LT4 thinking of buying '96 lt-4. couple of questions from new member.

[XLR8]

hi guys, I'm a new member. got to say I enjoy the site and the posts. . . Mac. . . . .

Hi Mac!

I wanted to take the opportunity to jump in and say . . . and :thanks: for your service.

Good luck in your search for the "right" Corvette. These guys will steer you well.

Jane Ann

 

[iraqvetmac]

thanks Jane Ann!

Hi Mac!

I wanted to take the opportunity to jump in and say . . . and :thanks: for your service.

Good luck in your search for the "right" Corvette. These guys will steer you well.

Jane Ann

thanks Jane Ann you're very kind! I feel pretty safe with all these experienced corvette folks around me. you all rock! Mac.

 

[catbert]

About the A/C running warm in the dealer car - beware. If it was an easy fix, he'd fix it. The car is old enough that the entire system may need to be replaced if it has has been completely discharged for any length of time. Figure about $1,000 to $1,500 for compressor, dryer, etc, etc. Even vacuum controls to regulate the airflow and cold/warm mixture may require disassembly of much of the dash.

This isn't a Vette issue, it's just common sense.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Hib Halverson]

First, welcome to the CAC "iraqvetmac" and thanks for serving.

Lke to make a couple of points.

First I totally agree with Elaine.....

At that asking price of $23.5k, the owner is clearly using "Grand Sport" as a selling tool. That car is WAY overpriced...period!! Should be somewhere in the vicinity of $15k, if that high.

23,500 is way high and even 15K is questionable, but I think you got the message on that. Clearly some of these folks are either not real anxious to sell, haven't a clue as to selling prices or are just looking for some fool with too much money and a hard on for a 96.

The 131,000-mile LT4 convertible might be an adventure. With that high miles, the thing will probably be full of squeaks and rattles.

As for the clutch and transmission discussed early in the thread...the statement was made that ZF S6-40s can be noisy because they have straight cut gears. What B.S! ZF six-speeds have helical-cut gears just like every other modern manual transmission. I don't know where this bad information comes from.

In good condition, the flywheel trans and clutch in 96 should make a modest amount of gear rattle in neutral and should growl a little in first/second gears.

Now if there are problems they can be one of several..

1) With that high mileage, the dual mass flywheel could be faulty. A bad thing as dual mass wheels are no longer available. Your only choice is to convert to a standard wheel and accept the increased noise that brings. A sign of a failed dual mass wheel, is a rattle, after you turn the engine off just as the rotating assembly comes to a halt. Now, if the flywheel's secondary mass is slightly warped but the dual mass system otherwise is working, they can be machined but there are very few machine shops who understand how to set-up and do that. If that's your situation, look for a machine shop that already knows how to do dual-mass wheels used in BMWs and other European cars.

2) Typical noises made by failed clutch release bearing or pilot bearing.

3) Loud transmission whine or howl can indicate a problematic trans but also can be indicative of the wrong lubricant.

4) Increased gear rattle from the trans can be a sign of a bad dual mass wheel.

Repair of those items might run you that 1500 bucks you cited earlier....or more.

Good luck with your continued search.

 

[iraqvetmac]

thanks hib!

hey hib thanks man for the great input. interesting how this vette search of mine is turning into a real quest! the guy with the '96 lt-4 who wants to sell to me for 6k just told me today that the a/c might need recharging. he seemed a little cagey and evasive when I pressed him for details, saying something about "it having been in storage for awhile." here's my question: how, as a corvette owner, can you not know precisely about everything that has happened, been repaired, been added ect ect to your car?! if I were the seller I would be completely up front with the buyer and furnish him with all kinds of documentation, ect. this guy just wants his six grand period. I get that but something in my spidey sense is telling me there's something amiss here. he said nothing when I said I wanted to take it to a vette guy for a pre sale inspection. is there a reason this one is only going for 6k? it's been smogged and tagged through 2013, the engine sounds fine and there isn't a smudge or mar anywhere on the vehicle inside or out. it's clean and beautiful. what am I missing here?

 

[catbert]

hey hib thanks man for the great input. interesting how this vette search of mine is turning into a real quest! the guy with the '96 lt-4 who wants to sell to me for 6k just told me today that the a/c might need recharging. he seemed a little cagey and evasive when I pressed him for details, saying something about "it having been in storage for awhile." here's my question: how, as a corvette owner, can you not know precisely about everything that has happened, been repaired, been added ect ect to your car?! if I were the seller I would be completely up front with the buyer and furnish him with all kinds of documentation, ect. this guy just wants his six grand period. I get that but something in my spidey sense is telling me there's something amiss here. he said nothing when I said I wanted to take it to a vette guy for a pre sale inspection. is there a reason this one is only going for 6k? it's been smogged and tagged through 2013, the engine sounds fine and there isn't a smudge or mar anywhere on the vehicle inside or out. it's clean and beautiful. what am I missing here?

