C4 Corvette Packs a Mighty LT1 Punch Under the Hood
The fourth-gen Corvette is a great looking car that needs some power, so that's exactly what this C4 got.
Make It Hot
Among the seven (soon eight) generations of the Corvette, the C4 might just be the most underappreciated. Mostly because it came about when things weren't so great in the world of performance. But the thing is, you can always add power to this platform, as is clearly on display with this red hot C4 recently featured over at Motor Trend.
Photos: Motor Trend
Incremental Improvements
Things had actually improved exponentially by the time this '92 was built. Originally, the C4 came with an L98 small block that put out a paltry 250 hp. But that engine was replaced by a 300 hp LT1 in 1991. Which still isn't much by today's standards, obviously. Thus, this C4's owner, Robert Lombardi, set out to make up for that shortcoming.
Photos: Motor Trend
>>Join the conversation about this LT1 equipped C4 right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
Stroke Me
Lombardi partnered up with Corvette Conspiracy in Cleveland on the build, which they started by punching out the stock 350 to 396 cubic-inches using a Callies Magnum stroker assembly. Inside, the engine was fitted with Mahle 9.0:1 pistons and a Comp Cams cam.
Photos: Motor Trend
>>Join the conversation about this LT1 equipped C4 right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
Breathe Easy
AFR 195cc LT4 Eliminator street heads help the stroked small block breathe, along with an LT4 fuel-injection setup mounted on an LT4 intake. An ATI ProCharger supercharger provides the cherry on top and helps this new engine pump out 585 hp and 565 lb-ft of torque on the dyno.
Photos: Motor Trend
>>Join the conversation about this LT1 equipped C4 right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
Solid Combo
Other goodies include an intercooler, ACCEL DFI Gen 7.0 coil-over-plug ignition with a FAST controller, Melrose headers, and a Billy Boat 3-inch stainless steel exhaust system. A Gearstar Level 4 700R4 replaced the stock tranny when it blew on the dyno, and it sends power back to a Dana 44 rear stuffed with 3.45 gears.
Photos: Motor Trend
>>Join the conversation about this LT1 equipped C4 right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
Stay Flat
Lombardi could have stopped there, but he wanted this C4 to be more of an all-round package. Thus, he addressed the suspension with Bilstein sport shocks and polyurethane bushings, along with a 1986 Corvette convertible X-brace to keep it flat in the corners.
Photos: Motor Trend
>>Join the conversation about this LT1 equipped C4 right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
Working Together
Stopping power is better thanks to front 1996 Grand Sport brakes with drilled rotors. Rounding out this impressive combo are 295/35R18 Nitto Invo tires wrapped around black 18x9 Scorpion wheels up front, along with 325/30R19 Nitto Invo tires on 19x10.5 black Scorpion wheels in the rear.
Photos: Motor Trend
>>Join the conversation about this LT1 equipped C4 right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
Pump up the Volume
The beige interior was left mostly alone, but Lombardi did upgrade things in the sound department. The new equipment consists of a Pioneer AVH-5600BHS head unit, an Alpine DDX 4-150 amp and front speakers, Alpine SPR136A SPR 175A rear speakers, and a pair of Bazooka BTA6250D bass tubes.
Photos: Motor Trend
>>Join the conversation about this LT1 equipped C4 right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
Multi-Purpose
Interestingly, Lombardi's Pollo Green II metallic car is one of just 1,995 1992 Corvettes finished in that color. But after seven years of wrenching on it, he doesn't worry about that rarity while he uses it as a daily driver, vacation trip car, street racer, and show queen.
Photos: Motor Trend
>>Join the conversation about this LT1 equipped C4 right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
Budget Build
And the end result is just further proof that you can indeed turn a C4 into a formidable and fun performance machine. All it takes are a few select mods, of course. And even with this kind of investment, you'll still be tooling around in a pretty fast car on a budget!
Photos: Motor Trend
>>Join the conversation about this LT1 equipped C4 right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
For help with service and maintenance on your car, check out the how-to section of LS1Tech.com.