Story & Picture time: Let's have fun!

[Jeffvette]

Alright guys, we are nearing the end of 2008. Some of us are snowed in while others are basking in the sun in Florida. Most of our cars are complete and running, and others are doing some work. Let's make the most of the slow time with a year end wrap up.

Post favorite pictures of your car or another owners car. Tell a story about an event you attended or a cruise you went on or how you bonded with your car by cutting your hands to shreds on exhaust heat shielding.

Please do not quote pics, let's keep this tidy. And let's keep pics and stories to 2008.

:hello:

Let's make this even better. Best picture submitted and story submitted will each get a 50 dollar gift certificate to Adams. I'll find the judges someplace. :cheers:

[Polo-1]

The find and fun of a New Z......Wait it's 19 years old or is it....
A little cleaning from friend's
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/kpie/th_12-06-08012.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/kpie/?action=view&current=12-06-08012.flv)

A little seat pump repair
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/kpie/th_12-06-08013.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/kpie/?action=view&current=12-06-08013.flv)

The Sun was nice for the day
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/kpie/12-06-08003.jpg

Thanks John/Jeff/Nick :hello:

Well, as some may know the story...

This is a 1990 ZR-1 Red/Red with 179 miles on it. It was one of the TN estate sell cars. Many of you know it from ebay earier this year (March). The only part missing is the orginal battery. The rest of this car is 100%. Not all of the books are here, but will work on that over the winter. It was found in Seattle area. I like to think "we" saved it from the it's last owner. He was thinking of turning it into a driver. I have never done the NCRS thing or had planed to do it with any of my cars. This ZR-1 has to be kept NCRS . It's something to withness in person. It just puts you back to 1990 in the showroom floor. To look at the little tags on the motors vac hoses, the way wires are ran from the factory never touched by anyone else. Its just plan NEAT HISTORY..

[Jeffvette]

Details :toetap:


Make me think I was there..... oh wait I was!

[GOLDCYLON]

Does Jeff have any hearing left? Damn that polisher was loud.

[DMark]

I've taken mine to a "Pirate" up in Bowling Green for the winter. ;)

http://i43.tinypic.com/iqjugw.jpg

[Zr1 Destroyer]

Backed out and washed for the first time after the 2008 stroker project!
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e396/ry368/Zr1%20top%20end/DenonRelayRace5-4-2008020.jpg
chromed plenum and jeffs coating work on the rest...
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e396/ry368/Zr1%20top%20end/DenonRelayRace5-4-2008022.jpg
Rods zr1 unwashed , but running again with the massive flowing heads...2008.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e396/ry368/Zr1%20top%20end/Sycloneinterior053.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e396/ry368/Zr1%20top%20end/Sycloneinterior050.jpg
PINKS came to bandimere....here's is rods Ls7 powered 40 ford running 9.80's with 100hp n20 plate!!!
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e396/ry368/zr1415021.jpg



How many times do you get to race your customers car......Rod vs. beetle Bailey DDS!
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e396/ry368/nova020.jpg

[Demps]

2008 was a great ZR-1 year. I was reunited with my Black/Red car, the Yellow car picked up prodigious amounts of power, and all cars made it to Florida. I picked up an x-pipe for the black car's B&B and a set of coil overs--both from JeffVette...thanks by the way. I also finally got a set of Fikse wheels that look great! More pictures will follow.


I bought my Black/Red car (the first time) in the Spring of 2002 in Ohio. I caught a plane from Florida in the AM and drove back by 2AM that night. I loved that car. The Black/Red is sinister. Unfortunately, I had to sell it. Fortunately, one of my friends had to have it. He sent it to SGC and Aaron performed some magic--top end, Fidanza, 4.30 gears, stage I cams. My buddy and I also put on Baer two piece rotors and GS calipers, SS lines, and Hurst shifter. Fast forward to last year...my buddy wanted to get rid of it. He admitted (and I had been driving it some) it wasn't running correctly. I thought...no big deal. Karoline let me buy it back. Yep, it ran horribly. I fought it for almost four months. I found a loose knock sensor, a speedo-correction "box" hotwired to the #8 injector wire from the ECM, bad injectors and replaced the fuel pumps, filter and spark plugs and put on the x-pipe. It now runs very well for a 350 car. It ran a 12.16 at BG before any fuel system work. It has the Fikse wheels on it and looks great. It sounds even better with the Stg I cams.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s27/demps_photos/DSC00684.jpg