Maybe you aren't missing anything, and the guy just wants out, and is pricing it accordingly. If you take it to a Vette guy, and he says it's OK, and you have to replace the entire A/C system, you still have a pretty sweet deal. The key is the clean bill of health from a real Vette specialist.

 

[iraqvetmac]

thanks catbert!

thanks catbert for your thoughts. you may be right and I do hope you are because if the a/c system is the only issue with the car then I believe I would be getting a pristine lt-4 ce convertible for a great price. every other '96 lt-4 I've seen for sale starts at ten grand and up period. we will see. thanks again! Mac.

 

[catbert]

thanks catbert for your thoughts. you may be right and I do hope you are because if the a/c system is the only issue with the car then I believe I would be getting a pristine lt-4 ce convertible for a great price. every other '96 lt-4 I've seen for sale starts at ten grand and up period. we will see. thanks again! Mac.

You are welcome. That's why we're here.

 

[LT4CE]

I think you're getting some very good advice here. Hib and catbert and these other guys know their stuff!

What catbert said, could be the real issue for the seller. It's entirely possible that the guy does want to just get out of Vette ownership. Now there's a concept that hard for a lot of us here to understand! Or maybe he's just driven it enough that he's worried something may go wrong. Paranoia is just another word for not knowing!

It's possible that it's in good shape for that many miles and the ac is the only current issue. A Vette specialist will know. I was lucky when I bought mine, because not only is the guy I took it to a Vette specialist, but he owns an LT4 himself. The only reason I mention that is because I felt the very small amount of money I paid him for the pre-sale inspection was more than worth it!

Whether you go with the LT1 or the LT4, I think you can see that the prevailing opinion here is that it's important to have it inspected by someone who knows! You really want to avoid buying it and then being hit with an expense you should have known about. :bash

 

[iraqvetmac]

thanks lt4ce!

thanks for the thoughts lt4ce! can't tell you folks how much it helps to have you all helping me and pulling for me! I've arranged for a corvette specialist (ray's corvettes, n.hollywood, ca) to go over the car this coming week. if ray says it's good to go then I'm going for the lt-4. c'mon ray gimme a clean bill of health! all my best, Mac.

 

[LT4CE]

thanks for the thoughts lt4ce! can't tell you folks how much it helps to have you all helping me and pulling for me! I've arranged for a corvette specialist (ray's corvettes, n.hollywood, ca) to go over the car this coming week. if ray says it's good to go then I'm going for the lt-4. c'mon ray gimme a clean bill of health! all my best, Mac.

I think most here are happy to help someone get into Corvette ownership!

Now, as long as Ray isn't the seller's cousin, you're well on your way!

One other thing I would mention (can't remember if this was said or not) is that you can't fall in love with any Vette to the point of losing your objectivity. If this one doesn't work out, another one will!

So when Ray gives you the report, make sure he gives you approximate $$ to repair even the most minor of items. Keep in mind that this is a 17 year old car (in model years) with a fair amount of mileage, so it should have some issues. The question is what will they cost to fix? Anything major should result in a drop in the asking price.

If there is something significant that requires repair, and the seller won't drop the asking price, walk away. Your best bargaining chip in any negotiation is the seller knowing that you're willing to walk away. That's where being as objective as possible will pay off.

Good luck, and I'm hoping Ray gives the Vette a clean bill of health!

 

[iraqvetmac]

thanks again lt4ce!

hey thanks man for your input. you really are right and I keep reminding myself that this isn't the only lt-4 in the world so I'm trying to stay objective. we'll see what old ray has to say next week and go from there! yeah baby! Mac.

 

[vigman]

Things to consider......

The A/C could be as simple as a bad O ring seal causing a 6 month leak... or the compressor shaft seal....
Both easy enough to fix... but again some ka ching out of pocket....
Usually a replacement receiver drier, pulling a long vac and recharge is enough to do the do....

Wheel bearings on the back end will need to be checked for play... if you have slop well time to do em both...
If the bearings are weak... then U joints for the 1/2 shafts & drive shaft..

Fluid changes are a must, if nothing else your piece of mind and required maint.

Optispark.... not my fav ignition system... but when it's new... it works... when fluids get in there... not so much.. and it's a job to change it out..

I'm a sucker for this body style and just love the lines...
The engine is solid.. I prefer a stick for this ride ( and it will add for later resale )...

