yd328

What are some of the challenges of owning a ZR1? I'm pretty sure I know the upside. I can work on it myself but I was curious about parts availability and maintenance unique to the ZR1.

Thanks Gary

Dynomite

You say you can work on it yourself......then there are NO challenges

Just a lot of fun.......Just study the Sticky above Tech Info - LT5 Modifications/Rebuild Tricks (500+hp) regarding the 500hp ZR-1 and go for it.

Get a good set of Metric Tools also described in the sticky.
Jerry's Gaskets has most all the parts you will ever need and at a very fair price. Jerry's Gaskets

Then there is Mark Haibeck Haibeck Automotive Technology for Technical Modifications and Parts and ZFdoc Bill Boudreau for the Transmission.

And lastly......If you have technical questions.....just post up

Here is the LATEST just this week on the Restoration of a 1995 ZR-1 which usually takes one day to take apart and modify a bit, one day to think, and one day to put back together (and these are short days)
1995 LT5 SPECIFIC TOP END REBUILD TRICKS

ZR1Bob

Cliff is right--if you can do some mechanical work, you will be fine with help from the extensive knowledge and experience here at the ZR1 Net Registry. But also, where do you live? There are many knowledgeable ZR-1 owners and experts (like Marc Haibeck in Chicago) as noted by Cliff in quite a few parts of the country and world. Parts are readily available. After Marc first serviced my current '95 in 2012 I have not had any mechanical issues in 10,000 miles of driving. I think the end-of-the-model-run later cars (93-95) might have fewer mechanical issues than early ones, all other things being equal, but there are many early ones that have been well cared for and serviced so they are also very reliable. As I have noted in other posts, Marc has owned a '93 since new, and I have owned a '93 (13 years) and a '95 (4 years) and we concluded that in a combined 180,000 miles of driving, we have never been stranded by the side of the road in our cars. Overall pretty darn reliable, although there will always be a few issues related to being 20-25 years old.--Bob

Crabs

Parts can be a little pricey, but not totally unexpected on a extremely low production number engine/body optioned car.
If you just want to wax one and drool over it in your car museum then find the lowest mile, untouched, virgin car you can afford. There are plenty of examples around sitting under car covers or in big plastic bags full of nitrogen with less than 100 miles on them.
If you want to drive one and enjoy it the was it was intended, then go out and find yourself a well loved, well taken care of, mildly updated version with all the naggy little problems taken care of already.
You won't have many problems the LT5 engine, most of the difficulties you will have will all be associated with the rest of the car. It is, after all, a 25 year old Chevrolet.

There's plenty of cars out there now that are newer, faster, safer, stop better, have better cup holders and are wifi connected.
But they aren't ZR1's.

'Crabs
'90ZR1 #792

yd328

Great info guys. I am familiar with the 20+ year old vehicle dynamic so that won't be a problem. I am certainly a driver and not looking for a garage queen. I would like to stay with something near stock, minor mods ok.
Also, no wifi needed.

Thanks again

FASTAZU

Rear tires, Just never last very long. 80% of the ZR-1 is still a C4. Over the last 14 years I have had 3 ZR-1's and with the exception of some elected motor mods (done by Marc Haibeck) Have done every thing myself. They have been great cars.

ghlkal

The cup holders are the biggest challenge but, you can fix that too.

Rkreigh

parts can still be had but you need to reach out to the clubs and ebay sometimes to scrounge them. ALL the LT5 castings are unique and little challenges like thermostat housings, cyl heads, cams, ect.... bring some expensive parts. the lt5 is super reliable and a well built stocker can go for 250k miles or more before freshening.

if you want a modded zr-1 find a good car and buy it done. mods are hyper expensive for performance.

I've put a few hundred k miles on the various ZR-1s I've owned and they are a fast and reliable car capable of running with the big dogs with good longivity

32valvesftw

Its a C4 Corvette so....rattles

WydGlydJim

My biggest challenge is keeping it under triple digits every time I drive it.

zr-1 guy

not all of them. I can say mine doesn't rattle

ZR1Bob

Mine doesn't rattle, but that is partly by virtue of being a '95. By the end of a model run (for any car) the engineers have usually worked out a lot of the kinks of earlier cars, including rattles. I notice a lot of little NVH fixes in my '95, even compared to my '93, mostly like thin foam pads or Velcro-like pieces in areas that usually rattle (think behind the dash or the top). But at the end of the day, any 20-plus year old car is going to have a few little rattles and things. For example I had a suspension clunk in the rear that we solved by replacing old, dried out sway bar bushings. And any of our cars will act like a flexible Flyer and sometimes rattle when the top is removed. Take the top off and go over some railroad tracks and you'll see what I mean! Still, really, really great cars. --Bob

bb62

It wasn't so much the end of the model run as it was the increased emphasis on NVH at that point in the early 90s. NVH as a discipline was in its infancy at that time. The later C4s benefited from much of the early work that was done.

Crabs

I never drive me slow enough so that I'd hear the rattles.


'Crabs

randy ransome

Both of mine, 91 and 95, are rattle free and they are driven briskly every time they leave the garage, trust me.

32valvesftw

Mine, very much like its driver, is missing some screws. I can and will order them for the car, the driver however..............

yd328

I have owned from an 85 to 96 both coupe and convertible so I hear ya there. The squeeks and rattles somewhat come with the territory, some more than others. I think besides design it also depends on how the car has been used and taken care of.

Gary

ZR1Bob

No question about that Gary. Also low miles and not much abuse helps as with any car. But replacing bushing, tightening things etc. as needed at regular service intervals helps a lot. --Bob