ZL1 Corvette
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,797
Likes: 2,721
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,740
Likes: 0
From: A Pretty Part of MO
Find your self a older camaro, chevelle, or nova and put the BBC in. There is tons of room to work on them in there. When ever I open my el camino hood everyone is amazed. Not many BBC's running around now days. My BBC sets of car alarms in parking lots
Corvette Mike
Corvette Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Drifting
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 1
From: Garden Grove CA
For probably less money than an "authentic" ZL1 engine you could have this kind of power in your C4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cccYWADbHPw
If you were to switch the modern Z06 manual transmission for a drag prepped automatic with a high stall converter (the 10.6 e.t. 132 mph pass was hardly a normal production setup), then add real slicks - i see no reason why it wouldn't be well into the 10's. Add a suitably lumpy cam into the Z06 and say hello to ~ 80 more hp or more.
You can play all these bench racing games all day long - I believe there was a Lingenfelter prepped n/a Z06 that has dipped into the 9's.
550 engine horsepower is fun, not insane. One of my other cars is a hot rod '65 El Camino, 496 BBC, n/a, in full street trim it runs 10.8's at 125 mph. Years ago that would have made me king of the street - not anymore with all the 1,000+ hp street beasts out there.
Thomas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cccYWADbHPw
If you were to switch the modern Z06 manual transmission for a drag prepped automatic with a high stall converter (the 10.6 e.t. 132 mph pass was hardly a normal production setup), then add real slicks - i see no reason why it wouldn't be well into the 10's. Add a suitably lumpy cam into the Z06 and say hello to ~ 80 more hp or more.
You can play all these bench racing games all day long - I believe there was a Lingenfelter prepped n/a Z06 that has dipped into the 9's.
550 engine horsepower is fun, not insane. One of my other cars is a hot rod '65 El Camino, 496 BBC, n/a, in full street trim it runs 10.8's at 125 mph. Years ago that would have made me king of the street - not anymore with all the 1,000+ hp street beasts out there.
Thomas
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: Oakwood GA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 773
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis MN
BIG BLOCKS
I prefer the small block in the C4.To me big blocks belong in muscle cars.That yellow Zl-1 is beautiful.20 gs for that engine-only would be worth it if you did a clone(corvette or camaro Zl-1).Well played on the topic & article
I prefer the small block in the C4.To me big blocks belong in muscle cars.That yellow Zl-1 is beautiful.20 gs for that engine-only would be worth it if you did a clone(corvette or camaro Zl-1).Well played on the topic & article
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,934
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
My philosophy is "Roll your own", and have something with reasonable street manners and some decent handling.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 235
From: Bangkok, Thailand
Don't forget, that a ZL1 Camaro would get about 5-6 mpg in town and maybe 10-11 on the highway (like my old 440 Six Pack Super Bee). Even an aluminum big block can't come anywhere CLOSE to being the weight of a small block, so forget handling.
Typical of the factory hot-rods in those days, yes they were cool, awesome and would pin you in your seat like you can't beleive, but living with them on a day-today basis sucks if it's your only car. If it's just a weekend toy it doesn't matter so much.
The problem you run into after a while is usually a combination of tickets and realizing just how much you've sunk into a car that ins't practical for much of anything other than racing. The only real reason to have a ZL-1 is to go drag racing because you need a GOOD suspension to put that power to the ground. Going REALLY fast in a straight line is cool at first, but the thrill wears off, you get a reputation so no one wants to run you and then what?
Give me a modern car any day - comfortable ride, a/c, cruise control and mileage that muscle cars never even dreamed of!
Typical of the factory hot-rods in those days, yes they were cool, awesome and would pin you in your seat like you can't beleive, but living with them on a day-today basis sucks if it's your only car. If it's just a weekend toy it doesn't matter so much.
The problem you run into after a while is usually a combination of tickets and realizing just how much you've sunk into a car that ins't practical for much of anything other than racing. The only real reason to have a ZL-1 is to go drag racing because you need a GOOD suspension to put that power to the ground. Going REALLY fast in a straight line is cool at first, but the thrill wears off, you get a reputation so no one wants to run you and then what?
