Pre production ZR-1/King of Hill Pictures

[Tyler Townsley]

I will be uploading my early car pictures here over time, they start with Keiths car and the 1989 pilot and active suspension cars.

http://thepandatrap.com/gallery/ZR-1s

If you have some images you want to add either post them in this thread or send them to me.

Tyler

Yes its my domain name.

[LGAFF]

Great stuff, thanks for sharing

[Daniel_Mc]

Very cool! Thank you Tyler. :thumbsup:

Daniel

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Always like to see these pics. My car is the one in the Colorado mountains.

[Tyler Townsley]

Comments/pictures added. I was asked long ago to do an article for the magazine but could never sit down to get it done. This is in lue of an article so feel free to link the Gallery in the electronic version with a note that it is an ongoing exercise. Ed how about some graveyard pictures!!!!

Tyler

[Z51JEFF]

This is the first time Ive seen the metallic red car.Exactly how many PRE 1990 cars are out there in private hands?That red car is GORGEOUS!

[alwayscode390]

That was awesome, thanks for the share :) ---

[Tyler Townsley]

Exactly how many PRE 1990 cars are out there in private hands?

I don't remember how many 1989s were sold at BJ. 5 or 6 I think. Other than those there is one narrow body 1989 (of 5 I think), 1 active suspension car and the white engineering car (in photos on gallery) in quiet private hands. I would not be surprised if there are more 89s out there. I firmly believe the 3 pre 89s currently known are the only ones out there. The earliest example the Heritage Museum has is 89 s/n 2 and it does have one of the narrow body cars. The NCM does not have any.

Tyler

[Tyler Townsley]

That was awesome, thanks for the share :) ---
Keep checking back as I will be adding more pictures with comments in the future. I added several this morning.

I will be picking up EX5014 within the next few months in Detroit and probably stopping by Britts, if you are interested in seeing the car along my route back to Florida let me know.

Tyler

[Z51JEFF]

Thank for the info Tyler-Brett.One of these days..................before I die Ill see one of these.

[Tyler Townsley]

Added 10 more graveyard pictures.

Tyler

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Those are pics Geoff had taken of EX5023.

[Vetman]

I visited ncm in 1999 and remember a whole section with about ten unusual zr 1's and I believe some 89's, one convertiable, cut a way zr 1 and five lt 5 development motors. Since then I was determined to own a z. Took until a year ago that I could afford one

[1989ZR1#74]

From my CF post:

#003 Red/Red Press car GM owns in Heritage Center
#004 Brochure car in private hands (mine!)
#013 Pilot car painted as a 24 hour record replica. (known to exist but not where)
#014 Crushed car now restored
#040 ZR-12 Falconer V12 at Museum (or was at anyway) GM owns
#045 24 Hour record car at NCM GM Owns
#069 Geneava Show car (yellow) at NCM GM owns
#074 Purple ZR-32 companion car & media car (in private hands mine)
#076 White Engineering car in private hands
#078 DRM car in private hands
#080 Crushed car now "Restored" owned by Mike Yeager
#081 Snake Skinner, Rick Hendrick owns
#084 Snake Skinner II Engineer development car in private hands

Tyler the Heritage car is 003 the Red/Red media car that was at a museum in Ill until about 10 years ago. #003 is the red ZR-1 shown in almost all early press releases:

http://www.syreal.com/003Hotrod.jpg

Note Low "Corvette"

This is #002:

http://www.syreal.com/002Yellow.jpg

[1989ZR1#74]

I don't remember how many 1989s were sold at BJ. 5 or 6 I think. Other than those there is one narrow body 1989 (of 5 I think), 1 active suspension car and the white engineering car (in photos on gallery) in quiet private hands. I would not be surprised if there are more 89s out there. I firmly believe the 3 pre 89s currently known are the only ones out there. The earliest example the Heritage Museum has is 89 s/n 2 and it does have one of the narrow body cars. The NCM does not have any.

Tyler

4 89's sold in 2009

#074
#078
#081 Snake Skinner
#084 Snake Skinner II

2 1990 Actives:

EX5881 at Scottsdale
EX5886 at Palm Beach

1 Narrow 1989 Vert

DR1

1 Sold at 2010 BJ

#004

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Eric. I ended up with an 89 Active Suspension motor

[1989ZR1#74]

Eric. I ended up with an 89 Active Suspension motor

Which one?

