C4s are inexpensive and maintenance is very inexpensive compared to anything else in its class. Some of these shops should include a jar of Vaseline for the inflated numbers they charge.
Michael Jordan you can’t own one if your taller than 5’9” C-5&6 are for taller people, my C-5 just turned 180 k yesterday, the same bs problems,bad elec.system, cheap interior, ,bad pvc system, but Handle and acceleration is great, and in its day the only car on the planet that could out brake it was the Enzo Ferrari !
Mike's 84 Corvette I think body types come into play here, I’m just under 6’4” and 270-285 lbs. Size 48 sport coat bump my head, knees, shoulders, ie.know what a blivitt is ? 4 lbs of shit in a two pound bag !
Daily drove the C4 I was given the keys to for 8 years through 1/2 college and beyond. Yeah I put a towel on my leg when it rained, yeah I spent a lot of time in the garage, yeah my chiltons book was falling apart towards the end but I have 0 regrets. Its tarped and just waiting for some cash. I'll never sell that car.
I've had my 96 C4 for about 4 months now. I payed just under $9K for the car. The body is in good shape, but of course it needed repairs. I had my mechanic look at it and they said about $1,400 for repairs from what they could find. As of now, I'm up to $4,225 in repairs, and I have another I'll be doing soon for $520. The instrument cluster is going to be another one in the near future. I can do some of the basic stuff, but I don't have any special tools or a clean safe space to do any serious stuff like a garage. It's also my only car so I can't have it sit for days being undrivable. I knew my situation was far from ideal, but I had the chance and the money so I went for it. Owning a Corvette was been one of my life goals for over a decade and my top favorite Corvettes are the C3 and the C4. It's been the source of a few headaches with the repairs and learning to drive on my crappy streets without scraping the front or throwing the alignment out with the pot holes and sewer access lids that are sitting lower then they should be. Still love the car.
I always thought these cars were such a killer bargain, but yeah this all makes sense. Knowing exactly what problem areas to look for helps zero in on determining the true value. Great info, thanks!
I had a ‘92 and would stay away from 92-93 because of the Optibark. I believe in ‘94 they vented them which was basically just a vacuum line to suck out any moisture. I would also stay away from the Crossfire 84’s. Stick to L98’s or LT4 cars. What he also doesn’t mention in the cam driven water pumps fail due to harmonics that cause bearing failure. This is a flawed design and if it goes that’s why the Optisparks fail so much. Even with the vented opti people upgrade to electric water pumps for this reason. Also the zf6 speed is far superior than the 4+3 so 89-91 cars are better for that reason. Keep in mind the 6speed cars come with a much more stout Dana44 rear end and auto cars have a weak Dana36. Most people just think the difference is with transmission but it isn’t. Another thing about LT-1 cars is their issue with leaky mini ram manifold gaskets. If oil leaks down the rear into the bellhousing it ca ruin the dual mass flywheel. They cannot be cleaned or resurfaced and they are pricey. But people usually change them for single mass and live with the chatter.
I'm a prior C4, C5, and C6 owner and having been looking to replace my C6 after some kid texting and driving hit me and totaled it. I'm been perusing a ton of C&S's videos as I refresh my knowledge of all things Corvette. Lyle really knows his stuff and his insights and advice are priceless. Videos like this make everyone's ownership better to the point of probably improving resale values. Thank you so much Lyle and keep up the great work! (I still haven't decided what I want, so many great choices...)
How would you compare the 3 gens? It seems like the c5 is the sweet spot purely from a onlooker's point of view, only ever pulled those gen vettes in and out of my shop. The c4 is cheaper and probably easier to work on where it has an engine mounted trans. The c5 is so sleek to me, it looks like a leaner meaner c6 to me, though the c6 z06 and zr1 are the best looking vettes imo. I know most vettes dont get exposed to snow and salt but isn't the c4's "frame" made of steel? Have had multiple c5s in the shop and they seem to be almost all aluminum underneath.
Onzah Probably if both have similar mileage and maintenance, I would think the C6 would be more reliable. But not by a great deal in my experience. The C6 is obviously more refined as a newer generational model, but some parts cost more than with the C5. Tires are an example. I was able to purchase two C5’s (One a 2000 convertible and another 2002 coupe) for about 10% more than a 2008 coupe. Pricing in my area is all over the place though. My preference was the flip up headlights of the C5. Either generation should be a great choice if carefully researched and value priced.
@@dongambino5308 you can find a pretty nice one for $5000 dollars, I would look 5-6k. Mine as pictured was $5500 in august and has 71000 miles on it. So you can probably snag a similar one for around 5k but you really need to take your time and look because a lot of C4s are just ratty. So just take your time and don’t jump at someone else’s problem, wait to buy someone’s baby. That’s the best advice I can give
Not in the market yet. First time watching one of your videos. Will save your video for reference. And look at other of your videos to try expand my knowledge. I would like to get a C4. Next, I just want to praise you for your video. Great info. Presented exceptionally well, clear and logical. No B.S. with 90 seconds of intros and insipid music. You get right into it. It is the time that is valuable and your videos give the utmost respect to your viewers by respecting their time. I am very impressed. In the top 1% of videos I have seen on TH-cam. WELL DONE. MANY, MANY THANKS! To wade through oceans of garbage to find this video is like stumbling onto hidden treasure.
Vik P Stay away from the 84, but go for an 85, "tune port Injection" no anti lock brakes to deal with and no air bags to have problems with. It's an antique car and will drive like a hard tail triumph chopper, as opposed to a modern, rubber mounted Harley super-glide. but if you want to have fun this is it. but if you want to look like everyone else on the road in their new Japanese 4 cylinder turdbo sellout cars then don't buy one..... more for me. ;)
I bought a c4 a little over a year ago. I said I wouldn't do ANYTHING to it.... I have spent 10K plus on it so far. I have dropped a 383 built motor in it. Now I need a new trans and new cooling system to handle the 383. But the interior was nice and the body was nice.
You dont need new motors unless they are burned up, most if the time the gears wear out long before the motors do and it's an easy fix to get them popping up again...
My passenger side motor assembly had a tooth chip off one of the gears in the winter (I drive mine in the snow and cold and everything) and I actually took it apart, pulled out the broken tooth, and it works fine. I’ll get new gears eventually but it really isn’t bothering it, with the momentum it has no problem skipping one tooth.
Good info. Had my 89 since 91. 265,000 miles. A few points on it... I know my speed, (gauges dim), I wear iPods, (Bose speakers a joke) only drive it on sunny days with the glasses down or top off,( weatherstripping hard), got seat covers,( leather is poor quality), but it still handles and has plenty of power. I live near BG and I love taking it to the NCM track. That's why they make Corvettes! To drive. With all its flaws, I have and do still enjoy it.
I bought my 95 base about 4 years ago. I was torn between the L98 because I was familiar with the engine from my 91 Z28. I was concerned about the opti in the LT1s. I decided the extra HP was worth going with the 95 plus I like the exterior and interior styling better. Sure enough, less than a year after I got it the opti went out. I replaced it myself, it took me about six hours, and that was taking my time. Surprisingly the job was not that difficult.
One thing to take into account is you can rebuild a lot of things on a c4. You can replace parts of assemblies like driveshaft u joints, control arms can have new bushings and ball joints installed instead of buying whole a arms, you can rebuild the head light motors too. A lot of motor and brake swaps/upgrades have been done as well as deleting the LCD instruments for dial gauges.
