More C4 Corvette Trivia Most People Never Notice

I'm back with some more obscure trivia for the C4 Corvette fans out there. Once again I am using the original 1996 Competition Yellow LT-4 as a teaching aid to highlight some of interesting changes the Corvette engineers continued to make even as the C4 Corvette was nearing the end of it's production run.
To see more of my Corvette How To Videos -
• VetteSource - Corvette...
To see my playlist about this 1996 Competition Yellow LT4 Corvette -
• 1996 Competition Yello...
#corvettetrivia #corvettehowto #c4corvette
Thanks for watching👍

[@joelk7725]

Love the video. I love c4’s. Been looking at them for several years. Really like that you know a lot about them !

[@VetteSource]

Hey Joel, thanks for the feedback👍. Glad you're enjoying the videos. If you end up buying a C4 down the road you won't regret it.

[@dougekren6495]

Brian cool stuff, I have a 95 lt1 with the n-84 option, when I got the car and looked under car and saw the rectangle tubing I just thought they quit putting spares in. Now I know, also my car has 50.000 miles thanks Brian I have watched all your vids.

[@VetteSource]

Doug, thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. That's a cool story about your car, and makes it pretty uncommon since less than 1000 were made in 95. It's such an unusual option not many people know about it or even would have expected Chevy to offer a Corvette option that actually gave you $100 credit.

[@keepamerica2astrong280]

Nice vid have a 64 and 96 Corvette. Learned today I have an LT1 Z51 option car. Thanks. I just put on an after market air intake to replace that constrictive stock air box. What a huge difference, a must get for all late C4 models. Has a metal tube with 3 cone filters exposed it looks bad ass too.

[@VetteSource]

Nice collection👍. My favorites are the C2/C3/C4 generations, although I love them all. That cold air intake you're referring to is a slick unit and adds some good power on the full throttle pulls. Just make sure you don't drive through deep water😁.

[@ednieves3973]

Thanks Brian, good job.

[@VetteSource]

Thanks Ed👍

[@johnyaskoveakarpaccio4737]

AWESOME video!! i have a '94 ALL STOCK/OEM flawless,everything works NO MODS(that's how its staying)in bright aqua metallic with 26,600 orginal miles,manual =) and yes,i too have the "Mobil one" decal/placcard under the hood...i'm diggin that yellow,and always loved the polo green,with most of the colors,esp the bright ones from this time-era, esp if your paint is flawless,wax and detail it you'd be stunned what kind of mind-blowing color-depth todays waxes bring out and create,again esp with the bright colors.i LOVE turning a physical key to any V8 vs todays push button nonsense.

[@Anthony-qj7qe]

Awesome content, I'm really liking that color....still waiting for more on the 72 454 😎

[@VetteSource]

Hey Anthony, thanks for that. I should be taking a trip to grab the replacement frame for the 72 in a few weeks. Will let you know when I have another update.

[@Anthony-qj7qe]

@@VetteSource OK great can't wait to see that 👍

[@VetteSource]

Cool, will let you know.

[@theaccountant5133]

I have a 1995 Red Corvette Coupe. It had the standard tires when I bought it in July 1995. Those tires lasted until 2005 when one rear tire blew out at the sidewall. I then bought a set of the run flat tires you talk about and I just replaced them last month. They were on the car from 2005 to Dec 2021. None blew out but one sidewall tore when being taken off at the shop in order to put the new tires on. I would have another set of run flat if possible, but they don't make them anymore. The tires lasted for many years and still had most of the tread on them. No signs of dry rot but apparently the rubber was getting old...but they did not blow out like the standard tires. The stiffer sidewalls made those EMT tires last much longer.

[@VetteSource]

Yep, those EMT tire were very sturdy. Some customers complained about the ride quality with the stiff sidewall, but I thought they rode pretty well.

[@Jason-fp7vi]

Hey Brian. Sorry I've been MIA for a long time. Hope all is well with you and your family. Great video as always my friend

[@VetteSource]

Hey Jason! Nice to hear from you. Things are going well, just keeping busy as usual. Hope you're doing well also. Should be getting some Spring weather up there soon hopefully.

