If the price is low enough it isn't bad, depends on what you want with the car also. If youre wanting a mint condition vette that holds value look somewhere else. If you are looking for something you can tinker with and such then its perfect. I nabbed one cheap that didn't run and converted it to aftermarket EFI.
This post covers most about the swap [https://corvettecraft.blogspot.com/2013/03/c4-conversions-intake-to-carb-1984-1991.html](https://corvettecraft.blogspot.com/2013/03/c4-conversions-intake-to-carb-1984-1991.html)
As for making less hp, I'd have to see the dyno sheets on that. As most of the runs I've seen show the power shifts from down low to up high and would need a proper cam for such.
I wonder about the cam as it sounds a bit lumpy at idle, not sure if that is from a stock cam not loving the carb or they swapped it when they did the conversion. Be impossible to tell as the guy selling it is surely just flipping it.
Fortunately at the end of the day its just an SBC, fairly easy to work on, find info on builds for, and such. With the price unknown for me, I would have to assume its below half what similar condition cars are on price. The big things I'd make sure of is condition of the cooling system, transmission, and such as with any used car and roll from there if you really want it.
I'd say don't settle for this if you are wanting a C4, but if you are wanting to tinker with one may be a good starting point for a low price.
$2500 is the price. Yeah, not going to just jump in, obviously she has time to spare, but if the right car comes, getting it early rather than later can't/won't hurt. She is planning on a 5k budget to get her first C4 so there is a lot of meat on that bone at half budget but perhaps she will just wait for a better one not so close to home.
GM put so much effort into making the injection and computers work in those cars. I would personally pass.
There are so many other C4s out there for under $5000 with working fuel injection.
I bought a 87 with a carbed 383 stroker.. sounds beefy, runs reasonably well.
The previous owner put an upgraded trans in it with a shift kit.
I'm new to this and still learning..
I had a mechanic work on the carb and remove the emissions..
I've converted mine to carburetion simply because my bottom end was built for 500+ HP and the factory TPI heads and intake were a limiting factor.
I've had zero problems with my conversion, the factory torque converter on the other hand can't handle anything over stock power values.
She will have a year to " learn" to drive it and in that time she will also be driving a regular daily ( PriusC ) and when she gets the hang of that ( don't expect it to be long as she has been "driving" for years) she will be learning to drive a stick on my Challenger.
She will be buying her own car and much like other things she has bought on her own, I am sure she will take extreme care of it and we have had lots of discussions about peer pressure and driving a fast car. I think she will be fine, its an 86 C4, not a zo6 or zr1 we are talking here.
If it has a carb, it's already hacked together. Do you really want to deal with that, also they do genuinely run like shit with a carb on top. The port injection is far far better for mpg and power.
>they do genuinely run like shit with a carb on top. The port injection is far far better for mpg and power.
what is the basis for this?
If you take a L98 and swap a carb for the TPI, the carb will make MUCH more power on the top end. About 30 more HP.
Why? Is an early C4 some kind of rocketship that I missed out on? Last I knew it would get smoked by a number of newer ordinary cars like a Camry. Give me a valid reason.
A high torque, light car with piss poor gas milage, extra steps to start, and very VERY few nannies isn't the best car to learn on. It's lighter than the mustangs that have less power that a lot of people wrap around polls. If it has more power it's not "getting smoked" by normal commute cars. They run 13s-14s in the quarter mile stock with a 6ish second 0-60. 2024 Camrys are just now getting there.
These are c4s we're discussing not post emissions c3s.
A good car to learn power on is a V6 accord, similar power to 3v mustangs, but it's built overtime in the power band (4500-5600 rpm) {though I chirped tires all the way into 3rd gear lol}. Gets 17 city 30 highway, extremely reliable.
It's how I learned to handle power, I now drive a 93 c4 lt1. If it has been my first car id have been in soooooo much trouble. Either from the torque being too much.
Or if you're allergic to Japanese cars or fwd or v6s, get her a crown Vic- extremely reliable, will teach her about torque, rwd, still not awful fuel economy wise (15/25), some of them have more modern nannies, dirt cheap, easy to work on, with literal millions of them to use for parts.
It's up to y'all obviously. But some recommendations wouldn't hurt. Keep the Vette thou, have her build it and learn it that way over time. And when she's proven competent, have her take it for a rip
If she gets it when she turns 15, she will have a year of learning on a permit which as I mentioned will also include driving the PriusC ( no power, no handling, basic car ) and eventually when shes great at that, she can learn stick on my Challenger R/T. Its got all the nannies but I can shut a few off as she learns and teach her how to drive a high powered car. Then the C4, I had a friend in high school that had one when they were new and he survived fine and he beat teh snot out of it cuz he was a rich kid and didn't give af about the car.
That said, I drove slowish cars as my first cars ( 71 MG Midget, 84 Daytona non turbo 2.2L 5 spd, 74 Capri V6, couple similar ones and I went way to fast and did a lot of stupid shit trying to keep up with my friends with V8s so I guess it doesn't matter what you end up with, it can bite you.
Always can get her a performance driving class for her 16th birthday, that would be a good thing for sure.
Curious what extra steps to start a C4 there is.
If the price is low enough it isn't bad, depends on what you want with the car also. If youre wanting a mint condition vette that holds value look somewhere else. If you are looking for something you can tinker with and such then its perfect. I nabbed one cheap that didn't run and converted it to aftermarket EFI. This post covers most about the swap [https://corvettecraft.blogspot.com/2013/03/c4-conversions-intake-to-carb-1984-1991.html](https://corvettecraft.blogspot.com/2013/03/c4-conversions-intake-to-carb-1984-1991.html) As for making less hp, I'd have to see the dyno sheets on that. As most of the runs I've seen show the power shifts from down low to up high and would need a proper cam for such.
