Bringing THUMPER Back To Life PROJECT

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Well, I've threatened to do this since last Fall. The time $$$$$ has finally come to make it happen. This is the year to make the car mechanically sound. Once that is accomplished, the cosmetics will begin.

Background
The car is a 1990 #702. It's a no-hit 40k mile car from Georgia. Sounds nice, huh? Well, the kid that had it blew a head gasket or something and decided he would make a bracket car out of it. He took a really nice Z and just absolutely killed it!!!!! He stripped this thing as clean as you can get under the hood, ripped the gages apart, removed every bit of the fuel and brake systems....everything. The car is Blk/Blk and God aweful UGLY at this point.

I bought the car for $3500 with no drivetrain and alot of missing parts. I've bought just about all of the parts needed to put it back on the road. I only need a few more parts and probably a small fortune of little incidentals. We'll see.

I also bought Dominic's wrecked 92 and a 92 LT5. The LT5 will be used for this car. "PETE" of FBI and Sauage fame is doing the major mechanical work for me and I will handle the rest.

You might ask if I'm a glutton for punishment of just plain nuts????? Well, a little of both. I enjoy "the build" more than driving them. But I want a driver that I can enjoy my way, so I'm about to venture into ZR-1 Day Camp.

The laundry list of mods is as follows:
* ZR-1 Convertible Conversion
* Brake Upgrade with Stainless Lines
* Headers
* 4:10's
* Hurst Short Throw Shifter
* Port/Polish Top End (no heads at this time)
* Custom Chip and Tune
* Coils and Injectors
* Trans Rebuild
* Powder Coat Engine
* Powder Coat Dymag GenII's Argent Silver color 17x11 Front, 17x13 Rear
* Tires 315's Fronts, 345's Rear
* 1996 Style Sport Seats
* Upgrade Radiator
* FBI Free Flow Flapper Exhaust (center exit)......eventually. OBX for now.
* Euro Tail Lamp Kit
* Own Design Body Enhancements
* Jet Stream Blue Paint work

As the project progresses, I'll update this thread like I did the UK Graveyard 88 EX5023 Prototype thread. I hope everyone enjoys watching the car's restoration and modification.

Here's a few pictures of THUMPER now, as the UGLY Z.
http://i39.tinypic.com/2ceryp0.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/11w6lwx.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/29o5xuc.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/34xgv2r.jpg

[efnfast]

Wow, looks like you've got your work cut out for you.

[902066]

Thanks for letting us follow along. When done I bet it will be gorgeous.

[bdw18_123]

Cool, I love following restore threads. After finishing my own long restore project, I know the amount of work it takes to finish them.

I'll be looking forward to the updates, especially the convertible conversion part.

[tomtom72]

Holy smokes Brett! Now that's what I call a kit car!


:happy1: subscribed! I have to watch this ZR-1 being born again!




:cheers:
Tom

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Well, the cleaning started on the LT5 today. It's not
TOO bad but does have some thick grime in places. Mostly the sides and around the oil fitting area.

What's the best cleaner to remove the grease? What has everyone had good results with. Cleaning processes??? Testimonials???

http://i41.tinypic.com/ot3zg7.jpg

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Ordered and/or bought a bunch of parts so far.

OBX Exhaust - Just using it until I build a center exit FBI unit.
Coils
Injectors
Brake lines under the car (they were taken off)
Braided Stainless Flex Brake Lines
Oil Pressure Switch
Coolant Hoses
Upper Alternator bracket
Alternator
Water Pump
C5 Front Calipers and C4 Rear Calipers
Trans Parts for rebuild
NOS Console Door
OBX Headers
AC Lines
Brake Booster
Master Cylinder
Clutch Slave Cylinder
Throttle Cable
ECM
ECM bracket
Long Wheel Studs for 13" wheels
Fuel Tank

[Kevin]

so we can count on you coming up with lots of NLA parts for our cars then?

jesus what a fuster cluck

[A26B]

I use spray brake cleaner by the case, with a short bristle paint prush ans some of the disposable ss wire brushes about the size of a tooth brush.

[RHanselman]

So... Done by BG this year?