These are the three I knew were out there
K5800026
K5800028
K5800029

Eric

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Possibly #58

[1989ZR1#74]

Possibly #58


Can't be I own #058 :(

It has to be VIN #18 to #33 MM# in the 210 to 230 range

EWJ

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Looks like my 58 in marker stands for Active. Where on the plenum and which side of the block above the oil pan?

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Eric, I have #223.
Vin #029 is MM 0421 CZA 223, according to your data. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

Next on the list, Phase I and Phase II motors for display purposes only.

Side of block
http://i41.tinypic.com/zwxif4.jpg

Plenum
http://i44.tinypic.com/2duw8d0.jpg

[1989ZR1#74]

Looks like my 58 in marker stands for Active. Where on the plenum and which side of the block above the oil pan?

Brett could it be a part of this number:

http://www.syreal.com/058lt5vin.jpg

1K58 =

K = 1989
58 = ZR-1

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Brett could it be a part of this number:

http://www.syreal.com/058lt5vin.jpg

1K58 =

K = 1989
58 = ZR-1

It's in blk marker on the rear RH flange.

I'll check the rest of the numbers today

[Tyler Townsley]

It's in blk marker on the rear RH flange.

I'll check the rest of the numbers today

K58 on the block no vin durative on the block, the plenum has 223.

I have a Phase 1 short block and the first motor from Queenie is yours if you want it, includes the engine build book.

Tyler

[Blue Flame Restorations]

K58 on the block no vin durative on the block, the plenum has 223.

I have a Phase 1 short block and the first motor from Queenie is yours if you want it, includes the engine build book.

Tyler


You do know that I love you. LOL Of course, I want them both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My goal is to display the following LT5's on custom stands, all cleaned up and pretty.

PhaseI--- PhaseII--- Active LT5--- Production LT5

I'll only have to get one more production LT5. My extra is slated to go into the Convertible Shinoda car.

[1989ZR1#74]

You do know that I love you. LOL Of course, I want them both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My goal is to display the following LT5's on custom stands, all cleaned up and pretty.

PhaseI--- PhaseII--- Active LT5--- Production LT5

I'll only have to get one more production LT5. My extra is slated to go into the Convertible Shinoda car.


Should look for a Phase III too. There is a lot of differences from III to IV.

Eric

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Should look for a Phase III too. There is a lot of differences from III to IV.

Eric


PhaseIII an 89 production or Early 89 production?

[1989ZR1#74]

PhaseIII an 89 production or Early 89 production?

Phase IIIs were in the first 17 89 Pilots

[1989ZR1#74]

Actually your 223 is probably a Phase III. Based on the HOTB the first Phase IV was produced by MM on June 15th 1988. Check for any kind of casting date to see when #223 was created. Eric

[Corvettes White]

Phase IIIs were in the first 17 89 Pilots


Eric, how do we know this? Tks, George

[1989ZR1#74]

Eric, how do we know this? Tks, George

According to the Pilot build sheets the last pilot built was #003 (they were not built in VIN order) #003 began being assembled shortly after the 82 day of 1988 (March 22, 1988)

To support this no VIN sequence data, #004 has a kick in behind 116920 (meaning build right after 1988 C4 #16920) and #010 (yours) has a kick in behind 116462 (#16462).

According to Heart of the Beast (HOTB) Phase IV motors did not start being assembled until 6/15/1988. This is also somewhat supported by the Lotus report on the LT5 from January 26th. According to the report the first Phase III engine is either #69 or #70 arrived early in January 1988 or late December 1987. This was also the first MM engine manufatured as stated in HOTB (Page 64) "We finally got all the parts by Chrismas Eve.... At 7:00 pm, we cranked it over. It sputtered then fired up. We were all jumping around and hugging each other, and I think we even were crying" I suggest everyone interested, read Page 63 to 66 in HOTB for the timeframe for Phase III. #070 became the first validation engine. An interesting side note is the Cam cover logo design was not released to MM until 1/7/88 so no logo covers are before 1/7 logo covers after....