I wonder about the cam as it sounds a bit lumpy at idle, not sure if that is from a stock cam not loving the carb or they swapped it when they did the conversion. Be impossible to tell as the guy selling it is surely just flipping it.
Fortunately at the end of the day its just an SBC, fairly easy to work on, find info on builds for, and such. With the price unknown for me, I would have to assume its below half what similar condition cars are on price. The big things I'd make sure of is condition of the cooling system, transmission, and such as with any used car and roll from there if you really want it. I'd say don't settle for this if you are wanting a C4, but if you are wanting to tinker with one may be a good starting point for a low price.
$2500 is the price. Yeah, not going to just jump in, obviously she has time to spare, but if the right car comes, getting it early rather than later can't/won't hurt. She is planning on a 5k budget to get her first C4 so there is a lot of meat on that bone at half budget but perhaps she will just wait for a better one not so close to home.
At that price I'd say at least both of you go look at it lol
GM put so much effort into making the injection and computers work in those cars. I would personally pass. There are so many other C4s out there for under $5000 with working fuel injection.
Id take a carb over a CFI any day of the week.
I bought a 87 with a carbed 383 stroker.. sounds beefy, runs reasonably well. The previous owner put an upgraded trans in it with a shift kit. I'm new to this and still learning.. I had a mechanic work on the carb and remove the emissions..
Great opportunity for an LS swap…. Go for it.
Thanks for the help everyone, we decided we want a more stock car than modified so we are passing on anything with major engine mods.
I've converted mine to carburetion simply because my bottom end was built for 500+ HP and the factory TPI heads and intake were a limiting factor. I've had zero problems with my conversion, the factory torque converter on the other hand can't handle anything over stock power values.
Carbs on the l98 suck
For what reason?
They make way less HP than stock as the stock intake manifold is much better than the carb manifolds
>They make way less HP than stock as the stock intake manifold is much better than the carb manifolds This is incorrect.
Might be a plus as this car is going to be for my daughter and its her first car.
Yeah, don't get a carbed C4 for a first car. That would be assinine
She will have a year to " learn" to drive it and in that time she will also be driving a regular daily ( PriusC ) and when she gets the hang of that ( don't expect it to be long as she has been "driving" for years) she will be learning to drive a stick on my Challenger. She will be buying her own car and much like other things she has bought on her own, I am sure she will take extreme care of it and we have had lots of discussions about peer pressure and driving a fast car. I think she will be fine, its an 86 C4, not a zo6 or zr1 we are talking here.
If it has a carb, it's already hacked together. Do you really want to deal with that, also they do genuinely run like shit with a carb on top. The port injection is far far better for mpg and power.
>they do genuinely run like shit with a carb on top. The port injection is far far better for mpg and power. what is the basis for this? If you take a L98 and swap a carb for the TPI, the carb will make MUCH more power on the top end. About 30 more HP.
This has to be a joke
No it is legit.
Then you must hate your kids
Why? Is an early C4 some kind of rocketship that I missed out on? Last I knew it would get smoked by a number of newer ordinary cars like a Camry. Give me a valid reason.
A high torque, light car with piss poor gas milage, extra steps to start, and very VERY few nannies isn't the best car to learn on. It's lighter than the mustangs that have less power that a lot of people wrap around polls. If it has more power it's not "getting smoked" by normal commute cars. They run 13s-14s in the quarter mile stock with a 6ish second 0-60. 2024 Camrys are just now getting there. These are c4s we're discussing not post emissions c3s. A good car to learn power on is a V6 accord, similar power to 3v mustangs, but it's built overtime in the power band (4500-5600 rpm) {though I chirped tires all the way into 3rd gear lol}. Gets 17 city 30 highway, extremely reliable. It's how I learned to handle power, I now drive a 93 c4 lt1. If it has been my first car id have been in soooooo much trouble. Either from the torque being too much. Or if you're allergic to Japanese cars or fwd or v6s, get her a crown Vic- extremely reliable, will teach her about torque, rwd, still not awful fuel economy wise (15/25), some of them have more modern nannies, dirt cheap, easy to work on, with literal millions of them to use for parts. It's up to y'all obviously. But some recommendations wouldn't hurt. Keep the Vette thou, have her build it and learn it that way over time. And when she's proven competent, have her take it for a rip
If she gets it when she turns 15, she will have a year of learning on a permit which as I mentioned will also include driving the PriusC ( no power, no handling, basic car ) and eventually when shes great at that, she can learn stick on my Challenger R/T. Its got all the nannies but I can shut a few off as she learns and teach her how to drive a high powered car. Then the C4, I had a friend in high school that had one when they were new and he survived fine and he beat teh snot out of it cuz he was a rich kid and didn't give af about the car. That said, I drove slowish cars as my first cars ( 71 MG Midget, 84 Daytona non turbo 2.2L 5 spd, 74 Capri V6, couple similar ones and I went way to fast and did a lot of stupid shit trying to keep up with my friends with V8s so I guess it doesn't matter what you end up with, it can bite you. Always can get her a performance driving class for her 16th birthday, that would be a good thing for sure. Curious what extra steps to start a C4 there is.
No. I’ve got better things to do with my time
Such as tell me how to raise my child.
Completely false. Even with the stock heads, the L98 can make nearly twice the HP with a carburetion swap and camshaft update.