Another classic battle. Generally with C4's , as everyone says, the newer the better. This to some degree of course excludes the ZR-1's.

That being said , a 96 LT-4 is just about the overall best C4 (regular production, relatively cheap) available. Their build quality is good, they came with the J55 brakes, they dyno around 300rwhp. Only possible downside would be that the suspensions were very soft - good for ride , not as good for all out handling and OBII is more of a pain.

Next up would be a 95 LT-1 going on down to the 92 LT-1's , then 91 L98's etc. My overall FAVORITE C4 would be a 95 ZR-1, but as much as I LOVE ZR-1's , they really are relatively poor bang for the buck cars (just too expensive to buy, repair, mod - compared to , say , an LT car).

Sooo, should you buy an LT-1 over an L98 , if the condition of both cars is equal and so are the options you want , then definitely get the LT-1.....it has 50 more hp , that is a big difference.

The tough choice would be an outstanding L98 with everything you want vs. a pretty nice LT-1 with most of what you want for around the same $.

Just enjoy making the choice, both are excellent cars......... :seeya


[Modified by Shriker, 11:46 AM 8/20/2002]

 

A perk for the 92 LT1 is the tires are all the same size, meaning you can rotate them as needed and you don't need to buy two different sizes every few years.

 

CougarSVT, my '88 ran low 14s bone stock down to the Fram air filter; normalized for weather it was 14.0x sec. I believe Vic'89 ran a little lower bone stock, as he has 3.07 gears compared with my 2.59s.

Yep, the recipe is there to get an L98 powered Vette solidly into the 12s with heads & cam or low 13s with "simple" mods.

 

just to comment on what everyone else was saying-

my opti lasted 110k miles and was still fine till i took off the water pump.
it shoud still be fine. 1 weekend and $200 every 4 years isn't that big of a deal. just call sam smith (search his # of camaroz28.com if you dont have it here- he sells them for $180). its not 1/10th as bad as its made out to be- still not a great idea but i was told GM's hearts were in the right place, not their heads. It was done to stop changing the timing under heavy load because the cam would torque a bit and that was chevy racers biggest complaint.

the L98 is bad butt though.
bone stock kevin *stealdads67* would lose to me by 4-5 car lengths
I ran a 13.2 on several occasions
he can really drive well though

C5's are pretty nice i hear :)

 

Had an 86 L98 Conv. (Alum. heads Computer ship, 52mm TB, K&N filter). It was faster to 30 mph than my now 92 LT1. The LT1 (computer chip, 52mm TB, Tb bypass, 160 thermo, K&N, open lid,Borla mufflers) though is faster to 60 mph and beyond. Qtr 13.998 sec @ 97.96 mph. Never did any times with the 86 but it would spin the tires off the line like no tomorrow. Course the 92 has 315's on the rear now instead of the 86's 255's. It only spins them for about 30 ft. Both A4's with 2.59 axle. :seeya


[Modified by jstkrsn, 8:52 PM 8/20/2002]

 

TreyZ28: What two quick bolt ons make an L98 faster than an LT1?

 

i know 1. bolt a 383 stroker (L98 block) onto the tranny! :jester :p:


[Modified by yoslambo1@cs.com, 11:14 PM 8/20/2002]

 

A month ago when I was in the market for a Corvette I test drove a 96 C4 with a 6 speed. Came with the LT4 engine and had something around 60 thousand miles. I was excited to drive this car because 3 years ago I had a 95 Z28 which was a strong car and I knew the LT4s were faster than the LT1. I drove this 96 and I swear this car launched like a F-16. I loved it and was getting ready to take it from this dealer but my bank would only let me get a 97-02 car. I finally found me a 97 C5 but I can almost swear that the LT4 felt faster than the car I have now. If you can find a LT4 get it, if not the LT1 is pretty quick too. Good luck in your search. :cool:

 

well bolt on is a relative word
heads, intake, nitrous, blower- all "BOLT" on

how about miniram/superram and headers for NA?

aren't times for l98/lt1 13.8/13.4 respectively.

.4 sec isn't that hard to drop in such a light car with 2 mods...

i bet slicks and a set of headers would do it

 

TreyZ28: I was thinking about intake mods. Like Big Mouth Manifold, Large Tube Runners and ported plenum. If you can make the L98 breath I think it will be the equal to the LT1. Remember, the L98 intake was designed for the 305 thats why it runs out of steam at 4800 rpm. When the LT1 was designed the General corrected that huge mistake. I love my L98 but feel bitter that I was robbed of that 50 horse power by some IDIOT that thought the 350 was being discontinued. :mad