is it cheaper to beef up a c3 than a c4.
 

im thinking about buying a C3 and keeping my 94 as my daily driver. is the maintnence on a c3 alot easyer and is it cheaper to get a C3 and put a blower on it to make 500 rwh. if you lowered the compression you could push alot of boost out of a blower right. well let me know what you all think.

:lurk:

The C3's are easier to work on simply because the pre-computer cars had less wiring and the emissions stuff was very basic. 500HP and the accompanying torque output may be at the upper limit of the drivetrain especially the u-joints and the differential. The right selection of parts and a good rebuild of the rearend using quality parts should keep it together. I would not scrimp there.

Even if you didn't go with a blower, the Mark IV big blocks will fit right in as C3's had them in the early years. You can easily build a carbed big block to produce that level of power or go with the GM 502 crate motor.

There is plenty of room to add a good aftermarket manual tranny to handle that level of HP and you don't have to worry about the driveline torque arm. A properly built and modded auto tranny would be a good choice as Turbo 400's were used in some sharks.

The C3 rear suspension design goes back to 1963 and unless you spend a lot of money on the components, it will just not corner like a C4 will. If you're drag racing, that may be another story but the chassis will still need tweaking. The rear control arms are a bit easier to service compared to C4's and the front suspension is not difficult at all to work on. Vette Brakes has some very good suspension packages for C3's and you might look there to see what may be needed to handle the power level you are looking at.

Brakes may be another issue on the C3 cars. Unless you look at custom parts, the brakes are not as good as the C4 system and the C4 can even be upgraded to C5 components or some excellent aftermarket stuff.

I think you're going the right way simply because the C4 is a much better car for a daily driver. I don't know if a C3 is easier to mod, because I haven't owned one.

:iagree: the earlier ones are easier and CHEAPER to build.

I think you are on the right track by keeping the C4 for the daily driver and getting a C3 to mod. It will be easier to build up and work on and be capable of better numbers than the C4 platform (numbers versus $$$$). Good luck!

Be ready to spend $$$ every time you drive the C3. I had one and it broke something every week. Nothing to major most of the time. 79 L82. If you get an early one without power stuff you might be better off.

By the time you finish with the suspension stuff you have to do before beefing it up, you are going to be out of alot of cash. I have had 2 c3s still have my stingray and let me tell you, they are expenisive when it comes to the suspension. My stingray only has 100K miles and it needs new traiing arm assemblies, spring ect. I would stick with the c4. Dont get me wrong I LOVE the c3s too:)

thanks for the input. i think i might just buy an older one and start my collection.

:lurk: