EME's "Dragon Heart" 378 Ultra light ZR1 build!!!!

[oricale]

Alright folks, here it is!!!! The first post on a LONG awaited car build set to start on Sat.

This build will be mearly "start" with the 378 engine build and continue with the rest of the car.

When we are through with this car, it will be one of the lightest ZR1s on the planet!, every useless piece in the car will be removed!! this car is going to be built as a purpose race vehicle.

Stay "tuned" for upcoming posts here and on the website.[emoji6] http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160901/9d3cec022621839cb30cb678ac0575e6.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160901/24b3a9a25a9d9485b1c4b87cf5ef3d03.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160901/bc3d00796404d05f1812930a44329817.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160901/7bc6a2ee1bf50835ecd0595c68895f76.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160901/25f35e1f3adb682bba901f856cf34cfa.jpg

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[RussMcB]

Cool. Sounds like a monster.

What kind of racing?

[Vette73]

Do we get turns test driving it? Lol..Talk soon Dempsey...

[GOLDCYLON]

I'm really digging black A Molds on Red. Another stroker monster awesome

[cvette98pacecar]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but, Ultra light and ZR-1 is an oxymoron.

[Paul Workman]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but, Ultra light and ZR-1 is an oxymoron.

:D

Oh, I dunno if ya could call it "Ultra light", but Pete removed so much stuff from his Green Monster e.g., AC compressor/condensor, aluminum (I'll call it) "chin" brace, the "heavy carpet", put lightening holes in non-critical pieces... We even suspected (being that he's Greek n all) that he prolly was driving "commando" and had lightening holes in his socks! (Pete said that wasn't true. He said he doesn't wear socks!!;))

You'd have to ask Pete, but at one point I believe he said it weighed around 3200# on the scales(?).

[oricale]

Update!... I have the engine transmission and some accessories pulled out and now will tear down the engine for the 378 build and then prep the car to dismantle....

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[oricale]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160922/e80f362502d50aa70b012c7202fc8b6e.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160922/ee2efef34cf0f9315ee9c3a27ca77c33.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160922/68d86dab98ddbf41c834737a955e62e4.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160922/0e473de36d644885d35716024eb496c0.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160922/a86a2dae09808762e6fc9b685b7e4b45.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160922/622d9cb17cb8fe4f78214bc0149356bd.jpg

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[XfireZ51]

:D

Oh, I dunno if ya could call it "Ultra light", but Pete removed so much stuff from his Green Monster e.g., AC compressor/condensor, aluminum (I'll call it) "chin" brace, the "heavy carpet", put lightening holes in non-critical pieces... We even suspected (being that he's Greek n all) that he prolly was driving "commando" and had lightening holes in his socks! (Pete said that wasn't true. He said he doesn't wear socks!!;))

You'd have to ask Pete, but at one point I believe he said it weighed around 3200# on the scales(?).

Pete is actually bulemic and urinates prior to any run in his car. True to his Greek tradition, he uses Colonblow to get to race weight.

[oricale]

still burning midnight oil!!😥

before.....(entire engine covered in caked oil....a creature had embedded themselves in the valley for who knows how long!!!

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/6c4881873cd4c1a22a1daa8c45386262.jpg

after....(full pre teardown degrease and pressure wash....absolutley no oil anywhere)..also pulled cam covers for powder coating...)

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/88dc4a428be6d0557dbc8c6a6956963b.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/bacd7857c3fc2486d38a554d3a713819.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/2d531de7bcc9ede676e9eb388e574533.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/a5bf8f54de04677d5171c2759b7cdf99.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/1b3fb32ab4261aca5ef32bba1fad2dec.jpg

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[GOLDCYLON]

Pete is actually bulemic and urinates prior to any run in his car. True to his Greek tradition, he uses Colonblow to get to race weight.

:-D:-D wow TMI Dom LOL

[XfireZ51]

:-D:-D wow TMI Dom LOL

Pete very serious about his racing.

[dredgeguy]

Looks like your moving along well. Can't wait to see the powder coating. Carry on big guy:fahne:

[Hib Halverson]

GM already did a light-weight ZR-1. It was called the Snake Skinner.

It even had an aftermarket "thin" hood and a Lexan rear hatch.