I moved from Idaho to Florida in Dec '07. I had to move all of the ZR-1s on my own. In the process, I sent the yellow car to Chicago...to have some of it's slowness removed. It was a 350 with a Haibeck topend and ran a 12.21 at 119.95 on a 5,500 density altitude day in Idaho. Not bad, BUT...I have followed these cars for a while. I've always wanted a stroker. I had a few rides (George E, Wayne H, George B, Julio, and a few others) in stroker cars. Then, A26B hooked me with the sample. I got to drive the beautiful LPE-bodied 415. The call was made as I was driving from his house..the Yellow car was going to Haibeck for a 415. FU2 had some LPE B cams at Marc's shop and they went into my 415. Marc did a fantastic job on the car (came back cleaner than I delivered it) and I've wondered why it took me so long to do the 415. Car is awesome. It dropped a coil pack at the SGC gathering and I didn't get to enjoy it much. I've changed the coil packs and plug wires out and it is back! No secondaries, 24lb injectors and the other goodies above. Marc has been awesome. We almost have all of the driveability bugs worked out. The car likes to go!

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s27/demps_photos/Teds415.jpg

Weather in Florida is a little milder--in the winter at least. I get to enjoy the cars between rainy days. I do miss the PNW clowns though. Hammer (John B) and I had a blast and the gathering in WA/OR was nothing short of wonderful. The folks you meet along the way are great.

I will have a ZR-1 gathering over the Holiday season. I'll try to get them together for a picture.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all,
Ted

[A26B]

Most of my "car time" this season was dedicated to the Raptor remote mount turbo system on the LT1 car and the gasket project.
In May, picked the 95 LT1 single turbo Corvette up from the shop in Long Beach, CA doing our piping fabrication. The plan was to meet Ron Hanselman in Kingman, AZ the same day and we were going to caravan to BG, him pulling the trailer with the Raptor ZR-1 TT inside. I left the shop, driving the LT1.... pulled onto the freeway and it downshifted with part throttle and the 2500 stall converter and the rear end wanted to lead for awhile. I thought WOW! this is really cool! So, I'm cruising along and see a C6 vert weaving traffic behind me. Guy gets beside me & starts blipping the throttle wanting to play. LA freeway traffic...... right! I dropped back a bit & kicked it down for just a couple of seconds & let off. He grins real big & he's off again like a maniac. I exit a couple of mile later & smoke is billowing out from under the hood & the engine dies. CRAP! It starts again & I limp about 20 miiles into Bakersfield & stop at the first convenience store I find. Bad mistake, gang neighborhood, meth head wanting to help me out & a bum hits on me for a handout. Oil covering the top of the engine & blowing out of the pass side valve cover. I need to find a better spot. Find an Autozone, buy a few tools, take it apart, fix the blown out valve cover gasket, run a heater hose from the crankcase vent to the underside of the car. It's not blowing oil out on top of the engine any more so I decide to see if I can drive it to Barstow, throw 4 qts of oil in the seat & I'm off.

Make it to Barstow, gas up & head off to Kingman to meet Ron. Power is down even more, still blowing lots of oil vapor from crankcase hose, so we decide to leave it in Kingman for Ron to haul back to Las Vegas on the return trip. Ron feels under the car for the wastegate & finds the engine vac/boost hose is on the vent side of the wastegate. No boost control! We talk about it on the way to OKC & decide it probably broke piston rings. When the engine was torn down later, here's what we found on 3 pistons. I drove it like this about 350 miles. Tough engine!! Rebuilt engine with 0.020" overbore, no head damage.
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z224/A26B/UncontrolledBoostLT1Pistons.jpg

All is good now, ready to do 2 beta test installs on customers cars & then hopefully market a bunch of systems. It's a real blast to drive.