[@Jason-fp7vi]

@@VetteSource yup it was around 38 Fahrenheit out today so I took a long walk. It's a lot better than 0 Fahrenheit. Lol. I must say I've recently become a covert to American cars, especially GM. I'm sick of being screwed with German cars. Lol. Thinking of a buick regal with the 3800 or a lesabre with the 3800 for a next car. I want to just put a good amount of money upfront for a decent example and stop playing the 2,000 dollar German car game. I've gotten bit in the ass with repairs every time.

[@VetteSource]

Yep, German cars are a love affair that keeps slapping you in the face😁. The good thing about the corporate GM cars is the replacement parts are dirt cheap so it won't hurt your pocketbook much.

[@Jason-fp7vi]

@@VetteSource you said it brother. I like ford's as well but they don't really have a land yacht besides the crown Vic. Almost all of my driving is in the city so I'm not sure I'd want to deal with an 8 banger's city gas mileage

[@VetteSource]

Yep, that would get old very fast. Those 3800 V6's are just about bulletproof and get great gas mileage to boot.

[@rubyred93chev]

Great video with lots of interesting facts. Here's a little more trivial stuff: WY5(Extended Mobility tires) became an option in '94(and yes they required UJ6 - LTPW). For 1994 Chevy made 2,781 units, in 1995 there were 3,783 units, and in 1996, there were 4,945 units.(You'd think the spare tire delete would be included with this option, but it wasn't). Interesting to know just how many had the $100 credit option with no tire/tire carrier, but with tubing.(Doing my research on that one for sure). Also on the cloth seats: from '84 to '87 they came in both base and sport seats in a myriad of colors(cloth with color was big on the 80s for sure). By 1988, the cloth was available only in the base seats but offered in black, or saddle. Here are some cool stats: by 1991(the last year for the two color cloth option), Chevy made 379 units in black cloth/105 units in saddle cloth. For 1992, Chevy made 480, and in 1993, just 425 came as a last year option respectively. Interesting facts about the 'sleeper' 1996 LT4 cars too.

[@VetteSource]

Hey Gene, thanks for the additional trivia items. All good stuff👍. I remember seeing the C4's with the cloth seats and thinking how cool they looked. I like the leather ok, but down in this hot climate, the cloth is a bit more comfortable than grilling your thighs on those leather seats during the summer months.

[@paulmoss7940]

More great C4 content !.My car was sold w/both tops. One got away before I got it . Grr... bone stock 51k car though. Thanks for the info.

[@VetteSource]

Hey Paul, that sucks when you know something's missing that's supposed to be there. Was it the clear top or body colored top that was missing?

[@paulmoss7940]

@@VetteSourcematching white hardtop . I have the dark see thru . 96 LT4

[@VetteSource]

Yep, that's no fun. The see through top is great, but down here in the South it acts like a greenhouse and cooks you in the car during the summertime. Not to mention all the heat damage to the interior. I'll ask around and see if any of my parts associate has a late C4 targa roof.

[@deney54]

Thanks , I have a 96 LT1 with red on black 36k and no spar tire with the bar with the TPMS, I like the look from the back with my stainless exhaust , no tire basket. And yes I carry a tire repair kit. And I wish it was a LT4. But the computer has been flashed and a K&N filter so I'm sure I have the extra 30 horse.

[@VetteSource]

Yep, rare car indeed. It always amazed me how the differently optioned Corvettes of 1996 ended up with the spare tire delete. It seems the individual dealer purchasing managers just ordered cars to their personal tastes sometimes, because I've seen the spare tire delete option installed on 1SA cars all the way through to fully optioned convertibles. Thanks for sharing👍

[@thorn3686]

I have a ‘96 LT4 yellow targa top 6 speed. Fairly low miles, nice shape. Z06 wheels, Corsa cat-back exhaust

[@thorn3686]

Mine came with the solid roof. I wanted the glass roof. Bought one from a company in Florida. Looks blue sky looking out but dark tint looking in. I put the solid roof on Craigslist. In one day, a guy contacted me and bought it. He had a “93 targa with No roof he had bought. Paint matched perfectly. Amazing we connected like that. Norman, Oklahoma

[@VetteSource]

Yep, those roofs can be difficult to come across, especially in the correct color. That's cool to find another Yellow LT-4 owner. Do you know how late of a build your car is?