;)

[VetteMed]

Another vote for brake cleaner. I've probably used a truckload in the time I've owned this car.

[88GTAChuck]

As strange is it might sound, I use WD40. Just spray on, let is sit for a bit.. start wiping or brushing, spray on some more, repeat till your happy. It's amazing what WD40 will remove.

[LGAFF]

What happened to the original motor for the car? too bad it wasn't rebuilt and sitting on an engine stand somewhere

[-=Jeff=-]

What happened to the original motor for the car? too bad it wasn't rebuilt and sitting on an engine stand somewhere

Man.. That's just MEAN...
:dancing

[Blue Flame Restorations]

so we can count on you coming up with lots of NLA parts for our cars then?

jesus what a fuster cluck

I'm probably using up all of the parts available out there. :o

[Blue Flame Restorations]

What happened to the original motor for the car? too bad it wasn't rebuilt and sitting on an engine stand somewhere


Ahhhhhhhhaaaaaa! :p

[Blue Flame Restorations]

I'll try a little of everything mentioned to get the motor clean. It seems that someone used Simple Green?

[bdw18_123]

I'll try a little of everything mentioned to get the motor clean. It seems that someone used Simple Green?

Yeah, I used diluted simple green on mine. I did also use some brake clean and it actually works better than the simple green, but it would get really expensive to clean everything with just brake clean. Those cans seem to empty out pretty fast, especially if there is lots of grease.

On mine, I used a pressure washer (2600psi IIRC) after spraying the worst areas with simple green and letting it sit for a bit.

[LGAFF]

brake cleaner, simple green...yep got to get it nice and clean like this one.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q115/lgaff/Picture081.jpg

[LGAFF]

I couldn't get this stain to scrub off

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q115/lgaff/DSCN0391-2.jpg

[Blue Flame Restorations]

I couldn't get this stain to scrub off

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q115/lgaff/DSCN0391-2.jpg


I'm sure glad I don't like black...........:p

Heck, all I need is a grinder and a set of stamps!!!! Mine will say 702 too!!!!!!!!

[RHanselman]

Are those Dymags?

[LGAFF]

Yes bigguns.....I owned them for 6hrs....

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Here is a pic of a center exit exhaust setup. It's on a midyear with C4 suspension but I like the setup. This "may" be the way I do it when the time comes. It's OBX until the time comes.

http://i44.tinypic.com/jkklc3.jpg

[LGAFF]

WOW

[tomtom72]

Yea wow is right! I don't mean to be the complainer here, but that system has way too much restriction with the mufflers positioned like that?

I would think that maybe I would try to use some stuff from this company to take all the bends out of the system and get a straight section under where the spare tire carrier used to be?
http://www.classicchambered.com/classic/products.html

:o
Tom

[RHanselman]

I bet you could fit the C5/6 system in there...

[ScottZ95ZR1]

I would think that maybe I would try to use some stuff from this company to take all the bends out of the system and get a straight section under where the spare tire carrier used to be?
http://www.classicchambered.com/classic/products.html

:o
Tom

I was thinking something along the same lines as Tom. One could install an OEM-style spare tire delete brace with exhaust hangers attached dead center.

[gbmidyear66]

Re...

The laundry list of mods is as follows:
* ZR-1 Convertible Conversion
* Brake Upgrade with Stainless Lines
* Headers
* 4:10's
* Hurst Short Throw Shifter
* Port/Polish Top End (no heads at this time)
* Custom Chip and Tune
* Coils and Injectors
* Trans Rebuild
* Powder Coat Engine
* Powder Coat Dymag GenII's Argent Silver color 17x11 Front, 17x13 Rear
* Tires 315's Fronts, 345's Rear
* 1996 Style Sport Seats
* Upgrade Radiator
* FBI Free Flow Flapper Exhaust (center exit)......eventually. OBX for now.
* Euro Tail Lamp Kit
* Own Design Body Enhancements
* Jet Stream Blue Paint work

Wow, sounds amazing - that would be my ideal C4, I love Jetstream (nearly matches my Nassau Blue 67). Mods are almost exactly what I would do (if only I had the time and talent...)

