C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

ZL1 Corvette

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Old Jul 8, 2009 | 11:13 PM
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Default 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
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Old Jul 8, 2009 | 11:29 PM
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Default GMPP ZL1 Crate Engine

http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_08...tor/index.html
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Pwnage1337
Could someone build a clone motor?
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...
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 02:02 PM
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Remember the old formula:

How fast do you want to go? How much money do you have?

It always applies.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 02:19 PM
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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.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted by 'Shifter
Remember the old formula:

How fast do you want to go? How much money do you have?

It always applies.

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.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 02:39 PM
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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.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 03:15 PM
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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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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 03:21 PM
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You could build a small black 427 at those levels of performance with a Dart SHP or World Products block, and your ease of install just went through the roof compared to a big block.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Pwnage1337
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?
That car had open headers, gears, slicks, ect, ect. Factor stock they were lucky to make it into the 12's.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 03:30 PM
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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.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 03:34 PM
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I think a BBC (427!!) in a C4 would be fkin amazing. The torque would probably snap dana's in half.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 03:36 PM
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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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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 03:37 PM
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Yup....I chased the black one around for years...talk about a wild goose chase. Everyone thought I was
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Yup....I chased the black one around for years...talk about a wild goose chase. Everyone thought I was
You tried to buy the black ZL1?
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 08:48 PM
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 11:00 PM
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Default Bbc

Originally Posted by Pwnage1337
I think a BBC (427!!) in a C4 would be fkin amazing. The torque would probably snap dana's in half.

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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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 11:03 PM
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Nothing like the sight of those king size valve covers

Mike what size wheel/tire combo you have?
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Old Jul 10, 2009 | 01:02 AM
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Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Nothing like the sight of those king size valve covers

Mike what size wheel/tire combo you have?
15 inch rims. 295-50-15 rear. skinny fronts.
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Old Jul 10, 2009 | 01:11 AM
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Any more pics of the rear view? Trying to get 295s under the 67.
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