rickyrj1

Let Johnny look at it for ya, save some money and he can do any other preventive maint. while he's knee deep into it. Good Luck

secondchance

I vote for Jonny (Phrog) also.
I lost faith in just about all dealerships - either they are cluless, overcharge you on parts and labor or screw up your car. I know some mechanics know what they are doing with LT5s but...

ShawnZR-1

I was in a band about 7 years ago and have produced live sound and lights back in my day I drum for fun now!

FWIW, I don't believe the dealership AT ALL. If you have white smoke coming out of the tail pipe, I would lean toward coolant entering the combustion chamber.

Step 1: Do a pressure test on the cooling system. If it loses pressure, move on to step two.

Step 2: Remove all spark plugs from the cylinders and crank the engine over. You'll likely see water spurt out. If you do, something is allowing water into the cylinders. Move on to step three.

Step 3: Chemical test of the coolant. There's a kit you can buy that tests the coolant for combustion gasses. If it tests positive, it's more than likely a head gasket.

Johnny is completely competent to work on the LT5, he may be your best bet. If it's the head gaskets, it can probably be torn down in a good day's work and the heads sent to a machine shop to be resurfaced. While that's being done, clean everything up, check all connections in the valley under the plenum and either have the injectors flow tested or order a new set from FIC. Depending on Johnny's availability, you should be back on the road in a week.

Hell, depending on the timing, I might be able to head up there and lend a hand to a fellow ZR-1 owner!

xlr8nflorida

This is a no brainer, between Phrogs (Johnny) & Shawn you would be in good hands.

I would never trust my ZR-1 to a dealer. I do have a good friend that is a mechanic and he works on my car. He has had LT-5 training and has probably worked on more ZR-1s then most but its still not alot probably 20 or so. He is very smart though, an excellent wrench and careful too.

I think if you take it to anyone else besides phrogs or shawn, you are going to be looking at bills in the thousands when in reality, I think you could probably get it fixed worse case scenario under $1,000.

Good Luck.

Hard to beat Brothers of the Beast

ckulchar

ShawnZR-1

The more I read this:
, the more I lean toward that pesky MAP hose. Simple as can be and not one single bolt has to be turned to get your baby running perfect again!

secondchance

It could very well be. I popped that hose about 3 times. And, "yes" she will buck and grind like s**t!

Harsh20

Brother since you are in Thomasville call up to Archdale to Mike's Corvette on hwy 311 if you want a corvette specialist. Go up 62 and turn right on 311 and it will be on a side street on the left. you will see all the vettes outside covered up.
Local mechanics are at 55.00 bucks an hour for labor. Dealerships are at 95.00 bucks per hour with a 105.00 dollar diagnostic fee. There is also a guy in Thomasville that will come to you if needed. I saw his ad on craigslist.

ZRWON

sounds great LT5 EXPERIENCED???

bassplayer27360

That's awesome. I've heard of this guy, but never been to his shop. Thanks!

phrogs

All depends on if they have LT5 experience. I believe this is the reason he is in the situation he is in now the idiot that worked on it should have been man enough to say he didn't know what he was doing.

A1990

I agree, and don't compound the problem by selecting door Number 3, when the answer is right in front of you.

Of course, I am assuming that your offer to help this guy still stands.

ZRWON

I talked with "bassplayer27360" by phone yesterday to let him know we welcome him to the brotherhood and many will do their best to help, aka, phrogs, JVD, etc. He's really a very nice guy with an interesting car history and professional background! Sure hope he doesn't hear that dealer tell him that he needs big bucks to fix his car and it's in pieces like some of the horror stories we've all heard. If he gets that treatment I hope he gets it towed from the dealer and tells the dealer where he can stick the bill. Damn I hate those Chev/GM dealers who make owning a Vette such an unpleasant experience and it seems to get worse every month...IMHO

phrogs

bassplayer any word yet from the dealer?

Paul Workman

Taking the plenum off is really very simple - about a 45 minute job for a first timer, and about 20 or less second time around. a coil pack...I dunno, but someone will have a lead on one (bought mine from local Chevy dealer a couple years ago).

Jerry has your gaskets and you can swap plug wires while you're at it. DIY in a afternoon easy!

P.

bassplayer27360

Gentlemen, here's the latest. I picked up the ZR1 and it runs good. Not great, but good. No smoke, or any of the other stuff it was doing except, it hesitates when you punch the go pedal in full power mode, and doesn't pull to redline as good as it did when I got it. I need to get in touch with Jim Van Dorn or Phrogs to get an idea what's wrong now. The dealer replaced the plenum gaskets and a coil pack. Parts were fairly cheap. The labor? What do you think? Live and learn. I am so glad to have you guys to help me with this car. If the car hadn't been torn down at the dealership, I would have gotten it out of there and called Johnny. i really do l;ove this car and can't see me selling it. Thanks again for all your help. Any ideas about the hesitation would be appreciated. Have a great night!

ZRWON

Very pleased that repair event is behind you and it's running again. You are lucky Phrogs is availabel to help you but remenber you have a lot of other ZR-1 owners who will do what they can to make sure you drive your very KOTH "like you stole it"
I've driven a lot of different cars and none have ever equaled the thrill of a ZR-1 when it winds past 4000 rpms
Hope to see you at the 20th Anniversary Gathering in Bowling Green in May

FastZR1

Just saw this post as I don't venture over here much anymore. If you make it to the coast, let me know and I'll show you some things if you want to learn. $500 for a plenum pull is a lot. I would owe myself big bucks if I paid myself every time I pulled a plenum.
I'm not equipped to do head gaskets on an LT5, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night and have helped Phrogs tear apart an LT5 or two.

dallas916

I'd follow up on that coolant if I were you. make sure you don't have the orange death in there. If you do it will require a very good flush and replacement with new NON-long life green stuff.

Your present lack of performance sounds like vacuum leak(s). When you first turn the key to "on" how long does it take for the vacuum pump to stop running...and how often does it come back on?