[A26B]

or.....
Something like this?? (kinda noisy though)

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z224/A26B/PA302734.jpg

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z224/A26B/TQES21.jpg

[ScottZ95ZR1]

That's just beautiful, Jerry. :notworthy

[Blue Flame Restorations]

or.....
Something like this?? (kinda noisy though)

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z224/A26B/PA302734.jpg

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z224/A26B/TQES21.jpg

THAT'S THE TICKET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I like it ALOT.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Look what I found today!!!!!! Can you say CONVERTIBLE ZR-1??????

http://i44.tinypic.com/vxciv7.jpg

[Blue Flame Restorations]

I was thinking something along the same lines as Tom. One could install an OEM-style spare tire delete brace with exhaust hangers attached dead center.


I'm not crazy about the bends. I mainly like the way the mufflers are hid under the tank with a center exit. Sideways is probably not the way to go though. I agree with TomTom on that.

[tomtom72]

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc123/tomZR1/1-31-12%20%20%20CTMachining/SSWksHeadersAndOBXCatBack018.jpg


Hey Brett, this is what it looks like!:mrgreen:

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Should have mine this week. Looks good.

[Z51JEFF]

Another vote for WD-40.Id spray in on,let it sit for awhile and start brushin,any stained areas Id scrub with a brass brush then rinse everything with Simple Green,not diluted followed by Windex.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Another vote for WD-40.Id spray in on,let it sit for awhile and start brushin,any stained areas Id scrub with a brass brush then rinse everything with Simple Green,not diluted followed by Windex.


Thanks, Jeff.:handshak:

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Got the motor degreased today. Four cans of brake cleaner, one can of degreaser and a power washer. Taped off the orifices with Gorilla tape and shoved wash cloths up the exhaust openings. Pretty easy, really.

Just have to clean the valley. Didn't want to power wash that area.

[carter200]

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc123/tomZR1/1-31-12%20%20%20CTMachining/SSWksHeadersAndOBXCatBack018.jpg


Hey Brett, this is what it looks like!:mrgreen:

Tom,
That is so sweet I got a cavity just looking at it :dancing

[Blue Flame Restorations]

LT5 dirty and clean. Replacing most or all sensors and switches, water pump, alternator, coils, wires, plugs, injectors, hoses, removing secondaries. Next, port/polish plenum and IH's, Powder Coat all upper end pieces, Carter LT5 coolant pipes.

NOTE: All of the breather box bolts were loose. Tightened them up and used blue loctite on each bolt.


Before
http://i42.tinypic.com/ibkn46.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/f9iij5.jpg

After
Shadows make it look dirty in places but it's clean, believe me. Arghh....
http://i44.tinypic.com/1eopl.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/68hqpi.jpg

[carter200]

Nice job! :cheers:

[VetteMed]

Looking good!

[Daniel_Mc]

Looking good!

[oricale]

Hey Pete...I got the car running, and I am ready to send the chip to you...I had a question though:



Would you have another chip you could make for me(And once I got it I would send over mine)?...I would paypal you a deposit if ness,..this way I can get the chip done and still fine tune this car a bit(high Idle,exhaust ect)



Dempsey

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Picked up the 91 from Rick Mueller, Austin, TX. Monday morning. Just got back to IN this evening.
Rick believes the car was bought new by Paul Denhert.
The car had a complete top end done by Vette Doctors $9k, Watsons, 4:10's, Coil Overs, short throw, exhaust, Aluminum radiator, battery relocation behind passenger seat, roll bar and harness bar, belts, etc, etc. What a car! Not my favorite color (Turquoise) but geezzzzz!!!!!! This thing will be awesome to play with!!!!!!!

NOW..............what to do with Thumper? Keep it or sell it???? I have everything to put it back together except that I have to use my motor temprarily until the 91's motor is repaired. I have a ton of parts and a no hit car to ponder over.

[LGAFF]

Dymags going on this car?

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Dymags going on this car?


DEFINITELY

[LGAFF]

So are you selling 702?

[Blue Flame Restorations]

So are you selling 702?


Considering it. I still have the body tub from 1990 #444 to use as a platform for a convertible conversion and the AeroBody panel widening project.