Who is competing in a C4 (84-96) in Autocross, W2W, TT, and Open Road ?
06-30-2010, 05:06 PM
#23
Drifting
Member Since: Sep 2002
Location: Suwanee,Ga
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We are just semi - started. Our Garage Queens just did not get it [ one's an '89 & the other a '91] .
It took only a couple outings to figure out whythat's not a great idea.
We bought an '84, eleven months ago, and have gutted it. Pretty much done with what we are going to do, and look to be on track October?
It seems that a lot of folks see it as a waste of time, but it is SO cost effective?
Sure, C5 has a stiffer frame and can breath like crazy, C6 even more so. EVO is this, Z's are that, Mustangs are Boss, and Porsche is better than most anything.
But after just a year of HPDE we see t is the guy behind the wheel that makes the difference?
I watch guys in P.O.S.'s run "check book" racers in circles.
I watched a brand new Camaro with the full package go flying into the Kitty Litter at Road Atl and trash a brand new $40,000 car.
Same day same turn a Fac. 5 Cobra bit the same turn 10A. Towed away as toast [ ?? on the cost of that one?].
Sad .. but we have $10,000 in our modest project, spend fun time finding cheap parts, and enjoy the atmosphere.
FUN!!!
Will I challenge the big boys? No, but I bet we wax the load of rich boys?............ Fun!!!!!!!!!!
TJM
It took only a couple outings to figure out whythat's not a great idea.
We bought an '84, eleven months ago, and have gutted it. Pretty much done with what we are going to do, and look to be on track October?
It seems that a lot of folks see it as a waste of time, but it is SO cost effective?
Sure, C5 has a stiffer frame and can breath like crazy, C6 even more so. EVO is this, Z's are that, Mustangs are Boss, and Porsche is better than most anything.
But after just a year of HPDE we see t is the guy behind the wheel that makes the difference?
I watch guys in P.O.S.'s run "check book" racers in circles.
I watched a brand new Camaro with the full package go flying into the Kitty Litter at Road Atl and trash a brand new $40,000 car.
Same day same turn a Fac. 5 Cobra bit the same turn 10A. Towed away as toast [ ?? on the cost of that one?].
Sad .. but we have $10,000 in our modest project, spend fun time finding cheap parts, and enjoy the atmosphere.
FUN!!!
Will I challenge the big boys? No, but I bet we wax the load of rich boys?............ Fun!!!!!!!!!!
TJM
Last edited by TJM; 06-30-2010 at 05:08 PM. Reason: I can't freaking spell
06-30-2010, 05:16 PM
#24
Le Mans Master
One of the big reasons Jay Leno loves the corvette. You can beat the hell out of them and just replace parts as needed. Of course he can do that with a ZO6, but hey, not everyone can play like that. 
06-30-2010, 06:17 PM
#25
Safety Car
They do have us beat on reliability, hands down. And the aftermarket for the C4 (true race parts) isn't really there anymore. But most of the stuff on a race car is custom, anyway, so it's not the end of the world. Just be aware that nobody's developing new parts for us, we have to make them ourselves.
07-01-2010, 08:10 AM
#27
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Wrong-O, my friend. You can even challenge them. I'd say it's more work to do so, but there's no reason you can't in a C4. Dollar for dollar, the C5Z is damn near the best starting platform on the planet. But that doesn't mean you can't get a C4 there with some effort.
They do have us beat on reliability, hands down. And the aftermarket for the C4 (true race parts) isn't really there anymore. But most of the stuff on a race car is custom, anyway, so it's not the end of the world. Just be aware that nobody's developing new parts for us, we have to make them ourselves.
They do have us beat on reliability, hands down. And the aftermarket for the C4 (true race parts) isn't really there anymore. But most of the stuff on a race car is custom, anyway, so it's not the end of the world. Just be aware that nobody's developing new parts for us, we have to make them ourselves.
I agree with your perspective on challenging, AND that it is a lot of work and commitment.
Reliability may not be an issue if you don't have OptiSpark!
Aero body parts are especially hard to find.
Ed
07-01-2010, 09:16 AM
#28
Drifting
Member Since: Sep 2002
Location: Suwanee,Ga
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wrong-O, my friend. You can even challenge them. I'd say it's more work to do so, but there's no reason you can't in a C4. Dollar for dollar, the C5Z is damn near the best starting platform on the planet. But that doesn't mean you can't get a C4 there with some effort.
They do have us beat on reliability, hands down. And the aftermarket for the C4 (true race parts) isn't really there anymore. But most of the stuff on a race car is custom, anyway, so it's not the end of the world. Just be aware that nobody's developing new parts for us, we have to make them ourselves.
They do have us beat on reliability, hands down. And the aftermarket for the C4 (true race parts) isn't really there anymore. But most of the stuff on a race car is custom, anyway, so it's not the end of the world. Just be aware that nobody's developing new parts for us, we have to make them ourselves.
I didn't even consider C5. Entry level cost too high for our budget.
I guess you could be right about the after market, but the only thing that held us up was our friends at Bilstein... now that was painful ... four months for shocks?
Fuel cells are gone .... but that means I have to mach a Subaru cell fit? Not the end of the world. And that's year off at least.
Other stuff? no problem so far and about done.
Now borrowing C5 stuff is OK, brakes and such.
But I like C4. Smash it, bend the frame?....., no big deal. We have a C4 Part Out fellow down the road. Frames are just about a give away [ money is in the suspensions ].
It will be fun, and with a machinist, and a full shop, parts get easy to make [ break ] & remake!!
That's fun too! [ well? ... if they don't break minute ONE at the track?].
TJM
07-01-2010, 11:28 AM
#29
Safety Car
07-01-2010, 12:11 PM
#30
Safety Car
07-01-2010, 01:08 PM
#31
Safety Car
07-01-2010, 01:40 PM
#33
Safety Car
07-01-2010, 02:51 PM
#34
Corvette Z51
1990 Corvette Z51, SCCA BSP, NASA, Speed Ventures. L98, ZF 6sp, Koni single adjustable shocks, Adj sway bar, race configured alignment, running Kumho V710 in competition and Kumho XS on the street. we have 5 races left this season. We run January through December in So Cal.
07-01-2010, 03:09 PM
#35
Wrong-O, my friend. You can even challenge them. I'd say it's more work to do so, but there's no reason you can't in a C4. Dollar for dollar, the C5Z is damn near the best starting platform on the planet. But that doesn't mean you can't get a C4 there with some effort.
They do have us beat on reliability, hands down. And the aftermarket for the C4 (true race parts) isn't really there anymore. But most of the stuff on a race car is custom, anyway, so it's not the end of the world. Just be aware that nobody's developing new parts for us, we have to make them ourselves.
They do have us beat on reliability, hands down. And the aftermarket for the C4 (true race parts) isn't really there anymore. But most of the stuff on a race car is custom, anyway, so it's not the end of the world. Just be aware that nobody's developing new parts for us, we have to make them ourselves.
07-02-2010, 10:38 AM
#37
Safety Car
07-02-2010, 10:41 AM
#38
Safety Car
07-02-2010, 11:11 AM
#39
Advanced
Member Since: Jan 2007
Location: Houston Texas
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
07-02-2010, 01:17 PM
#40
Melting Slicks
Tim/Cyclonite, TT with EMRA, ST-2. Used to be a 91-6spd but it was my driver/trip car too so I came across a 92 (LT1, 6sp) for cheap and am getting it ready to hit the tracks. Should be going to NJMP the end of July. Will be my first time on race tires