Sunday Cruise in a 700hp ZR-1

[tpepmeie]

Weather was finally decent here today, so I took the 427 out for a short cruise with the soon-to-be-missus. After sitting idle for a good 6 months, the LT5 came to life after a few seconds cranking. 2-3 minutes idling, and the engine smoothed out and settled in to a 1200 rpm idle.

65 degree air was perfect for making good power. Several blasts up through the gears reminded me just why I love this thing. At cruise, the car is actually quite civilized if you keep out of the resonance band (1800 and 3200 ish rpm). We could easily carry on a conversation with the windows down.

Car ran great... temps and pressures stabilized in good ranges.

When hard on the gas, it is just brutal acceleration. Even pedalling it to keep from spinning out. I managed to hit the rev limiter once (7400). Clearly need some new sticky tires to take full advantage of the power. Hard on the brakes at one point to get back down from 95 into a 45 speed zone. I only wish this car had the brakes my M5 has. I am so fortunate my girl truly digs fast cars... she was loving the whole experience! Only problem is, now we both smell of race fuel from the exhaust !:-D

Safely back in the garage now. Hope everybody gets out for a cruise today. :cheers:

Will miss you guys at BG again this year. Have fun!

Todd

[A26B]

After listening to that short story, I may have to come see you if you're not coming to BG!

[Blue Flame Restorations]

If you get the sticky tires, you may need Al's bigger rear spindles

Weather was awesome here in Pendleton. Washed the 95 today.

[Paul Workman]

I can imagine the feeling! Well, actually, I too got 'er out for a short blast - if only to test the brakes after I bled them in preparation for the 1/2 mile shootout June 2nd. Hope to see you there??

P.

[XfireZ51]

Todd,

You should have signed the car up for the 1/2 mile drags in June. Should be fairly close to you.

[cvette98pacecar]

Sounds like fun.

[ALZR1]

Weather was finally decent here today, so I took the 427 out for a short cruise with the soon-to-be-missus. After sitting idle for a good 6 months, the LT5 came to life after a few seconds cranking. 2-3 minutes idling, and the engine smoothed out and settled in to a 1200 rpm idle.

65 degree air was perfect for making good power. Several blasts up through the gears reminded me just why I love this thing. At cruise, the car is actually quite civilized if you keep out of the resonance band (1800 and 3200 ish rpm). We could easily carry on a conversation with the windows down.

Car ran great... temps and pressures stabilized in good ranges.

When hard on the gas, it is just brutal acceleration. Even pedalling it to keep from spinning out. I managed to hit the rev limiter once (7400). Clearly need some new sticky tires to take full advantage of the power. Hard on the brakes at one point to get back down from 95 into a 45 speed zone. I only wish this car had the brakes my M5 has. I am so fortunate my girl truly digs fast cars... she was loving the whole experience! Only problem is, now we both smell of race fuel from the exhaust !:-D

Safely back in the garage now. Hope everybody gets out for a cruise today. :cheers:

Will miss you guys at BG again this year. Have fun!

Todd


I would like to see this car run and have you with us at the events(like the crown point).you would definitely give us an edge Todd.

AL.

[RHanselman]

Very cool Todd. Post up a video of that beast so we can hear her rumble.

Is that 700 rwhp or chp?

[LancePearson]

Paul,
What do you think your car might do in the 1/2 mile? That's enough distance to start getting some serious speeds.....Surely, you've done a "country test" by now?

Lance

[PhillipsLT5]

Well I dont have 700 HP but this was my last SAT 2 different cruises

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8J3_s5vtP4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct3IhojzvTs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a48GxWFdscc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMPJGAgS7-w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnXhF7Z66eU

[tpepmeie]

Is that 700 rwhp or chp?

700, or a bit more at the crankshaft. ~635 SAE at the wheels.

703 was on a green engine, first time fired up. Some break-in time has probably helped it a little bit. I would like to get it back on the engine dyno actually, to fine tune the calibration and maybe try some other new things.

[Pete]

Todd sounds like a nice ride.

Glad to hear your enjoying her.

Pete

[Paul Workman]

Paul,
What do you think your car might do in the 1/2 mile? That's enough distance to start getting some serious speeds.....Surely, you've done a "country test" by now?

Lance

IDK, Lance. I trapped 122 in the 1/4, and it pulls hard past that in 4th. However, far as doing a "counrty test" goes, there's nothing like a frisky LT5 to turn a "smooth" country blacktop into a friggin' lasagna noodle!! But, if I had to guess, I think 145 should be "low hanging fruit" (I hope). Guess we'll find out!

P.

[rkreigh]

700, or a bit more at the crankshaft. ~635 SAE at the wheels.

703 was on a green engine, first time fired up. Some break-in time has probably helped it a little bit. I would like to get it back on the engine dyno actually, to fine tune the calibration and maybe try some other new things.


I remember seeing the cyl heads for your car in newington. sounds like that port job is working just fine! great power. post up some details on your build and tuning adventures. love to hear more about the car.

glad it came out as planned. that's the right stuff!!! bet the car is a rocket

[Tyler Townsley]

I will be coming through 6 May to move Queenie to NCM any chance of seeing the beast?

Tyler

[Hog]

Crickets....................................lol


Thanks for the update Todd. Any possible idle or any other video/audio that you could share?

Thanks.

peace
Hog

[LancePearson]

IDK, Lance. I trapped 122 in the 1/4, and it pulls hard past that in 4th. However, far as doing a "counrty test" goes, there's nothing like a frisky LT5 to turn a "smooth" country blacktop into a friggin' lasagna noodle!! But, if I had to guess, I think 145 should be "low hanging fruit" (I hope). Guess we'll find out!



P.

Good luck with it. Mine which is only chipped and minor things did the one time I really let it out by myself on flat country road of 2.3 miles long, no driveways or cross roads when I glanced down in 4th it was heading into the 140's where it went before I lifted and I remember thinking how short a stretch of road it had actually taken. I was so busy concentrating on the road going from turning the corner onto that strip of good two lane with shoulder road at five mph to that flat out that I did not have time to study the speedo or the tach/odometer to find out but my guess was not much more than 3/8's of a mile, certainly 1/2 mile or less as I then slowed and had an awful lot of the 2.3 mile stretch to myself and much more motor and gears left. Went to the end and turned in a lot then ran it from a rolling start back up into the 120's knowing how much road I had to work with and it was very easy to do from rolling start very quickly. A car was ahead of me so had to ease off at that point. I probably scared some Honda owner to death as it was looking in her rear view mirror.

I think you might surprise yourself in June.

[tpepmeie]

I will be coming through 6 May to move Queenie to NCM any chance of seeing the beast?

Tyler
Tyler, that'd be fine. I won't be around until about 5pm, don't know what time you're passing through.

Todd

[RHanselman]

Took mine out today (Sunday) and couldn't find much traction above 4k. Roads are still pretty sandy from winter. Still was a blast when the boost hit.