Slowridr

I am looking at buying a zr1. If I buy this car I plan to drive it. I heard different things about dependability and parts availability. I don't plan to race only cruise and maybe the occasional 0 to 60 sprint. Okay maybe 0 to 100 sprint. That would be about it though. Please advise. Much appreciated.

zr-1 guy

I see no reason why not. though it is a fairly old car now so things are bound to go wrong. however most of the stuff is normal c4 stuff that goes wrong, the zr-1 stuff is bulletproof. Don't be afraid to beat on it, these cars don't like to be babied

VetteMed

Lots of ZR-1 out there in daily-driver duties. They can be very dependable, given their age, if they are well-maintained.

Goldcylon

100%

cv67

The 90 I had was a DD for its first 100k miles.
Sold it with 158 it now has almost 180k and is a DD, owners one and only car. Loves it. These motors are rock solid dependable.
Heck I replaced the original water pump at 158 just to do it and there was nothing wrong with it. Not going to get any Chevy pump doing that.

Just get one that was well maintained and runs mint to begin with and youll be fine.

Peter Mahr

It will be more reliable if it is driven regularly than if it sits in the garage.

Slowridr

I absolutely want a ZR1 that has decent mileage and was taken care of. What about finding parts if one should have things break. I understand that many parts are just C4 stuff but the LT5 is a different animal. What has been you alls experience with that.

VetteMed

I don't know of anyone on this forum or the ZR1.net forum that has a car sidelined due to lack of parts. Sure, there's some parts that are harder to find than others, but nothing that is going to keep a car out of commission for long. Alternators and starters can be rebuilt, water pumps are widely available and also can be rebuilt, ignition coils, and plug wires are still available new from GM, and all of the engine's "hard parts" are very durable, but spares are out there if needed. there's a few vendors who cater to the LT5, some parts aren't cheap, but almost all are available. In summary, while you can't go down to your local autozone for many parts, you shouldn't let that be the thing that stands between you and a ZR-1.

Slowridr

That's what I was hoping to hear. Now for the next question, I am in the Atlanta area. I think I read on the ZR-1 Registry (hope I got that correct) that there is someone in South Ga that is pretty good with the LT5 maintenance. Is that correct? Also how hard is it to learn these engines? I guess when I say learn I mean maybe mid level maintenance type work. I can do more than oil changes, spark plugs, and the like. Like someone previously mentioned, I can change a water pump. I can change an alternator, fuel pump, etc, etc. I will probably get a little squeamish going much past that. Not really good with auto electrical although I have been walked thru diagnosis on an L98 GTA I have and fixed several things on it. Just wondering how many of you guys do your own in depth maintenance work or do you figure on hauling the car to a LT5 specialist when certain things happen. I really hope to avoid much of this kinda stuff by buying a car in great shape. But am asking lots of questions on the front end to avoid any unknowns from popping up.

XLR8TIN

You are very lucky to be close to him
http://www.sgvette.com/

Z51JEFF

The only part of the engine that might act up down the road is the secondaries for the fuel injection system.The secondary fuel injectors rely on a vacuum system to open a second set of butterflies in the injector housings.This system has a stand alone electric vacuum pump and the pump or some related part will wear out.All of the replacement parts can be found easily and any question you could ever ask about these cars can be answered.I work on my own car as well as alot of owners.Based on your past experience with a wrench sounds to me like you would have no problem working on one of these.Alot of the vacuum hardware is under the plenum.What looks like a nightmare pulling the plenum is a piece of cake.You really have to get stupid to break one of these motors.Something to keep in mind the fuel injectors on the early cars will need to be replaced if they are the OEM injectors.There are some really nice cars out there that can be had at some low prices,good luck on your search.

phrogs

Drove my car for the longest time everyday. Round about 10 years

cv67

The maintenance you described is all youll ever have to do with the Z IF that.

Look at the motor as a sealed unit you shouldnt ever have to go inside it.

Rest is just bolted on the outside on accessory brackets easy enough.

DRM500RUBYZR-1

To qoute a very famous philosopher, some Greek or roman I think....

"Don't worry... BE HAPPY!"

You needn't, and you will be very much so.

BUY THE Z!


Marty
1FUNZR1

JThomas

I bought my '92 ZR-1 three years ago and it had 97,000 miles on it. Today it has 109,700 miles.

I have had injectors, altenator, starter, plug wires fuel pumps and other things on the car replaced, and it is still a blast to own and drive.

None of these items were hard to find, as a matter of fact, it has been fun locating parts for the car and meeting some of the "go to people in the "ZR-1 Hobby".

The brothers over at the ZR-1.net regostry are some of the best you can be associated with. If you have a problem. post up and ask the question, someone with experience will be more than willing to help you out.

Good luck!

C4Fanatic

Only 5,000????


Crap!

I've put over 13,000 on mine since I picked it up at Thanksgiving.

Oh, and ya missed out, I picked mine up in Atlanta...

mike100

The first year might be expensive if you have to do repairs that the previous owner let slide, but I've put 3500 miles on mine since January and ever since the injector job got finished, I haven't had any issues. If you drive it more regularly, it is better for it.

I'm not as worried about the LT5 issues as much as I was before. I'm capable of removing my own engine if need be, but parts could still be expensive. Fortunately, there are just as many dead ZR-1's as runners out there so the hard parts and cores are still available. I know of two junkers 10 miles down the road...people tend to stock their own spares in collections and trade amongst the collective as needed.

Paul Workman

I'm guessing it isn't 50/50 yet. But! You raise a good question, i,e., just how many are still on the road (in the US) I wonder?

P.

Slowridr

Just reading on another thread that the 1990s have valve seal (or potential) issues? Can you all chime in on that. I was looking hard at a 1990 and after we get settled into our new home this weekend I figured to go ahead and make a move on something. I really don't want to go more than 15-16K for one so that's why I figured the 1990 is my most likely option.

Also it looks like the prices probably wont get much lower than they are now for these C4 Zs so I see no need in waiting much more.

Thanks again for your input!

93Polo

David Fulcher is another good Vette Tech in the Atlanta area and yes he does know LT5s. I think he is at Jim Ellis Chevrolet now, he was at Jumper for years.

Many here like South Georgia Corvettes as well.