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High Performance Project: 1986 Chevrolet Corvette

The seller of this 1986 Chevrolet Corvette had big plans to turn it into a 383 stroker build, but he’s decided to put it up for sale along with all of the high-performance parts he’s collected along the way. It’s equipped with the preferred Doug Nash 4+3 manual transmission and has just under 115,000 miles on the clock. The list of parts the seller has accumulated is massive and most of the components are seemingly high quality. The tri-spoke wheels are my favorite feature, as the era I grew up in made these wheels a near requirement if you owned a high-performance car. Find the Corvette here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $7,900 and the option to submit a best offer.

I’ve always liked the C4 ‘Vettes when equipped with a manual transmission, as it strikes me as a seriously underrated performance car. With the automatic, my interest drops off significantly, but a car like this is checking the right boxes. The seller has already installed a high-performance exhaust with no catalytic converters and Flowmaster mufflers, so some of the upgrades are already done. But there’s a lot more he hasn’t even installed yet, and it’s best to read the listing to get the full scope. Some of the highlights include Koni shocks, upgraded camshaft / throttle body / oil pump / and more, Hurst Roll/Control Line/Loc kit, and much more.

The engine bay isn’t as clean as I had hoped for all the work the seller has been preparing to do, but I wouldn’t use that as a major strike against it. The Corvette clearly hasn’t been detailed recently and even though the car has been covered, it’s been sitting outside. The seller indicates the engine still turns freely by hand but it doesn’t sound like it’s seen any road use recently. Interestingly, the seller points out that 1986 was a de-tuned year, which was a detail I didn’t know until reading the ad. I’m not sure how much of a difference it makes in the present form, but it could be meaningful if you decide to complete the build as the seller intended.

The interior is in decent shape, looking neither perfect nor trashed. The seller reports there are some issues of the typical maintenance kind, like a busted window regulator. The seller hasn’t tested the Bose radio or the power antenna and notes that the instrument cluster goes in and out. The overall vibe you get is that it’s a car that has been sitting and now has the typical problems that come with that. But considering the boatload of spare and performance parts that come with it and the general desirability of the 4+3 Corvettes, this seems like a smart buy at the current asking price – but I’d definitely try and snag it for a little less.

Comments

  1. Avatar Cadmanls Member

    Throttle body is not connected to any intake manifold, the fellow has spent some money with Summit Racing so this does show possibly as seller is negotiable. Don’t know what the specifications are on the 4+3 are but may not handle a 383’s power. It’s a project for sure

    Like 2
  2. Avatar Rw

    Noice wheels,hahaha really noice.

    Like 3
  3. Avatar Jim in FL

    As the owner of an 87 4+3 car, I would be concerned about it behind a high powered motor. If you’re going to mod it out anyway, look for a later c4 6 speed to put behind the motor. Other option is to bypass the overdrive unit. I think kits are still available but you sacrifice highway driveability. I can cruise 80 all day around 1800 rpm and get 19 mpg.

    Like 3

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