95 convertable ZR.5

[RICKYRJ1]

I keep thinking it would be cool to have a 95 black convertable to go with my blk 95 ZR1. If I picked up a solid donor car cheap would it take stupid money to put a LT5 in it? I would leave the body stock and only add the GS fender flares to fit the wider tires. Is this idea taboo in the Z community? :dontknow:

[GOLDCYLON]

I keep thinking it would be cool to have a 95 black convertable to go with my blk 95 ZR1. If I picked up a solid donor car cheap would it take stupid money to put a LT5 in it? I would leave the body stock and only add the GS fender flares to fit the wider tires. Is this idea taboo in the Z community? :dontknow:

Ricky its not taboo, in fact Phrogs proposed the idea a few months ago.

[tccrab]

Definitely not a Taboo subject.
However, it would be a buttload of work to do and it wouldn't be cheap.
To do it right you'd need a donor ZR1 for all the ZR1 specific stuff.
The mechanical stuff wouldn't be too bad.
All the mounts should be the same.
The electrical stuff would be the tough stuff.
You'd have to tear the dash completely out to transplant all the ZR1 specific wiring.
It HAS been done, there's a few ZR1 'Verts out there.
There's at least one guy here on the forum that has one.

I would think the cheaper/easier way to go would be to cut the roof out of a ZR1. You'd have to stiffen the frame and a roll bar wouldn't be a bad idea.
It would be a mortal sin, though.
You'd have to deal with that all on your own.

TomC
"Crabs"

[gbrtng]

Go for it !

[-=Jeff=-]

Not so sure about replacing ALL the wiring in the car. I think you could get by with not swapping the stock dash wiring as long as the car has C69 A/C

in my 89 when I did the 91 dash conversion, it got a dash from a 1991 ZR-1, the L98 engine harness plugged right in, but the Forward lamp harness was different (lt5 to L98) as I used a 1991 forward lamp harness from a ZR-1

compare all the connector pin outs from a 95 LT1 and LT5 bet it would work

[QB93Z]

Go for it Rick! Don't let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do with your car. I think it would be cool. The LT1 and the ZR-1 were built on the same assembly line. I believe that GM made them as similar as possible.

Jim

[ZZZZZR1]

I keep thinking it would be cool to have a 95 black convertable to go with my blk 95 ZR1. If I picked up a solid donor car cheap would it take stupid money to put a LT5 in it? I would leave the body stock and only add the GS fender flares to fit the wider tires. Is this idea taboo in the Z community? :dontknow:

Just do it!!!!!!!!!!!

[secondchance]

I would think the cheaper/easier way to go would be to cut the roof out of a ZR1. You'd have to stiffen the frame and a roll bar wouldn't be a bad idea.

TomC
"Crabs"

Quite a few years back when I slammed into highway light pole sideways in my 91Z and the car was being repaired at Roger's Corvette body shop in Maitland, Florida, we, Tim Burke and I, discussed this possibility. I dropped it not because it was technically difficult but decided I still preferred a coupe.

One item that evolved out of this discussion was a convertible "X" frame (a glorified steel channel) was closed off with flat piece to form a box section and installed on the car. For rear attachment point I recall Robbie with Corvette Master's fabricated a sheet metal piece with a bolt welded in.

This mod stiffened the chassis substantially and would be a must especially with ZR-1 convertible IMHO.

Tim now has his own shop right behind Roger's Corvette called Burke's Corvette - the best Corvette body and paint shop as far as I am concerned.

[RICKYRJ1]

My thoughts were to buy a low mileage 95 6 speed convt. with a great body & interior that way money is not wasted fixing them up. I would then maximize my dollars towards the LT5 & install. I know Marc. H. has a 500 hp motor for sale. I would think the car would have to be stiffened up a little to help handle the extra hp.
This is a list, please add if I'm missing something.
1995 black convt.
LT5 motor
wire harness
computer for the motor
Zr1 gage cluster
cover story to tell the wife ( the guys that know me, know what I'm talking about)
$$$$$( stimulus check)
I was thinking about if it would be easier & cheaper to take a real ZR1 and cut the top, but I think I could not do that [-X
PS. If it matters, I would not care if it had AC or not because The top will always be down.
My end goal would to have a 95 convert with the same performance as well as cosmetic mods as my real Z

[GOLDCYLON]