I watch your presentations quite a lot Lyle and you have some great tips. I have a 1996 C4 and I am very happy with it. I baby it and that effort pays off. I have never had some of the problems you have covered. Because I am not filthy rich, the improvements I make are slow but worth the investment non the less. Love your show and in the future, I may ask you for some tips on where to find parts that are hard to find.
Thanks to your videos I am liking the C4 Corvette more and more. It seems like the ZR1 is more of a cool factor purchase. Meaning the LT1/4 models are plenty fun for the average Joe. Stay tall Lyle.
87 (IMO) is the C4 sweet spot. Amazing gauges of the 84, but the third year for TPI so you're getting a runner. Original style C4 wheels too which makes the 87 the best 84 you can buy, if that makes sense.
Bought a 1990 ZR-1 May 2019, 74k miles, for 5 grand. One year later and everything you mentioned including the ECM had to be done. I have almost 10k in this car now, but I am very happy, this LT5 SCREAMS!! Thanks for the honest up front truth. P. S. I have my own shop and do all my own work, so all my expense is in parts. The ZR-1 Registry is a wealth of info on these cars and guys over there are very helpful. Lovin my Z, C4 forever. 👍👍🏁🏁
@C T HI C T, If I had bought a nicer example, I wouldn't have learned so much about these cars. I enjoy working on cars and this was a challenge. The guy I bought her from got it from the original owner and he never did anything with it, he was going to fix it but bought a hummer h1 and decided to build it instead of the Z. So for me it was perfect. Not been butchered, all original. Now I know this machine inside and out and kinda feel attached to her. It's running great and I am enjoying her, she sat for many years, but I made her a promise to drive the wheels off her, no garage queen here. Have a great day. 👍👍🏁
As a C4 corvette owner myself . Plan to do all the repairs yourself . Do not pay for a mechanic because they will destroy all the plastic parts . They become brittle with time and just closing a screw to hard will crack the panel . Repairing or replacing parts is super easy on the C4 . So just bdo your research on youtube or the manual . You will learn a lot and enjoy the results . Not to talk about the Ton of money you will save
The C4 Can be a great Corvette to own if you do your homework before making a purchase. They can be expensive to own and maintain if you have to pay someone else to work on it. These cars are better suited for someone who can do most of the maintenance and repair work themselves. You should have a good assortment of tools and previous experience working on cars. C4 weatherstrips have more complexity than other Corvettes and it is critical that you choose premium quality parts close to the original engineered weatherstrip pieces as you can get. Keep in mind resealing the Windshield and A-Pillar moldings is integrated with weatherstrip replacement. Any C4 offered for sale which includes a car cover is a clue. Check under the seats and mats for rusty seat tracks and wet carpeting. Plan on doing some Opti-Spark Ignition work if the previous owner can't tell you about this one. This is not a deal killer but something to keep in mind. Fixing engine oil leaks will keep you busy for a while. If you need to have the windshield replaced the C4 is unlike any other Corvette and will require expert experience from a technician who has done them before. A good place to start is any Chevrolet dealership who has a body shop. Ask the body shop manager who they call to replace Corvette windshields.
I bought an 89 auto c4 that ran but had a mean knock abd trashed interior for 1000 dollars and had the engine rebuilt for about 4500 and now it runs strong and im slowly rebuilding everything! They do need a lot of work but they're awesome!
I have a 1989 C4 that I have owned since 99 I have had zero problems with the dash and everything works on it today. I do not drive mine a lot it has a 406 cid with a procharger and nitrous and it makes 1188HP at the rear wheels. I do not take it to the track it is not driven much it is just my toy that I enjoy going for a drive on a nice day. I have upgraded the brakes and put on wider wheels and tires for more traction. I do enjoy embarrassing a Mustang every chance that I get.
Went and checked out a 96 CE LT4 today. 41k miles, he wanted $13k. Exterior was nice, interior not so much, and before my test drive I tugged the steering wheel to the 7 o'clock position. It moved a _lot._ It was a fun drive, but it felt very nervous on the road, kind of hunting around. Hard pass on the steering wheel issue alone.
Corvettes are a labor of love and a used Corvette cost time and money. My 68 C3 cost me just as much to get back to original and running as it did to buy her. But right now she’s worth more than that and I’m still spending. If you want something classic/ old that you don’t have to work on and want to drive without worry... wake up bro, you’re living in a dream world.
And Another issues , for 85 to 88 there is a 9th injector, which called coldnstart injector this is only active for outside temp under a given temp. When failed? Your car will have trouble to start when engine is hot and outside iş cold.... because of rich fuel condition. And similarly: old Lucas injectors with time can leak , you can know this if your car has hard srarting issue when engine is hot and sitts more than 10 minutes after turning off.. Leaking injector(s) will rich the Air fuel Ratio. You need to correct this as soon as possible because leaking liquid gas candamage to your engine oil which will damage your cylinders and /or other lubrication surfaces...
Having owned an 86 convertible, my advice is find the best condition C4 only. They are great cars, and you will be smiling ear to ear when you drive one. In my experience, there is no such thing as a fixer upper C4. It is financial suicide to buy a poor condition one. Buy the best one you can find and hope for the best. And drive them for God's sake!
Ok, based on what? Are you using top quality parts or the Chinese stuff? Of course it will be cheaper if you have the tools and ability to do it yourself, that goes without saying (I thought). I'm speaking to the people buying their neighbor's 1985 that has sat under a pile of boxes for 5 years in the garage for $1500, thinking that putting fresh gas in and have a nice driver which is totally inaccurate.
@@csvette Yes I was adding labor which I do myself. Parts, depending what type are sourced are top shelf or from parts cars. Wasn't trying to besmirch you or your abilities in anyway. I enjoy your show..
You are so correct, an AC Delco OEM opti-spark distributor from Summit is less than @250. A good performance after market is $300. Way out of line on other things he said as well. I've been a mechanic since before there even was a C4.
@@dukeman7595 No worries! Just wanted to clarify we were talking apples to apples. You are fortunate to have the skill to do a lot of your own work--makes owning one of these cars so much easier! Lyle
Folks, not everyone is a mechanic. As you should know most often it is not the parts that run the price up but the labor. I watched the video on how to replace the water pump on my '96 and decided I was not even going to attempt that. I figured it to be around a thousand dollars and was quoted 1200 including them also servicing the multi-spark as well.
Bahaahaha he’s absolutely right ! I had an 88 back in 07 I had to replace the cluster found a guy on eBay to fix it for 400 let up nice but never read right. The car had sat for a few years so I had to replace the injectors very expensive. And the weather stripping! Cracks everywhere god I hated that. Also the windshield wipers are expensive found used ones for 300 keep in mind this was all back in 07! But with all that being said it always felt like a real sports cars I just lived the feeling of that car !
Lyle , I ty , on the video / review , looking at buying a , 94, ZR1 LT5 & 1st thing once looking at this vehicle is Lyle's CHECKLIST , i made up .................
