Buying my 1st Corvette

[Rain]

yes, I agree. It does look very clean. The engine will usually let ya know how much care a vette has had.
This one looks very shiny and well looked after.(and you cant just spray off a late C4 engine, OptiSpark)
It has to be done with an airline, rags, and such. Its not a major problem, just one to be aware of before you turn the hose on your engine bay.

Lots of late C4 owners here so expect TONS of answers to your questions.

If the test drive passes the bar, then it sounds solid to me.

Keep us posted
Rain

 

[Skant]

That engine looks like it has been steam cleaned for sale.

Check the front springs to make sure the cleaning hasn't taken off the laminate coating... if the coating has been removed by degreaser, the springs will start to fray into individual strands. And pay attention to whether the engine runs smoothly (steam cleaned optispark?).

In case you don't know, the corvette uses monoleaf springs. They're black and sit very low in the suspension. They're fairly easy to inspect... you can see the tops of them with the hood up. They're down beneath the shock absorbers and run from the wheel to the bottom of the engine between the A arms. Feel around underneath the spring and make sure it is not fraying at all.

When I bought my car, it had a nice steam cleaned engine, too. Took the laminate coating right off the front spring. Expensive to replace.

Not to scare you. It's just something fairly easy to check to make sure it was done right.

- Skant

 

[dugr]

Demoman,

I bought my white '94 two years ago. It had 85,000 on it at the time. I now have 105000 on it. It has been a great car. It stays in the garage in the winter, but as soon as a few good rains wash the salt off the roads I'm driving it every day the sun shines. I did have to replace the opti-spark, but that's all. Mine has the same color interior as the car you are considering. At first look, I wasn't sure I wanted a red interior, but after the test drive, I really liked it, . . . and still do. My wife and I drove it for about an hour on the test drive. I really recomend you take a nice long drive. I drove several other Vettes before I found one in the good condition this one was in. The car will tell you alot when you drive it. Listen and feel. All this to say, don't let the mileage scare you. These cars will last a long time if the maintenance is kept up. This one LOOKS like it has been well maintained. Now, drive, listen and feel.

Good Luck!

dugr

p.s., If you get The Black, be sure to ge a California Duster, they're great!

 

[94C4]

Hey dugr, what's a California duster? I have a black coupe also.
94C4

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

I am so darn lucky that I am stuck in Euro-land. If I were back in the USA I would buy Vettes day and night.

The prices of C4´s are too low for words. Do not pay more for a car with low miles unless you are going to garage it and hope to make a profit in the future. Vettes need to be driven. Anything less than 2500 Mi/Yr is suspect. I would rather buy a car that was driven 7500 Mi/Yr and properly serviced than a car that was never driven. My ´90 has 120,000 on her and is in better shape than any 60,000 mile car that I see on eBay.

The best thing about a C4 is that it is a well designed home for a SBC: the best automobile engine ever built. Even if you blow the power plant and transmission you can get ¨crate¨ replacements from GM for poco dinero.

In 100 thousand years when the remains of Earth are discovered by whoever it is that discovers these sort of things, the only recognizable items will be Coke bottles and Corvettes…. Own the legend before it is too late!!!

 

[dugr]

Hey dugr, what's a California duster? I have a black coupe also.
94C4

A California Duster is a large detailing tool for the exterior of a car (they make a smaller version for the interior, also). Be sure it says, "Original California Duster" on the package. There are some knock-off's out there for less money, but they leave red lint all over everything and they don't do the job. Wal-Mart sells them with a plastic handle for about $20. The first models had a wooden handle. It is still possible to buy them with the wooden handle, but they are a little difficult to locate. However, the National Corvette Museum sells them (go to their web-site).

Believe me, this thing will become one of your best friends. After a drive, it takes about 3 minutes to dust off the road dust. It will not scratch and I have yet to talk to someone who has needed to replace one, even after years of use (but there must be someone who has).

Keep it clean. No one wants to see a dirty Vette. These are America's Sports Cars, not off road vehicles. (Although Monster Garage put a C3 body on a 4WD mud runner that absolutly BLEW THE DOORS OFF everything else in the field.)

All the best!
dugr

 

[LT1-MP]

I agree, the Cal. duster is outstanding. I cant deside which one I like better, the one for the outside or the one for the inside! I've used mine for 4 years now. You can find them being used at your local car show. It takes only minutes to keep your car looking great. Sorry, this sounds like an ad, lol.

 

[Demoman]

Questions:

I have been looking strickly at 'stockers'. Recently, I have found a custom vette which is really nice. How do you value a modified car? I know it will have less long-term appeal. What are the implications I should consider?

 

[Edmond]

Questions:

I have been looking strickly at 'stockers'. Recently, I have found a custom vette which is really nice. How do you value a modified car? I know it will have less long-term appeal. What are the implications I should consider?

In terms of performance work; sellers usually take a big hit with cars. There just isn't any way that they can get the money back from performance work because performance work is so expensive. Even if you build a performance car yourself; the parts would be too expensive for you to make money.

If you added up all the money and labor into putting a nice performance Vette' together and then sold it; you wouldn't get anything near what you spent.

IMO, short of guys like Lingenfelter or TPIS, modified performance cars hold pretty poor value.

Not everyone wants a 450hp Corvette, believe it or not.

In terms of cosmetics, that's bigger problem because it has to do with personal taste. Finding someone else to buy that car can be a problem. However, if you so happen to run into that one person who has customized the car to your liking; the uniqueness may give you a small edge in negotiation.

I always thought that one of the joys in Corvette ownership was working on your car and making it your car.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

In terms of performance work; sellers usually take a big hit with cars. There just isn't any way that they can get the money back from performance work because performance work is so expensive. Even if you build a performance car yourself; the parts would be too expensive for you to make money.

Ain´t it the truth. My motor and trany are worth more than the going price of a clean C4 with ½ of the mileage. If I ever sell the beast I will drop in a cheap rebuilt drive train and give the buyer the receipts and warranty card for a 0 mile overhauled engine and transmission.

There have been some great deals here at CAC. Over the last couple of years I have watched several members build great cars and then sell them to move on to other projects. It would be hard to go wrong buying a car from a CAC member.

At the end of the day I would buy a performance modified car in a heartbeat if I knew and trusted the builder and run away from one that was built by an unknown.

As for as Body Mods are concerned, I personally hate them but that is just MHO.

 

[Edmond]

There have been some great deals here at CAC. Over the last couple of years I have watched several members build great cars and then sell them to move on to other projects. It would be hard to go wrong buying a car from a CAC member.

Definitely true! Best on my mind was 69MyWay's 90' Mini Ram monster that dyno'd 379 RWHP. I wish I would've had the money to buy that thing.

 

[Demoman]

90 C4

The car I am looking at is has pretty extensive mods made, and has a HP rate of 550+ HP. I have attached a document describing the work. There are a couple pics too. The asking price is $10,500 and there are 20K miles on the car. I am thinking about buying this one to satisfy the 'alpha' side of my desire and next year buying a stock convertible.

Best regards,

Steve

CUSTOM ENGINE WORK:

• REPLACED ENGINE WITH BLUEPRINTED “383” CUBIC INCHES
• CARROLL SUPERCHARGING KIT – INCLUDES WATER INJECTION & AUTO* *************************
* METER ANALOG BOOST GAUGE ON DASH
• 6 – UAX FANS MOUNTED UNDERHOOD FOR ADDITIONAL COOLING
• JACOBS ELECTRONICS IGNITION WIRES WITH CERAMIC SPARK PLUG *
* BOOTS

VALVE TRAIN UPGRADES INCLUDE:

• HARDENED OE PUSHROD GUIDE PLATES
• HARDENED CRANE PUSHRODS
• HARLAND SHARP 1.6 :1 ROLLER ROCKERS
• CRANE HD MACHINE HARDENED VALVE LOCKS
• CRANE HARDENED VALVE LASH CAPS

OILING SYSTEM UPGRADES INCLUDE:

• HAMBURGER INCREASED CAPACITY SPECIALLY BAFFLED OIL PAN
• MELLNG HIGH VOLUME OIL PUMP AND ALL–STEEL PUMP DRIVE SHAFT
• SETRAB RACE OIL COOLER
• AEROQUIP AIRCRAFT QUAILTY PLUMBING

EXHAUST SYSTEM UPGRADES INCLUDE:

• STAINLESS STEELHEADERS
• STAINLESS STEEL OVERSIZED “ Y “ PIPES
• STAINLESS STEEL BORLA MUFFLERS

INDUCTION SYSTEM UPGRADES INCLUDE:

• 52mm ARIZONA SPEED & MARINE THROTTLE BODY WITH AIR FOIL
• PORTED MANIFOLD AND PLENUM
• ENLARGED RUNNERS


AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION UPGRADES INCLUDE:

• ART CARR HD SECOND GEAR BAND
• REPCO 9-DISC HIGH CLUTCH PACK
• REPCO HIGH VOLUME FRONT PUMP KIT
• ART CARR HIGH STALL HD TORQUE CONVERTOR
• SETRAB RACE TRANS OIL COOLER
• LUBRICATION ENGINEERS MONOLEC POWER FLUID


REAR END UPGRADES INCLUDE:

• DANA 44 WITH 3.73:1 GEAR RATIO

SUSPENSION / BRAKE WORK:

