New to Vettes.. Need advice!!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
New to Vettes.. Need advice!!
As I said I'm new to the Vette scene, been a mustang guy my whole life but I've recently had a C4 Grand Sport LT4 be presented to me as a trade for my Grizzly 700 and Rhino 450. I absolutely love this car.. But today the guy sent me a walk around vid in total confidence that I'd be impressed but I was considerably let by what sounds to me like some valve chatter. From a certain angle of the vid the car sounds like a hmmv I drive on base lol I asked him about the noise and his reply was "oh that's normal for the LT4's as well as the trans being a little noisy" now I've had quite a few cars.. And some do have distinct common issues but never something like valve chatter. He says it quintets down considerably once it's at operating temp. I googled a few forums and found some saying it's normal and some saying theirs doesn't do that and it's not normal. What do y'all think? Any advice helps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
I don't know what an hmmv sounds like, but this sounds like a push rod ohv 350 chevy small block with full rollers to me.
It is true that the LT4's made a some rocker noise. The ZF trans was also known to make some noise. Almost all of them whine a little bit, and the gear cut makes them rattle some in neutral and at lower rpms. Ask the original owner if the original dual mass is still in the car. At 160K it may be getting ready to retire. Do a search on here, as the clutch and trans set up on these cars has been discussed at length. So had the valve train noise, should sound like a sewing machine, a big one, lol.
Also note that on the LT4/LT1 engines, they tend to run hot. Use the digital readout on the dash to read the temps. Just keep in mind that the cooling fans tirn on at 228 and full at 231.
It is true that the LT4's made a some rocker noise. The ZF trans was also known to make some noise. Almost all of them whine a little bit, and the gear cut makes them rattle some in neutral and at lower rpms. Ask the original owner if the original dual mass is still in the car. At 160K it may be getting ready to retire. Do a search on here, as the clutch and trans set up on these cars has been discussed at length. So had the valve train noise, should sound like a sewing machine, a big one, lol.
Also note that on the LT4/LT1 engines, they tend to run hot. Use the digital readout on the dash to read the temps. Just keep in mind that the cooling fans tirn on at 228 and full at 231.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 61
From: New Jersey
It's a Collectors Edition - I have one. The GS only came in blue with a large white stripe centered on the hood and going up and over the roof to the rear. It also had read hash marks on the drivers side hood and black painted A-mold wheels. The LT4 was available in all C4s in 1996 but only with a manual. The Collectors Edition came only in Sebring Silver with silver painted A-molds. You'll also see "Collectors Edition" on the badges, center caps and headrests. So you're looking at a Collectors Edition with an LT4 engine - much lower value than a GS. 
Last edited by Silver96ce; Aug 29, 2014 at 01:07 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 61
From: New Jersey
Totally incorrect - it is a 5.7l or 350 Chevy small block Gen II engine. The Gen II used reverse cooling for the heads, optispark distributor driven off the front of the engine along with a water pump driven by a gear off the cam gear (plus some other differences). That was the LT1 and the LT4 is based on that engine. It has 330 hp and 340 tq along with a different intake manifold, heads, and full roller rockers. It only came on manually equipped cars for one year in 1996. No such thing as a "Grand Sport Collectors Edition".
Last edited by Silver96ce; Aug 29, 2014 at 01:18 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Well I'm glad I consulted you guys before I made this trade. What's the value on a car like this I went to KBB and couldn't get a private party resale. Also on the pic of the engine there's a badge that says Grand Sport? Fake?