Boy Lyle, you're batting two for two for me. Last upload I ended up buying the C6 LED marker lights. Now this upload is quite timely in that I've been 'kick'n tires" electronically and physically on C4's. Mostly '92 and up with a definite leaning towards '94 and up when possible. I've made notes on all your "points" and will be asking even more questions now of any seller I'm getting serious with. Thank you and Save the Wave🙋🏼♂️
Local Chevy dealer is the only place that will work on my '94. Just had a strange problem where the car died going down the highway. No chug, no cough, just like someone turned the key off. Had it hauled in to the garage and by then it fired right up. They had it a week and ran out a whole tank of gas attempting to get the problem to show again. I drove it home yesterday. Anyways... at one point they quoted me $2000 for new injectors. The Dealer no longer has repair manuals so the mechanic was working from memory. They are not a ripoff artist like some Dealers are. Last summer I had a shift issue and they fixed a loose solenoid wire for the cost of trans fluid and filter that it needed anyway. Rest of the story is I bought a nice looking car for cheap knowing full well I'd sink money into repairs. I just don't buy any used car without planning on a couple thousand... tires, tune-up, brakes, lights, shocks, exhaust. Favorite car of mine was a Formula 350 that I paid $2500 for and spent another $2500 the first month I owned it... then drove the living crap out of it for 5 years. It would melt tires and I don't know how fast it was because I didn't have the nerve to find out.
I'm happy to hear that you have an honest dealer near you! I would probably recommend a new coil and Ignition module first, then take a hard look at replacing the optispark if the problem persists. Lyle :)
@@csvette Thank-you Sir. I did not expect a reply. Your advice will be followed. I may not even wait for problems to reappear... side of the road is a joyless place.
You are so right, a friend got one cheap awhile back or so he thought..... a lot of the points you mentioned we're wrong with his 92 it cost him well over $5000.00 easy to get "almost" everything resolved, (the parts are not cheap) keep in mind he did most of the work himself, so be careful getting one of these, have it inspected before you buy it, especially if you are not able to work on it yourself.
I owned a 94 Corvette 6 speed. I changed optispark out 2 times in year half period. First one was stock one that failed. Then I bought MSD and that failed. I traded the car in for 2001 Z06.
I'm surprised such an expert would not mention the oil temp sensor on lt1 and lt4. Also the windshield wiper blades are tricky to find most of the time special order. Fog lights, map lights, and other bulbs are special too. Harmonic balancer is another pita. They are all different from lt1 and lt4. When replacing one for an lt4 make sure it's a direct replacement to the car.
I would add the 4+3 manual transmission to your list. The last I knew the most common parts to fail in the overdrive are not available. With that being said, I loved mine, and if I stumbled upon another one where the price is right I'd buy it everytime.
I bought an '88 coupe for $8500.00 spent $10 grand more. Forewarned is forearmed, they are money pits unless your wrenching yourself with garage space to spare. Best bet, frame off restoration, just drive and enjoy! Good video!!
The thing I find odd is all the folks that say you can find these c4's cheap. Cheap to me means it needs a lot of work and if you want it right it's gonna cost you. Therefore, not cheap. I believe in spending the extra money and time to find one that is in excellent condition. One that has been taken care of and maintained throughout it's life. One that has been owned by people that appreciated it and took care of it. Spending more up front saves you money in the long run.
I want to add 2 important issues : The biggest is the THM700R4 automatic transmission with THROTTLE valve cable ( 4L60 ) ( after 1993 4L60E comes with electronic contrlled transmission ) this valve inside the transmission oil line system can stuck and the premature usure of friction plates and clutches so I will absolutly choose manual , except 1984 1988 doug nash 4+3 , so the siz manual comes with 1989. Another very annoying issue is the Bose speakers if there is option in particular car. İntegrated amphi dies and only refurbish exists and also dies with time and water ( wheaterstrips faillure ) in case of long cranking for some reason ( especially fuel pump faillure bobstart issue: the ECM can burn some circuit causing faulty running ( if runs ) in this case board computer reads abnormal values. You need to change ECM ( remanufactured still exists on ecklers or corvette central ) after L98, 1993 or later LT1 or LT4 ( 1996 manual grand Sport ) best choices in my opinion...
2:08 the owner's manual for my 1995 Corvette says up to 10% ethanol is OK. They may have not been designed with ethanol blend fuels in mind, but I suspect that the fuel systems in later models were upgraded with better materials to resist the effects of modern blended fuels. I agree that the optical distributor mounted under the water pump was a poor design. I have mounted a drain hose to the water pump's weep hole on my car. My base LT1 6-speed runs perfectly and is a joy to drive. I believe that I got the best year and options for a solid and fun driving car in this generation Corvette.
Bought a '96 LT4 couple years ago with 63k and first day it had trouble starting after leaving the dealer and continued intermittently to have issue as I did not drive the vehicle often it lasted about six months when I had complete fuel pump failure and had to replace. The water pump started leaking through the weep hole five months ago and it is now in the shop for that but as mentioned the leakage would hit the opti-spark and cause it to misfire and check engine light come on. I am waiting to hear if that is going to need attention as well while the water pump is being replaced. Hope that is it for a while as the car is in near new appearance and I understand that a 25 year old vehicle is going to have some issues.
Wayne, I would replace the Optispark regardless--at this point you are half-way there anyway. Best thing you could ever do for that car is to drive it more frequently, as getting fluids to temperature, maintaining that temp for at least 20 minutes and get up into the higher revs a bit. It will love you back for the effort! Lyle :)
I have a 93...And yep l have to treat any plastic part gingerly...It"s very brittle and breaks super easy almost just by a touch...I have not had the other issues yet as there is only about 50 000 km s on the car...l love the car though...
I look at the cup being half full. The more people that stay away from C4 because of maintenance issues that are fairly typical for any 25 plus year old vehicle the more rare it makes mine. I get compliments on my '96 most every time I drive it.
The problem with any nice old Corvette is that they LOOK new if they have been well-cared for. This can draw in the non-mechanical people to owning a car that will cost them to maintain because if it's age. The bad part of that situation is that those folks then learn to hate their Corvette because they didn't have the base knowledge of what 25, 30, 40 year old cars require to keep them happy. Enjoy your '96! Lyle
My 87 convertible has been a fabulous car runs and drives like a new car, has always been garaged. I haven't had to do anything other than regular maintenance. It has under 100k miles on it. Rubber seals are all good. Mike Lavallee painted his traditional flames on it. I love this car!
Great video! I've been contemplating getting a C4 for awhile now, and am aware of the issues you mentioned, but never had a $$$ amount to address the problems before. Thanks 👍
Funny story 😀 Bought a 84 Z51 rides like crap loud as hell hard not to love especially driving this almost 1g car. Not especially fact tho i have a cam and trans stall but it'll make a 90°turn at 60mph without touching the brake !!! Wanted one last hot rod @ 60yo but a rusting hulk that would cost 20K to make into a 15k rod was out of the question in my budget so i bought the 84 two tone with 89,000 on it and great paint very good interior for 5k ....., FIVE THOUSAND BUCKS :) it is awesome ! Does have a cracked targa top and could use some weather striping but who drives these cars in the rain 🤔 lol. Any way being the first year for the c4 im hoping the value will increase some day for the 84 buy get you one !!! Oh just because you can't see the display on the early c4s doesn't mean they aren't working. Get you a pair of good sunglasses with polarized lens if the coating on the display is bad the glasses will tell you and the coating is fairly easy to remove and replace. Oh i did eventually find a very nice one owner 76 type LT Camaro for 7,500. Currently turn between the two but the Camaro is worth more like 4 or 5 times more .
I've never owned a Corvette. Never will. Mustang all the way; but I thumbed up this guy's video cause it's useful AF if you're thinking about buying a C4.
