at about 75-80K, you have a ways to go unless you decide to autoX her.

 

Amiral, thanks for your comment! Here is a couple of pictures for you.


This is when it had black Y2ks.


This is what the coilovers look like.

 

Iceman,
I would say replace your shocks at around 70K miles. Go with the Coilover kit, you won't believe the handling difference. No more rattles too! The whole car will just feel much more responsive and tighter.

 

Dizaam! That IS the best looking c4 I have ever seen. Those fikse's look beautiful. What size 18 or 19? How wide did you go? Looks outstanding. :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :eek: :eek: :cheers: :cheers:

 

Thanks, They are 18s all around.

18x8 1/2" front and 18x11" rear.

I wish I would have gotten 19", that is what I am going to do with the GS.

If you get Fikse, my advice is 19".

 

Yep, about what I figured. But at least I have my plan for when the time comes :lol:

 

Iceman, that's a nice ride you got there! :eek: :cool: :cool: :cool:

 

How do you like your spoiler? My front is very low and is all scraped up. I would think yours would get ripped off or need painting all the time being yours is so low. What about the subject that always comes up regarding the strength of the mounting spots of the coilovers? How would you compare the Steel Blue with the coilovers, cambar brace and rollbar to the rigidity of your C5? Does it get close to the rigidity of the C5 or is it even possible (within reason) to increase the rigidity to that of a C5? Which handles better your C4 or C5?

 

95wht6spd, the C-5 in my signature belongs to my cousin forum member DSK888. It is a 2000 Z-51 6 speed coupe. DSK888's car is awesome! probably one of the cleanest C-5s on the forum, it is a Monster! Our cars are very very equal on the motor, power, straight line, braking, handling, etc. I will say this, his car is easier to drive to novice drivers, and a novice driver could probably lap faster times with his car. But, if you get an experienced driver in both cars, my car will run rings around that car. Every time we mess around in the cayons he has a hard time keeping up with me, but when I let my friends drive my steel blue, they say that car is just too scary compared to DSK888's C-5. Us C-4 knows that it takes a skilled driver to drive a C-4 to it's full potential, but a C-5 with it's great chassis and technology of Yaw control it doesn't take a great driver to drive that car!

If you can drive your C-4 with leaf springs, wait until you switch to coilovers, you will be running circles around Z06s trust me.

The rigidity of the chassis is now stiffer than a C-5, not because of the Coilover but because of the combination of the rollbar, camber brace, 30mm sway bars, and coilover. Absolutely no rattles over bumps or any rattles for that matter. Very very tight!

 

I had also heard that the shock mounts were not strong enough to support the coil-overs. :confused: :boxing