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| C4 Poorvette nutjob project (Page 1/5) |
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Stubby79
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NOV 23, 03:59 PM
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I'm starting to think I need to get my head check out...
This morning I bought myself a ratty '85 Corvette... sans engine & transmission, for cheap. It's to be my one real project car. It's a big, red, over-sized paper-weight and yet I'm happy with my purchase.
I must be nuts. 
I kept eying my Fiero parts car, and thinking I could hack and weld it in to the perfect car for me, but that's more work than I have time for and probably beyond my skill level. I'd love a tube-frame Fiero-like car, but it isn't happening. My frequent searches for bare-framed Fiero pictures would regularly bring up the C4 chassis, and looking at it got me thinking. And it kept popping up, so I kept toying with the thought of starting with one as the base for my project. I've been frequently, but not particularly seriously, looking for an affordable C4 for months. I could have bought several drivable, but rough ones in the 2-3k range, but it wasn't worth that much to me just to end up pulling out the gas-guzzling boat anchor in the front after enjoying a few fun drives. And the guys parting them out never had titles nor would they part with a mostly whole one for a decent price. I found this one last week and probably drove the PO nuts with all my emails/questions, but in the end I wound up with it, at even less than he was asking (which was perfectly reasonable).
Now I can get rid of all the poor-man's substitute cars(with exception of the Fiero) I've collected and put my work into something worth the effort; The C4 comes out of the box with most everything I'd want in or to add to a car, without the hassle and expense. Big tires, big brakes, low-slung 2 seater on a strong yet minimal frame with a plastic/fiberglass (and therefore easily modifiable) body. The FMR layout is a close second to RMR in my book, and makes for a sexy look. Admittedly, if I was going to buy a corvette to drive as-is, I would have gone for a C5 and gotten both a look I prefer and decent highway mileage (and, of course, more power), but I'd rather have a cheap project that I'm not afraid to screw up rather than have a fancy car that needs nothing changed about it. I'm messed up like that. 
My plans for it will make me look even crazier, so I'll keep those to myself for now. I'll update this thread with photos of progress once in a blue moon (as I expect it will take me forever to accomplish anything appreciable), and in the meantime I'll bother anyone reading this with technical questions: info I haven't managed to find for myself on the internet. The more I've learned about these cars, the more I like about them. It's too bad they didn't put all-aluminum, higher-revving engines in them until the next generation. They had just about everything else done right when they came out with the C4.
Thanks for reading.
  
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Stubby79
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NOV 24, 02:48 AM
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First curiosity is about differentials. This was an automatic, so it should have the "Dana 36", 2.73:1 ratio, if I'm not mistaken. I've seen ring and pinion kits for the Dana 44, not sure what there is out there for the 36.
What's the diameter of the ring gear on the 36, and are there any affordable options for increasing the ratio? Did the Dana 36 get used in any other applications that I could use parts from? I'd probably want a 4.11 ratio. And do they make them any higher than that?
Thanks to anyone who can be bothered to answer!
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Monkeyman
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NOV 24, 03:20 AM
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Stubby79
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NOV 24, 04:09 AM
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Nice. Everything I need to know and more. Thanks!
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Stubby79
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NOV 24, 10:15 PM
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Just trying to figure out which way to go. Looking for ideas on a manual transmission. doesn't have to be corvette specific. IN fact, I'd be looking for something common and affordable. With the 2.73:1 rear end, I was thinking a first gear with at least 4:1 ratio, if not higher. Otherwise choosing one would be easy. Needs to be able to handle, say, 250hp/250ft-lbs. High revving, not a lot of torque. Bell-housing doesn't matter, it'll need an adapter anyway. Something reliable.
I was thinking from a small truck, to get the higher ratio first gear, but it can't have the long handled, long shifter they tend to have. Thoughts?
Rather not fork out a few hundred bucks to change the rear end ratio if I could make up for the difference in the trans.
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PaulJK
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NOV 26, 06:11 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by Stubby79:
I must be nuts.
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You're only starting, but you're making a great case ... [This message has been edited by PaulJK (edited 11-26-2014).]
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Stubby79
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NOV 26, 10:45 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by PaulJK:
You're only starting, but you're making a great case ...
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Do I win a prize for being correct? 
The Three Stooges: (My poor-man's Corvettes)
I like big butts and I can not lie -- Baby Chevy got back.
And Poontiac too, of course.
The 80's called; they want their cars back. The red ones. Must have been the only color they made sports cars in.
WHolly hell, any of you seen the cockpit on the early C4's? Looks like something out of Total Recall.
"I'll be bock."
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Rodrv6
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NOV 26, 11:14 AM
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Have fun with the C4! I bought an 87 'Vette a couple of years ago (complete, running car), and it is a blast to drive, if a bit harsh over any bumps. Between it, my 88 Fiero GT, and my 88 Porsche 928S4, I always have fun driving!  ------------------
Rod Schneider, Ball Ground, Ga.
"You can't have too many toys!"
1988 Fiero GT
1988 Porsche 928S4
1987 Corvette
2001 Chrysler 300M
Van's RV-6 airplane
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Stubby79
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NOV 26, 12:19 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Rodrv6:
Have fun with the C4! I bought an 87 'Vette a couple of years ago (complete, running car), and it is a blast to drive, if a bit harsh over any bumps. Between it, my 88 Fiero GT, and my 88 Porsche 928S4, I always have fun driving!
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Harsh at full weight? Great!  It's going to be really bad if I manage to drop the weight as low as I'm hoping to. I can change the springs in the front, but doubt there is much I can do with the rear and that composite thingamajig.
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Rodrv6
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NOV 26, 08:46 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Stubby79:
Harsh at full weight? Great! It's going to be really bad if I manage to drop the weight as low as I'm hoping to. I can change the springs in the front, but doubt there is much I can do with the rear and that composite thingamajig. |
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You may be in for a surprise--the front end uses the same type composite leaf spring as the back
C4 Corvettes are known for great handling, but not for a smooth ride............
Edit to add: There is a small possibility that a previous owner installed coil over shocks in front, but not likely. Pre 88 models are harder to modify this way.
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Rod Schneider, Ball Ground, Ga.
"You can't have too many toys!"
1988 Fiero GT
1988 Porsche 928S4
1987 Corvette
2001 Chrysler 300M
Van's RV-6 airplane[This message has been edited by Rodrv6 (edited 11-26-2014).]
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