1992 C4 Coupe Purchase

T

TimP

CCCUK Member
I couldn't resist this C4 coupe that went up for auction at the end of October. It's a 1992 coupe in white with red interior and just 15,300 miles on the clock. It has the LT1 and a 6-speed manual gearbox. A Magnaflow full stainless steel exhaust has been fitted and it sounds fantastic. It has been in the UK since June/July last year and I am thrilled with it. I took a risk as the auction was in Newcastle but to use a commonly used expression, it's a lot of really nice car for the money and I have always had a soft spot for the C4. Also risky was not having sat in one before, let alone driven one, and it all seems to work perfectly. I'm glad I haven't got big feet though.

Life's very busy at the moment so I have only had the opportunity for a quick look, get the documentation all sorted and park it temporarily under a very nice cover behind my house. It's going into storage for the winter next week but I hope to get some time over the weekend to take it for a decent drive. The weather looks good so I am really looking forward to it.

Both the exterior and interior are in remarkably good condition - backing up the mileage claim - from many perspectives it looks like a brand new car. Unlike my C3 it requires nothing doing to get in and drive it but there are a few things that I would like to do over the winter to get it ready for next spring: Full service, new amber indicator lights and new targa/door seals. I also need to rebuild/replace the Bose Gold amplifiers which all seem to be kaput, but that's about it. There was a Blondie tape in the cassette unit when I got it which is just perfect.

Rest assured work on the C3 continues and will probably accelerate so that next summer I should be able to have both cars on the road.

Not the most brilliant photographs - more/better to come when I have more time.
C4-Exterior 1.jpg C4-Exterior 4.jpg
C4-Exterior 3.jpg C4-Exterior 2.jpg

C4-Interior 2.jpg C4-Interior 1.jpg
 
Nassau65

Nassau65

CCCUK Member
White with a red interior is a lovely colour combination. White I think has always looked good on corvettes.
Enjoy.
 
T

TimP

CCCUK Member
Llewelyn said:
Looks wonderful!! :) :)
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Many thanks! It's probably your YouTube channel (I'm a subscriber) that is at least partly responsible for my ever-increasing appreciation for the C4. Your ZR-1 looks terrific and I enjoy every episode you guys post. I'm looking forward to the next one....:)
 
Llewelyn

Llewelyn

CCCUK Member
TimP said:
Many thanks! It's probably your YouTube channel (I'm a subscriber) that is at least partly responsible for my ever-increasing appreciation for the C4. Your ZR-1 looks terrific and I enjoy every episode you guys post. I'm looking forward to the next one....:)
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I hope we're not a bad influence!! All jokes aside we are really glad our channel is contributing towards UK Corvette appreciation :) :) Spoiler alert for you on the ZR-1 - Next episode we get the wheels refurbished and fit a brand new set of Nitto tyres. It's going to be stripped for a repaint over Christmas!
 
T

TimP

CCCUK Member
Llewelyn said:
I hope we're not a bad influence!! All jokes aside we are really glad our channel is contributing towards UK Corvette appreciation :) :) Spoiler alert for you on the ZR-1 - Next episode we get the wheels refurbished and fit a brand new set of Nitto tyres. It's going to be stripped for a repaint over Christmas!
Click to expand...
On the contrary, everything that can be done to raise the profile of Corvettes in this country has got to be a good thing. Looking forward to the next update - sounds like a good one.(y)
 
Mr. Cricket

Mr. Cricket

Committee Member
That looks to be an unmolested belter Tim in a great colour combo. C4's get some ribbing but for a lot of us, the Corvette journey started with a C4 so no ribbing from me.

Check the age of the tyres though before any drives out and buy Tom Falconers new book on C4's.
 
Roscobbc

Roscobbc

Moderator
'Drill-down' in to the tech stuff of the C4 and it's really well advanced for the period - the real issue with these cars here in UK is that most people are either ignorant of them or afraid (most likely both). Idiots will thing nothing of spending silly money on some 30 year old Jap car with really poor spares availability yet ignore a bargain basement C4 Corvette.
 
Nassau65

Nassau65

CCCUK Member
One of the main thing that put people off the sportier US models was LHD. Most of my friends would never have bought a LHD, be it whatever. Then the Jeeps and voyagers arrived in RHD and they bought them. Once the new mustang was done in RHD again they bought them.
 
Nassau65

Nassau65

CCCUK Member
C4 corvette, what’s not to like. Sharpe looking in both coupe and especially convertible. User friendly, plenty of power and reasonable fuel consumption for a 5.7 litre V8.
 
T

TimP

CCCUK Member
Mr. Cricket said:
That looks to be an unmolested belter Tim in a great colour combo. C4's get some ribbing but for a lot of us, the Corvette journey started with a C4 so no ribbing from me.

Check the age of the tyres though before any drives out and buy Tom Falconers new book on C4's.
Click to expand...
Yes indeed - the only thing non-standard is the cat-back Magnaflow system. Everything else seems to be as original. The owners manual even still has the Corvette pen in it.
 