[@45auto82]

Hmm! Never heard of most of these C4 trivia secrets! Good to know about! I can’t understand why Chevy made so many ‘Stripper’ C4’s...did they somehow think there would be that much need for racing applications? Weird! Great video, always enjoy the content.

[@VetteSource]

Thanks buddy, always appreciated. It is odd that so many of them were base models, but I guess it makes the loaded ones more exclusive👍.

[@VetteSource]

Hey Jeff, the base or "stripper" cars are coded on the build sheets as option package 1SA, and didn't include any upgrades beyond what was included in the base price. If yours is indeed a base or 1SA car, it will have manual A/C controls, a Delco Bose non Gold cassette player(no CD), and the base non power seats without adjustable lumbar/bolster.

[@45auto82]

@@VetteSource I wonder if I can find a nicely optioned, lower miles C4 that has been slightly restored enuf to have good dash panels, good seats, and no rattles? I love C4’s enuf that I would consider the right one in place of a C5, but it would really have to be special! What do you think?

[@VetteSource]

I know of a Black 1996 LT4 with 14K miles available right now. Pretty much in brand new condition. Let me know if yiu have an interest, and I can get more information for you

[@VetteSource]

Gotcha, thats a generic model designation that the parts providers have all adopted across the board for standardization purposes. It's actually more applicable when your dealing with uplevel trim packages installed in trucks, suvs, and certain other luxury sedans. In 96, other than the LT4 there wasn't really anything beside the base coupe or convertible. Most likely the "base" designation was a holdover from 95, when you had the base Corvette and the ZR-1. Interesting mods you've done to your car. Do you track it?

[@omarrodriguez5560]

The rub spot on the inside part of the hood, right next to the head light is from the radiator shroud. Not the Power Steering Reservoir.

[@VetteSource]

Hey Omar, noticed I mispoke right after shooting the video. Thanks for the comments👍.

[@thisnthat8106]

I like videos like this. I have a competition yellow 93 zr1

[@VetteSource]

Awesome! Love the Competition Yellow ZR-1's. Would love to add one to the stable some day. Do have one of the few produced with the white interior?

[@thisnthat8106]

@@VetteSource ugh no. I lost a bid on one. Supposed there was only 15 yellow zr1s in 93. But it's black interior

[@VetteSource]

Definitely rare and beautiful combination. I came within an inch or so of buying a 1991 Yellow ZR-1 many years ago, and did a 180 and bought an 89 parts car instead which launched my business. I've always promised myself I would have another one day, juat haven't found the right one yet.

[@JDeubel]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ7Gaqubjc-Hmqc

[@VetteSource]

Hey J, I've seen your video. Very clean car, looks awesome in black👍

[@ericfowler4248]

I have that Mobile 1 decal under my hood. 96 Collector's Edition last 10 of the vin P1T5100514

[@VetteSource]

Yep, you have a very early build car, the 1st week of production. It definitely would have been installed at the factory.

[@kennygibbs9627]

Brian, bought a 89 vette, previous owner replaced back window, with a hatch, actually looks pretty good, have you ever seen one before.

[@VetteSource]

Hey Kenny, I have seen exactly three of them over the last 25 years I've been parting Corvettes out. Sold everyone of them rather quickly, and two of them are still installed on customers C4 Corvettes.

[@rushtk2112]

I am getting a 92 convertible from my uncle. It is a Triple White. Have you ever done a video of what can be put on older C4's from new yrs? I am a geek and plan on driving this thing when there is no snow. Would love to take long trips with a peace of mind.

[@VetteSource]

Hey Anthony, that's great. You're being given a great year for C4"s. By 92 they are pretty dead on reliable with normal maintenance and upkeep. Daily driving and cross country trips are no problem with these, even in less than perfect weather conditions. I haven't done a video on upgrades from new C4's to older C4's because there isn't much interchange from new to old. I'll see if there's a way I can put together an component evolution video that shows the running improvements made during the run.

[@joburgoof9404]

Cool video, you basically just described my '96 LT4 when you were talking about those stripper builds. What exactly was included in the 1SA option? From what I can tell the only option I have is a power driver seat.

