1989 Corvette C4 6 Speed Manual
Discussion
I'm surprised there's so much love for the old wheels, I'm not a fan. I like the sawblade style on the facelift C4's though:
I'm going to keep the old wheels just in case...
Personally I love the new ones, they're very period and similar to the Oz Mito's on the Callaway Corvette's
After going through a set of rear tyres in 5k, I decided to try the Nankangs. I've never had budget tyres before but my reasoning was:
The car is lively in the wet anyway, so I didn't care wet performance
A set lasted 5k
A Michelin is 4x the price
At the time I wasn't sure what wheels I would be using, so just wanted a legal tyre. Now I have the split rims on, I might change tyre size anyway and the Nankangs can go on the stock rims.
Of course the Nankangs are not as good, but does it spoil the enjoyment of the car? Is there £750 difference, or would I notice that in another aspect of the car?
I'm going to keep the old wheels just in case...
Personally I love the new ones, they're very period and similar to the Oz Mito's on the Callaway Corvette's
After going through a set of rear tyres in 5k, I decided to try the Nankangs. I've never had budget tyres before but my reasoning was:
The car is lively in the wet anyway, so I didn't care wet performance
A set lasted 5k
A Michelin is 4x the price
At the time I wasn't sure what wheels I would be using, so just wanted a legal tyre. Now I have the split rims on, I might change tyre size anyway and the Nankangs can go on the stock rims.
Of course the Nankangs are not as good, but does it spoil the enjoyment of the car? Is there £750 difference, or would I notice that in another aspect of the car?
I'm with you Felix. Your wheels look lush.
Another fan of the saw-blades here too. I had them on my '94. Those in your pic are the wider ZR1 variant tho - they look even better, as I think the rears particularly are more dished.
I can see your reasoning behind the Nankang. Sometimes you do want that bit less grip on these cars - it definitely adds to the fun factor!
Another fan of the saw-blades here too. I had them on my '94. Those in your pic are the wider ZR1 variant tho - they look even better, as I think the rears particularly are more dished.
I can see your reasoning behind the Nankang. Sometimes you do want that bit less grip on these cars - it definitely adds to the fun factor!
FelixP said:
I'm surprised there's so much love for the old wheels, I'm not a fan. I like the sawblade style on the facelift C4's though:
I'm going to keep the old wheels just in case...
Personally I love the new ones, they're very period and similar to the Oz Mito's on the Callaway Corvette's
....
Please stop using my family name in vain. Thank you kindly. I'm going to keep the old wheels just in case...
Personally I love the new ones, they're very period and similar to the Oz Mito's on the Callaway Corvette's
....
I caught up with Practical Classics magazine last week as they toured Britain looking for the best classic cafe. Not sure they got the best impression of Cardiff, ending up in the docks next to a scrapyard. Although it was a fun little outing in between my night shifts and there was a good mix of cars. Whether mine is practical or classic I'm not sure!
I met up with a friend who has added some nice touches to his Boxster ( https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... ) And Geraint's immaculate paint work motivated me to change the final weather seal. This has made a big difference in the appearance to my car. Then I took him through a tunnel and he made a little video...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDRakO2F0nc
I met up with a friend who has added some nice touches to his Boxster ( https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... ) And Geraint's immaculate paint work motivated me to change the final weather seal. This has made a big difference in the appearance to my car. Then I took him through a tunnel and he made a little video...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDRakO2F0nc
I've been having more fun with the car the last week. I met up with a Facebook group for American car owners in the South Wales area last Sunday for a little drive out. It was great to have a proper geek out about marque/model specific issues.
Loved this Buick
And the factory decals on this Camaro. Just like a vintage advert!
This Camaro was in great condition and we'd been through similar Tuned Port Injection woes.
Had a passenger ride in the yellow Mustang. Supercharged, heads, cam etc. Allegedly 800bhp. Felt very big compared to my car and nothing has touched the >400bhp 944 Turbo I went in once when it comes to performance.
Earlier that morning we were at the Queen's Square breakfast meet in Bristol, always worth the trip over for an eclectic mix of cars.
The past weekend both me & my girlfriend were off work so a little trip was in order with the forecast looking good and the car running sweetly. We went down to Cornwall, no squeaks or rattles, air con blowing (okay, wheezing) cold, returning 25mpg and making progress.