T

TimP

CCCUK Member
Roscobbc said:
'Drill-down' in to the tech stuff of the C4 and it's really well advanced for the period - the real issue with these cars here in UK is that most people are either ignorant of them or afraid (most likely both). Idiots will thing nothing of spending silly money on some 30 year old Jap car with really poor spares availability yet ignore a bargain basement C4 Corvette.
Click to expand...
Agreed - even without the Dan Dare dash (which I love) that the pre-facelift cars have there is still a lot of advanced thinking in the car's design. I know that the C4's have attracted some criticism in the past but I don't really get it - they look terrific in my view, are still relatively easy to work on (especially with that clamshell hood) and spares availability appears to be good. Judging by some of the more recent You Tube videos that have been posted from the USA I think there is a re-think going on and a more appreciative audience is starting to get interested.
 
T

TimP

CCCUK Member
So having driven the C4 a couple of times on longer journeys I think I can say that my initial delight with the car was not misplaced. It drives beautifully and everything seems to work apart from the lack of sound from the stereo. The targa top rattles around a bit but that confirms my original thought that the weatherstripping in this area needs to be replaced. It seems a little noisier in the car than outside - it has a deep rumble rather than being aggressively loud - but it's a great noise.

I haven't driven a manual for well over 5 years but having lived in Belgium for a few years with a manual, going back to changing gear with the right hand is not a big deal. The steering is heavier than I thought it might be for a US car (perhaps someone could confirm that this is correct) but there is definitely power assistance there. It's an interesting comparison with my SL which is about the same size, has the same power engine but couldn't feel much more different if it tried. The C4 feels much more 'raw' and there is much more involvement in the driving, which I think is exactly how it should be for a proper sports car.

It's now tucked up safely in storage, where it will be until next May giving me precisely 6 months to get the C3 roadworthy. Time for another post in the projects section .....
 
teamzr1

teamzr1

Supporting vendor
  • ·Exterior appearance for 1992 was little changed. For the ZR-1, "ZR-1" emblems were added above the side fender vents. Two rectangular exhaust outlets were used for ZR-is and for standard models.
  • ·Instrument faceplates and buttons were changed to all-black, replacing 1990-1991's gray-black. The digital speedometer was relocated above the fuel gauge. Gauge graphics were refined for better legibility.
  • The base engine for 1992 was the LT1, a new generation small block. In 1992 Corvettes, the engine developed 3OOhp (net) at 5000 rpm. Torque was 330 lb.-ft at 40000 rpm. Redline was 5700 rpm, 700 higher than the L98. There was an automatic fuel cutoff at 5800 rpm. Power increases were attributed to computer-controlled ignition timing, a low-restriction exhaust system employing two catalytic converters and two oxygen sensors (one converter and one oxygen sensor for each cylinder bank), higher compression ratio, new camshaft profile, free-flow cylinder heads, and a new multiport fuel injection (MFI) system.
  • At 452 pounds, the 1992 LT1 outweighed the 1991 L98 base engine by twenty-one pounds, due partly to replacement of stainless steel to exhaust manifolds with cast iron.
  • ·Corvette's new LT1 engine employed reverse flow cooling, a Chevrolet first. Rather than route coolant from the pump through the block to the heads, the LT1 routed coolant to the heads first. This permitted higher bore temperatures and reduced ring friction, and helped to cool around the valve seats and spark plug bosses.
  • ·Synthetic oil was recommended for the LT1. An engine oil cooler was no longer available, thought unnecessary when synthetic oil was used.
  • ·Traction control was introduced as standard equipment on all 1992 Corvette models. Called Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR), Corvette's system was created by Bosch and developed in cooperation with Corvette engineers. It was engaged automatically with the ignition, but could be turned off by an instrument panel switch.
  • Corvette's ASR used engine spark retard, throttle close down, and brake intervention to limit wheel spin when accelerating. When the system was on and active, the driver could feel a slight accelerator pedal pushback.
  • ·New Goodyear GS-C tires were introduced as standard equipment on all 1992 Corvettes and were exclusive to Corvettes worldwide for 1992. The GS-C tread design was directional and asymmetrical.
  • ·Improvements in weather sealing were achieved with improved weatherstrip seals. Road noise reduction came from additional insulation in doors and improved insulation over the transmission tunnel.
  • ·The power delay feature was modified so that the passenger door also cut power, in addition to the driver door or fifteen-minute time period.
  • The 1-millionth Corvette, a 1992 white convertible, was built July 2, 1992.
 
Steven Smith

Steven Smith

CCCUK Member
TimP said:
So having driven the C4 a couple of times on longer journeys I think I can say that my initial delight with the car was not misplaced. It drives beautifully and everything seems to work apart from the lack of sound from the stereo. The targa top rattles around a bit but that confirms my original thought that the weatherstripping in this area needs to be replaced. It seems a little noisier in the car than outside - it has a deep rumble rather than being aggressively loud - but it's a great noise.