[Tyler Townsley]

The 400 hour engine was a modified Phase 2 motor. Forged crank with duplex chains. They machined the front of the motor to adapt to the new chains'. Geoff has that motor. All the 88 KOH cars started out with Phase 2 engines shipped from England and the first MM build was the Phase 3 motor. There were 1,000+ engineering changes between the Phase 2 and Phase 3. The actual commitment date was Dec of 87 and was when MM was given the go ahead to start the production effort based on the changes mentioned above, as far as I know there were no more complete build engines done in England from that point on. Again all Phase 1&2 engines were England build motors from the ground up and shipped to the US as needed.

Tyler

[1989ZR1#74]

The 400 hour engine was a modified Phase 2 motor. Forged crank with duplex chains. They machined the front of the motor to adapt to the new chains'. Geoff has that motor. All the 88 KOH cars started out with Phase 2 engines shipped from England and the first MM build was the Phase 3 motor. There were 1,000+ engineering changes between the Phase 2 and Phase 3. The actual commitment date was Dec of 87 and was when MM was given the go ahead to start the production effort based on the changes mentioned above, as far as I know there were no more complete build engines done in England from that point on. Again all Phase 1&2 engines were England build motors from the ground up and shipped to the US as needed.

Tyler
On #70 crank:

Page 2,012 of the Lotus report does show #70, (Built) #73, #74, #79 "will be built using internally balanced cast iron crank shaft and dual mass flywheel"

Page 2,011 #72 was fitted with a "solid steel crank... with full plane balance." it also states validation engines will be fitted with production intent cranks that are forged steel and nitride treated when available. So it looks like #70 started with a cast crank and fitted with a forged one "when it became available" "Forging due week 11..." (11 of 1988?? not sure if so that week of March 3rd to 11th)

Looks like #074 was a phase III engine:

Page 2,107 "Lotus to sign off sump surge on prototype vehicle fitted with phase III engine as soon as possible. Vehicle P8Y078 (my note: EX5005 88 VIN #0037 MBlue Mblue KOH) to be fitted wth LT5 #074 Feb 1988. Plan is to use this vehicle or another vehicle to complete this work."

[Tyler Townsley]

Page 2,107 "Lotus to sign off sump surge on prototype vehicle fitted with phase III engine as soon as possible. Vehicle P8Y078 (my note: EX5005 88 VIN #0037 MBlue Mblue KOH) to be fitted wth LT5 #074 Feb 1988. Plan is to use this vehicle or another vehicle to complete this work."

I would consider the 'another vehicle' to be Bretts EX5023. That vehicle was still alive when GM sold out Lotus, it had been back to the US and back again according to Geoff, that would also explain the rear that was on the car. IE it had been 'updated' for some reason. That vehicle had a later Phase 4 engine in it when it was scrapped in England.

Tyler

[1989ZR1#74]

I would consider the 'another vehicle' to be Bretts EX5023. That vehicle was still alive when GM sold out Lotus, it had been back to the US and back again according to Geoff, that would also explain the rear that was on the car. IE it had been 'updated' for some reason. That vehicle had a later Phase 4 engine in it when it was scrapped in England.

Tyler


Are you talking about this rear:

http://www.syreal.com/89_080_rear.jpg

[Corvettes White]

On #70 crank:

Page 2,012 of ...

Eric,

That must be one hell of a thick book! BTY thanks for the reply above.

I do have a question or two for you but will ask later.

George

[1989ZR1#74]

Eric,

That must be one hell of a thick book! BTY thanks for the reply above.

I do have a question or two for you but will ask later.

George

HA! well its not as thick as the page number shows. It's using a "English" page numbering style, first number is section. Numbers after comma are the page number in the section.

[1989ZR1#74]

Tyler, back to your original thread topic for a minute.

Here is a few different versions of 1989 #084

#084 in the October 1989 issue of Car Craft

http://www.syreal.com/084_CarCraft.jpg


Now sporting 1990 wheels it appeared at a drag strip and was shown in the 10/1989 issue of Vette Magazine

http://www.syreal.com/084_Vette.jpg




And finally dressed up as Snake Skinner II

http://www.syreal.com/084_BJ2009.jpg

[Tyler Townsley]

Are you talking about this rear:

http://www.syreal.com/89_080_rear.jpg

Yes. I had Queenie to a painter some time ago to ask him about the pimples in the paint. He advised me that in some places there was several coats of paint over the original factory paint. Surprised me but given the purpose of the cars I should have figured that may have been the case.

Tyler