[flyin ryan]

2008 was my first time going to the PNW gathering & i'm glad i did. it helps being able to put faces/cars to the names. the frienships that started have since grown, Jeff F., John B., Kevin P., Nick S., Ted F., Manfred E. & all the rest. being my first time it was a feeling out period. it was a haul for me from up in Canada but worth it. i feel way more comfortable with everybody in the PNW now, although i still get a flash of red at times from Hammer red lighting against me at Portland Int'l on the ¼ mile:mrgreen:
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee142/flyinryan_ZR1/IMG_0874.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee142/flyinryan_ZR1/IMG_0852.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee142/flyinryan_ZR1/IMG_0887.jpg

[tccrab]

I had a problem shifting into 2008.
In fact, I couldn't shift into second gear at all.
Here I am, just after shoving the transmission out from under the car.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i159/tccrab/100_1012.jpg
After a while I noticed a small puddle of oil under the car so back up on jackstands it goes so that I can hunt down the multiple leaks.
While I've got it up there, I take a close look at the suspension parts and I don't like what I see there:
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i159/tccrab/100_1303.jpg
Yup.
It's dirty.:cool:
No problem, I've got lots of time and people think I'm nuts anyway.
Viola!!!
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i159/tccrab/100_1305.jpg
Looks like new!!

Now it's rainy and cold, and as we all know, ZR1's melt if they get wet. I'm going to have to wait for a sunny day...
:mrgreen:


TomC
"Crabs"

[-=Jeff=-]

2008 was my first full year with my Z..

from Jan to June was a nightmare of issues to get he car running.. it is STILL needs cleaning but it runs good..

I painted the plenum and need to do more, but I am having more fun driving the car. for 2009 I am getting the 1/4 fixed and blending it in.. paint is not perfect but will end up painting the whole car in a few years so this will tide me over until then..

I also have a set of shelby wheels for it..

here are a couple pictures of it
http://vettextc.jiminees.com/ZR-1/5-03-2008/images/DX6490_02.jpg

http://vettextc.jiminees.com/ZR-1/5-26-2008/images/DX6490_78.jpg

http://vettextc.jiminees.com/ZR-1/5-26-2008/images/DX6490_79.jpg

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/corvette-photos/data/665/medium/100_9783.JPG (http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/corvette-photos/showphoto.php/photo/67183)

[rkreigh]

2008 is indeed winding down and I probably put more miles on the ZR-1 than ever hitting BG, Carlisle, SGC, Ocean City, Syline drive, and many trips to the local cruises and hang outs. The LSV is running great and made a few passes down the track, mostly on street tires.

got my best MPH this year at 127, but couldn't ET much better than 11.70s (I don't ride the clutch, it's pretty baked). car has been 11.43 with phil driving it (key word is driving!!) but I'm not speed shifting or launching hard. I drive it to the track and back and not really into munching up rear parts. plus the clutch is going to get worn out before it gets replaced, the Ms is right that I spend too much on cars!

Updated to CCW 505s and really didn't do much for the ZR-1 until recently. I'm going to new F1 19 supercar tires 285 up front 325 in back. going to change over to the 95 shocks, coil overs, and 400 up front, 250 in back spring rates to soften up the ride a bitl (the old back can't take the pounding anymore!) the supercar tires ride pretty rough and don't really have much sidewall to speak of so hopefully a bit softer spring rate and improved shock will take a bit of the pounding out of it. DC has some pretty rough roads and I'm hitting them hard!

This year the new ZR1 dawned and history repeats itself with all the hype surrounding the new supercar. It's for sure got great HP/trq, and a much improved drivetrain. but I still haven't warmed up to the C6, even though the LS9 is indeed impressive.

I'm sure 2009 will prove no less exciting. as the chinese say, "may you live in interesting times" with many folks struggling, I feel we are definiely amoung the fortunate. both the corvette's are paid, and running great, and I'm very lucky to enjoy them often. with gas prices down I feel the need for speed and I don't spare the loud pedal one bit!

I'll get some pics of the new coil overs up soon. got the fronts on, and painted some DRM camber brackets that I'll be trying out along with the DRM controller box with different chips for street and drags. Hopefully it will help the beast plant the power a bit better. I've got some 17' hoosier 335s that need to get worn out.

good thread, happy holidays to you and your family. keep the rpms and the shiney side up, drive it like you stole it (and often) :mrgreen:

[RedSled]

Great post Mr. President! I too put a few miles on the Sled this year. None more fun than at the NCM track days at VIR. Sure hope I can get in again next year. It's an event not to be missed if you enjoy road courses.

http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p164/RedSled24/?action=view&current=FSVIR67.jpg

Cheers to all and have a happy holiday.

