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Good afternoon all,
Continuation from my intro thread, I'll make this my "build" page and do a quick overview of the vehicle.
PROS:
Looks all stock with only odds and ends missing.
Seats not bad for 30 years. Power sliders work and all recline latches work properly.
No dash cracks or door card cracks.
Carpet decent
Runs, drives, brakes.. kinda
All lights function and work properly
Radio and all speakers work
Newer all matching good tires!
EGR is deleted (familiar with this from my F-Body Catfish). #8 cylinder EGR tube is still connected but all others that go to the little manifold are plugged off..
Smog deleted.
I read something about a frisbee delete? Looks like this was done, but I haven't dug deeper yet... Maybe yall can tell from the pics lol!
AC Works!
Windows work but passenger side is slow.
Power locks work.
Has mode selector deal tour/sport/perf, not sure if this is functional yet.
Maybe some other things... stand-by
CONS:
Trans oil in coolant. Needs rad? Needs coolant system and trans system flushed when I select a new radiator. Any suggestions? Shroud already disassembled just need to remove the lines when I have the new part in.
When running pretty quickly you "lose the trans" and will not get in gear. Like its bled all the trans fluid out and/or coolant in the system as well.
Missing LH inner wheel liner (3-piece around the shock). Can't seem to find the proper name for these components to find replacement parts.
Rear hatch will not unlatch. I hear the solenoid try to actuate when I push the button but nothing. Noticed what looks like a manual release button from the inside in the back, didn't work yet.
Side moldings, wheels, and other areas painted black. Came off some with pressure washer but not sure if its bad plasti-dip job or rattle can.
Has a bunch of plastic grey corrugated & stainless braided sleeves on random lines. I already pulled all the plastic crap off as it was brittle. Ill get to the braided stuff when I remove the lines for the rad job.
Center digital display I only seen work once with mileage about 203K but couldn't see the fuel gage pop up. Lost battery power after that so needs recharge, on trickle now.
Someone tried some silicone sealant around the targa and windshield weather stripping. Leaks a little, looks bad lol.
PLANS:
Now I was looking to purchase a C5 but since this has sentimental value I'm really thinking of just keeping it to work on. I understand that I will never get what I put in to it so not looking for something to flip for profit. I just think its old, slow, cool, and different from what everyone else has. Here are my intentions should I keep it in the family (my 9-year old son really loves it). More to come though as I still have a lot to learn about this ride.
Fix the rad, flush the coolant and trans system few times, see if it is road worthy.
Check brake system.
Typical tune up & service - oil, air filter, plugs, wires, cap & rotor.
Mod air box and install smooth duct between the air box and TB.
Hooker LT 2151HKR (without EGR tube).
Found Corsa catback on CL from a 94' ZR-1 link below, I should be able to make this work correct with a proper section from the header to the cat-back? Thinking cat delete as well. Have this system on the hook for a super good price if it will work.
Purchased C5 Magnesium wheel set. Has some curb rash but no real damage that some light sanding and powder coating can't fix. Thinking of powder coating in white... Torn on tire sizes and spacers but will have to figure that our on the fly. I like the way these look on the C4.
Like the Corbeau A4 look and reviews on fitment. Says max 34" waist but I'm a 36", any big boys experience this seat? lol
Your thoughts, suggestions, & criticism are welcome. I feel like I'm at the right place for help with this C4, needs some love that's for sure... Thank you in advance!
Last edited by CCiPhantom; Mar 30, 2021 at 04:09 PM.
Reason: Removed photos for space!
Can’t tell if the frisbee is still there from the photos.
look at the front of the water pump pulley. Is there a big disk bolted to it with no apparent purpose?
From my readings, the frisbee increases the centrifugal force of the pulley motion so when the AC compressor cycles on/off, the engine doesn’t stumble when at low idle, such as idling at a stoplight. Someone please correct me if I am way off the mark.
Supposedly it robs some hp to get it spun up and keeping it up, so many round file it.
I have an 82, 91, and 99. In comparison, I enjoy the “feel” of driving my 91 the most. Keep the car. Keep your grandpa’s dream alive. Enjoy!
That is my 2 cents!
C5 Mags home and cleaned up. No real rim damage, mostly just paint and mainly just from storage and poor handling. Picked them up for $500 locally. Includes all the original center caps, o-rings in the lug holes, and some rubber donuts on the backsides (never seen those before). Really like the look of these wheels on the C4. Going to powder coat and thinking white with the Turquoise Metallic would look awesome.
Any suggestions on tire sizes to run on these to look right in the C4 well? I see a lot of guys running C5 rears up front as they fit, for a "square" set up but I do not have this option at the moment. So maybe just use stock C5 tire sizes? Fronts have same height and rears are about 1" taller. Would love to go wider in the rear but 285 tire selection gets weird (yes I want to do 295 for the meaty look but I'm not ready for that science lesson about wheel/tire width contact patch lecture...lol). Let me know what you think.