[oricale]

Hib, we are aware of the 'skinner..this is our attempt to get even lighter!...

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[Bob Eyres]

The old "Snake Skinner" at it's lightest, still weighed over 3,000 lbs.

With modern parts, and a more radical approach, I think it's possible to build a stock appearing C4 Zr-1 that weighs 2,700 lbs.
With a stock block 350 c.i. LT5 that puts out 550hp., (example=Pete's car), you could run, maybe, mid tens. That could embarrass a lot of supercharged, turboed, modern muscle.

[5ABI VT]

awesome please post updates !! love seeing this ! if I may ask about the engine stand, does an lt5 require a specific stand or anything ?

[emmvette]

Will you share some more info? What types of racing are you wanting to do with the car? Track days, drag racing, autoX,??

What are some of your plans to lighten the car?

Any thoughts on suspension upgrades yet?

[oricale]

Hey Em, ....so.we are building this car mostly for track/autoX.(adjustsble coil-overs different weight distribution..however with the weight where we want it and the engine putting out 500+ we hope to be able to do well on track and drag...I am working some things that would allow a strong engine to put more to the momentum of the car and less to spin.

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[spork2367]

The old "Snake Skinner" at it's lightest, still weighed over 3,000 lbs.

With modern parts, and a more radical approach, I think it's possible to build a stock appearing C4 Zr-1 that weighs 2,700 lbs.
With a stock block 350 c.i. LT5 that puts out 550hp., (example=Pete's car), you could run, maybe, mid tens. That could embarrass a lot of supercharged, turboed, modern muscle.

I think 2700 is definitely doable. Carbon fiber hood without the substructure. Gut the doors, carbon fiber racing seats. Carbon fiber driveshafts, lexan hatch, lexan side windows, coilovers with titanium springs. Headers with minimalist exhaust, odyssey battery, no passenger airbag, no spare or tools, radio/speaker delete...etc.

[oricale]

That is the plan!...we're gutting it now to get our base weight and go from there.

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[Bob Eyres]

I think 2700 is definitely doable. Carbon fiber hood without the substructure. Gut the doors, carbon fiber racing seats. Carbon fiber driveshafts, lexan hatch, lexan side windows, coilovers with titanium springs. Headers with minimalist exhaust, odyssey battery, no passenger airbag, no spare or tools, radio/speaker delete...etc.

The 91' doesn't have that airbag anyway. You could go for a lightweight steering wheel with no driver side bag too.
If it's going to be a drag car, lighter wheels (bigs and littles), lose the front anti-sway bar, the horns, the headlights and motors, wipers and motors, console and wiring, lots of wiring. Smaller gas tank. Fiberglass bumpers without impact bars or re-enforcement, Swiss cheese the frame.... Uh, oh, this is starting to sound like a real "deathtrap", so it would have to have a chrome-moly cage... more weight. :eek:

Great project. Any more weight it could lose not mentioned yet?

BTW, that ZR-1 you're stripping seems almost too nice to be ripping apart. Why not one of the raggedy ones that pop up for less than 10K?

[oricale]

Hey Bob, the first thing we're doing after tearing most of the car part is the verify with NASA(auto...not aeronautic).. assess from them what we have to have for racing, then we also verify with DOT with what the car has to have to be on the road. I'll friend and client that we are doing this for is primarily focused on weight savings, however I want to see this thing be on a track as well as a monster car on the street.(probably NOT possible)

Something's we are pulling currently are: all internals in the dash for HVAC and AC the steering wheel the brake booster(possibly going to a small internal wilwood), windshield, rear glass.

Engine is out and porting is already movin along.http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161001/46102aca3e274d3f318d5a68e8e98d4b.jpg
IH port BEFORE
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161001/44a98bc9ef5cd08cf6db7d6f70d1fddf.jpg

same IH port AFTER.

Ill have more pics later.



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[oricale]

Pics above are rough cut but gives the gravity of porting and its abilities.

The car came from washington state and body looks pretty good...however was in pretty bad shape everywhere else....me personally I restore ZR1s, although the opprotunity to build the lightest ZR1 in history, and have a blast doing it...then experience the results...pretty cool..