- Keith
'90 Red/Red #1383

[Gunny]

Couldn't resist this one ... SGC 2008 last month in Thomasville, GA ... Jeff hanging out with two old dudes !!! and looks like he's trying to use a ZR-1 plate filler to hide something :wink:

http://www.zrwon.com/gallery/event/sgc08/slides/IMG_7096.JPG

[key_on]

2008 was an enjoyable Corvette year for me. I had the opportunity to particpate in several club events, shows and cruise nights. The wife and I took quite a few joy rides on nice evenings. The Z got a new set of injectors and tires, and a new lift on which to perch.

After 5 years of ownership, I still am somewhat humbled to be so fortunate to own a ZR-1. I am also quite fortunate that my wonderful wife is so supportive of my car addiction.

Wishing Happy Holidays to all and a prosperous 2009.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp134/cmy1991zr1/ZR1a.jpg

[32valvZ]

Its definitely true that the people make the car. I went to BG this year for the first time ever. I met some of the most knowledgeable people regarding the ZR-1 and had some real interesting conversation with some guys also. How lucky am I to have had the chance to hang out in Jim Van Dorns shop, meet and shake hands with Dave Mclellan, meet and shake hands with Graham Behan, meet and shake hands with Marc Haibec and all this on my first trip to BG.

It was allot of fun talking with members of this forum and to finally put faces to names. I learned so much in 4 days that my head was spinning. I'm looking forward to going back this year. Special thanks to you Jeff for giving me the opportunity to share a suite with you at the U Plaza and letting me tag along at the various events.

As far as the ZR-1 itself goes, I managed to get my first plenum pull done so the injectors and coils could be changed, installed a set of SW headers and a B&B cat back, get it tuned and add a set of chrome ZR-1 wheels put on it in addition to the many other small things that I did to get everything back to working order. Thanks again Jeff for your help & phone consultations and the rapid shipping of parts that I needed. Thanks also to the forum members that added their advice in threads when I asked, and for the guys who sold me the good used parts I bought from them.

Like many others here I feel very blessed and fortunate to own not one , but two of the best Corvettes ever made by the General, as well as being a part of the ZR-1 brotherhood. Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy prosperous new year to you and your families!


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/Johnny-Mo/P1230221.jpg

[rhipsher]

Well lets see. 2008 was a fairly quiet year for repairs. But the repair I did have to make was the biggest yet. Having to replace the clutch. I put more miles on the car in 2008. The New Braunfels gathering in Corey Hendersons neck of the woods was a blast. Drag raced for the first time also in 2008. Me my wife drove the Z to Galveston TX 3 weeks before hurrican Ike laid it to waste. A very eventfull fun year with my Z and friends.

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/Clutchjob018.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/Clutchjob021.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/ZR-1weekend014.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/ZR-1weekend018.jpg

USAFPILOTS Z decided to drop a coil when we arrived in New Braunfels. I promised him he would laugh about it later. Corey had him up and running in an hour.
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/ZR-1weekend003.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/CheerHooters033.jpg

Maybe next year I'll get a chance to meet my east coast ZR-1 brothers somewhere along the Atlantic.

[detch]

Nothing like burining the midnight oil fixing a vacumm leak on my 95, it feels good to get it done, especially when the EAGLES play the way the did against Washington and are now wishing for a playoff spot.

:-({|=

Happy Holidays
Mike

[Pete]

2008 has been a bit rough for me and my Z.

I played around with cams,they went in they came out and finally went back in again and stayed in.
Found out the Dyno i was using was wacko.
After yanking the motor in/out 3 times took it to 2 other dyno's they were withen 6rwhp and about 35-40rwhp from the wacko dyno :dontknow:

In disbelief about the rwhp took her to the track (US41) ran my normal 11.30's 11.40's but the MPH suprised me @ 128,outside temps were in the 80's again in disbelief 4 weeks later put new clutch in her and take her to a different track Great Lakes Dragway temps were a bit colder 40's first pass 11.32 @ 129.07 got a warning one more time like that,would be my last.
Second pass 11.56 @ 129.23 no warning,third pass 11.09 @ 129.27 after that pass they made me a spectator for the rest of the day :)

I don't have pictures hope video is ok.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFNFOhGGlR4

All that freaking work paid off. :-D

Pete

[USAFPILOT]

2008 has been a bit rough for me and my Z.