My thoughts were to buy a low mileage 95 6 speed convt. with a great body & interior that way money is not wasted fixing them up. I would then maximize my dollars towards the LT5 & install. I know Marc. H. has a 500 hp motor for sale. I would think the car would have to be stiffened up a little to help handle the extra hp.
This is a list, please add if I'm missing something.
1995 black convt.
LT5 motor
wire harness
computer for the motor
Zr1 gage cluster
cover story to tell the wife ( the guys that know me, know what I'm talking about)
$$$$$( stimulus check)
I was thinking about if it would be easier & cheaper to take a real ZR1 and cut the top, but I think I could not do that [-X
PS. If it matters, I would not care if it had AC or not because The top will always be down.
My end goal would to have a 95 convert with the same performance as well as cosmetic mods as my real Z


Go for it Ricky, it seems you can never have enough to mod and polish. Id love to see your project come together. Id suggest a 96 because it had the best in the last suspension package available.

[ZZZZZR1]

$$$$$( stimulus check)


That's what I'm talking about.... Glad you are in that low tax bracket, yes? :cheers:

[RICKYRJ1]

That's what I'm talking about.... Glad you are in that low tax bracket, yes? :cheers:

Born & raised there! :-(**|=

[Z51JEFF]

I just saw a 95 convertible,no motor on Fleabay for $4000.Isnt the firewall ZR-1 specific to the car?

[4DSZR1]

Awesome idea...

Donor vert $4,000
Donor ZR-1 $10,000
Misc costs $3,000
$17,000


Have one cool car foe under 20k

[-=Jeff=-]

I just saw a 95 convertible,no motor on Fleabay for $4000.Isnt the firewall ZR-1 specific to the car?

no I think it is just the HVAC box on the Passenger side

[RICKYRJ1]

I just saw a 95 convertible,no motor on Fleabay for $4000.Isnt the firewall ZR-1 specific to the car?
Do you have an item #? I couldn't find it. Thanks

[phrogs]

I have thought about this but I wanted to do a wide body and that would mean alot more work.

If you want to lave the rear end the same it would be a simple swap of parts.

I think if you eliminate the secondaries on the engine you wouldnt even have to worry about the dash harness (power key) and headlight harness(vacuum pump)

[Corvettes White]

There are a few swaps both ways out there. I know of four factory cars built, two survived, one crushed and in private hands, and one ’89 narrow body car. There is an engine swap of an lt-5 into a convertible with a widened rear that I know the owner of out here in California. And there are a few chops of the top off true ZR-1’s around.

My mind has spent a lot of time planning such a project and can tell you exactly what you need to pull off an ‘89 swap AKA the DR-1 that sold earlier this year. From what I understand a ‘90 should not be that hard to pull off.

As far as the chassis is concerned, buy a factory removable hardtop. The car with a removable hardtop on is more rigid that the car with the liftoff top off. If you mod the chassis, be careful of making the chassis too stiff as it may mess-up the ride, this according to Dave Hill’s book where he discusses building the convertible for ’86.

I also understand the fire wall was different, at least for the ’89 but have never confirmed this. The HVAC case IS different as is the brake booster. You will also need the dash and fuel pumps. The wiring harness leading back from the firewall to the fuel tank should carry the extra wires you need.

If you shoot me an email address I can send some photos.

George

[Z51JEFF]

Do you have an item #? I couldn't find it. Thanks

Its one of the places that has ZR-1 parts on Fleabay.I remember the prices for the Z parts was outrageous.Ill look for it.As far as making a ZR-1 convertible.Id buy a clapped out ZR-1,complete car and lop the top off after the doors.Then Id but a clapped out convertible for the rear body and all the top hardware.But the car has got to have the wider body.The cheap GS flair is a short cut.You got my mind going now.Its about time somebody with some cash and the know how did this.This would be a great project but to put an LT5 in a convertible might be the wrong way to go about it.

[Z51JEFF]

There are a few swaps both ways out there. I know of four factory cars built, two survived, one crushed and in private hands, and one ’89 narrow body car. There is an engine swap of an lt-5 into a convertible with a widened rear that I know the owner of out here in California. And there are a few chops of the top off true ZR-1’s around.

My mind has spent a lot of time planning such a project and can tell you exactly what you need to pull off an ‘89 swap AKA the DR-1 that sold earlier this year. From what I understand a ‘90 should not be that hard to pull off.