A common problem with C4s that nobody knows about: wiper motor switch. Everybody uses their turn signals. Plastic gets brittle over time. Maybe not an issue with low mileage cars but eventually it’ll go. Part has been discontinued for a few years. Since it is so deep in the steering column you rarely see them being sold by itself. You can only get the complete used steering column but a lot of them are already broke. My turn signal switch still works but the stalk won’t engage it.
It isn't just a C4 corvette thing about repairs. If you have to pay someone to work on any car you own you will be raped. This isn't a put down... but realize that people work to make a living and they have money invested in tools and equipment that they need to get a return on so any time you pay someone to work on your car no matter if it is only 5 years old you are going to dig deep in that wallet. I did a major restoration on a theft recovery 91 C4 back in 1997 and crap was spendy then but available from GM.
Listen to this guy. Don't rush to buy one either like me. I got an 89 with 110k on it for 4k. Ran fine for the first week. Then ran into a computer issue. Had to replace weather stripping. Needed a new third break light and all of the plastic around the rear glass. Then when I thought everything was over. I blew a drive shaft and got a lower end knock. Always make sure you know the history before buying. I got too impatient. Ended up costing me 9k in parts and labor to get everything right. All in all spent 13k on a car thats worth 7k. At least the exterior is perfect. Pop ups work and dash is perfect
Joshua, I'm so sorry that you had that experience! This is precisely why we counsel people to be PATIENT and do their homework before purchasing an old car of any kind. This is particularly hard once the "fever" sets in, but it really does make all the difference to educate yourself and then exercise cold, clear logic when shopping. I'm glad you were able to save your car--at least you still have something usable and fun--many people end up without even that. Good luck with your '89! Lyle
I appreciate your advice. I bought a brand new 87 C-4 owned it for 6 years and finally had to let it go because it was too expensive to maintain it. If it were a Porsche 911, I’d put the money on it but it was not worth the headaches my Vette caused me. This was my 4th Vette but the first C-4 and the last. I have a 2018 Stingray and am in love with it but I intend to get the C-8 but will wait for a couple more years so that all the gremlins gets sorted.
I have an 89 C4 with 34000 original miles and things still go wrong. That being said you can get any part for these cars, you just have to look at all the different Corvette part vendors. I have found everything cheap!
Not that i need it Lyle, but i would like a new center console and cup holder lid for my 93 Callaway... Do you think i can find one??? The rest of the interior is pretty much flawless, although if i was to be real picky i might whack a new seat / suspension adjustment assembly in there too.... Any C4 owner that needs any external lights or lenses should be thankful they don't have a Callaway Aerobody... 3 grand to replace all 6 plastic lenses!
3K???? That's crazy!!! Call me about the interior bits--I should be able to provide them--just need to clarify exactly what you need. Lyle 800-886-5064
Thank you for videooo ! Lt1 spares ? Are they still being made ? If thats the case, it might be a better option. Its life guys ! The car we grew up dreaming about. Thank you.
Always the problem with older cars, some odd part will be very expensive. Hell even my $2000 (Canadian) clean Geo Tracker needs a idle air control valve that is $500 to $700 new, or a few hundred bucks used an in unknown condition. It just becomes part of the process of buying these cars, so one has to be educated and negotiate the price down if one can. Or walk if the owner won't budge, let it be someone else's problem.
Now what you saying about the ethanol gumming up the fuel system wouldn't this happen to every 80s gm car then? Especially tpi motors like possibly Camaros too ?
Actually, the sending unit is about $169, so it's even cheaper than that! It's when you get into injectors and fuel pressure regulator rebuild that the parts and labor costs rise...Lyle
@@csvette That is good news. I have not had a C-4 was 2005. That one was a 1996 LT-4 and also had a 1987 Z-52 which I had rebuilt engine trans and on and on. If one cannot afford gas and regular maintaince FUCK SPELL CHECK FROM SO MANY GODDAMN LANGUAGES.
Well fortunately I'm familiar with the C4 so I save tHoUsAnDs in labour lol. Anything goes in mine and I fix it myself. Like the head gasket job. Only cost me about 40$ ☻
Parts should be way more than that. You're going to need oil, coolant, head bolts and the gaskets themselves. You're at nearly $200 if you buy the absolute cheapest stuff. I mean, I guess you could reuse the fluids...
Is there any way to overcome to the ethanol problem in my Corvette? Not having any problems but I wanna know if there's a way I can prevent it from happening? Oh and I figured out a cheap way to fix the gauges without having to take the dash apart... It's not perfect but beats the crap outta $1000!
Love my Corvette. Buy one, life is short.
I love mine too, got a 1992 for 4K
Your right, I gotta get mine!
Everybody should have a Vette.
fckn exactly!!! :D
@@dylanc3521 how’s it going
C4s are inexpensive and maintenance is very inexpensive compared to anything else in its class.
Some of these shops should include a jar of Vaseline for the inflated numbers they charge.
Michael Jordan you can’t own one if your taller than 5’9” C-5&6 are for taller people, my C-5 just turned 180 k yesterday, the same bs problems,bad elec.system, cheap interior, ,bad pvc system, but Handle and acceleration is great, and in its day the only car on the planet that could out brake it was the Enzo Ferrari !
@@stevekafka 6ft and fit just fine. Also have an 88 Fiero... Fiero has little more legroom. Never hit my head or anything like I hear people say.
@@stevekafka 6'3" and I fit just fine.
Mike's 84 Corvette I think body types come into play here, I’m just under 6’4” and 270-285 lbs. Size 48 sport coat bump my head, knees, shoulders, ie.know what a blivitt is ? 4 lbs of shit in a two pound bag !
@@stevekafka True. I agree.
Best thing when buying a C4 is know how to do much of the work yourself.
Daily drove the C4 I was given the keys to for 8 years through 1/2 college and beyond. Yeah I put a towel on my leg when it rained, yeah I spent a lot of time in the garage, yeah my chiltons book was falling apart towards the end but I have 0 regrets. Its tarped and just waiting for some cash. I'll never sell that car.
True story 👍🏻
That’s pretty much any car at this point
I've had my 96 C4 for about 4 months now. I payed just under $9K for the car. The body is in good shape, but of course it needed repairs. I had my mechanic look at it and they said about $1,400 for repairs from what they could find. As of now, I'm up to $4,225 in repairs, and I have another I'll be doing soon for $520. The instrument cluster is going to be another one in the near future. I can do some of the basic stuff, but I don't have any special tools or a clean safe space to do any serious stuff like a garage. It's also my only car so I can't have it sit for days being undrivable. I knew my situation was far from ideal, but I had the chance and the money so I went for it. Owning a Corvette was been one of my life goals for over a decade and my top favorite Corvettes are the C3 and the C4. It's been the source of a few headaches with the repairs and learning to drive on my crappy streets without scraping the front or throwing the alignment out with the pot holes and sewer access lids that are sitting lower then they should be. Still love the car.
I always thought these cars were such a killer bargain, but yeah this all makes sense. Knowing exactly what problem areas to look for helps zero in on determining the true value. Great info, thanks!
I bought an 84 off the showroom floor. Best handling car I've ever owned. Everything else was total shit!