I played around with cams,they went in they came out and finally went back in again and stayed in.
Found out the Dyno i was using was wacko.
After yanking the motor in/out 3 times took it to 2 other dyno's they were withen 6rwhp and about 35-40rwhp from the wacko dyno :dontknow:

In disbelief about the rwhp took her to the track (US41) ran my normal 11.30's 11.40's but the MPH suprised me @ 128,outside temps were in the 80's again in disbelief 4 weeks later put new clutch in her and take her to a different track Great Lakes Dragway temps were a bit colder 40's first pass 11.32 @ 129.07 got a warning one more time like that,would be my last.
Second pass 11.56 @ 129.23 no warning,third pass 11.09 @ 129.27 after that pass they made me a spectator for the rest of the day :)

I don't have pictures hope video is ok.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFNFOhGGlR4

All that freaking work paid off. :-D

Pete

What all has been done to your car?

[DDSLT5]

What all has been done to your car?

Pete put a bottle of N2O beneath the plenum.:hello:


Pete - write up the full story and send it over to me so I can put it into the newsletter!

The same goes for everyone else who has posted here! I could put every one of these stories into the newsletter - BRING IT PEOPLE!!!!:handshak:

[Pete]

What all has been done to your car?


Ported Plenum
Ported Injector Housings
Ported Heads
63mm TB
Secondaries Removed
Jeal Headers
B&B X-pipe (1st gen)
Cams:
Intake .236 .425
Exhaust .220 .425
Gears: Stock 3.45
DRM Steel Flywheel 19lbs
Stock Clutch
DRN Coilovers
Custom Electric Water Pump

Pete

P.S.
Also did Marc H. weight reduction.

[Z51JEFF]

Well Im basically still a noob,Ive had my car for exactly one year,12-27-07.In the last year Ive fixed the stereo,replaced the injectors,coils,plug wires.Replaced the front spring with an adjustable jobber from VB-P,lowered the car juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust right and added a set of GS A-Molds with new tires.And I repainted the side trim,replaced the filler panel in the front bumper,got a set of 95 fender panels,painted these as well and repainted one rocker panel.Id like run a new exhaust with headers and a new set of wheels,these GS wheels are getting old but just got laid off so that will have to wait.Simple repairs this winter is the oil leak at the exhaust stud and the parachute headliner and fix the lumbar in the seats.http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/FLYTYM/IMG_0108-2-1.jpg

[USAFPILOT]

So is the license plate cover blended in?

[Z51JEFF]

So is the license plate cover blended in?

No,everything was painted off the car.The painter had the car for a week to get the color match.

[HIZNHRZ]

Well Im basically still a noob,Ive had my car for exactly one year,12-27-07.In the last year Ive fixed the stereo,replaced the injectors,coils,plug wires.Replaced the front spring with an adjustable jobber from VB-P,lowered the car juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust right and added a set of GS A-Molds with new tires.And I repainted the side trim,replaced the filler panel in the front bumper,got a set of 95 fender panels,painted these as well and repainted one rocker panel.Id like run a new exhaust with headers and a new set of wheels,these GS wheels are getting old but just got laid off so that will have to wait.Simple repairs this winter is the oil leak at the exhaust stud and the parachute headliner and fix the lumbar in the seats.

Looks great!

[Lowflight]

Well, I sold the old girl to Jim to make his Z collection larger (4 now). Bought an 07 Z06 and helped my Dad buy a New 08 Z this weekend. I miss the ZR-1...but not the time and money investment to keep it running. However, with prices as they are, I am tempted by a certain 91 that is for sale....

Happy New Year

http://www.fototime.com/B19FACE6428351A/orig.jpg

Dad's new Toy...
http://www.fototime.com/7EC1E023D1D7B61/orig.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/CEF0D2DDB352CA4/orig.jpg