Give me a modern car any day - comfortable ride, a/c, cruise control and mileage that muscle cars never even dreamed of!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,934
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Don't forget, that a ZL1 Camaro would get about 5-6 mpg in town and maybe 10-11 on the highway (like my old 440 Six Pack Super Bee). Even an aluminum big block can't come anywhere CLOSE to being the weight of a small block, so forget handling. The facts say otherwise. I suggest you go look up the weight of a ZL-1 versus a cast iron based small block.
Typical of the factory hot-rods in those days, yes they were cool, awesome and would pin you in your seat like you can't beleive, but living with them on a day-today basis sucks if it's your only car. If it's just a weekend toy it doesn't matter so much.
The problem you run into after a while is usually a combination of tickets and realizing just how much you've sunk into a car that ins't practical for much of anything other than racing. The only real reason to have a ZL-1 is to go drag racing because you need a GOOD suspension to put that power to the ground. Going REALLY fast in a straight line is cool at first, but the thrill wears off, you get a reputation so no one wants to run you and then what?
Give me a modern car any day - comfortable ride, a/c, cruise control and mileage that muscle cars never even dreamed of!
Typical of the factory hot-rods in those days, yes they were cool, awesome and would pin you in your seat like you can't beleive, but living with them on a day-today basis sucks if it's your only car. If it's just a weekend toy it doesn't matter so much.
The problem you run into after a while is usually a combination of tickets and realizing just how much you've sunk into a car that ins't practical for much of anything other than racing. The only real reason to have a ZL-1 is to go drag racing because you need a GOOD suspension to put that power to the ground. Going REALLY fast in a straight line is cool at first, but the thrill wears off, you get a reputation so no one wants to run you and then what?
Give me a modern car any day - comfortable ride, a/c, cruise control and mileage that muscle cars never even dreamed of!
Chevrolet's marketing of the ZL-1 engine never made sense to me. It's an amusing engine in a Camaro, but that platform doesn't have the capability to showcase the advantages of that engine. The majority of Chevrolet's racing success with variants of that engine all occured in road racing (with Greenwood's Corvettes and McLaren's Can Am cars).
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,934
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Thanks. I appreciate your kind sentiment.
I'll probably have more this week. Right now I'm just measuring and filing the ring gaps. It's just an incredibly repetitive, mindnumbing process. Assuming I don't screw anything up I'm hoping to start stuffing pistons in tomorrow.
I'd like to hear more about the setup in your avatar.
I'll probably have more this week. Right now I'm just measuring and filing the ring gaps. It's just an incredibly repetitive, mindnumbing process. Assuming I don't screw anything up I'm hoping to start stuffing pistons in tomorrow.
I'd like to hear more about the setup in your avatar.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 541
Likes: 60
From: Auburndale Florida 1990 Vert, 6 speed
If you click on my avatar and go to my album page you can see more pictures. The black vette is a modified 90 with a Lingenfelter 540 cu engine and a ZF6 transmission. Uses a stock computer with a modified tune. Uses the stock hood. Both cars in my album are my dad's. I also have a 90 vette but it is mostly stock and nowhere near as fun to drive. I would be glad to answer any questions.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 126
From: S.L.C. UT
yes, you could build one or buy the crate version, but WHY??? that thing would be so user UN-friendly on the street, i think again, WHY??? for the total $$$ involved, you would be better off buying a c6z06, or for just the price of the zl-1 motor alone, you would be much better off buying a c4zr-1 or c5z06 - those cars may not be 10 sec machines, but i'd take any of those over any 10 sec thrill ride anyday...
there's more to life than going fast in a straight line...
there's more to life than going fast in a straight line...
But I have to agree, a modern Vette with great street manners,awesome power and all the creature comforts, and decent gas mileage is pretty damn nice. You really need 2 cars, each to different things.