I had a ‘92 and would stay away from 92-93 because of the Optibark. I believe in ‘94 they vented them which was basically just a vacuum line to suck out any moisture. I would also stay away from the Crossfire 84’s. Stick to L98’s or LT4 cars. What he also doesn’t mention in the cam driven water pumps fail due to harmonics that cause bearing failure. This is a flawed design and if it goes that’s why the Optisparks fail so much. Even with the vented opti people upgrade to electric water pumps for this reason. Also the zf6 speed is far superior than the 4+3 so 89-91 cars are better for that reason. Keep in mind the 6speed cars come with a much more stout Dana44 rear end and auto cars have a weak Dana36. Most people just think the difference is with transmission but it isn’t. Another thing about LT-1 cars is their issue with leaky mini ram manifold gaskets. If oil leaks down the rear into the bellhousing it ca ruin the dual mass flywheel. They cannot be cleaned or resurfaced and they are pricey. But people usually change them for single mass and live with the chatter.
I'm a prior C4, C5, and C6 owner and having been looking to replace my C6 after some kid texting and driving hit me and totaled it. I'm been perusing a ton of C&S's videos as I refresh my knowledge of all things Corvette. Lyle really knows his stuff and his insights and advice are priceless. Videos like this make everyone's ownership better to the point of probably improving resale values. Thank you so much Lyle and keep up the great work! (I still haven't decided what I want, so many great choices...)
How would you compare the 3 gens? It seems like the c5 is the sweet spot purely from a onlooker's point of view, only ever pulled those gen vettes in and out of my shop. The c4 is cheaper and probably easier to work on where it has an engine mounted trans. The c5 is so sleek to me, it looks like a leaner meaner c6 to me, though the c6 z06 and zr1 are the best looking vettes imo. I know most vettes dont get exposed to snow and salt but isn't the c4's "frame" made of steel? Have had multiple c5s in the shop and they seem to be almost all aluminum underneath.
After owning 6 Corvettes, I learned that I cannot afford cheap Corvettes. In the long haul, they will cost more than much nicer ones.
What would you say is most reliable the c5 or c6
Onzah Probably if both have similar mileage and maintenance, I would think the C6 would be more reliable. But not by a great deal in my experience. The C6 is obviously more refined as a newer generational model, but some parts cost more than with the C5. Tires are an example. I was able to purchase two C5’s (One a 2000 convertible and another 2002 coupe) for about 10% more than a 2008 coupe. Pricing in my area is all over the place though. My preference was the flip up headlights of the C5. Either generation should be a great choice if carefully researched and value priced.
Good point.
Rather pay now for nice and not put $$ into a rat that will cost same $$
Are c4’s any good? Want to grab one for 4,500
@@dongambino5308 you can find a pretty nice one for $5000 dollars, I would look 5-6k. Mine as pictured was $5500 in august and has 71000 miles on it. So you can probably snag a similar one for around 5k but you really need to take your time and look because a lot of C4s are just ratty. So just take your time and don’t jump at someone else’s problem, wait to buy someone’s baby. That’s the best advice I can give
This video is a real eyeopener! Thank you Lyle & God bless.
Not in the market yet. First time watching one of your videos. Will save your video for reference. And look at other of your videos to try expand my knowledge. I would like to get a C4.
Next, I just want to praise you for your video. Great info. Presented exceptionally well, clear and logical. No B.S. with 90 seconds of intros and insipid music. You get right into it. It is the time that is valuable and your videos give the utmost respect to your viewers by respecting their time. I am very impressed. In the top 1% of videos I have seen on TH-cam. WELL DONE. MANY, MANY THANKS! To wade through oceans of garbage to find this video is like stumbling onto hidden treasure.
Keeping $5k handy also these $$$ are about a 25% increase from 3 years ago. 👍
Thanks man I was just about to purchase an 84 c4... u just saved me about 7 grand
Vik P Stay away from the 84, but go for an 85, "tune port Injection" no anti lock brakes to deal with and no air bags to have problems with. It's an antique car and will drive like a hard tail triumph chopper, as opposed to a modern, rubber mounted Harley super-glide. but if you want to have fun this is it. but if you want to look like everyone else on the road in their new Japanese 4 cylinder turdbo sellout cars then don't buy one..... more for me. ;)
I bought a c4 a little over a year ago. I said I wouldn't do ANYTHING to it.... I have spent 10K plus on it so far. I have dropped a 383 built motor in it. Now I need a new trans and new cooling system to handle the 383. But the interior was nice and the body was nice.
Did u havw to buy a new motor or no cause that sounds more like a personal touch rather than a repair
Had an 89. Easy to work on, but parts... Both headlight motors alone were more than all other work I did on the car in the time of owning it.
You dont need new motors unless they are burned up, most if the time the gears wear out long before the motors do and it's an easy fix to get them popping up again...
My passenger side motor assembly had a tooth chip off one of the gears in the winter (I drive mine in the snow and cold and everything) and I actually took it apart, pulled out the broken tooth, and it works fine.
I’ll get new gears eventually but it really isn’t bothering it, with the momentum it has no problem skipping one tooth.
I have owned my 85 C-4 for 10 years! Great car!
Got a 73 baby love it
Good info. Had my 89 since 91. 265,000 miles. A few points on it... I know my speed, (gauges dim), I wear iPods, (Bose speakers a joke) only drive it on sunny days with the glasses down or top off,( weatherstripping hard), got seat covers,( leather is poor quality), but it still handles and has plenty of power. I live near BG and I love taking it to the NCM track. That's why they make Corvettes! To drive. With all its flaws, I have and do still enjoy it.
I bought my 95 base about 4 years ago. I was torn between the L98 because I was familiar with the engine from my 91 Z28. I was concerned about the opti in the LT1s. I decided the extra HP was worth going with the 95 plus I like the exterior and interior styling better. Sure enough, less than a year after I got it the opti went out. I replaced it myself, it took me about six hours, and that was taking my time. Surprisingly the job was not that difficult.
I bought a 1994 c4 a week ago. It's very pretty. Thank you very much for every knowledge about this car.
One thing to take into account is you can rebuild a lot of things on a c4. You can replace parts of assemblies like driveshaft u joints, control arms can have new bushings and ball joints installed instead of buying whole a arms, you can rebuild the head light motors too. A lot of motor and brake swaps/upgrades have been done as well as deleting the LCD instruments for dial gauges.
I watch your presentations quite a lot Lyle and you have some great tips. I have a 1996 C4 and I am very happy with it. I baby it and that effort pays off. I have never had some of the problems you have covered. Because I am not filthy rich, the improvements I make are slow but worth the investment non the less. Love your show and in the future, I may ask you for some tips on where to find parts that are hard to find.
Thanks to your videos I am liking the C4 Corvette more and more.
It seems like the ZR1 is more of a cool factor purchase. Meaning the LT1/4 models are plenty fun for the average Joe.
Stay tall Lyle.
87 (IMO) is the C4 sweet spot. Amazing gauges of the 84, but the third year for TPI so you're getting a runner. Original style C4 wheels too which makes the 87 the best 84 you can buy, if that makes sense.
It does to me😉, I have an ‘87. This was also the first year for roller lifters.
87 so slow stock though...
timsgta 0 to 60 in under 7 seconds. Not super fast but not slow either. Great performance for ‘87 standards.
I could not agree more. 87 is the sweet spot year not only for TPI, gauges and wheels, but lets not forget electronic AC. Absolutely the best year!
You’re making me feel a bit better.
Love my 96, it needs some work but man do I love it.
I also have a 96, and I love it! It’s polo green with beige leather interior and it’s a convertible with 50,000 miles on it. It’s a fun car to drive!
Polo green is the best color on the c4 looks real classy
95 black rose 60,000
I really dig the black rose, mines black on black. 101k miles and still going strong
@@MrMetz2112 I also drive a Polo Green Metallic '96 Corvette convertible.
Thank you for being so straight forward about this.
