C4 & Up Electronic Parts

[Joe L.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

Can you be more specific? I'm not refering to used spark plugs & the like.

Ken------


No, I'm not talking about things like spark plugs, filters, brake pads, etc. Those will always be available in the aftermarket. However, life-limited parts include many more things beyond regular "consumable" items like the above. They include things like switches, sensors, relays, actuators, control valves, control modules, etc. These are all life-limited components. Some of these are available in the aftermarket, but many are not. The Corvette-only pieces are generally not available in the aftermarket unless they are very closely related to pieces that have much wider application.

Also included as life-limited components are many pieces of plastic interior trim. Time and use take their toll on these. Most are no longer available from GM and very few are reproduced. Having to buy a used plastic interior piece means you may be getting a part that may be going to deteriorate fairly quickly and will definitely look used from the day you install it. You may be buying something that you're going to have to be looking for again pretty soon.

As far as specific parts are concerned, I don't really want to get involved with supplying such a list, lest I create a "run" on what may be a very limited existing supply of NOS or still-available GM pieces that will be discontinued when current GMSPO inventory runs out.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

Ken------


No, I'm not talking about things like spark plugs, filters, brake pads, etc. Those will always be available in the aftermarket. However, life-limited parts include many more things beyond regular "consumable" items like the above. They include things like switches, sensors, relays, actuators, control valves, control modules, etc. These are all life-limited components. Some of these are available in the aftermarket, but many are not. The Corvette-only pieces are generally not available in the aftermarket unless they are very closely related to pieces that have much wider application.

Also included as life-limited components are many pieces of plastic interior trim. Time and use take their toll on these. Most are no longer available from GM and very few are reproduced. Having to buy a used plastic interior piece means you may be getting a part that may be going to deteriorate fairly quickly and will definitely look used from the day you install it. You may be buying something that you're going to have to be looking for again pretty soon.

As far as specific parts are concerned, I don't really want to get involved with supplying such a list, lest I create a "run" on what may be a very limited existing supply of NOS or still-available GM pieces that will be discontinued when current GMSPO inventory runs out.

I know that I started this a long time ago but I think it will get alto worse with the hi-po Corvettes i think GM needs to addressee this issue

[Clem Z.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

i believe it is BMW that still supplies restoration parts for it older performance cars.

[Paul L.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

As as I said above I would now not go anywhere a C4. I read the jokes about them for some time, and thought it was just C2/C3 envy, but now it is starting to make sense. I rather like those cars but not at $105.00/hr at a GM dealer.

[Dick W.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

Most automobiles are marketed a commodities, same as food. No financial incentive to service parts for more than a few years. When the C-2 and C-3 cars were built, many parts were interchangeable, but today quite a few of the parts will fit only one or two years. Given that production is under 30k units a year, we are lucky that you can buy parts two years after the end of the MY

[Clem Z.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

Most automobiles are marketed a commodities, same as food. No financial incentive to service parts for more than a few years. When the C-2 and C-3 cars were built, many parts were interchangeable, but today quite a few of the parts will fit only one or two years. Given that production is under 30k units a year, we are lucky that you can buy parts two years after the end of the MY

are not the manufactures required by the feds to supply parts for 10 years after the last of the model rolls off the assy line ???

[John H.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

are not the manufactures required by the feds to supply parts for 10 years after the last of the model rolls off the assy line ???

Clem -

As I recall, the law requires a 7-year coverage, but it only applies to "crash" parts. Since the advent of the 10/100 Emission System Warranty requirement, I don't know if that added emissions parts or not. I've never been able to find the statute.

[Paul B.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

Patrick------
For core engine parts, which is what I was referring to earlier, most of those were manufactured by Mercury Marine and when they stopped making them more than 15 years ago, that was IT.

...there was an article, maybe 6 to 8yrs ago how Mercury Marine had all these LT-5 parts they wanted GM to purchase for GM to stock. Story went something like Mercury Marine wanted $2 million for all the existing LT-5 pieces from GM and they(GM)told MM they simply weren't interested and to stuff it. Supposedly, as the story went, Mercury Marine simply sold off all their LT-5 parts to a Scrap Recycler.

...on the C4 parts issue, I know of a couple instances where a few '94 Corvettes need a new computer and GM is totally out of stock of it and has NO plans to remake any more(and that's the rest of the story).

[Terry M.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

Clem -

As I recall, the law requires a 7-year coverage, but it only applies to "crash" parts. Since the advent of the 10/100 Emission System Warranty requirement, I don't know if that added emissions parts or not. I've never been able to find the statute.

I don't think there is a statute, and that is why you can't find it. Manufacturers are required to warranty the emissions system, as you note, and parts relating to that system will be available for that reason -- but the rest of the parts are only available as long as the manufacturer thinks they can make money from them. After that we are on our own.

[Pete B.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

This thread is amusing!
My brother worked at the Tonawanda engine plant in the late sixties. When the 68 was launched it stranded 1500 '67s on various dealer lots throughout the country. They could not give them away!
The logic back then who would want something so antiquated when you could get clean sheet new?

Time will tell, its pointless to attempt to predict the future.

My 2 C4's are trouble free, Diagnosing is easy as long as you have electrical knowledge. Any problems that have popped up have been easy low dollar fixes.
This TDB has a great wealth of info. Corvette forum is another great resource.

