ZL1 Corvette
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
ZL1 Corvette
The motor from the ZL1 corvette was supposedly rated at 430 HP from the factory, but was dynoed at 550+. This would be insane in a C4.
Could someone build a clone motor? It was aluminum block, aluminum heads, and aluminum all over the place.
http://www.corvette-zl1.com/History.html
Running a 10.60 @ 132 in a street car? OMG WTFBBQ
Could someone build a clone motor? It was aluminum block, aluminum heads, and aluminum all over the place.
http://www.corvette-zl1.com/History.html
Running a 10.60 @ 132 in a street car? OMG WTFBBQ
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,261
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From: O'Fallon Missouri
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
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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...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,392
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From: Merritt Island, FL
It's a BBC, not an SBC, so you say goodbye to heat/AC and probably some other things along the way. It's just not worth it when there's options out there for making just as much hp with an LT- or LS- series motor.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: middle of Illinois
Performance and Reliablity are inversely related, while Money is directly related to both.
If R = Reliability, P = Performance, and $ = money, I believe the formula would look something like: $ = R x P
In order to leave $ the same and increase P, R must decrease. To increase P without decreasing R, $ must increase.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 85
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Why??
Why not!!!!
Sure you could have the same power with a built Lt1, or LS1, or any sbc. You could do it with a turbo 6 if your so inclined.
To each there own. I think it would be cool to have a clone as it WAS a factory car.
Why not!!!!
Sure you could have the same power with a built Lt1, or LS1, or any sbc. You could do it with a turbo 6 if your so inclined.
To each there own. I think it would be cool to have a clone as it WAS a factory car.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
I'm not actually considering this lol, but could it be done in a C4? how come that motor only made about 550 hp and carried the car to a 10.60 quarter and todays 630 hp ZR-1 only takes the car into the 11's? Parasitic drag?
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: O'Fallon Missouri
That car had open headers, gears, slicks, ect, ect. Factor stock they were lucky to make it into the 12's.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
You can make that kind of power in a sbc these days with the parts that are available today. Yes you can stuf a BBC in a C4, its been done here before. Personally I like em, seems fitting in a Vette.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: O'Fallon Missouri
I have an older friend (Floyd) that was an engineer at the Corvette plant when the few ZL1's were made. The yellow ZL1 Vette that is still in existance was a factory test car. Floyd said it would overheat so bad and was very difficult to drive, that no one wanted to drive it. These test cars needed to get 3000 miles before they would sell them off. Because no one was driving the car they took a drill and spun the odometer up to 3000 miles just to get rid of it. From what I heard it sat on a dealers lot for a few years before it was sold. Can you imagine what the car that nobody wanted would be worth today.
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Bbc
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
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