Bought a 1990 ZR-1 May 2019, 74k miles, for 5 grand. One year later and everything you mentioned including the ECM had to be done. I have almost 10k in this car now, but I am very happy, this LT5 SCREAMS!! Thanks for the honest up front truth.
P. S. I have my own shop and do all my own work, so all my expense is in parts. The ZR-1 Registry is a wealth of info on these cars and guys over there are very helpful. Lovin my Z, C4 forever. 👍👍🏁🏁
10K is free in the ZR1 world... you stole that thing... highway robbery one might say!
@C T
HI C T,
If I had bought a nicer example, I wouldn't have learned so much about these cars. I enjoy working on cars and this was a challenge. The guy I bought her from got it from the original owner and he never did anything with it, he was going to fix it but bought a hummer h1 and decided to build it instead of the Z.
So for me it was perfect. Not been butchered, all original. Now I know this machine inside and out and kinda feel attached to her. It's running great and I am enjoying her, she sat for many years, but I made her a promise to drive the wheels off her, no garage queen here. Have a great day. 👍👍🏁
Good video , man .
Staight and to the point .
My 18 year old is off to buy one today .
So how did it go?
As a C4 corvette owner myself . Plan to do all the repairs yourself . Do not pay for a mechanic because they will destroy all the plastic parts . They become brittle with time and just closing a screw to hard will crack the panel . Repairing or replacing parts is super easy on the C4 . So just bdo your research on youtube or the manual . You will learn a lot and enjoy the results . Not to talk about the Ton of money you will save
Thanks. My brother is looking to buy one tomorrow so I'll pass this along.
Dude you’re the best! I’m looking into getting a c4 convertible
I love your channel! Please dont ever stop making videos.
Excellent info. Same info from tech school a couple decades ago. I just subscribed. Thanks, I have had 5 C-4's This guy is absolutely correct.
The C4 Can be a great Corvette to own if you do your homework before making a purchase. They can be expensive to own and maintain if you have to pay someone else to work on it. These cars are better suited for someone who can do most of the maintenance and repair work themselves. You should have a good assortment of tools and previous experience working on cars. C4 weatherstrips have more complexity than other Corvettes and it is critical that you choose premium quality parts close to the original engineered weatherstrip pieces as you can get. Keep in mind resealing the Windshield and A-Pillar moldings is integrated with weatherstrip replacement. Any C4 offered for sale which includes a car cover is a clue. Check under the seats and mats for rusty seat tracks and wet carpeting. Plan on doing some Opti-Spark Ignition work if the previous owner can't tell you about this one. This is not a deal killer but something to keep in mind. Fixing engine oil leaks will keep you busy for a while. If you need to have the windshield replaced the C4 is unlike any other Corvette and will require expert experience from a technician who has done them before. A good place to start is any Chevrolet dealership who has a body shop. Ask the body shop manager who they call to replace Corvette windshields.
All excellent points! Thank you, Greg! Lyle
The heater core is a big one i just checked all these off and that damn core is going to be a task
I bought an 89 auto c4 that ran but had a mean knock abd trashed interior for 1000 dollars and had the engine rebuilt for about 4500 and now it runs strong and im slowly rebuilding everything! They do need a lot of work but they're awesome!
I have a 1989 C4 that I have owned since 99 I have had zero problems with the dash and everything works on it today. I do not drive mine a lot it has a 406 cid with a procharger and nitrous and it makes 1188HP at the rear wheels. I do not take it to the track it is not driven much it is just my toy that I enjoy going for a drive on a nice day. I have upgraded the brakes and put on wider wheels and tires for more traction.
I do enjoy embarrassing a Mustang every chance that I get.
35.000 Miles from 60 to 95.000 Miles experience on Z52 1988 automatic. ( 2006 to 2014 )
Just ordered a window switch for my 96 vet. Works great from c&s corvettes.
Thank you great points!
Especially the Optispark
Hi from the U.K. I’m new to the channel I’m restoring a 92 lt1 and everything you mentioned is correct good video 👍🏻
Went and checked out a 96 CE LT4 today. 41k miles, he wanted $13k. Exterior was nice, interior not so much, and before my test drive I tugged the steering wheel to the 7 o'clock position. It moved a _lot._ It was a fun drive, but it felt very nervous on the road, kind of hunting around. Hard pass on the steering wheel issue alone.
Corvettes are a labor of love and a used Corvette cost time and money. My 68 C3 cost me just as much to get back to original and running as it did to buy her. But right now she’s worth more than that and I’m still spending. If you want something classic/ old that you don’t have to work on and want to drive without worry... wake up bro, you’re living in a dream world.
And Another issues , for 85 to 88 there is a 9th injector, which called coldnstart injector this is only active for outside temp under a given temp. When failed? Your car will have trouble to start when engine is hot and outside iş cold.... because of rich fuel condition. And similarly: old Lucas injectors with time can leak , you can know this if your car has hard srarting issue when engine is hot and sitts more than 10 minutes after turning off.. Leaking injector(s) will rich the Air fuel Ratio. You need to correct this as soon as possible because leaking liquid gas candamage to your engine oil which will damage your cylinders and /or other lubrication surfaces...
Having owned an 86 convertible, my advice is find the best condition C4 only. They are great cars, and you will be smiling ear to ear when you drive one. In my experience, there is no such thing as a fixer upper C4. It is financial suicide to buy a poor condition one. Buy the best one you can find and hope for the best. And drive them for God's sake!
Amen and Hallelujah! Preach!! This is EXACTLY my advice on any collector car purchase. Well said! Lyle
Price you stated for repairs regarding all mentioned is a lot more than it should be, and a fraction if you are able to do the repairs yourself..
Ok, based on what? Are you using top quality parts or the Chinese stuff? Of course it will be cheaper if you have the tools and ability to do it yourself, that goes without saying (I thought). I'm speaking to the people buying their neighbor's 1985 that has sat under a pile of boxes for 5 years in the garage for $1500, thinking that putting fresh gas in and have a nice driver which is totally inaccurate.
@@csvette Yes I was adding labor which I do myself. Parts, depending what type are sourced are top shelf or from parts cars. Wasn't trying to besmirch you or your abilities in anyway. I enjoy your show..
You are so correct, an AC Delco OEM opti-spark distributor from Summit is less than @250. A good performance after market is $300. Way out of line on other things he said as well. I've been a mechanic since before there even was a C4.
@@dukeman7595 No worries! Just wanted to clarify we were talking apples to apples. You are fortunate to have the skill to do a lot of your own work--makes owning one of these cars so much easier! Lyle
Folks, not everyone is a mechanic. As you should know most often it is not the parts that run the price up but the labor. I watched the video on how to replace the water pump on my '96 and decided I was not even going to attempt that. I figured it to be around a thousand dollars and was quoted 1200 including them also servicing the multi-spark as well.
Bahaahaha he’s absolutely right ! I had an 88 back in 07 I had to replace the cluster found a guy on eBay to fix it for 400 let up nice but never read right. The car had sat for a few years so I had to replace the injectors very expensive. And the weather stripping! Cracks everywhere god I hated that. Also the windshield wipers are expensive found used ones for 300 keep in mind this was all back in 07! But with all that being said it always felt like a real sports cars I just lived the feeling of that car !
Atr least where I live ethanol free high test is readily available, and that is all that I use, for interior plastic parts, , etc see Ecklers.
Digital dash cheap fix. Get polarized film and place over gauges or use polarized sun glasses.