[@VetteSource]

Hey Joburg, the 1SA, or "base" cars included leather seating surfaces, power windows, door locks, and mirros, air-conditioning and Bose AM/FM with cassette. You could order some of the options individually, like the drivers power seat in your car.

[@jeffreywhite5429]

My ‘96 convertible is vin 471 and has glass hood light lenses.

[@VetteSource]

Hey Jeffrey, thanks for sharing the info. Good to have owner input to keep track of how they were being produced.

[@bamaboy6207]

if im not mistaken tnat grand sport with 6 in vin means it was built in australia jus like the 2014 chevy ss

[@VetteSource]

You talking about the engine or the car?

[@davidkillam2974]

Note that at least in '93 the armrest on the drivers door is black but on the passenger door it is seat colour.

[@VetteSource]

Good info, and a small detail item most people miss. Thanks for sharing👍

[@VetteSource]

Yep, that confuses many people. Your not the first owner I've heard of that's done that.

[@theaccountant5133]

I did not get any run flat monitor. I checked the tire pressures every time I drove the car.

[@VetteSource]

Yep, just as reliable and more accurate than the first generation ture monitor system.

[@Fleetwoodjohn]

The hood seal pad is NOT Velcro. It’s an anti wear pad so the cowl seal does not wear the black paint off. Also may reduce any squeaking against the hood. This does nothing for cowl shake.

[@VetteSource]

You're right, I mistakenly used the term velcro instead of felt, thanks for the correction. However, it is there primarily to control excessive hood vibration and provide a tighter seal in conjunction with the higher rate hood springs. It might have the side effect of helping to keep the paint from scuffing, but I personally have never seen paint worn off on the upper part of the hood where it meets the cowl in the thousands of C4's I've worked with over the last 30 years. Thanks for watching.

[@paulreithknecht5616]

👍

[@VetteSource]

Paul, thanks for watching.

[@zzzxoooinks881]

I have a set of plastic headlights out of my '96 that I don't particularly want anymore does anyone know what (if anything) they would be worth or where I could sell them? I see none on ebay

[@VetteSource]

Blake, they don't come up for sale very often since they are around 25 years old now and not very many left out there. However, they may still have some value to the restoration and NCRS crowd. Send me an email to [e-mail] and I will see if I can connect you with some potential buyers

[@traderdan85]

Just swapped a hood from a 94 to a 93 The 94 hood was significantly lighter About 50 lbs

[@VetteSource]

Yep, the LT series hoods are all interchangeable forwards and backwards. It's when you start trying to install TPI hoods on LT cars and vice versa that you run into problems. Interesting observation about the weight difference. It is most likely due to the elimination of the metal headlight support strip that runs along the inside leading edge of the earlier hoods being eliminated. Are you working one one that took a front end hit?

[@hondamancl450]

Was your vette repainted because I seen overspray on hood springs,engine compartment needs a good cleaning,I know no water hose

[@VetteSource]

Good eye, but no repaint. Interestingly enough, the hood springs were installed before the cars were painted, so they're painted with the exterior body color. During the underhood blackout process they are then covered up with the black paint. I definitely need to dig deeper on the underhood detail. This car was stored in a warehouse where 18 wheelers came in and out every day, so it picked up quite a bit of diesel grime from the constant movement of the big trucks.

[@hondamancl450]

@@VetteSource but mine 1994 corvette has no overspray whatsoever, only you would know you would see signs on bolts rubber mounding,ect just making a comment because I always look for that when I buy a car, mine is a show car 100% original even exhaust

[@VetteSource]

It's just the hood springs, mount plate, and attaching bolts that attach to the underside of the hood that have the exterior color under the blackout paint. They do that so they can align the hood to the doors before it's painted because everything else on the front end is aligned from that point. What you're seeing isn't really overspray, just the blackout paint wearing off on the hood springs over the years. The rest of the underhood items are installed after the blackout process is completed so you won't see any color on that hardware. I sold this car when it was new, and purchased it from the individual I sold it to after keeping track of it the last 24 years so I am very familiar with its history😁. Sounds like your car has been well taken care of. Do you have a Competition Yellow as well?

[@donatopi5399]

l have a 10xxx production base Corvette LT4 with 27,5k miles, no Mobile 1 plaque.

