89 C4 With 32K Miles
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Bear DE
89 C4 With 32K Miles
I have an 89 Convertible w/6speed. The car has 32K miles, I just changed the spark plugs for the first time. Everything on the car is original. The tires still have tread, but I don't trust them enough to get on them. One of the muffler's will shortly need to be replaced. Has the tire technology improved? What brand tires should I go with. As far as the exhaust system is concerned should I just replace with original equipment or does some of the after market stuff offer more performance. The car has a 3.33 rear, and seems strong through the gears, should I tinker with it or keep it relatively stock?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Welcome to the Forum. You have a nice ride there!
Bear, eh? I am a native of the Dover area... Live in SoCal, now.
Exhaust... for every opinion, there are 3 more! I think Borla, Magnaflow or Flowmaster will suit your needs. Stay away from Walker. That stuff is garbage... rusts if you look at it, and the never cover their warrantee.
The real problem with the L98 is the fact that it don't breathe worth crap! You can add exhaust, but unless you do something to the TPI intake manifold, you are stuck. But it will sound better.
I would replace the tires, look at Kumho. I have them, my gf has them, love'm! If this is a fair weather car (which it sounds like) I would get the MX series.
What colour is it?
Bear, eh? I am a native of the Dover area... Live in SoCal, now.
Exhaust... for every opinion, there are 3 more! I think Borla, Magnaflow or Flowmaster will suit your needs. Stay away from Walker. That stuff is garbage... rusts if you look at it, and the never cover their warrantee.
The real problem with the L98 is the fact that it don't breathe worth crap! You can add exhaust, but unless you do something to the TPI intake manifold, you are stuck. But it will sound better.
I would replace the tires, look at Kumho. I have them, my gf has them, love'm! If this is a fair weather car (which it sounds like) I would get the MX series.
What colour is it?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,182
Likes: 2
From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by EAW
I have an 89 Convertible w/6speed. The car has 32K miles, I just changed the spark plugs for the first time. Everything on the car is original. The tires still have tread, but I don't trust them enough to get on them. One of the muffler's will shortly need to be replaced. Has the tire technology improved? What brand tires should I go with. As far as the exhaust system is concerned should I just replace with original equipment or does some of the after market stuff offer more performance. The car has a 3.33 rear, and seems strong through the gears, should I tinker with it or keep it relatively stock?
Welcome! For what it's worth, I agree that the Kumho's are the stickiest tires around!
As far as the exhaust, on my 88 I have the Borla Cat back system
It is mild as far as noise, but unfortunately the noise never quits. The resonance is bad throughout the entire rpm range...that's the bad news!
The good news is I love the sond as I am cruising down the road at 70+
seeya
Jack
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,183
Likes: 3
From: Santa Maria, CA
Welcome!!!!
Nice car ya got there
My best advice to you is to service the coolant regularly. Our cars have aluminum heads on iron blocks. The galvanic corrosion between the two takes it's toll on the head gaskets. Blown head gaskets are common on our cars.
The other one is to disconnect the CAGS on your tranny. It will save you from grinding gears. It is very very easy and very very worth it. Just get the car up a foot or two and pull apart the connector on the side of the tranny at the CAGS solenoid. This will hurt nothing.
It is the cylinder sticking out and to the right NOT the red circled one, that is the back up switch I pointed out in another thread-sorry- (the orange line is an extension cord that was laying on the ground and not from the car)
Other items that come to mind:
Keep an eye on the clutch hydraulic cylinder behind the brake vacuum booster.
These cars eat alternators.
The heat goes out sometimes.
There is a solution for pretty much everything here on the forum. Glad you decided to join and welcome. Let's see some pics of that 89
Nice car ya got there
My best advice to you is to service the coolant regularly. Our cars have aluminum heads on iron blocks. The galvanic corrosion between the two takes it's toll on the head gaskets. Blown head gaskets are common on our cars.
The other one is to disconnect the CAGS on your tranny. It will save you from grinding gears. It is very very easy and very very worth it. Just get the car up a foot or two and pull apart the connector on the side of the tranny at the CAGS solenoid. This will hurt nothing.
It is the cylinder sticking out and to the right NOT the red circled one, that is the back up switch I pointed out in another thread-sorry- (the orange line is an extension cord that was laying on the ground and not from the car)
Other items that come to mind:
Keep an eye on the clutch hydraulic cylinder behind the brake vacuum booster.
These cars eat alternators.
The heat goes out sometimes.
There is a solution for pretty much everything here on the forum. Glad you decided to join and welcome. Let's see some pics of that 89
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Bear DE
I have already had the alternator rebuilt, and I had to replace the hyd clutch slave unit. That was a nightmare, I had a hard time finding the parts. Ultimately was able to find a new slave unit for a ZR1. The 89 C4 uses the same 6 speed as the ZR1. How do you load a photo?
Not driving these cars, does some damage relative to gaskets, hoses etc.
Not driving these cars, does some damage relative to gaskets, hoses etc.
