Chevrolet Corvette 2004 Product Information and Specifications

Discover what’s new for the 2004 Corvette: Commemorative Editions, C5-R racing success, and Nürburgring testing for the Z06. Plus, Magnetic Selective Ride Control and more!

In this blog we’ll look at what’s new for the 2004 Corvette: Product Information, model year lineup, special editions, 2004 C5 Corvette Specifications, and more.

2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Commemorative Edition © General Motors (This photo was included in the media kit.) Check out the 2004 Corvette Product Information in this blog.
2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Commemorative Edition © General Motors (This photo was included in the media kit.) Check out the 2004 Corvette Product Information in this blog.

We are looking at the 2003 Corvette Press Kit for the 50th Anniversary Celebration in Nashville. This is one of the press releases that was included in the media kit.  The event took place in Nashville, Tennessee on June 27 and 28, 2003.  The kit included fourteen press releases.  We will provide links at the bottom of the press releases for you to enjoy.

2004 Corvette Product Information

New for 2004

Commemorative editions of Coupe, Convertible, and Z06 mark racing success
Exterior colors: Arctic White, Machine Silver, Magnetic Red, and Le Mans Blue (commemoratives only)
Revised shock valving on Z06
Carbon fiber hood on Z06

2004 Corvette Model Lineup

EnginesTransmissions
 5.7L V-8 LS15.7L V-8 LS64-spd auto   (Hydra-Matic 4L60-E)6-spd man (MM6/M12)
Coupesso
Convertiblesso
Z06ss

Key:

Standard               s

Optional                 o

Not available        –

COMMEMORATIVE EDITIONS MARK CORVETTE’S RACING SUCCESS

The Chevrolet Corvette maintains its well-earned status as the automotive and cultural icon that has been admired and sought after for a generation. For the 2004 model year, commemorative editions for each Corvette model are available so enthusiasts can celebrate the racing success of the Chevy flagship

Also, the top-of-the-line Corvette Z06 – already hailed by enthusiast magazines as the best combination of performance, comfort, and value in the automotive world – gets even better for 2004 with revised shock valving based on testing at the legendary Nürburgring race track in Germany.

Corvette also has earned two consecutive quality awards from J.D. Power and Associates and continues to win accolades for its surprising interior room, cargo space, comfort, and fuel economy in a high-performance sports car.

Only a handful of cars in the history of the industry have shown the Corvette’s ability to capture the fancy of so many consumers and hold it for so long. As the golden anniversary celebration continues, it is a testament to the ability of Corvette’s engineers to keep the car as fresh and cutting-edge as it was in 1953.

Corvette has remained relevant because it continued to embrace new designs and technologies such as those featured on the current line: Magnetic Selective Ride Control, Goodyear EMT “run-flat” tires (coupe and convertible), active handling, and a rear transaxle.

Corvette Commemorative Editions

The commemorative editions recognize the success of the C5-R racing program. In 2002, the Corvette C5 continued to dominate the field with nine wins in 10 American Le Mans Series races, also nabbing the 2002 GTS Manufacturer Champion and GTS Team Champion awards. Combined with a second consecutive victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Corvette continued to make history.

The Commemorative Edition Coupe and Convertible include new Le Mans Blue paint with a Shale interior, special badges, and polished wheels. The convertible’s top also is Shale to match the interior.

The Commemorative Edition Z06 also is Le Mans Blue and also includes a C5-R Le Mans stripe scheme, special badges, polished Z06 wheels, and a lightweight carbon fiber hood.

Corvette Z06 ride tempered at Nürburgring

Over the period of a month in 2002, engineers put the Z06 through its paces at Germany’s fabled Nürburgring racetrack to give the definitive street-legal sports car an even better ride. Since it was completed in 1927, the 12.8-mile (20.6 km) Nürburgring circuit has been the ultimate challenge for vehicle dynamics. The course has 177 corners, and in between them is every conceivable combination of radius, camber, and gradient – not to mention altitude that varies by nearly 1,000 feet (305 m). No other track in the world places such extreme demands on a vehicle’s suspension, brakes, and powertrain, which is why Nürburgring is where the world’s finest sports cars are regularly tested.

After a month in Germany, it was back to General Motors Milford Proving Grounds, where new shock absorber valving was “dialed in” and balanced for optimum performance on American roads.

The result is a suspension that feels “more tied down, more glued to the road,” said Harlan Charles, product manager for the Corvette.

Corvette’s Magnetic Selective Ride Control

The suspensions of the 2004 Corvette coupe and convertible continue to feature Magnetic Selective Ride Control, which debuted in 2003. It uses a revolutionary damper design that controls wheel and body motion with magneto-rheological fluid in the shocks. By controlling the current to an electromagnetic coil inside the piston of the damper, the MR fluid’s consistency can be changed, resulting in continuously variable real-time damping. As a result, drivers feel a greater sense of security, a quieter, flatter ride, and more precise, responsive handling, particularly during sudden, high-speed maneuvers.

The system isolates and smoothes the action of each tire, resulting in less bouncing, vibration, and noise. On bumpy or slick surfaces, the system integrates with traction control to assure maximum stability. It also works with ABS to keep the vehicle balanced and poised. It is the only system without electro-mechanical values and no small moving parts. It consists of MR fluid-based, monotube shock absorbers, a sensor set, and an onboard controller.

