First lets fix y'alls horrible understanding of the C4 time life, 1984 was the first year with a CFI 350, 1985 got a 350 TPI, 1990 got the later style interior, 1991 got the updated body, 1992 got the LT1, 1996 was the last year. C4s are popular as hell among Corvette guys and when they were new/newish had a huge after market following. GM sold a ton of them and the after market modified a ton of them. They are still popular in road racing. The huge factor is cost, back in '00 when I got my Trans Am, it was $9K with 41K miles, a similar C4 would have been almost double the price. Clean low mile C4s still sell for a lot of money. Most Lt1 guys with in the last 5 years picked there car up for $5K or less, maybe a little more. Your not going to find many C4s in that price range that aren't total **** boxes

 

Just to correct you the seats were changed in 94, there were 2 seat option before that (standard and sport)

 

I have a 85
But i dont drag race. they are built to turn so I autox

but It will be getting some gen 4 love soon enough

 

I just noticed how old this thread is but oh well...I am looking into get a Lt1 vette. So did a search.

Are there any other options to the IRS, does someone make a conversion kit?

 

IRS to straight axle? yes
but its around $5500 IIRC

 

LT1 Vettes look good on the outside (much better than earlier C4s), but the interior (mainly the dash/gauges, the seats are ok) is absolutely hideous. I really couldn't deal with it.

A Dana 44 is stronger than a 10 bolt, but I'm not sure how strong the half shafts are.

 

Why buy a bland C4 when C5 prices are so low? C5 is such a big improvement the C4 doesn't even merit a look unless it is dirt cheap. It's also not much good for drag racing. I don't mind the styling of them even though they are a little mundane. The wrap-around glass rear windshield didn't seem to match the car somehow either. I would only buy one if it was really cheap. All things considered, the F-body is a better choice for me.

 

F-body is the way to go

 

^^ True stuff!

 

They are and aren't popular for many reasons. The c5 IS a better platform to start with. For HP the LSX engine is a stronger platform and has a much better aftermarket. that much we can all agree on. The c4 aftermarket is grossly overpriced. My TPIS headers on my vette are junk looking and were $800 vs the ebay stainless ones for $150 that blow them away on my 01 Z.

The Fbody crowd has always tinkered more and has a larger base of people who modify. Many vette owners don't even drive fast and are old, fat and retired. They prefer the luxuries and that the vette does provide a bit better than the f body even if it's just the image.

There are many points i agree and dont agree with in this thread. I wanted to just mention MY opinions. I have a 93 that is modified and here's what I think:

The 84-90 dashboard is one of the UGLIEST if not THE ugliest interior/dashboard of any car ever produced. This is a major turn off and for one I am thankful that these ugly interiors has tarnished the desireability of all c4s.

My Vette is modified. 210 mph on the street. 478 rwhp @7200 rpm. 19" 3 piece wheels slammed to the ground. It looks sinister and blows people away when they see it. I have always loved f bodys since my brother ordered his 97 ss brand new. I picked up an 01 for a DD and my god, the 2 can't even be compared in the same textbook. My vette simply puts my Z to SHAME in every regard. Style. looks. performance. handling. Interior. Having said that my vette is modified in every aspect. A stock c4 I wouldn't even bother with. I;ve been modifying my vette for 12 years. if I had to start all over again I would easily reccomend a c5.

I'd post pics but I'm a bitch about the vette. Been on the corvetteforum for 10 years and never post pics. Don't want to give people any ideas or let them see the potential. I want them all to fade away and rot so mine can be special for a long time lol !!

 

You are correct here. A properly aligned and setup D44 can handle a TON of abuse. I know of a few people running bottom 9s and 10s using the STOCK D44 and one in the 8s that ran it with minor beefing up. People on ls1 tech etc have told me ill blow up my 10 bolt in my fbody and it's stock. I;ve been driving the vette for 11 years with serious street racing and high speed roll on racing over the years including numerous track events. I think I had to change a U joint once I ended up just upgrading them all. I don't think the D44 and ten bolt should be mentioned in the same sentence.

 

I dont know how they are in most places but here they go for like $12-14k. You can get a c5 for that or a little more so why pay that for the lt1.

 

I just watched a beautiful C4 vert with new top and looked like new paint (orange with double white stripes) sit on a used car lot with a price of $12,000. I watched it sit and keep getting marked down. It finally sat for a couple weeks at $7800 before it finally sold. Don't know the final selling price. Not sure what year model it was, but it was the last body style of the C4 and had LT1 written on the windshield.

 

Ok well here is the thing, i have owned lots of ls1 cars and lt1 cars aswell. I have the money for either but i guess that since a C4 vette was what i wanted when i was growing up i just never grew out of it. I have had several vette and keep going back to the c4.

Your right most vette owners have it for the joy of having a corvette, not a race car. This is what i am mostly going for. I am trying to talk the wife in to ZR1 shopping but that doesnt seem to be working out, lol!

 

yea C4's interior was straight hideous...they dont get enough attention tho, they are very quick...my buddy's dad ran his '92 vette with a shift kit, 3.73's, and a universal 150 shot and ran an 11.60 last year in the 1/4...I could not believe it!

 

The C4 look was already dated when it got the LT1 in it...plus C5 models are cheap as hell and worlds better.

 

So just because someone loves a 69 camaro means they should buy a 1998 camaro because that cheaper and faster? Dont get me wrong i love C5's but just have a thing for the C4 body style. To each his own lol.

 

Because why get a C4 when you can get a TA?

 

ive had a few ls1 ta aswell...just want something different. Does nobody like these cars?

 

LT1 TA's IMO are gorgeous. Especially the firebird. the 98 + abominations in my eyes. It looks like someone took the car from the windshield forward , chopped it off and added a giant bug to it. Just doesnt flow. Probably because I was keep on the 93+ models and they grew on me so much. I still prefer the LT front end on the Z over my 01.

The c4 styling is love or hate I agree. Paul Frere I think it was in 94 said the c4 styling is 'timeless' and I have to agree with him. it's sharp and curvy and it will never go out. Unfortunately most rot and are neglected and lend a hand in making the generation just ugly.

Here's a c4 you would normally see on the road:


These c4s do us clean c4 owners no justice at all. It's like having all ugly cousins and brothers and sisters... lol