I just adopted a 1988 C4 Corvette from my late friend. Drove it back home yesterday over 500 miles taking about 9 hours.

It has every option including engine and suspension performance packages available (except tire pressure sensors, I think). It doesn't have the 35th anniversary badging as to get that the car would have to be white/white with limited options.

This 'vette is ruby red with red interior.

Nice, how many clicks on the odometer?

When you get a chance put up some pictures. Enjoy your C4!

Congrats. That has to be a lot of fun to drive.

Congratulations! A Corvette is still on my someday list.

I once pointed out a C4 to my then 11 year old son and he said, “Those are the ones that explode, right?” Just because “C4” not because there’s an issue with that model Corvette.

quote:

Originally posted by Ozarkwoods:
Nice, how many clicks on the odometer?

When you get a chance put up some pictures. Enjoy your C4!

It had a tad over 66K on it when I took possession. As noted it has an additional 500+ miles on it due to the drive home. The previous owner was one of my closest friends until he passed a week ago. He was a master mechanic and bought it used from a Chevy dealership that was using it as a display car in the show room.

It was fun to drive, a little challenging as I'm 6'4 and am a tight fit height wise. My buddy had done a full bumper to bumper service on all systems in the last year. He even re-did the seats with new OEM foam and perforated leather. They were a bit stiff to start. It was a 9hr drive and the 4th hour was NOT fun as the seats were not broken in yet. Second half of the trip was better. I am too tall to be in that car for more than a few hours of highway driving.

The only slight downside was 30 min from home I blew a seal in the master cylinder. Not a major issue as I still had enough brakes to nurse it home using back roads. R&R is very easy on this car so it's just a matter of getting the part and doing it.

She got a good bath today using all the techniques I found watching tutorials on YouTube put up by professional detailers that are doing vehicles way more expensive than this one. My whole notion of how to wash a car is totally different now.

She's in the garage, covered, and on her battery buddy.

I haven't used a pic hosting site since Photo Bucket went off the rails and I closed my account. What is everyone using?

Rightwire,
Welcome to the club, although losing a good friend to get it is a tough way to join.

IMG_1877 by Mark in Michigan, on Flickr

1996 C4 LT-4 6-speed

I use postimage for a photo site. The seat design in the C4 was one of the weak points in my opinion. My ass didn’t fit well and the pressure points on my hips were uncomfortable.

quote:

Originally posted by Ozarkwoods:
I use postimage for a photo site. The seat design in the C4 was one of the weak points in my opinion. My ass didn’t fit well and the pressure points on my hips were uncomfortable.

I agree, the high bolsters at the hip being so close to vertical was not a good idea. It really limits who can sit in the car.

Good job. My divorce car in 1993 was a 1984 ruby red w/red leather. Loved it.

Went down memory lane last year with a 2004 convertible - I liked it but my passengers are old and had a hard time getting in and out. Worked out ok - I traded 04 Vette to a 2016 Mazda CX9 GT and I love that 4 cyl turbo but it sure aint the same.

I would understand keeping it stock as a homage to your buddy, but they do really improve if you throw some aftermarket parts at them. They are the best cheap vette you can get to make a fun twisty road car.

Hoping it's a stick...?

quote:

Originally posted by wolfe 21:
I would understand keeping it stock as a homage to your buddy, but they do really improve if you throw some aftermarket parts at them. They are the best cheap vette you can get to make a fun twisty road car.

Hoping it's a stick...?

The L98 had quite a bit of torque at a low RPM. IIRC, it had about 340 lbs. ft. of torque at 2800 RPM or something like that. However, it only had 250 HP. I believe it was the intake design with the long runners which gave it a lot of torque but relatively little horsepower.

The older Corvette's are much less fun stock.

Congrats on the new to you Corvette and sorry about your friend.

Had an 86 C4 for several years, mods were a plenty during my go fast days including a 150 shot of NOS since the L98 wasn't up the current modern power

JMO leave it stock, performance exhaust will cause a cabin drone that makes it difficult to enjoy after the first 15 to 20 minutes of driving it. Flowmasters, Borla, had both, Did put on a full cat back from a 96 that was wrecked on a test drive, that was true dual system.

Getting in an out can be a chore and at 6'4 you are at the limit, Pop the top, then drive it on nice days and that will improve.

Stock parts, maintain it, and have fun, and be sure you got any brake fluid off any paint, that stuff will eat paint....

Photo hosting I use www.IMGUR.com

This is an automatic but was ordered with every factory and performance mod available.

This car will never see a track or a drag strip. so 500HP is not really needed. It has plenty of torque and wants to run. You better have your foot firmly on the brake when you shift into drive. Looking at the tall pedal will give you 100RPM. The throttle is VERY sensitive, even a little pressure will launch you forward.

When my buddy bought the vehicle it was muffler delete. It was REALLY loud. He put mufflers back on and added these really deep resonators. It isn't too loud but has this low rumble at low RPM. At cruise volume drops a lot but it's there, the kind of thing that you can tune out but when you notice it again it just makes you smile, especially when you step on the gas to pass or just accelerate.

People know you're there, but it's not that obnoxiously loud sound. I stopped for lunch in Cincinnati and was idling out of the parking lot past people standing on the sidewalk and heard someone say "Oh man, listen to that!".

I love the old C4 Corvettes as they are my favorite. Enjoy and God Bless !!!

congratulations on joining the club!!
i looked at c4's before my getting my '04 c5.

with the high door sill, literally fell in, impossible to get out by myself!!

Had an 1987 years ago and loved that car. Congrats on the Corvette!

Good for you, everyone should own a Vette at some point. I just left the club, sold my 2003 after owning it for 20 years.

Congratulations on getting a C4. Condolences for the circumstances.
I would suggest that you keep it stock. Just drive it and grin.

I bought my '03 C5 in 2006. I heavily modified it over the years (>500 rwhp).
I've driven it on the track for nine years of adrenaline filled excitement. That was some of the most fun that I've ever had.

Nowadays, I don't track it anymore. I just drive it on the street, and grin.
After 17 years of ownership, it still puts a smile on my face everytime I get in it. It was the best Psychiatrist I could have ever bought.

Enjoy yours.

Congrats on your C4 acquisition and condolences on the circumstances.

I have a 1990 C4 Z51 that I've had for 30 years and I'd like to sell, but I haven't been trying very hard. Now have a C6 427 convertible. If I had stayed with the C4 this mod is what I would have done...

https://www.vette2vette.com/?q...stiffener-bar-system

With the targa panel out the C4's feel like the frame is made of wet spaghetti, the above mod is supposed to remedy that and give you the same level of handling as when the top is in place.

Regardless of what you do, have fun with it.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

Mark in Michigan... you have mail.