Looks tiny in St Ives car park:
On the road to Lands End. The new balljoints, polybushes and a proper alignment have made the car a pleasure to weave through B roads. We managed the trip seeing only a couple of caravans and one tractor! When the Corvette C4 was launched, it could pull 1G driving around a skidpan. It hasn't lost any of that mechanical grip now it's lowered and with the quick steering rack, it's great on twisty roads. You don't have to put lots of big inputs in and it goes where you point it.
At Lands End we saw a group of Germans doing an aircooled UK tour. They had 3 mint (mint, mint) Karmann Ghias and a late Beetle on Fuchs.
This is the closest my girlfriend has come to being home in New York for awhile, just 3147 miles if the sign is to be believed.
Saw this awesome over-land-cruiser in the car park too!
Meanwhile it looks much sleeker with the Corvette panel in place, I'm sure it helps economy too...
Found the ulitmate parking spot in Mousehole, no door dings here!
On the way home we were making good time when we came up to a new C63 AMG and played for a few miles. I hope the kid in the back goes on to buy some shonky old thing later. I still remember when a Detomaso Pantera overtook us when I was 6...
Loved this Buick
And the factory decals on this Camaro. Just like a vintage advert!
This Camaro was in great condition and we'd been through similar Tuned Port Injection woes.
Had a passenger ride in the yellow Mustang. Supercharged, heads, cam etc. Allegedly 800bhp. Felt very big compared to my car and nothing has touched the >400bhp 944 Turbo I went in once when it comes to performance.
Earlier that morning we were at the Queen's Square breakfast meet in Bristol, always worth the trip over for an eclectic mix of cars.
The past weekend both me & my girlfriend were off work so a little trip was in order with the forecast looking good and the car running sweetly. We went down to Cornwall, no squeaks or rattles, air con blowing (okay, wheezing) cold, returning 25mpg and making progress.
Looks tiny in St Ives car park:
On the road to Lands End. The new balljoints, polybushes and a proper alignment have made the car a pleasure to weave through B roads. We managed the trip seeing only a couple of caravans and one tractor! When the Corvette C4 was launched, it could pull 1G driving around a skidpan. It hasn't lost any of that mechanical grip now it's lowered and with the quick steering rack, it's great on twisty roads. You don't have to put lots of big inputs in and it goes where you point it.
At Lands End we saw a group of Germans doing an aircooled UK tour. They had 3 mint (mint, mint) Karmann Ghias and a late Beetle on Fuchs.
This is the closest my girlfriend has come to being home in New York for awhile, just 3147 miles if the sign is to be believed.
Saw this awesome over-land-cruiser in the car park too!
Meanwhile it looks much sleeker with the Corvette panel in place, I'm sure it helps economy too...
Found the ulitmate parking spot in Mousehole, no door dings here!
On the way home we were making good time when we came up to a new C63 AMG and played for a few miles. I hope the kid in the back goes on to buy some shonky old thing later. I still remember when a Detomaso Pantera overtook us when I was 6...
Edited by FelixP on Monday 22 May 11:18
Edited by FelixP on Sunday 14th May 14:03
FelixP said:
Found the ulitmate parking spot in Mousehole, no door dings here!
Never, ever underestimate a car-park moron. They can and will strike when you least expect it.That aside, I love this - I'll have to pop down to QS one Sunday as this is right up there on my all-time-loves list of cars, courtesy of too much US TV as a kid. Totally agree with the sentiments of amusing small children too - I love it when I get a stare and a a wave. The future is not an econo-box of woe - buy old, buy interesting.
Changed the blower motor today. The old one was grumbly and feeble. Rockauto (US Eurocarparts basically) had a VDO one for £12. Loosen the inner wheel arch (3 screws) and then there's a few easily accessible bolts on the blower motor, then out it comes. 15 minutes later and I have a blast of cold air, excellent!
It's been awhile! The clutch release bearing bent like a pringle and so it has been out of action. Input shaft bearing just fell out, frustrating as the clutch was new only 18 months ago.
Had a complete new clutch kit fitted, tapped in a new bronze bush on the input shaft and then had some other bits done too. It's got new rear wheel bearings, discs & pads and a new starter. The old one let me down twice when it was really heat soaked so I thought best to change it since I also have long tube headers now! They are snug but fitted fine. Seemed a shame to have the old exhaust adapted, so I raided the piggy bank and got a true dual one made. It's quieter now it has back boxes but pulls a lot stronger, especially up in the higher rev range. Having been without it for 10 weeks I just want to drive it everywhere now!
Had a complete new clutch kit fitted, tapped in a new bronze bush on the input shaft and then had some other bits done too. It's got new rear wheel bearings, discs & pads and a new starter. The old one let me down twice when it was really heat soaked so I thought best to change it since I also have long tube headers now! They are snug but fitted fine. Seemed a shame to have the old exhaust adapted, so I raided the piggy bank and got a true dual one made. It's quieter now it has back boxes but pulls a lot stronger, especially up in the higher rev range. Having been without it for 10 weeks I just want to drive it everywhere now!
FelixP said:
It's been awhile! The clutch release bearing bent like a pringle and so it has been out of action. Input shaft bearing just fell out, frustrating as the clutch was new only 18 months ago.
Had a complete new clutch kit fitted, tapped in a new bronze bush on the input shaft and then had some other bits done too. It's got new rear wheel bearings, discs & pads and a new starter. The old one let me down twice when it was really heat soaked so I thought best to change it since I also have long tube headers now! They are snug but fitted fine. Seemed a shame to have the old exhaust adapted, so I raided the piggy bank and got a true dual one made. It's quieter now it has back boxes but pulls a lot stronger, especially up in the higher rev range. Having been without it for 10 weeks I just want to drive it everywhere now!
Love the car, friend of mine had one as yours, I had at the time a yellow C5, now have a C6 but for me I would still prefer a C5, but any Corvette is a wonderful car, and I wouldn't be without one.Had a complete new clutch kit fitted, tapped in a new bronze bush on the input shaft and then had some other bits done too. It's got new rear wheel bearings, discs & pads and a new starter. The old one let me down twice when it was really heat soaked so I thought best to change it since I also have long tube headers now! They are snug but fitted fine. Seemed a shame to have the old exhaust adapted, so I raided the piggy bank and got a true dual one made. It's quieter now it has back boxes but pulls a lot stronger, especially up in the higher rev range. Having been without it for 10 weeks I just want to drive it everywhere now!
After I had the exhaust fitted it was time for MOT. It would've been a clean pass but for a brake pipe splitting! Luckily during the test. They thought the fluid looked a bit rubbish too so we replaced the master cylinder at the same time. I ordered this on a Friday from Rock Auto in the states. There's an option to prepay VAT so it goes straight through customs and you don't get stuck with extra handling charges either. It was shipped from New Jersey on Friday and delivered at the garage in Cardiff on Monday morning!! I doubt if you ordered a part from most places in the UK on a Friday that it would turn up the next working day, never mind from the US!
I made the most of a fading summer catching up with friends and cruising around. Funny to think our trio here cost broadly the same, but are all very different! I also went to Cars & Coffee in Cowbridge, which had a great turn out of all sorts.
So now with a few drives and a clean MOT, I broke it again...
A friend with a later LT1 model kept nagging me to go on the dyno and with the new exhaust, I was interested in what difference it made. The dyno was mainly a BMW specialist but the owner had a couple of Maserati's. I won't name them but this dyno was meant to be the most accurate in Wales “because he knows what power his cars have and it gives a reading that agrees with this”. The lambda equipment wasn't working either, so no way to tell air/fuel ratio. To compound problems, they hadn't put an automatic on the dyno before and there was no easy way to stop the LT1 kicking down. Nevertheless caught up in the excitement, I let them put my car on the rollers...
A short video:
https://streamable.com/aoii8
It made 250bhp/350ft at the wheels, which is the stock figure at the crank, so a decent improvement. Anyway, at the end of the last dyno run there was a misfire... It was ok again for a minute as I headed home but them it was back. I did the simple stuff first, changing all the ignition parts and found a burnt plug wire. New ones made no difference, so went through fuel pressure, compression test, sniffer test, throttle position sensor voltage etc. I couldn't find the problem. I got fed up and returned to it later and finally got to the bottom of it, thanks to daylight savings. I keep the car in a rented double garage between some terrace houses, so try not to be much of a nuisance out of hours. Anyway, with darker evenings, I started it up and noticed one of the leads was shorting against the header! D'oh! I have little heatproof socks to protect the leads but when I put new leads on, I didn't bother fitting them. I had the wires further away than before but fitted standard AC Delco ones rather than the fatter silicone ones I had previously. This was just enough to make the spark jump. Routing them very carefully and I'm back on the road! Phew! A good lesson in checking and rechecking the simple things and I feel a rich man after looking down the barrel of engine work...
