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Howdy folks, name is Chris. Originally from Louisiana, but grew up and did most of my school time up north in Idaho. Stepdad worked for IBM, so naturally I am into computers, but also cars. I pretty much read Car &Driver, Motor Trend, Road & Track, religiously ever since I could read lol. My neighbor was a car guy and had a late 70's 911 S/C. I spent whatever time I could with him because I was fascinated with his car. Family problems came to light and ended up moving back to Louisiana to be with my biological father, so I did my last two years of high school there. My dad was also into cars and during that time, had at the time a 28 T Bucket, and a 1986 Vette (he worked at the local Chevy dealer, and was tight knit friends with the owner of the dealership). I loved that C4 but was forbidden to do anything more than ride in it, vowed some day to get one. After school went immediately into the Navy and served during Desert Storm, keeping F-18's in the air. after the military, I worked for places like Boeing and Texas Instruments, good jobs yes, but not the career I really wanted, as I was chasing my real dream of being an automotive designer. That never happened as never had the funds to go to school. Anyway, fast forward to today and why I am here. A good friend down on his luck and needing some quick cash to save his house, offered his project C4 to me recently. He got this car a few years ago and over time, replaced this and that trying to bring the car back. Got it running but then something failed on it and it does not run anymore. The car has sat for a bit while he has tried this and that to get it running again, and then sadly one day working on the car, a power tool slipped and destroyed his left eye. That leads to the current timeframe, he can't afford to continue the project and needs the money anyway. I went last night to go look at the car and figure out a deal. I go Sunday to pick up the car and trailer it back to the house. Here is what I know:
Got it running on the original crossfire FI
motor was rebuilt with new rods, pistons, rings, etc.
swapped in an aftermarket digital dash
decided to carb swap it with an Edelbrock electric choke (650 I think)
the FI wire harness is disconnected and has been cut
has an MSD (I think) cap/rotor and coils
has a FPR- but only sees 2 psi of pressure
motor cranks with a healthy sound, but no start.
* He did purchase a new fuel pump, as he believes that is the issue, and told me earlier that he will swap it out before Sunday. Curious to see if this corrects the issue.
*Cosmetically the car is in sad shape. It needs everything from carpet, to seats, center console, another OEM shifter. Body and paint work
*Has incorrect tire size on the car all around.
Does have all new weather stripping on doors/hatch.
-There is more but that is an overview of what I am getting myself into. Hope to both gain and share knowledge. I plan to resto the car. No pics yet but it is black with the light grey interior. Anyone care to share what may be keeping this car from running, clue me in lol. I know about the 6psi fuel pressure and the electric choke needing an ignition source.
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Welcome aboard, Chris. Thanks for sharing all the details about your family and your father and also your neighbor. Some of the aspects that you mentioned remind me of myself at times. Hope everything works out for you and hope you get this c4 all figured out and in your favor. Let us know if you need anything and good luck.
Good luck with the project! Sorry to hear about your friend.
what kind of fuel pump setup are you running? A low pressure electric or a high pressure with a regulator?
A simple troubleshooting step is that you can fill the carb bowls through the vents just by pouring gas down them. A can of trufuel 93 is perfect for that. This will allow the engine to run until the bowl is empty again. Cycle the accelerator pump and verify you got a shot going.
Welcome, Chris! I love hearing people's personal stories, how they overcome life's challenges and finally get to own a C4! Looking for4ward to pictures when you have them! You're in the right place, there's amazing members here who will share their wealth of knowledge and experience!
Got the car home today. My friend did install the new fuel pump, but sadly she still will not start. I did notice while trying to crank, fuel spits out the top of carburetor. I tried and tried to get her to crank, thinking stuck float needle, but now the battery is dead so I got to charge it back up.
Good luck with the project! Sorry to hear about your friend.
what kind of fuel pump setup are you running? A low pressure electric or a high pressure with a regulator?
A simple troubleshooting step is that you can fill the carb bowls through the vents just by pouring gas down them. A can of trufuel 93 is perfect for that. This will allow the engine to run until the bowl is empty again. Cycle the accelerator pump and verify you got a shot going.
Sorry taking so long to get back. I am not sure, it has a FPR installed with a liquid filled pressure gauge.
Worked on the vette last night and following an LT1 diagram, I found every spark plug wire to be incorrectly connected to the distributor. Very odd, did I miss something here? Car has a mechanical db so wouldn't the two harness connectors that connect to it be on the driver side? There is ground/tach labeling on the db cap. Driver side correct? Also charged the battery up overnight, still need to swap out the fuel filter.
I had all of 30 minutes to work on the Vette over the weekend. Re-checked the spark plugs wires and db cap, and with the battery now showing a good charge, I tried to start. It tried to fire briefly, but that was all I could get out of it. I was going to change and put the new fuel filter in, but it seems PO cut the fittings off that screw onto the fuel filter, in its place are standard fuel hoses/clamps. This is disappointing for sure, as I am not sure how to fix that. I did tighten up the clamps, and after trying to start the car, I did not see any more leaking from the fuel filter.
I was going to change and put the new fuel filter in, but it seems PO cut the fittings off that screw onto the fuel filter, in its place are standard fuel hoses/clamps. This is disappointing for sure, as I am not sure how to fix that.
The right way to go about it would be to remove the rear bumper cover, drive the front up on ramps and replace the fuel line.
Plus you can inspect your fuel tank/sending system and all of that which is related while the bumper cover is off.
Good time to inspect your fuel tank and anything you might need to do with the sending unit and any other stuff in that area...like light connectors/sockets. Good time to swap those out (or clean the crud and/or corrosion out of the sockets) if they're in bad shape.
I had all of 30 minutes to work on the Vette over the weekend. Re-checked the spark plugs wires and db cap, and with the battery now showing a good charge, I tried to start. It tried to fire briefly, but that was all I could get out of it. I was going to change and put the new fuel filter in, but it seems PO cut the fittings off that screw onto the fuel filter, in its place are standard fuel hoses/clamps. This is disappointing for sure, as I am not sure how to fix that. I did tighten up the clamps, and after trying to start the car, I did not see any more leaking from the fuel filter.
An '84 would have a typical inline that uses hose and clamps. Search 'locally' ACD GF482 or GM# 25055066.
An '84 would have a typical inline that uses hose and clamps. Search 'locally' ACD GF482 or GM# 25055066.
Yea I actually went to Oreiily's when I got the filter the other day, and gave them the AC Delco part#. They didn't have it so I got what he said was compatible. Now I know I need that exact part#. Thanks.
Side note: Does anyone know if the engine harness for TPI is the same as the crossfire harness? Also if have part#'s of what I need would be greatly appreciated.
1984 C4- finally