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[oricale]

another pic of IH porting:
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161001/4822fe2ec1f63a8148f882ec6e2b19c3.jpg

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[Bob Eyres]

Beautiful job.

I like your goal of keeping it "street legal".

[oricale]

The Evolution of porting:...we are at 36mm all 16 ports and matched(more pics later😉)
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161004/44da9a60a0141fa9b547900abbe7663f.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161004/42048c4df02837780721debb96770f9e.jpg

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[GOLDCYLON]

Shiney! In my best Firefly voice. You would have to know the show to understand. Also a lot of truth to your statement :cheers:

[tpepmeie]

Dempsey, tried to PM you. Clear your inbox out!!!

[oricale]

Sorry man buried in shavings!!!😂😂😂

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[batchman]

Good luck on the major diet! I'm going to hope you can weigh stuff and post as it comes out (even though I haven't managed to do that) - great references for the rest of us!

I'll chime in with a data point for you, since I just corner weighted our car.

Added weight:
R&D Camber Brace
bigger front bar
reservoir shocks
hockey puck style steering rag joint

~Should be the same weight:
Front and rear springs
quick steering rack
FIC injectors
K&N filter
believe it had 1/2 tank of fuel but my sender is funky
driver at ~175lbs

Not sure what the difference may be:
huge CCWs/Hoosiers (light but maybe not a big difference vs stock)
Watson headers & Borla exhaust, were on the car already
Blingy aftermarket head unit but I suspect same Bose amps
open air filter lid

Lower weight:
no spare, tray, bag or jack
lightweight battery, I think it was 9lbs
removed A/C compressor & lines (next up, condenser)
removed air pump etc (still have to chase the valves out of the headers)
plastic headlights (might have been original but ours came with glass ones)
smaller rear bar

The bad news is, I wound up at 3500 with me in the seat. The good news is I was able to get within 15lbs cross weight with one turn of the screw.

Since S2000s and a couple of Porsches have moved into my class I think I'm going to be a bit overweight. Maybe I can get 125lbs out of it, but...

Best,
- Jeff

[oricale]

Hey Jeff,

Great points!, ..Most if not all that stuff is GONE, The MOST difficult thing will be to make it as light as we want and still make it street legal.....Touh to do, But we're working on it with carbon fiber hood, Lexan windows, removed dead weight(interior, spare, stereo, HVAC, AC, ect. So we are on the right track but we are still deep in the planning phase still yet. Also with many of the Big builds of the winter coming up we are taking it slowly.

We will weight the care and all removed equipment as soon as we can.

As shown earlier, I ported and polished the top end and now moving forward with the heads, liners, ALL FORGED bottom end(minus crank) and doing a lot of mock up for racing equipment(carbon seats, diffuser, cannards ect.

Its moving in a lighter direction!:-D

[Pete]

Light Aluminum Water Pump and Power Steering pulley.:-D
Half the weight of stockers.:-D

https://sites.google.com/site/peteszr1garage/






.

[VikingTrad3r]

Apologies for bumping an old thread but I'm curios about how light a track duty zr-1 could get and if this project was abandoned or completed?

[rkreigh]

I have the ccws that car needs. 315s up front, 335s in back.

Have hoosiers on there now for fitments. I'm going to stick with 18s and just go with R888s and be done with it.

Let me know if you want them, we can horse trade.

[Curtis]

I been down the dirty road of adding lightness fun but frustration does hit along with insanity......
Volvo has nice aluminum bumpers that can be cut down
drilling out centers of bolts cutting down bolt lengths shorter screws I've even built a hvac heater using a heater core and a 4 wheeler radiator fan with a toggle switch
check eBay you can usually find titanium hardware by the bucket cheap
Boeing has a floor sweep shop in Seattle if there’s members here willing to go shopping for you if there close....bolts rivets sheets of titanium inconel makes sexy exhaust.... .015 thick and front to rear weighing in at 6 pounds on a single 3 inch....but cheap 3 inch ic piping on eBay makes light exhaust as well but hella loud
Harbor freight sells a nice hydraulic hole punch and vendors on eBay have dimple dies made to use the harbor freight conduit sizes...punch is 100 and seems like my dies were like 375

Best of luck it is worth it in the end
Just remember there is a point lightness becomes dangerous be safe