Dime

Well if were going to talk about a c5z, then we can take a look at a ZR-1. You can get your hands on a modded zr-1 for the same as a decent stock c5z.

IXOYE

What was the problem with the Optispark ignition? What years were affected?

jpargo

Have to worry about the optispark in 92 to early procuction 93, LT1s are very reliable. They leaked water out of a weep hole on to the distributor to allow condensation to drain out. Petris Enterprise sells an optispark with all the upgrades. Have to be very careful if you're going to detail your engine as its a good idea to take a shop towel or rag to cover the hole in the optispark. I duck tape the unit afterwards so there is no chance of any moisture getting in. I hope this helps you.

IXOYE

Would a 94 with 101k miles for $6900 be good? or worn out?

JD Shredds

Well, depends on the condition of the car overall. But those numbers in itself suggest a good buy IF its a clean car with just minor hiccups. Much like my buy from early this year. Just don't forget its a 21 year old car, so do your due diligence, and then double check it. Every car that has a couple decades under its belt will have some kinks. Some more than others, and mileage isn't always the best guideline. Condition and history of maintenance > low mileage.

You can't really tell if a car is "worn out" or not without deeply inspecting it (ideally getting a pro's eyes on it with a lift) and driving it. But 101k miles on the motor itself is nothing if maintained well. The LT1 itself is rock solid, much like the L98. Things like the distributor (opti), water pump and fuel injectors can go to crap eventually, so outside of your typical inspection points (fluid leaks, brakes, suspension, power, idle quality, signs of prior damage, rust, etc) you'll want to see if any of those components have been replaced and if service records are available.

Feel free to PM me if you want an extra hand searching for a C4. Couldn't help you as much with a C5, though.

ZR1Bob

Agree with DIME. The C5 definitely has a stiffer frame, but the C4 ZR-1 is powerful, fun, rare, with a great looking engine. Great to drive, very durable and easy to fix if anything crops up. Many of us drive to Bowling Green each year. And I especially agree with his thought on getting a modified one. From personal experience I can say that a 500 HP ZR-1 winding to 7,000 RPM is really something, and the Zs never fail to draw attention at car shows (since they are usually alone in their class). Think about exclusivity-- every year 20,000 to 30,000 Corvettes were made in that era. In 1995, the ZR-1s last year, only 448 ZR-1s were built, and they were the highest horsepower, most expensive car sold by GM that year. They are of course more expensive than a run of the mill C4, but they will likely hold that margin over time and should appreciate more as time goes on. Still a relative bargain these days give performance and rarity. -Bob

IXOYE

Did the later c4s offer more room inside?

95tealconvert

I am 6'4" and I found the pre '94 seats to be very difficult for me to get in and out of- my '95 seats made the C4 accessible for someone my height. I also prefer the newer style dash which I believe started in '90 or '91.

I recommend you check out different years as i did to see what fits you best.

IXOYE

Are early c4s (like mine) frowned and spit on in the Corvette community?

JD Shredds

I wouldn't concern myself with what's frowned upon by others if its something you want.

As for early vs late C4's, there were some quirks that were gradually worked out through the C4 generation that were most present in the earliest model years, but a long list of them were addressed by the late 80's.

Not sure why that question is relevant, tbh.

IXOYE

What is the difference between the LT and LS engines?

vetteLT193

LT is the generation 2 smallblock. It's really an extension of the Gen 1 that was around until 1991 in the Corvette. The difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2 is the cooling was reversed (cools the heads first), the waterpump is driven by the camshaft (if the belt breaks you can drive it for quite some time still) and the opti spark allows for on the fly changes of the timing by the computer and drastically reduces spark scatter.

To me... the LT4 is effing amazing. The torque of the L98 and the HP and redline is > than the LT1. The LT1 vs L98 though... I like the L98 for street cruising. The torque is better for the street where the LT1 is better for tearing up the back roads. Neither is bad though.

The LS is an entirely new design and is considered the Gen 3 small block. While they kept the size the same of the early ones... nothing is interchangeable between the Gen 3 and the prior gens where many things are interchangeable between gen 1 and gen 2.

I pulled the valve covers off my LT1 to install roller rockers at about 85k miles and it looked like new. If the engine was properly serviced with Mobil 1 oil since new then 100k should be just broken in. A service manager (corvette tech) told me that the LT1 was not considered broken in until 60-80k miles and they are actually faster and run better between 80-120k than they did new.

The LS engine has the benefit of an aluminum block and probably the best long term update is they did a LOT of work sealing the engine to prevent leaks. The LT series will leak/seep oil. Both my LT1 and LT4 had a slow seeping of oil. Probably a 1/4 quart between oil changes and more annoying than functional. They both did it with LOW miles (LT4 started at like 20k) My LS has zero leaks at just under 100k miles.

mike100

Y'all gettin' trolled...