Seeing as how the price of a nice thirdgen is about the same as a decent C4 (mid to late 80's) are there any technical reasons you would choose the thirdgen (not styling,etc). Mine was for the 2 vs. 4 seat thing but that's not technical. Maybe someone who has experience with both can answer??

 

3rd gens (sans GFX for sure) weighed slightly less than the Vettes of the same era. But, they made up for that in other areas.

The Vette 3rd member was a little weak. But, so were 3rd gens. Could be argued it's easier to upgrade the 3rd gen, but even that is debatable.

Technically, it's a hard case to make.

 

only late c4's look good? lt1+

 

The Dana44 HD (not the 80-82 ICA model) in manual C4s (except 84) is pretty strong, in fact it's the same super dana 44 guts as in the viper diff, just the case is different. Dana 60 sized pinon and all..... you must mean the auto D36

As for lt1+ , all 91 up vettes (non zr1) look the same, 91 is a tpi.

I have 2 of both; 87 IROC 5.7 automatic & 88 IROC 5.0 manual) and a 90 vette automatic and 91 6 speed (both TPI) and the C4 is a world apart from the 3rd gen. If you don't need 4 seats there's no question the C4 is a much nicer car, even the pre 90 ones with the atari dashes.

 

Corvettes typically last longer cosmetically than 3rdgen F-cars, because the body is entirely plastic and glass - almost no materials that can deteriorate (steel, etc). 3rdgens are notorious for having rust issues, especially the early ones.

On the other hand... the Corvette can be alot harder to get parts for if needed, because other than some basic engine/trans parts, the Corvette shares very few components with any other GM cars. Most Corvette parts are unique to the Corvette. The Camaro/Firebird use many generic parts that are shared with alot of different GM cars and trucks, so tracking down parts is alot easier and generally less costly.

BTW - the early C4s had the smaller and weaker Dana 36 center section IIRC, but I believe they changed over to the Dana 44 when the LT1 was introduced. (Dana 44 is roughly equal in strength to an 8.5" 10-bolt or a factory built 12-bolt)

 

One significant reason to choose the Y-Car over the F-Car is that the Y-Car has no struts. The front suspension is fully articulated and adjustable. So is the rear, for that matter.

The front crossmember is also almost completely out of the way for modifications.

The Y-Car sits on a complete perimeter frame unitized to the body pan instead of the less complete subframe and reinforcements on the F-cars, making it stronger and more rigid.

The odd water pumps, exhaust and other "detractions" from the Corvettes are minor issues.

Storage in the Corvette sucks, but the F-Cars are not really a lot better.

 

I own both a C4 and a 3rd gen. The Vette is a great and decent priced car for track use. The 3rd gen was cheap sporty daily transportation to drive around.


FYI! The D36 that came in the suto cars is pretty strong and will hold up fine unless you are at a drsgstrip with sticky tires or pushing 400+ HP at the wheels. The dana 44 will hold up very well for drag racing. There are many C4's on the corvette forum that are running in the 9's with the D44 still in it and pulling the front wheels leaving.

 

If you don't do your own work, you'll get nickled & dimed to death with little repairs with Vettes.

I've known a few owners of 80's Vettes (TPI) that loved the cars, but got tired of repeated alternator and AC failures. Blamed on underhood heat.

Using the name "Corvette" seems to double the price at the parts counter, too.

 

I love C4s to death, in fact they are the only Corvettes I would ever buy. I am very fond of the pre-LT1 and I plan on buying a C4 after college. I love my Z28 but it' not exactly the thirdgen I want, so if I could have a TPI Terror, I would want a C4.

I never use the back seats in my Z28 and a 350TPI/Manual would be nice.