Lyle , I ty , on the video / review , looking at buying a , 94, ZR1 LT5 & 1st thing once looking at this vehicle is Lyle's CHECKLIST , i made up .................
"MAH-EHK IT AWWL PUHRDEY" made me burst at the seams, just like......C4
Boy Lyle, you're batting two for two for me. Last upload I ended up buying the C6 LED marker lights. Now this upload is quite timely in that I've been 'kick'n tires" electronically and physically on C4's. Mostly '92 and up with a definite leaning towards '94 and up when possible. I've made notes on all your "points" and will be asking even more questions now of any seller I'm getting serious with. Thank you and Save the Wave🙋🏼♂️
I had one and it was a money pit! I do miss it in the summer tho
Local Chevy dealer is the only place that will work on my '94. Just had a strange problem where the car died going down the highway. No chug, no cough, just like someone turned the key off. Had it hauled in to the garage and by then it fired right up. They had it a week and ran out a whole tank of gas attempting to get the problem to show again. I drove it home yesterday. Anyways... at one point they quoted me $2000 for new injectors. The Dealer no longer has repair manuals so the mechanic was working from memory. They are not a ripoff artist like some Dealers are. Last summer I had a shift issue and they fixed a loose solenoid wire for the cost of trans fluid and filter that it needed anyway. Rest of the story is I bought a nice looking car for cheap knowing full well I'd sink money into repairs. I just don't buy any used car without planning on a couple thousand... tires, tune-up, brakes, lights, shocks, exhaust. Favorite car of mine was a Formula 350 that I paid $2500 for and spent another $2500 the first month I owned it... then drove the living crap out of it for 5 years. It would melt tires and I don't know how fast it was because I didn't have the nerve to find out.
I'm happy to hear that you have an honest dealer near you! I would probably recommend a new coil and Ignition module first, then take a hard look at replacing the optispark if the problem persists. Lyle :)
@@csvette Thank-you Sir. I did not expect a reply. Your advice will be followed. I may not even wait for problems to reappear... side of the road is a joyless place.
You are so right, a friend got one cheap awhile back or so he thought..... a lot of the points you mentioned we're wrong with his 92 it cost him well over $5000.00 easy to get "almost" everything resolved, (the parts are not cheap) keep in mind he did most of the work himself, so be careful getting one of these, have it inspected before you buy it, especially if you are not able to work on it yourself.
I owned a 94 Corvette 6 speed. I changed optispark out 2 times in year half period. First one was stock one that failed. Then I bought MSD and that failed. I traded the car in for 2001 Z06.
I'm surprised such an expert would not mention the oil temp sensor on lt1 and lt4. Also the windshield wiper blades are tricky to find most of the time special order. Fog lights, map lights, and other bulbs are special too. Harmonic balancer is another pita. They are all different from lt1 and lt4. When replacing one for an lt4 make sure it's a direct replacement to the car.
I would add the 4+3 manual transmission to your list. The last I knew the most common parts to fail in the overdrive are not available. With that being said, I loved mine, and if I stumbled upon another one where the price is right I'd buy it everytime.
I bought an '88 coupe for $8500.00 spent $10 grand more. Forewarned is forearmed, they are money pits unless your wrenching yourself with garage space to spare. Best bet, frame off restoration, just drive and enjoy! Good video!!
How did you manage to spend that much money?
The thing I find odd is all the folks that say you can find these c4's cheap. Cheap to me means it needs a lot of work and if you want it right it's gonna cost you. Therefore, not cheap. I believe in spending the extra money and time to find one that is in excellent condition. One that has been taken care of and maintained throughout it's life. One that has been owned by people that appreciated it and took care of it. Spending more up front saves you money in the long run.
How about if I just LS swap a c4
I want to add 2 important issues :
The biggest is the THM700R4 automatic transmission with THROTTLE valve cable ( 4L60 ) ( after 1993 4L60E comes with electronic contrlled transmission ) this valve inside the transmission oil line system can stuck and the premature usure of friction plates and clutches so I will absolutly choose manual , except 1984 1988 doug nash 4+3 , so the siz manual comes with 1989.
Another very annoying issue is the Bose speakers if there is option in particular car. İntegrated amphi dies and only refurbish exists and also dies with time and water ( wheaterstrips faillure ) in case of long cranking for some reason ( especially fuel pump faillure bobstart issue: the ECM can burn some circuit causing faulty running ( if runs ) in this case board computer reads abnormal values. You need to change ECM ( remanufactured still exists on ecklers or corvette central ) after L98, 1993 or later LT1 or LT4 ( 1996 manual grand Sport ) best choices in my opinion...
Your videos are awesome. You know your stuff inside out. Excellent
2:08 the owner's manual for my 1995 Corvette says up to 10% ethanol is OK. They may have not been designed with ethanol blend fuels in mind, but I suspect that the fuel systems in later models were upgraded with better materials to resist the effects of modern blended fuels. I agree that the optical distributor mounted under the water pump was a poor design. I have mounted a drain hose to the water pump's weep hole on my car. My base LT1 6-speed runs perfectly and is a joy to drive. I believe that I got the best year and options for a solid and fun driving car in this generation Corvette.
Bought a '96 LT4 couple years ago with 63k and first day it had trouble starting after leaving the dealer and continued intermittently to have issue as I did not drive the vehicle often it lasted about six months when I had complete fuel pump failure and had to replace. The water pump started leaking through the weep hole five months ago and it is now in the shop for that but as mentioned the leakage would hit the opti-spark and cause it to misfire and check engine light come on. I am waiting to hear if that is going to need attention as well while the water pump is being replaced. Hope that is it for a while as the car is in near new appearance and I understand that a 25 year old vehicle is going to have some issues.
Wayne, I would replace the Optispark regardless--at this point you are half-way there anyway. Best thing you could ever do for that car is to drive it more frequently, as getting fluids to temperature, maintaining that temp for at least 20 minutes and get up into the higher revs a bit. It will love you back for the effort! Lyle :)
I have a 93...And yep l have to treat any plastic part gingerly...It"s very brittle and breaks super easy almost just by a touch...I have not had the other issues yet as there is only about 50 000 km s on the car...l love the car though...
i’m getting a 93. anything else i should know about it?
I look at the cup being half full. The more people that stay away from C4 because of maintenance issues that are fairly typical for any 25 plus year old vehicle the more rare it makes mine. I get compliments on my '96 most every time I drive it.
The problem with any nice old Corvette is that they LOOK new if they have been well-cared for. This can draw in the non-mechanical people to owning a car that will cost them to maintain because if it's age. The bad part of that situation is that those folks then learn to hate their Corvette because they didn't have the base knowledge of what 25, 30, 40 year old cars require to keep them happy. Enjoy your '96! Lyle
My 87 convertible has been a fabulous car runs and drives like a new car, has always been garaged. I haven't had to do anything other than regular maintenance. It has under 100k miles on it. Rubber seals are all good. Mike Lavallee painted his traditional flames on it. I love this car!
How much is insurance monthly ?
@@wesmylezz5997 I'm paying $142. per month
@@captozone ahh okay thank you !
Great video! I've been contemplating getting a C4 for awhile now, and am aware of the issues you mentioned, but never had a $$$ amount to address the problems before. Thanks 👍
Love my '88 convertible! Gotta have those round taillights and the LCD instruments!💖😁
Really great points to look out for! Appreciate you, Bud!
