84 - Wild Ride
01-25-2011, 07:50 AM
#1
Drifting
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St. Jude Donor '10
84 - Wild Ride
Went for a spirited drive around the neighbourhood and ahead was a dip in the road. As I passed through it the car bounced me off the seat and my head hit the roof. Is this normal for an 84? Talk about a wild ride! Seems to be sprung like a jeep!
01-25-2011, 10:11 AM
#3
Race Director
Does your 84 have the Z51 suspension? Hardest riding Corvette ever. Some cars achieve 1g cornering with bigger swaybars. The 84 Z51 used stiff springs. Changed mine out a couple of years after I bought it.
01-25-2011, 04:04 PM
#4
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St. Jude Donor '10
I am 6'2" so I guess my head doesn't have too far to go.
Maybe I do have the z51 suspension. I know I have the performance 3.31 rear gears. My 87 rides like a cadillac compared to my 84. Any way of checking for the z51 suspension?
Maybe I do have the z51 suspension. I know I have the performance 3.31 rear gears. My 87 rides like a cadillac compared to my 84. Any way of checking for the z51 suspension?
01-25-2011, 06:49 PM
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Hmmmmmm let me think about that one. . . . . . .
Yeah it's normal,
Ab-normal would be to remove the targa top or top entirely and no seat belt.
Hee- Haw
01-25-2011, 06:56 PM
#7
Race Director
The 84 Z51 has wheels 1" wider in the back vs the front.
Last edited by 383vett; 01-25-2011 at 07:28 PM.
01-25-2011, 06:58 PM
#8
On the rear storage compartment lid, there should be a White label intact with all the option codes on your 84.
If its Z51 equipped, it will read Z51.
I believe the base suspension is coded FE1 in 1984 and all years up to 1996.
My 87 Vert has the option label on console door underside.
Mine reads Z52 suspension.
Detuned (softer front and rear springs) handling option for 1987 and 1988 coupes and convertibles.
1984 Corvettes are really supposed to Handle the best of all C4's on a smooth road or racetrack I have been told.
But bumpy roads are no fun in them I hear also.
BR
If its Z51 equipped, it will read Z51.
I believe the base suspension is coded FE1 in 1984 and all years up to 1996.
My 87 Vert has the option label on console door underside.
Mine reads Z52 suspension.
Detuned (softer front and rear springs) handling option for 1987 and 1988 coupes and convertibles.
1984 Corvettes are really supposed to Handle the best of all C4's on a smooth road or racetrack I have been told.
But bumpy roads are no fun in them I hear also.
BR
01-25-2011, 07:22 PM
#10
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St. Jude Donor '10
Can't find any options label in the vehicle unfortunately.
Did a quick measurement on the rims. Look like 9.5 - 10 inch rims all around with 255/50 R16 tyres. They look like truck tyres when compared to my 87s 17x8.5" with low profile 255s.
I noticed the 84 tends to follow the ruts in the road a lot more. Probably the big tyres.
Did a quick measurement on the rims. Look like 9.5 - 10 inch rims all around with 255/50 R16 tyres. They look like truck tyres when compared to my 87s 17x8.5" with low profile 255s.
I noticed the 84 tends to follow the ruts in the road a lot more. Probably the big tyres.
Last edited by Lemme; 01-25-2011 at 07:25 PM.
01-25-2011, 07:24 PM
#11
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St. Jude Donor '10
The classic 1950 film "All About Eve" contained this famous quote. The film's star was Bette Davis, and there is a cameo appearance by a very young Marilyn Monroe in the movie. The line was spoken by Bette Davis in the film, and the full line is: "fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride".
Last edited by Lemme; 01-25-2011 at 07:30 PM.
01-25-2011, 07:31 PM
#12
Safety Car
01-25-2011, 07:36 PM
#13
Can't find any options label in the vehicle unfortunately.
Did a quick measurement on the rims. Look like 9.5 - 10 inch rims all around with 255/50 R16 tyres. They look like truck tyres when compared to my 87s 17x8.5" with low profile 255s.
I noticed the 84 tends to follow the ruts in the road a lot more. Probably the big tyres.