• GREENWOOD FRONT SWAY BAR
• STEERING RACK BLUEPRINTED
• DRILLED REAR BRAKE ROTORS
• WILWOOD 570 DEGREE RACING BRAKE FLUID

EXTERIOR UPGRADES:

• ENTIRE CAR WAS PAINTED IN A CUSTOM COLOR - “PEARL WHITE”
• FRONT BUMPER CHANGED TO FIBERGLASS AND HAS 91 THRU 96 BODY
* STYLING. ALSO HAS ALL NEW LENS ASSEMBLIES, FRONT* LICENSE COVER*AND UNDER BUMPER 3 PIECE BLACK SPOILER
• FRONT SIDE FENDERS CHANGED TO FIBERGLASS AND HAS 91 THRU 96
**BODY STYLING
• ALL DOOR AND QUARTER PANEL MOULDINGS ARE NEW AND HAVE 91
* THRU 96 BODY STYLING
• FIBERGLASS CONTOUR SPLASH GUARDS ON ALL FOUR WHEELS
• FITTIPALDI CHROMED 5 STAR RIMS WITH MICHELIN SPORT XGT PLUS
* P315/35/ZR17 TIRES

INTERIOR UPGRADES:

• ALPINE 7903 AM/FM/CD RADIO
• ALPINE 3321 EQUALIZER WITH CROSSOVER
• 3 – ALPINE 8” KICKERS BUILT IN A CUSTOM BOX
• MICRO ALARM SYSTEM WHICH LOCKS & UNLOCKS CAR WITH ARMING &
** DISARMING ALARM, OPENS & CLOSES WINDOWS AND OPENS REAR*
* HATCH. RED FLASHING LED’S IN DASH AND DOOR PANELS
• TINTED WINDOWS

 

[Edmond]

I hate to say this, but I think that's too good to be true. That is a lot of money put into that car and he's only asking $10.5K? I would be very careful dealing with that.

How were those miles put on there? I sure hope it wasn't 1/4 mile at a time!

But it's definitely worth checking out. Bring someone else to check the car out along with you.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

You need to know WHO built the motor, trany, rear-end, etc., and how? (There are several ways to get 383 cubs out of a SBC.) A properly built, supercharged 383 would go for over $10K at a fire-sale! You can also build a 383 down and dirty. It will deliver tons of torque and lots of ponies for a very limited time.



Then again this might be one of those HOT deals that come along. I would buy this car for a HOT ROD as long as I had another ride and could afford to rebuild it if it breaks. (Crate motors are relatively cheap, i.e. under 3K)



Check the compression, listen to the big end with a stethoscope, look for oil leaks, and get a trusted Hot Rod mechanic to look at it.



Rethinking this as I type, if you can put $10k on the table roll the dice go for it. If worse comes to worse, ( a piston through a head, conrod through the block and broken crank), you could part the thing out on eBay and recoup your $$$

 

[Demoman]

Well, I am no longer a guy who talks about 'vettes. I am a guy who ownes one! I must have looked (literally) at over 200 of them, but I kept coming back to this beauty. Hope you like it, I sure as heck do. Thank all of you for the great advice and suggestions.

Steve

I would only attach 5 pics

 

[Edmond]

Well, I am no longer a guy who talks about 'vettes. I am a guy who ownes one! I must have looked (literally) at over 200 of them, but I kept coming back to this beauty. Hope you like it, I sure as heck do. Thank all of you for the great advice and suggestions.

Steve

I would only attach 5 pics

Congratulations! I love the color. I've always liked the lighter colored Vette's. Please give us more info on this one. Is she modded in any way? If so, what mods? Any mods you have on mind?

 

[Demoman]

Here are some more shots

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Welcome to the family!!:Twist

I love Yellow Vettes and yours looks like a beauty.:cool The Kenwood music is a +++ for me. The factory Bose system is crap.:eyerole

Remember the LT1 is a Dry weather motor. Do not let anyone close to the motor with a waterhose:nono. Our 93 ate 2 Optis but that was because we were forced to drive her through flooded streets in Budapest, (if we did not drive through the flooded streets the whole car would have been flooded). Never ever had any other problem with the LT1 and we put 93K on her.

Let me be the first to give you a.

Enjoy…Enjoy…Enjoy

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Oops, I just noticed Edmond was the first to give you a wave.:duh Sorry Edmond my mistake,:BOW I could blame in on my dyslexia but since it is Honesty week in Washington lets just say that I was rude and stupid. Can I still be in the cabinet and claim second waves?

 

[Demoman]

Thank you both for the kind sentiment. As you can imagine, I am absolutely thrilled. I feel just like I did before my first date with 'Sweet Sally G' (I was 15 and she came highly recommended)!

The car is essentially stock and will probably stay that way. If anything, it may get new wheels. Going forward, I will start doing a lot of reading to insure I threat this fine machine with the care it deserves.