[@VetteSource]

Cool, thanks for supplying the info👍

[@paulzarobell2753]

I have 1991 C4 and it only has the badge where it was made

[@VetteSource]

Yep, I think they changed it to the Mobil 1 emblem in 1992 with the introduction of the LT-1

[@dougdays8095]

do you know much about the ASR thing ? i cant find much info about it

[@VetteSource]

Hey Doug, as a matter of fact I do and probably something I will feature in a future video. Did you have a question but yours maybe I could answer right now?

[@dougdays8095]

the service ASR light came on the dash . the unit itself appears to be insuper good condition, i dont have a clue how to diagnose it, and... chickened out of pulling the insulation under the cover to see what exactly the system is and how if works

[@VetteSource]

I understand. Once you get into it, you realize the mechanical operation is quite simple compared to the complex function it performs.

[@rushtk2112]

Can a 92 be upgraded with the 96 suspension

[@VetteSource]

Hey Anthony, good thing is that the 92 suspension is virtually identical to the 96 suspension. The only upgrades you could make would be swapping to the 13" brakes, the heavy duty springs, or swapping in a Dana 44 from the Dana 36 if you have the automatic. However, that's a difficult and expensive conversion so I don't recommend it unless your putting a hotrod engine with alot of power in the car. Let me know if you have any more questions, sounds like you're getting a great car.

[@rushtk2112]

@VetteSource Thank you for your help! I have spinal injuries from Iraq and have no plans to race but to put many highway miles see the wonders of the country before I can't 😁 I have been trying to find a good suspension systems and a big brake package. I plan on giving this to my son in 10yrs.

[@VetteSource]

Anthony, thanks for your service brother. US Army veteran myself, so I greatly appreciate the time you guys gave in country for the rest of us. I like your idea, see as much of this beautiful country while we can. Let me know how it's going👍

[@alexl9334]

Do a video on the rpo codes on these

[@VetteSource]

That's a good idea👍. I'll work on putting one together.

[@alexl9334]

@@VetteSource yeah like mine i went through the sticker codes and found out i had the basic suspension and basic rear so i swapped then out for billstein z51 shocks and a 3.07 rear. Pretty much more peppier than my 2.59, it would give a lot of people that want to buy a c4 more know on what's in the car if its bone stock

[@VetteSource]

Yep, good point. The RPO codes can become quite confusing since there are literally thousands and thousands of them, not too mention the same codes are sometimes used among several different models.

[@thejelliedpumpkin8976]

My 96 is around vin 9000 and I have the mobil 1 sticker on the hood

[@VetteSource]

That is interesting, your is the latest VIN I have seen with the Mobil 1. My car is in the 8000 range and it's not there. I sold it new so I know it wasn't installed at the factory. Thanks for sharing the info👍

[@thejelliedpumpkin8976]

VetteSource Yeah that’s very interesting I’m the 4th owner, so it’s very possible it was added before I owned the car. Mine is an Lt1 so maybe that is the difference? Also, like you said I have one of the barebones cars you were talking about. Manuals seats, base suspension, manual AC. As a college student I am honestly really glad because I don’t need all those things and they’re just more things to have to fix when they break. Thanks for all the info in the video!

[@VetteSource]

The LT-1's and LT-4's should have all either had emblem or not, unless maybe one last batch from the supplier came late and they just put them on the cars that were currently coming down the line. More likely it was added by a previous owner to match the other cars they may have seen that had the emblem installed not knowing it never had it to begin with. You're right about the base cars being a bit easier to live with. Some of the highest demand parts for the late C4's now are the very things that were upgrades like the electronic A/C controller, CD player, power seats, and ride control components. Of course they all happen to be electronic pieces, but I'll let you draw your own conclusion on that.

[@paulzarobell2753]

What is the real color of your other c4 Mine is Turquoise I'm told

[@VetteSource]

That is called Bright Aqua Metallic. It was the replacement for the Quazar Blue and Turquoise when they dropped those colors in 91.

[@paulzarobell2753]

@@VetteSource thank you I love mine even though it's an L98

[@VetteSource]

Yep. 91s are great cars and tons of fun to drive especially with the 6 speed.