90lxstang

I have always wanted a C4 Vette for weekend warrior use and keep my Mustang 5.0 as a nice DD. I recently picked up an 84 Firebird from a close friend for free....yes, free. But it is basically a huge piece of garbage. My goal is to get a nice riding weekend car running 12's in the 1/4 on 93 pump gas and ET street tires. Do you guys think I should totally gut and replace my current Firebird, or pick up a decent C4 in the $5-6K range? What type of mods would I have to do to the C4 in order to achieve this? I have been a Ford guy and am just getting into the GM/Chevy world as I have always been a fan.

My current idea for the Firebird is a well built 383 stroker, turbo 400 tranny and the rear end + gears to back it up. Any info would be appreciated as I'd like to use my money in the best way possible. College is expensive!

FOURSPEEDVETTE

Its going to be tough to find a "decent" C4 in that price range unless it needs work. Many people on this forum will tell you that there are loads of them for sale at that price and in their minds they may think these cars are perfect beauties. When you go to look at them you will see what I mean. Good luck but you may have to up your price a bit for one that may be more reliable.

XQIZT

you can find a "decent" early c4 in that range that runs but it won't be winning any beauty pageants. since you are looking to do serious mods to the engine, all i would worry about is a good body and interior. depending on how handy you are will your wrenches, it is possible. L98 motors are relatively easy to work on with basic tools and the FSM. making a 12 second car isn't going to be cheap no matter where you start though. if you find something and want a second opinion, send me a PM and i'd be happy to check it out with you. good luck with your search and go knights!

Redeasysport

Say it ain't so

Add $5-6K and you might get there

Ain't gonna find a decent one for that price(yet)

Heads ,cam and LT headers ~$2-4k

Since the Fireturd is worthless your best shot at getting what you want is to dump the money into it. You are looking at $10k minimum or so to do it in a C4 including buying the car if you get real lucky. You might be able to do that 383 for $5k if you,once again are lucky. HP cost $$$ and trying to do it cheap with no reserve for the unknown things is not wise. Stay in school and save your money to buy a 'Vette that is already they way you want it to be.

Weav's Vet

Fireturd

Listen to this man.......he's blunt and to the point but he knows what he's talking about. His advice has helped me many times over.

slicked25

Being that there's 10 million Mustangs on the road every 4 minutes selling the Pony is the only thing to do here. There's no way in the world that if you had a Vette that it wouldn't be your DD. That's like Vette people saying they want a pretty good Ferrari for their weekend use only. There's no way you could leave that bad boy sitting on the sidelines. Have you at least ever driven one? Just go get one and get back here to the addiction.

Dr. Evil

I found two 93s with <125k miles for $6500 obo in the Orlando area in like 2 minutes. I'm sure there are more if you spent more time looking.
I went to autotrader and put in 500 miles search didtance for Orlando, 92-96 years, price $2500-$6500
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...00&cardist=516

and


http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...00&cardist=386


If 12 s is all you want then an LT1 is easy to get there. Hotcam, headers, gears. Thats all I did and while I did everything myself and got my headers used from a forum member I have < $1600 in mods on my car and it goes low 12s at 115mph. I started with an LT4 though. An LT1 would be a hair slower with the same mods. A cam only LT1 with headers will go 12s.



I know this is in NJ but worth a look. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...00&cardist=596

birddog85

You mentioned college..........I'd stick to one car and save all I could for school expenses. You may decide on graduate studies after you graduate, and you'd need even more money for that. So, I'm giving you reasoning to sell BOTH cars and buy a better C4 that cost a little more than your current expectations of about 5K. Get one in the 9K range, which will fetch you a fine car, and mod it gently over time. Then, when you graduate, find a good job, and have good income, buy an economobile for daily use and you'll have the Vette in the garage for weekends/dating, etc. School now = money for NEW vette in your future!