[James W.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

Blah, blah, blah - blah, blah, blah!! Opinions are like rectums. Oh, yes - the sky is falling, too! The ZR-1 engine is "almost impossible for a regular guy to work on", or so people say. What a load! Plenum pull takes 40 minutes with standard, albeit, metric, hand tools. The engine itself is almost bulletproof, as demonstrated by a virtually stock ZR-1 taking 8 endurance records which took a purpose-built prototype to beat it. Today the ZR-1 community race these cars and flog them like a red-headed step children. Breakages are uncommon and usually due to a mistake by the builder. There is not another vehcle built by GM that has the engineering and quality of the LT-5. The C4 was a hugh step above and beyond the C3 and dominated the SCCA so thoroughly that Porche and BMW threatened to quit, so the Corvette Challange series was developed. I owned a 1971 LS-5 air convertible from 1986 to 2008. I heard all the same comments about it that is being shot out now about the C4.

Bottom line - what you own is the absolute best, just like your kids are the best looking and your grandkids can do no wrong.

You've got your opinion - I've got mine

Jim

[John P.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

ZR-1 parts are pretty easy to get.

www.whiteracingproducts.com


www.jerrysgaskets.com

and anyone that needs ZR-1 info

www.zr1netregistry.com

There are also plenty of aftermarket engine tuners you can send your car to if it needs work.

Plus most all of us on the zr1 registry have some kind of parts stash because why not right. Theres some kind of fear about breakdown but mostly I have enough parts left over from my last part out that I am concidering a ZR-1 convertible.
I have parted out 4 ZR-1s 90 and 91s some gave life to other ZR-1s. I also do not think that there will be a big following with the cars into the NCRS relm thats my opinion. I have owned ZR-1s since 2001 I've had at least one since then and 3 of them at one time, Love em got em cheap at the time and I ended up trading my very first one for my 1968 427/400 car.

I have done 2 LT5 engine rebuilds I found that if you watch the GM training videos that most of us in the registry have access to for free you watch that and get a feel for the internals of the motor Its alot of fun messing with these engines!

Once you get passed that scared school girl stage it is an engine and is easy to work on just need to educate yourself on it just like you did when you rebuilt your first small block.

Yes there are specific tools that you need but plenty of us in the comunity have the "special" tools. I made all my special tools myself.
there have been plenty parted out just like the other generations and people do rebuild the electrical components. The parts are available not that they are cheap but they are available.


A water pump for goes for $200-400 these days depending on who is selling not cheap but its not $1500.

You can also check any and every single trouble code to figure out what the car is telling you when that dreaded check engine light, ABS light, SES light, selective rid control light, and so on with a paper clip and the shop manual. Most of the individual codes are the same through the years so the internet forums is an easy way to troubleshoot.

I would not and will not ever ever take my ZR-1 to a dealer no way!


I just sold a cylinder head complete except for camshafts last month for $650 I had to almost give it away to sell it.

[Jim T.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

I was thinking of buying a 1992 green convertible. Excellent condition with low miles. Beautiful car. No more! I'll stick with my old 1974. She is rather pretty and aside from the TCS I understand her.

I had no idea there was a problem with parts for C4s. Thanks for bringing this matter to our attention.

Paul based on C4 ownership experience (85&96) you could be missing out on a lot of pleasurable driving miles not buying the excellent condition low miles 92 convertible. I have owned my 85 since 1992 and put about 55K miles on it. My 96 was bought new, an LT4, and has never been to a dealership for any repairs or service since new. My bought used 85 has not been to a dealership for repairs since it was purchased and still has the original exhaust system. With the 96 I have only changed the oil/filter and coolant with about 40K since June 1996.

[Pat M.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

Paul based on C4 ownership experience (85&96) you could be missing out on a lot of pleasurable driving miles not buying the excellent condition low miles 92 convertible. I have owned my 85 since 1992 and put about 55K miles on it. My 96 was bought new, an LT4, and has never been to a dealership for any repairs or service since new. My bought used 85 has not been to a dealership for repairs since it was purchased and still has the original exhaust system. With the 96 I have only changed the oil/filter and coolant with about 40K since June 1996.

Yup. My 96 LT4 has been a trouble-free joy since it was new.

[Peter M.]

Re: C4 & Up Electronic Parts

the BIG problem with these cars is unless you have a GM TECH II or similar analyser you will have no way of diagnosing the exact problems with the car.

That is simply NOT True. The OBD-I cable is readily available for about $60. What's more the diagnostic software is available free on the Internet (TunerPro or WINALDI) and can easily be downloaded to your personal computer. With the ALDL cable and the diagnostic software anyone with even limited mechanical ability can diagnose & repair a C4 Corvette.

This thread is full of false, incomplete and inaccurate comments. I have spent the past 12 years restoring a C4 Corvette and approximately 10 very active years on the Corvette Forum. I can tell you that, while it may take some hunting, ALL C4 Corvette parts are available or can be easily rebuilt. These cars are really quite easy and inexpensive to repair IF you do your own research and turn the wrenches yourself. On the other hand, if you take the car to someone who does not know what they are doing and has few research resources, it can cost you a fortune to repair these cars. I have plenty of experience with GM dealerships, technicians and local repair shops who don't have a C4 clue. THIS IS THE REAL PROBLEM.

FINALLY - This is supposed to be a technical forum where like-minded members can get help from Corvette specialists with real knowledge. THIS IS NOT A CHAT ROOM ! If you don't know what you are talking about, have limited actual experience on the topic or have nothing positive to add, please stay off of this technical discussion board. AND don't use this forum to BASH Corvettes, especially when you do not have a clue what you are talking about ! If you want to gossip or bash Corvettes, try Facebook or Twitter.