What to look out for when buying a Z?
 

Hi guys. Hard to believe but I may be able to get into a Z in a couple of months. I’m going to check a 91 out over this weekend that is in storage. It has about 58k on the odometer. Just wondering what to keep an eye out for as far as problematic issues. I know the old saying of everything around the engine wearing out except the engine itself but want to make sure I’m thorough.

I’ve been through the valley on a 91 replacing coils, plug wires, gaskets, and vacuum lines but that was 12 years ago and I haven’t seen an LT5 since then. Also, given everything checks out and for the mileage what’s a fair asking price by the seller? They’re asking $17,500. Red with saddle interior.

There is a buyers guide on the registry. http://www.zr1netregistry.com/Market...yersGuide.aspx

Someone may know the car your looking at on the forums. :cheers:

Where is this ZR-1?
Is it advertised?

That's a great source. I've been over on the site but never made a login name.



It's a small dealer, I just happened to stumble across an ebay ad while window shopping that happened to be local. Here's the link to the website with the car:

https://www.webbermotorsllc.com/chevrolet-corvette-zr1

Guy said it's in storage and for how long I'm not sure.

You seem familiar having been under the plenum and as you know.....injectors, vacuum, starter solenoid, valley drain, plugs and that be it......check my signature for 5 ZR1-LT5 restorations (three 90s, one 91, and one 95). And watch out because red with tan interior are my colors :lol:

The price seems more than reasonable from a dealer.
It has great oil pressure and a great charge rate when started cold looking at the dash (idle seems to be settling in perfectly from 1,000 down to 800 I would assume).
Looks like a very nice ZR-1 :thumbs:

Car looks good, hope it all works out:thumbs:

Thanks, I know who to bug now when I get one.:D I'm trying not to get my hopes up just yet. But it's beautiful from the pictures. If this guy's available on Saturday to pull it out of storage to let me check it out, I'll see if I can take some additional pics.

It's priced to sell. Might not dawdle too long! Injectors (alcohol issues) would be top of the list. Vacuum lines, which you know isn't a difficult nor terribly expensive item. Starter solenoid needs servicing soon. A fuel pressure leak down test is in order and fuel pressure check. The rest is C4 stuff which you know well.

Hope it works out for ya. You'd be a welcome member of the ZR1 NetRegistry club. :thumbs:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ed-zr-1-a.html

Welcome and Good luck, once you own one you’ll never go back.

H
:cheers:

Check the floor for cracks or holes.

How?

Cracks or holes of consequence are easily seen when looking from underneath the car. Looking especially near the "jacking points" indicated on the rocker panels.

If the the jack(s) used were either in the wrong location, or had a "cup" that was to wide to be contained on the frame's "pinch weld", the fiberglass floor pan can have cracks or even holes in it.

A fiberglass repair kit is all that is necessary to make repairs - no big deal, far as repairing goes. But, left undone, water could get in and damage the carpet in the foot well.

It's a "C4 thing". It's not a big deal to fix: not uncommon either, as a general rule.

That car is sold....OP did you buy it?

Look underneath the car with a flashlight?

Unfortunately, it was not me. I got shot down by the credit union on a classic car loan a few Saturdays ago. Kinda sucks as I had a vehicle loan paid in full with them no problem prior but the classic car loans must be a little more strict. Plan was to get prequalified then go check it out. I didn’t want to be a tire kicker wasting the guy’s time to pull it out of storage. Good news is I don’t have a whole lot I need to do before that “no” becomes a “yes” in the next few months and I can get one. That one really stings as the price per the pictures was amazing.


I have another one I’m watching that’s been on sale for a while.....and I’m going to remain tight lipped about its as I’m a little paranoid to mention details as I suspect one of our very own may have scooped this one up after I posted it. Congrats to whoever got it: money talks and bullshit walks and in a couple of months I’ll give it another try.

Plenty of nice cars out there,with money in hand you will find a nice car.

Try lightstream.com. They are part of Suntrust. They approved my ZR1 loan in less than an hour. Then again I only did about 2/3 of what I paid on loan which was about 50% of book value.

I used to work with SunTrust. Their risk profile is moderate and they’re very conservative on their lending guidelines. Which is amazing considering how many low to moderate income areas their branches are in, coupled with their “not enough loans being made” attitude with their bankers. After being in sales with them for four years, I’ll tell you they’re a tough nut to crack if asking for a loan. We pushed lightstream to people when it first came out as a quick and easy way to apply but people didn’t understand their requests went to the same underwriters as if applying in branch. I’ll definitely give the credit union another go around but no more hard pulls on credit for a few months.

Thanks for the tips and suggestions, guys! I’ll have one before 2018 is over.

Hey man I give you props on not being a tire kicker. The world needs more people like that. You'll find the Z:thumbs:

I my opinion now is the time to buy. We may have reached the bottom of ZR-1 pricing. With a strong economy and more disposable income the generation that coveted these cars when they were new is now getting to the point where they can afford one. Give the limited number of these cars price should start to rise. We can only hope.
H
:cheers: