'94 ZR-1 Engine/Car Rebuild

[albeR/To]

Hello Everybody!

After like two years since I bought the car from Kris and less than 10 miles behind the wheel (the car was impounded after few kilometers away from the customs office and after 3 days in italy because of expired temporary license plates and it costed me a "small fortune" to get it back) I decided to begin a big overhaul of the car.

I started immediately by fixing some small issues around the car, but everytime I removed something I found something worse behind it...
At the end a couple of month ago I decided to remove the engine and start from everything from scratch.

In this thread I will share my experience/story of the rebuild of the car and I hope to find some help from you guys.

https://i.ibb.co/4sQzJdv/20170928-141405.jpg (https://ibb.co/DGqhLpc)
When I got stopped by the police...

https://i.ibb.co/kHkbw3H/20180218-162755.jpg (https://ibb.co/NVQDJ1V)
When it arrived at home

https://i.ibb.co/1LQV7g3/20171009-184055.jpg (https://ibb.co/qdjG7Sz)
At the workshop with one of its sisters

https://i.ibb.co/dMRz2CV/20190822-172051.jpg (https://ibb.co/qjvPsqc)
The engine just before the removal

https://i.ibb.co/xSBmF09/20190822-181440.jpg (https://ibb.co/Y71D0Mn)
Almost ready to be removed

https://i.ibb.co/C6JyXKj/20190823-190510.jpg (https://ibb.co/3vfb8mx)
The engine is on the ground!

https://i.ibb.co/N7cZRpK/20191016-141313.jpg (https://ibb.co/V3f26DT)
Lets the nightmare begin

https://i.ibb.co/GdjNyJn/20191016-152243.jpg (https://ibb.co/zmwDp5Q)
First surprise: camshaft lobe tips are ruined (seems like pitting)

https://i.ibb.co/ZzqNnJZ/20191016-152238.jpg (https://ibb.co/GQzFKJh)
On both banks

https://i.ibb.co/wWX9nvS/20191028-115928.jpg (https://ibb.co/qsftHZN)
Crankshaft doesn't look bad

[albeR/To]

Now I'm already stuck...can you suggest me the way to remove the spacer on the crankshafts between the chains sprocket and the oil pump?

[grahambehan]

Now I'm already stuck...can you suggest me the way to remove the spacer on the crankshafts between the chains sprocket and the oil pump?

If you have the sprocket removed, the spacer is a slip fit and should be able to be rotated and pulled forward off the crank.
Graham

[jss06c6]

Wish I could see your pictures, but unfortunately cannot. Keep at it, it's worth the effort.[emoji41]

Steve

Sent from my SM-G950U using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

[albeR/To]

If you have the sprocket removed, the spacer is a slip fit and should be able to be rotated and pulled forward off the crank.
Graham

I removed the sprocket, but the spacer doesn't seem it wants to move...the spline also seems stuck...on monday I will try again.

Wish I could see your pictures, but unfortunately cannot. Keep at it, it's worth the effort.[emoji41]

Steve

Sent from my SM-G950U using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

I will use a different pictures host (I used Microsoft onecloud, but it doesn't seem to work)

[albeR/To]

https://i.ibb.co/31VL006/20191028-120252.jpg (https://ibb.co/zsC0SS9)
Main bearings completely gone

https://i.ibb.co/hmR5ycj/20191016-184546.jpg (https://ibb.co/bKghPFZ)
Pistons are ok, just a lot of dirt on them

[G8nightman]

You need to resize those pictures

[XfireZ51]

Alberto,

Sono stato a Salo e Sirmione molti anni fa con famiglia. Bellissimo.

[BigJohn]

Molto cool Italiano

[S.hafsmo]

What caused you to remove the engine in the first place? I seem to have missed the background story. What could have wreaked havoc in the entire engine?

[Jagdpanzer]

Nice looking shop.
How do the crankshaft journals look?

[albeR/To]

What caused you to remove the engine in the first place? I seem to have missed the background story. What could have wreaked havoc in the entire engine?

As I said...the car looked ok until I began to do some small works on it...
Many ruined parts around and the engine looked very "faded". It was covered in oil.
The car was already half dismantled and so I decided to overhaul also the engine. Luckily I did it, otherwise I really don't know how long would ever lasted.

Nice looking shop.
How do the crankshaft journals look?

Thank you!
The crankshaft journals looks ok, however I will measure them soon (as soon as I have the right tool to do it).

[albeR/To]

BIG QUESTION:

I want to rebuild the engine properly...and because I have to change many parts I would like to know from all of you which could be the best solution for money wise performance upgrades.

I was thinking about:
- changing camshafts (they are ruined, and I don't really like to reprofile and re-harden them) with some more aggressive units (I red about them around the forum and online I can't find anything clear).
Changing them requires to change valve springs? Is it better to run with hydraulic or solid lifters?

- changing cylinder sleeves, pistons and rods (I saw a 368 cid kit on Gerry's gaskest website)

- go for a stroker kit (if the crankshaft is ruined and needs to be replaced could be an idea, but I didn't find much about it)

Unfortunately I'm struggling a lot in finding parts and useful informations for this engine...usually the websites that talk about LT-5 haven't been updated for at least 10 years...