Last edited by CCiPhantom; Mar 12, 2021 at 10:19 AM.
C5 Mags home and cleaned up. No real rim damage, mostly just paint and mainly just from storage and poor handling. Picked them up for $500 locally. Includes all the original center caps, o-rings in the lug holes, and some rubber donuts on the backsides (never seen those before). Really like the look of these wheels on the C4. Going to powder coat and thinking white with the Turquoise Metallic would look awesome.
Any suggestions on tire sizes to run on these to look right in the C4 well? I see a lot of guys running C5 rears up front as they fit, for a "square" set up but I do not have this option at the moment. So maybe just use stock C5 tire sizes? Fronts have same height and rears are about 1" taller. Would love to go wider in the rear but 285 tire selection gets weird (yes I want to do 295 for the meaty look but I'm not ready for that science lesson about wheel/tire width contact patch lecture...lol). Let me know what you think.
Rims.
I have those same rims on my 99 convertible. They were an expensive upgrade on the C5. I really like the rims.
I am not so sure white would be my choice of color since I think rims should accent, not dominate the look. But I am old. Your car. Your choice
Why not try Plastidip before powder coating in various colors? 1) it is pretty cheap and 2) you can easily change the color with the tire still on the rim.
Rims.
I have those same rims on my 99 convertible. They were an expensive upgrade on the C5. I really like the rims.
I am not so sure white would be my choice of color since I think rims should accent, not dominate the look. But I am old. Your car. Your choice
Why not try Plastidip before powder coating in various colors? 1) it is pretty cheap and 2) you can easily change the color with the tire still on the rim.
I'm "old" too at 40! Wheels make the car aesthetics in which in my mind "dominate" the look. Slammed C10's, lifted Silverados, Z06 wheels on a catfish.... I can vibe with the purist of certain make/models for sure, but I just think white on turquoise will "POP" and be different. Here in FL there are BIG VETTE meets and I think if I were to attend, I want to be "that guy"... that's different lol. But make it look good at the same time...not to ricey.
Thank you for the feed back though, plastidip is something to consider temporarily becuase the center-caps are like gold and I don't think I want to paint those!
I took the frisbee off my car when I installed my new engine. May have been the tool I had but the darn frisbee always seemed to be in the way when I was installing/removing the serpentine belt.
Last edited by wsherrard; Mar 14, 2021 at 10:48 PM.
I just put a fresh plastidip OEM silver on these rims on my 91. My first time using the stuff. Went on pretty easy. Not sure how long it will last.
Those look smooth! I sprayed by blades with some oven cleaner and pressure washed again and a lot more of the black came off. Something I will continue to clean up when I get the wheels off the car.
Update: Purchased 94' ZR-1 Corsa cat-back system for $500 locally in excellent condition. Well my sister actually picked it up for me about 1.5 hours away so soon as I can get my hands on them ill post some pics. Can't wait for the entire exhaust mockup.
Those look smooth! I sprayed by blades with some oven cleaner and pressure washed again and a lot more of the black came off. Something I will continue to clean up when I get the wheels off the car.
Update: Purchased 94' ZR-1 Corsa cat-back system for $500 locally in excellent condition. Well my sister actually picked it up for me about 1.5 hours away so soon as I can get my hands on them ill post some pics. Can't wait for the entire exhaust mockup.
How good did you prep the wheels? If you did it right, they should last awhile
I washed with soap/water.
I wiped with Acetone and clean, lint free rag
I sprayed and wiped again with the Plastidip cleaning agent that came with the kit.
The entire kit for all four wheels with clear coat was only about $85. Not bad.
If I get a year, fine. I will just spray again.
I am satisfied with the look.
That is why I recommended to the OP he spray his rims with this first. He can change the color easily if he changes his mind.
I washed with soap/water.
I wiped with Acetone and clean, lint free rag
I sprayed and wiped again with the Plastidip cleaning agent that came with the kit.
The entire kit for all four wheels with clear coat was only about $85. Not bad.
If I get a year, fine. I will just spray again.
I am satisfied with the look.
That is why I recommended to the OP he spray his rims with this first. He can change the color easily if he changes his mind.
How did you do the center caps? or that the stock color?
No just the white cover like what is on sale in CF classifieds for $40. I seen the red books, those look expensive as well!
I saw a number of manuals in the FS section(I didn't open the thread). I thought they were the red ones. If you can get a set of red ones for around $60, go for it! Some are over $100 (rip off)
Picked up my Corsa system. Excellent condition. Just in parts collecting phase, going for radiator next. Found this one but states LT1 but I assume the rads are the same for L98 & LT1 for 90-96? Any suggestions on a good rad?
Papaw's 91'