Funny story 😀
Bought a 84 Z51 rides like crap loud as hell hard not to love especially driving this almost 1g car. Not especially fact tho i have a cam and trans stall but it'll make a 90°turn at 60mph without touching the brake !!!
Wanted one last hot rod @ 60yo but a rusting hulk that would cost 20K to make into a 15k rod was out of the question in my budget so i bought the 84 two tone with 89,000 on it and great paint very good interior for 5k ....., FIVE THOUSAND BUCKS :) it is awesome ! Does have a cracked targa top and could use some weather striping but who drives these cars in the rain 🤔 lol.
Any way being the first year for the c4 im hoping the value will increase some day for the 84 buy get you one !!!
Oh just because you can't see the display on the early c4s doesn't mean they aren't working. Get you a pair of good sunglasses with polarized lens if the coating on the display is bad the glasses will tell you and the coating is fairly easy to remove and replace.
Oh i did eventually find a very nice one owner 76 type LT Camaro for 7,500. Currently turn between the two but the Camaro is worth more like 4 or 5 times more .
I have a 1985 L98 very eazy to work on
I've never owned a Corvette. Never will. Mustang all the way; but I thumbed up this guy's video cause it's useful AF if you're thinking about buying a C4.
bought a rebuild digital gauge cluster for my 85 for $300. just plugged it in and was done
I'm convinced. Save up for a newer one.
A common problem with C4s that nobody knows about: wiper motor switch. Everybody uses their turn signals. Plastic gets brittle over time. Maybe not an issue with low mileage cars but eventually it’ll go.
Part has been discontinued for a few years. Since it is so deep in the steering column you rarely see them being sold by itself. You can only get the complete used steering column but a lot of them are already broke. My turn signal switch still works but the stalk won’t engage it.
This is a growing issue as the cars age, for certain. Good point! Lyle
And one of the best things that you can add to this car is a set of JW speaker headlights
It isn't just a C4 corvette thing about repairs. If you have to pay someone to work on any car you own you will be raped. This isn't a put down... but realize that people work to make a living and they have money invested in tools and equipment that they need to get a return on so any time you pay someone to work on your car no matter if it is only 5 years old you are going to dig deep in that wallet. I did a major restoration on a theft recovery 91 C4 back in 1997 and crap was spendy then but available from GM.
I’m looking at c4 6-8k none of these problems are jaw dropping or deterring me from getting 1 PPI if it’s no good then look at another one simple
Listen to this guy. Don't rush to buy one either like me. I got an 89 with 110k on it for 4k. Ran fine for the first week. Then ran into a computer issue. Had to replace weather stripping. Needed a new third break light and all of the plastic around the rear glass. Then when I thought everything was over. I blew a drive shaft and got a lower end knock. Always make sure you know the history before buying. I got too impatient. Ended up costing me 9k in parts and labor to get everything right. All in all spent 13k on a car thats worth 7k. At least the exterior is perfect. Pop ups work and dash is perfect
Joshua, I'm so sorry that you had that experience! This is precisely why we counsel people to be PATIENT and do their homework before purchasing an old car of any kind. This is particularly hard once the "fever" sets in, but it really does make all the difference to educate yourself and then exercise cold, clear logic when shopping. I'm glad you were able to save your car--at least you still have something usable and fun--many people end up without even that. Good luck with your '89! Lyle
I appreciate your advice. I bought a brand new 87 C-4 owned it for 6 years and finally had to let it go because it was too expensive to maintain it. If it were a Porsche 911, I’d put the money on it but it was not worth the headaches my Vette caused me. This was my 4th Vette but the first C-4 and the last. I have a 2018 Stingray and am in love with it but I intend to get the C-8 but will wait for a couple more years so that all the gremlins gets sorted.
Thank you for saving me a lotta trouble!
I have an 89 C4 with 34000 original miles and things still go wrong. That being said you can get any part for these cars, you just have to look at all the different Corvette part vendors. I have found everything cheap!
Not that i need it Lyle, but i would like a new center console and cup holder lid for my 93 Callaway... Do you think i can find one??? The rest of the interior is pretty much flawless, although if i was to be real picky i might whack a new seat / suspension adjustment assembly in there too....
Any C4 owner that needs any external lights or lenses should be thankful they don't have a Callaway Aerobody... 3 grand to replace all 6 plastic lenses!
3K???? That's crazy!!! Call me about the interior bits--I should be able to provide them--just need to clarify exactly what you need. Lyle 800-886-5064
Thank you for videooo ! Lt1 spares ? Are they still being made ? If thats the case, it might be a better option. Its life guys ! The car we grew up dreaming about. Thank you.
Always the problem with older cars, some odd part will be very expensive. Hell even my $2000 (Canadian) clean Geo Tracker needs a idle air control valve that is $500 to $700 new, or a few hundred bucks used an in unknown condition. It just becomes part of the process of buying these cars, so one has to be educated and negotiate the price down if one can. Or walk if the owner won't budge, let it be someone else's problem.
If I’m buying a 92 c4 from the dealership should I be able to trust that the car is in good shape
No. Get it inspected by a third-party before giving them a dollar. Seriously...this is the best way to cover yourself. Lyle
3D printing should solve the plastic part problem. Well, thanks; you just talked me out of buying a C4. LOL.
Great video. This is exactly the kind of information I'm looking for when researching a car. Thanks a million. How about a video about the C5 and C6?
n/m I found your video on C5 & C6
Thank you sir
Im wondering, regarding ethanol, if the ethanol conditioners, like Lucas, actually help?
Wow! Good intel! Hummm? Giving 2nd thought.
Now what you saying about the ethanol gumming up the fuel system wouldn't this happen to every 80s gm car then? Especially tpi motors like possibly Camaros too ?
Absolutely. Corvettes tend to survive longer than just about any other GM product, so it is most noticeable in them 30-plus years later. Lyle
Fuel sending unit with a pump ( pump is only $ 80 ) sending unit $698. Easy install for an experienced tech/mechanic.
Actually, the sending unit is about $169, so it's even cheaper than that! It's when you get into injectors and fuel pressure regulator rebuild that the parts and labor costs rise...Lyle
@@csvette That is good news. I have not had a C-4 was 2005. That one was a 1996 LT-4 and also had a 1987 Z-52 which I had rebuilt engine trans and on and on. If one cannot afford gas and regular maintaince FUCK SPELL CHECK FROM SO MANY GODDAMN LANGUAGES.
Great job !
So what your saying is the free c4 I should make a ratrod
That or a Track-Buggy, yessir! Lyle
@@csvette nice
Well fortunately I'm familiar with the C4 so I save tHoUsAnDs in labour lol. Anything goes in mine and I fix it myself. Like the head gasket job. Only cost me about 40$ ☻
Parts should be way more than that. You're going to need oil, coolant, head bolts and the gaskets themselves. You're at nearly $200 if you buy the absolute cheapest stuff. I mean, I guess you could reuse the fluids...
@@herranton Yeah I bought a lot of other stuff too
Gotta love being a diy guy I do the same if it breaks I at least attempt to fix it I've always came out on top fingers crossed lol
@@anthonyberrios5248 yep it's the best way to learn if you ask me
That plastic part is crazy true. My 2003 vette cracked and broke all over. I even had to 3d model and print one part out.
Is there any way to overcome to the ethanol problem in my Corvette? Not having any problems but I wanna know if there's a way I can prevent it from happening?
Oh and I figured out a cheap way to fix the gauges without having to take the dash apart... It's not perfect but beats the crap outta $1000!