Technical Tips > Post 84

Impart your knowledge....

(1/4) > >>

Drew:
I have looked at some C4's and I would like to find out peoples thoughts on conversions

Mirror v's linkage setup leaving the original steering box??

Cheers

Drew

drew@xceltek.net.au

77CVT:
I would think you would get a lot of different opinions on this one!

For looks, the full mirror conversion is the go, as well as ensuring all the air con, heater etc works on the inside.

1/2 conversion (brake booster on the LH side) is a waste of time in my opinion - my '77 is done that way and it is crap!

Many have had the chain drive conversion and are happy.  Purists would advise against it but it is ultimately up to you how much you want to spend.

The most important thing to know is whether the person you choose to do it actually knows what they are doing!  Looking at my car, I think I could have done a better job with a hacksaw and a bottle of scotch!

I'm no engineer but a lot of these so called small time "conversion experts" make some pretty basic errors.

Are you getting one done or buying?

rebel:
Drew,

i agree with 77cvt that it all comes down to how much you want to spend.

The best conversions are either Full mirror (everything goes across) or Cross Over only the steering leaving the master cylinder as is. Mine is CrossOver and I'm quite happy - steering is predictable and responsive. I would have preferred a full mirror though.

In my opinion, whatever you do, forget the chains and linkages.

Good luck ..

SAVette:
Always a topic bound to start arguments, and I would be extremely interested in hearing from others who have either conversion and what they think, especially someone who has had both.

First off, I have a chain/cross-over type of conversion and have had no issues or problems or anything with it. The one downside is probably that the heater doesn't seem to work overly effectively. Whether that is just the way '84 heaters were or it is effected by the conversion, I'm not sure. I probably guess it's the latter. However, it is a sunny Sunday afternoon car so the heater doesn't get used a lot. Neither does the A/C for that matter.

Technically, I see nothing wrong with the cross-over conversion theory if it is done well. Done badly may be a different story. It leaves everything where GM intended. Steering and suspension geometry are not effected, the firewall is not cut and shut and the engine is not offset from it's original location. If it wasn't safe, then surely it would not be legal. Having said that though, I don't believe that it is legal in every state, but I may be wrong. My car, though, is an auto, so it doesn't have the constant pivoting forces on the clutch pedal to worry about. God knows where you put a clutch pedal in the right hand foot-well of a C4 anyway.

Others will argue that the complete mirror is the only way to go. But having played around in a C4 engine bay I can only imagine what sort of nightmare that is. And a C5 must be worse.

I would love to hear some input from someone with automotive engineering knowledge, who knows Corvettes and DOES NOT have a vested interest in a conversion shop.

Nik:
Go original, don't convert :mmm

but thats the benefit of getting a dinosaur :22

i'd go chain drive to preserve the firewall & its originality if I were you... but a full mirror would be darn nice.

www.corvettes.com.au have prices if you want to check them out. I think ill save the money to convert it before I come back to aus, but I will see what its like driving LHD for a few weeks beforehand :)

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page