AB-SO-LUT-LY have a CORVETTE specialist inspect this car... since ( and no insult intended ) don't know squat about this car... let someone who has done the do.. and KNOW the teltales of ... oops this is about to go... or Hey wait a minute.... why is this....OOHH my..

ANY car you buy will require something... the higher the milage, the more it will require.... but that's the fun...
Trying to find the best deal... on the coolest car... that doesn't burn you in the next month or so...

Any emotional attachment you make with a car... and your objectivity goes FLYING out the window... the " fever" will get you...
Like the rest of us.. welcome to your new addiction...

Thank you for keeping America free.....

Mike

 

[GRANDSPORT]

Lt 4

Here is a vote for going with the LT 4, I agree with statemnets such as, Corvettes being manuals, half the fun driving a Corvette is shifting. The LT 4 engine is a 1 year only, Wonderful motor, John and Jimmy were like Fox's in the hen house,
when left alone to deal with the '96 model year as most of the other engineer's were busy working on the C-5. It was important that the '97 have more advertised horsepower, but the truth is that the LT 4 was very underrated...GM did not
want to be pushing a new car with less power than the last C 4, granted the LS 1 is a very smoth power band and you do not realize you are going as fast as you are until you look at the speedo.
There is a wonderful group called the Grand Sport Registry who know and love the LT 4, they are VERY helpful to all, no matter whether you own a '96 LT 4 or not. That might be a good group to get involved with.
I look at the '96 LT 4 the same as a 1967. Two of the finest years, and I have been lucky enough to have owned both.
As it has been said, the hunt is half the fun, in this economy and with some owners upgrading to 2013's, it is a wonderful
time t be on the hunt for an LT 4. O K , I am off my soapbox.

 

[lqueral]

LT4 COUPE For Sale

22,300 miles, Torch Red with saddle interior. Sport seats, both power adjustable. I'm the original owner.- car was special ordered by me. Even have pictures when car came into dealer on the car carrier from Bowling Green. LT4 6-speed manual, selective real-time damping suspension, clear bronze tint roof and solid red roof, automatic climate control, Bose CD-FM-Cassette, tire pressure monitor system, had OEM Goodyear EMT runflats but now has Firestone Firehawk Wide Ovals (OEM sizes). Huge improvement in ride and noise vs OEM! Indoor fitted cover, factory shop manual. Car has installed the factory convertible underframe x-frame to improve roof-off ride quality (can be removed). Garaged, never driven in rain, snow, or less than 50 degree temps. Stored yearly between Thanksgiving to April. Car looks and drives like new. $18,000 - lrqueral@rcn.com

 

[iraqvetmac]

Iraqvetmac buys his first vette!

Hey all, sorry been away for a coupe of weeks but got some new intel I'm sure will interest you guys and gals. Now don't be mad at me but I bought the '96 lt-4 conv. Before having old ray at ray's corvette service go over it. I had the $5900 (!) and just couldn't wait! Long story short it drove like a champ for two days before blowing the water pump drive seal as soon as I pulled into my sisters driveway. Coolant coming out slowly so had it towed home and spent the next three days pulling everything off to get the water pump off. Surprise! Can't replace drive seal w/o first removing the harmonic balancer and opti! Good times! Called ray and asked if he would finish the job for me. I had already bought a new w.pump, serpentine drive belt, new radiator hoses, thermostat, plugs and had also changed the oil. So ray has it now and is also going to throw on a new opti (!) and plug wires so when it's done in a few days it should run great and I won't have any opti nightmares anymore (should I replace it now or leave it...will it go in three months??) peace of mind! But the car truly has been well cared for, brakes and suspension are sound, interior is flawless as is the exterior. Ray thinks the convertible top is new. All in all I still feel it to be a sound investment and a hell of a lot of fun to drive as I'm sure you all know. I love my new vette!! Anyway hope you guys aren't mad at me for buying it the way I did. Blessings to you all! Mac.

 

[jmhorn52]

Lt4

Congrats on the purchase. That is an excellent price even with the repairs you have to make. I know you will enjoy it

 

[iraqvetmac]

Thanks jmhorn52

Thanks for the well wishes man! Happy thanksgiving to you and yours. Mac.

 

[jmhorn52]

thanks

Thanks for your Thanksgiving wishes. I hope your Thanksgiving was great and you didnt spend all day playing with the vette

 

[iraqvetmac]

thanks man!

hey jmhorn52 thanks for the greetings. didn't play with vette and did eat too much. car will hopefully be done next week so until then gotta drive the boring and reliable ford explorer and be average joe citizen instead of mr.fighter pilot in his new f-18! more to come. Mac.