2004 CORVETTE SPECIFICATIONS

Overview

Models:Chevrolet Corvette coupe, convertible, Z06
Body style / driveline:2-door hatchback coupe, convertible and hardtop; rear-drive, front-engine
Construction:composite
EPA vehicle class:sports car
Manufacturing location:Bowling Green, Kentucky
Key competitors:Audi TT, BMW Z4, Dodge Viper, Porsche Boxster and Boxster S, Porsche 911

2004 Corvette Engines

 5.7L V-8 (LS1)5.7L V-8 (LS6)
Application:standard on coupe, convertiblestandard on Z06
Type:5.7L V-85.7L V-8
Displacement (cu in / cc):346 / 5665346 / 5665
Bore & stroke (in / mm):3.90 x 3.62 / 99 x 923.90 x 3.62 / 99 x 92
Block material:cast aluminumcast aluminum
Cylinder head material:cast aluminumcast aluminum
Valvetrain:OHV, 2 valvesOHV, 2 valves
 per cylinderper cylinder
Fuel delivery:sequential fuel injectionsequential fuel injection
Compression ratio:10.1:110.5:1
Horsepower (hp / kw @ rpm):350 / 261 @ 5200405 / 302 @ 6000
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm):manual: 375 / 508 @ 4000400 / 542 @ 4800
 automatic: 360 / 489 @ 4000 
Recommended fuel:93 octane93 octane
Maximum engine speed (rpm):60006500
Emissions controls:catalytic converter AIRcatalytic converter AIR
 4-speed automatic6-speed manual
Estimated fuel economy  
(mpg city / hwy / combined):19 / 28 / 23 (manual coupe and convertible)19 / 28 / 23 (manual Z06)
 18 / 25 / 21 (automatic coupe and convertible) 

2004 Corvette Transmissions

 Hydra-Matic 4L60-ETremec T56 (MM6)Tremec T56 (M12)
Type:4-speed automatic6-speed manual6-speed manual
Application:std on coupe and convertibleopt on coupe and convertiblestd on Z06
Gear ratios (:1):   
First:3.062.662.97
Second:1.631.782.07
Third:1.001.301.43
Fourth:0.701.001.00
Fifth:0.740.84
Sixth:0.500.56
Reverse:2.292.903.28
Final drive ratio:std: 2.73:1;   opt: 3.15:13.42:13.42:1

2004 Corvette Chassis/Suspension

Front:short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber
Rear:short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber
Stabilizer bar diameter (in / mm): 
Standard:front: .90 / 23; rear: .75 / 19.1
F55:front: .90 / 23; rear: .75 / 19.1
Z51:front:  1.13 / 28.6; rear: 1.13 / 23.6
FE4:front:  1.18 / 30; rear: 1.13 / 23.6
Traction control:electronic traction control, active handling
Steering type:speed sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion
Steering ratio:16.1:1
Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock:2.66
Turning circle, curb-to-curb (ft / m):40.2 / 12.1

2004 Corvette Brakes

Type:power-assisted disc with ABS, front and rear
Rotor diameter x thickness (in / mm):front: 12.6 x 1.26 / 325 x 32; rear: 11.8 x 1 / 305 x 26
Swept area (sq in / sq cm):front: 263 / 1696; rear: 158 / 1018

2004 Corvette Wheels/Tires

 Coupe and ConvertibleZ06
Wheel size and type:cast aluminumcast spun aluminum
 optional: forged aluminum high polishfront: 17 x 9.5; rear: 18 x 10.5
 front: 17 x 8.5; rear: 18 x 9.5 
Tires:Goodyear Eagle F1 GSGoodyear Eagle F1 SC
 Extended MobilityAsymmetric Tread
 front: P245/45ZR17front: P265/40ZR17
 rear: P275/40ZR18rear: P295/35ZR18

2004 Corvette Dimensions

ExteriorCoupeConvertibleZ06
Wheelbase (in / mm):104.5 / 2656104.5 / 2656104.5 / 2656
Overall length (in / mm):179.7 / 4566179.7 / 4566179.7 / 4566
Overall width (in / mm):73.6 / 186973.6 / 186973.6 / 1869
Overall height (in / mm):47.7/ 121247.8 / 121547.7 / 1212
Track (in / mm):front: 61.9 / 1572front: 61.9 / 1572front: 62.4 / 1585
 rear: 62 / 1575rear: 62 / 1575rear: 62.6 / 1590
Curb weight (lb / kg):3246 / 14583248 / 14563118 / 1414
Weight distribution (% front / rear):51 / 4951 / 4953 / 47
InteriorCoupeConvertibleZ06
Seating capacity (front / rear):2 / 02 / 02 / 0
Head room (in / mm):37.9 / 96337.9 / 96337.8 / 960
Leg room (in / mm):42.7 / 108542.7 / 108542.7 / 1085
Shoulder room (in / mm):55.3 / 140555.3 / 140555.3 / 1405
Hip room (in / mm):54.2 / 137754.2 / 137754.2 / 1377

2004 Corvette Capacities

Cargo volume (cu ft / L):coupe: 24.8 / 702; convertible: 13.9 / 394; Z06: 13.3 / 377
Fuel tank (gal / L):18 / 68.1
Engine oil (qt / L):6.5 / 6.15
Cooling system (qt / L):automatic: 11.5 / 10.9; manual: 11.8 / 11.2

Note: The information shown is current at the time of publication.

You can also find the best used 2004 Chevrolet Corvette near you in our Corvettes for Sale Classified ads.

Pdf of the 2004 Model Year Final Production Numbers

For a look at the 2003 Corvette Press Kit CLICK HERE

Here are the links to the press releases included in the 2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration (there were 14 press releases in all)

Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2003

Racer Andy Pilgrim Lead’s Corvette’s 50th Anniversary in 2003

Corvette – American Icon

C5-R Corvette Ready for 24 Hours of Le Mans (2003)

2004 Corvette Product Information

History of Corvette Design Engineering – 50s-90s

Corvette Powertrain History 50-Years of Development

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