[mitchntx]

Looking through Craiglist ads, I'm seeing C4s all over the spectrum.

Are 95 and 96 versions "special"?
What's the difference between a 96 and 96 Limited edition?
Could an LT4 be had in either?
Is there a code in the VIN or something that tells me its a real LT4?
Were there ANY that came with something other than porno red interior?

What year did the C4s begin getting an LT1? 92?

I am seeing 96 LEs @60K mile LT4/6spd cars in the low teens.
I am seeing 94 and under @100K mile LT1/Autos cars in the 6s and 7s

I am also seeing 98-00 FRCs in the low teens all in the 80-100K mile range with 6 speeds in the low to mid teens.

But I really like the way a C4 looks. Seems like everyone has a C5.

Not looking at a show car, just a driver.

[Mojave]

The rear suspension geometry never changed, all C4 rear springs are interchangeable. The angle on the rear trailing arms changed at some point changing the rear anti-squat (1985?, but it's just the bracket, 10 min swap). The width of the rear did change, but I can't remember what exactly got the extra width; I think the knuckles. The front geometry changed to the zero scrub in 88. The ZF6 manual 6 spd trans started in 89, before that they got the 4+3 (4 spd manual with a 2 spd auto on the back). The 4+3 blows and won't hold much power. 89-91 are good years, ZF6 and L98.

The 96 Collector's Editions are silver and have some logos...that's about the only difference. CE's come in auto/LT1 and manual/LT4. As said, all 96 manuals got LT4's and all auto 96's got LT1's. 84 had it's own spindles and brakes, 85-87 had single piston, and 88-96 had dual piston PBR's. 88-94 you could get 12" or 13" rotors, 95-96 all have the 13". There are the Z51/Z52/Z07 handling packages, but the differences between them are good for another discussion. The 84-87 car's don't have room in the shock towers for coil overs, should you want to ditch the leaf springs.

LS1 swap is doable, but the trick is the transmission. C4's don't use a cross member, so the trans is held up by the c-beam to the rear diff. The factory trans has bosses for the c-beam, but of course T-56's don't. There is supposed to be an adapter but I heard it sucks. It wouldn't be too hard to fab one. They have headers and motor mounts to bolt them in.

If I were building (another) C4, even for LS1 swap, I'd start with an 88 and up. Much easier to find wheels and suspension parts for them. There are 2 rear diffs: Dana 36 and Dana 44. All autos got D36 and all manuals 85 and later got D44. D44 will hold 600 RWHP pretty easily, while the D36 is marginal above 350 RWHP. Both are fine for AX/RR.

C5's are somewhat harder to work on, particularly the trans, but clutches are doable on jack stands, I know people who have done it. The C5 chassis is leagues ahead of the C4 in terms of stiffness, and C5's will be lighter at equal levels of prep. The C5 rear diff isn't particularly strong, but works great for AX/RR, as long as it has a trans/diff cooler. A C5 will have a better weight distribution, and making power is so much easier with an LSx it hurts.

Bring the tech, Trackbird! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)