I haven't driven a manual for well over 5 years but having lived in Belgium for a few years with a manual, going back to changing gear with the right hand is not a big deal. The steering is heavier than I thought it might be for a US car (perhaps someone could confirm that this is correct) but there is definitely power assistance there. It's an interesting comparison with my SL which is about the same size, has the same power engine but couldn't feel much more different if it tried. The C4 feels much more 'raw' and there is much more involvement in the driving, which I think is exactly how it should be for a proper sports car.

It's now tucked up safely in storage, where it will be until next May giving me precisely 6 months to get the C3 roadworthy. Time for another post in the projects section .....
Click to expand...
I can say from experience that the best place to get weatherstripping from is:

Corvette Rubber Co. - America's Corvette Rubber Company

Located in Northern Michigan, we manufacture the highest quality American-made restoration weatherstripping for Corvettes. When you count on quality weatherstripping for America’s favorite sports car, you can count on Corvette Rubber Company.
corvette-rubber.com corvette-rubber.com

I have an 86 and replaced all the weatherstripping around 2 years ago, I used a mixture of Fairchild and Metro brands, both of which were made in China, none of it fit's particularly well and I still have a small leak where it's moulded wrong, some of it is already showing signs of cracking even though I regularly apply silicone grease to keep it supple.
I have just received a delivery from The Corvette Rubber Company and it is so much better.
 
T

TimP

CCCUK Member
teamzr1 said:
  • ·Exterior appearance for 1992 was little changed. For the ZR-1, "ZR-1" emblems were added above the side fender vents. Two rectangular exhaust outlets were used for ZR-is and for standard models.
  • ·Instrument faceplates and buttons were changed to all-black, replacing 1990-1991's gray-black. The digital speedometer was relocated above the fuel gauge. Gauge graphics were refined for better legibility.
  • The base engine for 1992 was the LT1, a new generation small block. In 1992 Corvettes, the engine developed 3OOhp (net) at 5000 rpm. Torque was 330 lb.-ft at 40000 rpm. Redline was 5700 rpm, 700 higher than the L98. There was an automatic fuel cutoff at 5800 rpm. Power increases were attributed to computer-controlled ignition timing, a low-restriction exhaust system employing two catalytic converters and two oxygen sensors (one converter and one oxygen sensor for each cylinder bank), higher compression ratio, new camshaft profile, free-flow cylinder heads, and a new multiport fuel injection (MFI) system.
  • At 452 pounds, the 1992 LT1 outweighed the 1991 L98 base engine by twenty-one pounds, due partly to replacement of stainless steel to exhaust manifolds with cast iron.
  • ·Corvette's new LT1 engine employed reverse flow cooling, a Chevrolet first. Rather than route coolant from the pump through the block to the heads, the LT1 routed coolant to the heads first. This permitted higher bore temperatures and reduced ring friction, and helped to cool around the valve seats and spark plug bosses.
  • ·Synthetic oil was recommended for the LT1. An engine oil cooler was no longer available, thought unnecessary when synthetic oil was used.
  • ·Traction control was introduced as standard equipment on all 1992 Corvette models. Called Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR), Corvette's system was created by Bosch and developed in cooperation with Corvette engineers. It was engaged automatically with the ignition, but could be turned off by an instrument panel switch.
  • Corvette's ASR used engine spark retard, throttle close down, and brake intervention to limit wheel spin when accelerating. When the system was on and active, the driver could feel a slight accelerator pedal pushback.
  • ·New Goodyear GS-C tires were introduced as standard equipment on all 1992 Corvettes and were exclusive to Corvettes worldwide for 1992. The GS-C tread design was directional and asymmetrical.
  • ·Improvements in weather sealing were achieved with improved weatherstrip seals. Road noise reduction came from additional insulation in doors and improved insulation over the transmission tunnel.
  • ·The power delay feature was modified so that the passenger door also cut power, in addition to the driver door or fifteen-minute time period.
  • The 1-millionth Corvette, a 1992 white convertible, was built July 2, 1992.
Click to expand...
Many thanks for posting - all very interesting. (y)
 
T

TimP

CCCUK Member
Steven Smith said:
I can say from experience that the best place to get weatherstripping from is:

Corvette Rubber Co. - America's Corvette Rubber Company

Located in Northern Michigan, we manufacture the highest quality American-made restoration weatherstripping for Corvettes. When you count on quality weatherstripping for America’s favorite sports car, you can count on Corvette Rubber Company.
corvette-rubber.com corvette-rubber.com

I have an 86 and replaced all the weatherstripping around 2 years ago, I used a mixture of Fairchild and Metro brands, both of which were made in China, none of it fit's particularly well and I still have a small leak where it's moulded wrong, some of it is already showing signs of cracking even though I regularly apply silicone grease to keep it supple.
I have just received a delivery from The Corvette Rubber Company and it is so much better.
Click to expand...
Steven, many thanks - this is really good to know. I'll be on to them in the next couple of weeks when I have my shopping list completed. (y)
 
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