The LT1 interior loses all the retro appeal of mine I think:
Whilst it was in a state of disrepair I was trawling the classifieds for another transaxle Porsche or even thinking of a modern one as a daily. Well I forgot how much fun this car was! Trying to get all that torque onto wet tarmac with nothing to help you is tremendous fun. You can hardly get it off the line and have to carefully squeeze the pedal in the lower gears. Likewise in the dry, when it bites there's instant go and it's equally entertaining to leave black lines every time you're at the front of the traffic lights.
My other good news is a wheel purchase. I bought the rare 3 piece split rims from Austria late last year. The anxiety is always that one will get damaged and be difficult to replace. So imagine my thrill when the seller contacted me a couple of weeks ago to say he'd found a NOS spare in his attic and offered to post it to me for 50 euros! It's 17x9 so can replace the front wheel that has some lacquer peeling and kerbing. I'm tempted to see if I can get some 18” barrels and make up some 18x11 rears then. It's hard to get tyres to suit a 17x10.5” rim here. Albeit a ZR1, this is what it could look like!
I was anticipating spending a bit of cash on the misfire and just got a healthy wedge of back pay from work so I've ordered a new aux belt, tensioner and pulleys since it's sounding a bit squeaky. Hopefully I'll have a few fun times over winter and then onto a decent summer, I'm thinking Le Mans classic...
I made the most of a fading summer catching up with friends and cruising around. Funny to think our trio here cost broadly the same, but are all very different! I also went to Cars & Coffee in Cowbridge, which had a great turn out of all sorts.
So now with a few drives and a clean MOT, I broke it again...
A friend with a later LT1 model kept nagging me to go on the dyno and with the new exhaust, I was interested in what difference it made. The dyno was mainly a BMW specialist but the owner had a couple of Maserati's. I won't name them but this dyno was meant to be the most accurate in Wales “because he knows what power his cars have and it gives a reading that agrees with this”. The lambda equipment wasn't working either, so no way to tell air/fuel ratio. To compound problems, they hadn't put an automatic on the dyno before and there was no easy way to stop the LT1 kicking down. Nevertheless caught up in the excitement, I let them put my car on the rollers...
A short video:
https://streamable.com/aoii8
It made 250bhp/350ft at the wheels, which is the stock figure at the crank, so a decent improvement. Anyway, at the end of the last dyno run there was a misfire... It was ok again for a minute as I headed home but them it was back. I did the simple stuff first, changing all the ignition parts and found a burnt plug wire. New ones made no difference, so went through fuel pressure, compression test, sniffer test, throttle position sensor voltage etc. I couldn't find the problem. I got fed up and returned to it later and finally got to the bottom of it, thanks to daylight savings. I keep the car in a rented double garage between some terrace houses, so try not to be much of a nuisance out of hours. Anyway, with darker evenings, I started it up and noticed one of the leads was shorting against the header! D'oh! I have little heatproof socks to protect the leads but when I put new leads on, I didn't bother fitting them. I had the wires further away than before but fitted standard AC Delco ones rather than the fatter silicone ones I had previously. This was just enough to make the spark jump. Routing them very carefully and I'm back on the road! Phew! A good lesson in checking and rechecking the simple things and I feel a rich man after looking down the barrel of engine work...
The LT1 interior loses all the retro appeal of mine I think:
Whilst it was in a state of disrepair I was trawling the classifieds for another transaxle Porsche or even thinking of a modern one as a daily. Well I forgot how much fun this car was! Trying to get all that torque onto wet tarmac with nothing to help you is tremendous fun. You can hardly get it off the line and have to carefully squeeze the pedal in the lower gears. Likewise in the dry, when it bites there's instant go and it's equally entertaining to leave black lines every time you're at the front of the traffic lights.
My other good news is a wheel purchase. I bought the rare 3 piece split rims from Austria late last year. The anxiety is always that one will get damaged and be difficult to replace. So imagine my thrill when the seller contacted me a couple of weeks ago to say he'd found a NOS spare in his attic and offered to post it to me for 50 euros! It's 17x9 so can replace the front wheel that has some lacquer peeling and kerbing. I'm tempted to see if I can get some 18” barrels and make up some 18x11 rears then. It's hard to get tyres to suit a 17x10.5” rim here. Albeit a ZR1, this is what it could look like!
I was anticipating spending a bit of cash on the misfire and just got a healthy wedge of back pay from work so I've ordered a new aux belt, tensioner and pulleys since it's sounding a bit squeaky. Hopefully I'll have a few fun times over winter and then onto a decent summer, I'm thinking Le Mans classic...
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