Did a quick measurement on the rims. Look like 9.5 - 10 inch rims all around with 255/50 R16 tyres. They look like truck tyres when compared to my 87s 17x8.5" with low profile 255s.
I noticed the 84 tends to follow the ruts in the road a lot more. Probably the big tyres.
Probably not a whole lot you can do about the rough ride in your 84 Steve unless you change out the front and rear fiberglass springs with softer ride springs from a later Vette.
The 1984 - 1987 Corvette springs interchange.
Are the shocks worn out on your 84?
Leaking oil ?
If worn out, be a good time to replace them.
They changed the Caster settings after the 1984 year. From 4 degrees positive to 7 degrees.
Was changed around 1986 or 1987.
My 87 calls for 7 degrees caster. Helped with straight line tracking and handling I recall reading from old C4 articles in the past.
Don't know if adding more caster to you 84 would help with straight line tracking over irregular road surfaces or not.
Brian
01-25-2011, 07:47 PM
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St. Jude Donor '10
Probably not a whole lot you can do about the rough ride in your 84 Steve unless you change out the front and rear fiberglass springs with softer ride springs from a later Vette.
The 1984 - 1987 Corvette springs interchange.
Are the shocks worn out on your 84?
Leaking oil ?
If worn out, be a good time to replace them.
They changed the Caster settings after the 1984 year. From 4 degrees positive to 7 degrees.
Was changed around 1986 or 1987.
My 87 calls for 7 degrees caster. Helped with straight line tracking and handling I recall reading from old C4 articles in the past.
Don't know if adding more caster to you 84 would help with straight line tracking over irregular road surfaces or not.
Brian
The 1984 - 1987 Corvette springs interchange.
Are the shocks worn out on your 84?
Leaking oil ?
If worn out, be a good time to replace them.
They changed the Caster settings after the 1984 year. From 4 degrees positive to 7 degrees.
Was changed around 1986 or 1987.
My 87 calls for 7 degrees caster. Helped with straight line tracking and handling I recall reading from old C4 articles in the past.
Don't know if adding more caster to you 84 would help with straight line tracking over irregular road surfaces or not.
Brian
The shocks aren't leaking but do look ancient. Probably worth changing. The rear suspension bushings have allegedly been done by the previous owner. I have just bought all the parts to do all the front ball joints / bushings. Front spring creeks like an old 4 poster on honeymoon night!
01-25-2011, 08:15 PM
#15
Lol.
Its a Good Move turning your 84 Corvette into race car.
Few appreciate an 84. Make fun of it. Call it obscene things, ect.
But transplant an engine with 600 + horsepower and matching torque numbers.......
Things change for the better. Its suddenly a Vette to beat and
admire again .LOL
Like to have an 84 Vette myself. In Red or Black.
BR
Its a Good Move turning your 84 Corvette into race car.
Few appreciate an 84. Make fun of it. Call it obscene things, ect.
But transplant an engine with 600 + horsepower and matching torque numbers.......
Things change for the better. Its suddenly a Vette to beat and
admire again .LOL
Like to have an 84 Vette myself. In Red or Black.
BR
01-25-2011, 08:21 PM
#16
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St. Jude Donor '10
Lol.
Its a Good Move turning your 84 Corvette into race car.
Few appreciate an 84. Make fun of it. Call it obscene things, ect.
But transplant an engine with 600 + horsepower and matching torque numbers.......
Things change for the better. Its suddenly a Vette to beat and
admire again .LOL
Like to have an 84 Vette myself. In Red or Black.
BR
Its a Good Move turning your 84 Corvette into race car.
Few appreciate an 84. Make fun of it. Call it obscene things, ect.
But transplant an engine with 600 + horsepower and matching torque numbers.......
Things change for the better. Its suddenly a Vette to beat and
admire again .LOL
Like to have an 84 Vette myself. In Red or Black.
BR
01-25-2011, 08:40 PM
#17
Race Director
Let's hear it for 84 race cars. 
01-25-2011, 10:12 PM
#20
Race Director
That would be a 406 with a SuperRam.