As far as the chassis is concerned, buy a factory removable hardtop. The car with a removable hardtop on is more rigid that the car with the liftoff top off. If you mod the chassis, be careful of making the chassis too stiff as it may mess-up the ride, this according to Dave Hill’s book where he discusses building the convertible for ’86.

I also understand the fire wall was different, at least for the ’89 but have never confirmed this. The HVAC case IS different as is the brake booster. You will also need the dash and fuel pumps. The wiring harness leading back from the firewall to the fuel tank should carry the extra wires you need.

If you shoot me an email address I can send some photos.

George

Id really like to see the photos Goerge.If it were me Id strip off the rear body work,remove the halo bar or go so far as to remove the rear frame and replace it with the rear frame for a convertible making it look as factory as possible.It would end up a HUGE project but it would work.My email is z51mo@aol.com

[RICKYRJ1]

Its one of the places that has ZR-1 parts on Fleabay.I remember the prices for the Z parts was outrageous.Ill look for it.As far as making a ZR-1 convertible.Id buy a clapped out ZR-1,complete car and lop the top off after the doors.Then Id but a clapped out convertible for the rear body and all the top hardware.But the car has got to have the wider body.The cheap GS flair is a short cut.You got my mind going now.Its about time somebody with some cash and the know how did this.This would be a great project but to put an LT5 in a convertible might be the wrong way to go about it.

I Agree, the past week I have been leaning towards converting a real Z for this project. The few nice converts I have found cost as much as a real Z. If I pick up a POS convertible then I'm dumping $ into fix her up and its still not the real thing. The wider azz is one of the unique things about the ZR1.
Anybody know of a shop that has the talent to do such a conversion? The time is right for this because Z prices are at an all time low. I have my eye on one now :thumbsup:

[Z51JEFF]

I Agree, the past week I have been leaning towards converting a real Z for this project. The few nice converts I have found cost as much as a real Z. If I pick up a POS convertible then I'm dumping $ into fix her up and its still not the real thing. The wider azz is one of the unique things about the ZR1.
Anybody know of a shop that has the talent to do such a conversion? The time is right for this because Z prices are at an all time low. I have my eye on one now :thumbsup:

There are alot of places that could do this but if the money was there,Rad Rides in Illinois.This is one of the premiere shops in the country.Troy Trepaneir is an amazing fabricator.This could be the car that everyone is talking about if done right.

[RICKYRJ1]

I have seen his work on the car show RIDES. Top notch. What do you all it would cost to do a conversion?

[ZZZZZR1]

I have seen his work on the car show RIDES. Top notch. What do you all it would cost to do a conversion?

Bend ova... NJ'ers are used to that, aren't they? :hello:

[Z51JEFF]

I have seen his work on the car show RIDES. Top notch. What do you all it would cost to do a conversion?

Id give his shop a call and run this by them for a -ROUGH- estimate.Id venture to say when all is said and done your looking at between $40,000 and $60,000.Take a look at his website,Radrides by Troy.This place is in Illinois?

[-=Jeff=-]

Id give his shop a call and run this by them for a -ROUGH- estimate.Id venture to say when all is said and done your looking at between $40,000 and $60,000.Take a look at his website,Radrides by Troy.This place is in Illinois?

Yes Manteno IL, my Corvette club toured his shop.. I would have gone, but had another commitment I could not get out of..

[Toyvet1]

Ive wondered about it , start with a convertible or a Z ?

If Chevy hadnt extended the convertible top door over into the fender. To make it look right you have to widen the top door for the wide body and modify the Z fenders for the lid.

I'd think both ways are a lot of work and a boatload of cash, but what a cool car in the end.

[RICKYRJ1]

Id give his shop a call and run this by them for a -ROUGH- estimate.Id venture to say when all is said and done your looking at between $40,000 and $60,000.Take a look at his website,Radrides by Troy.This place is in Illinois?

Well 40-60k plus the car is way above my pay grade. I was thinking 20 for a nice Z and another 20-25 to git it dunn. :dontknow:

[Z51JEFF]

Well 40-60k plus the car is way above my pay grade. I was thinking 20 for a nice Z and another 20-25 to git it dunn. :dontknow:

This is for both cars and work for the modification.I was thinking maybe $10,000 for beat ZR-1 and around $5,000 for the donor car.There are smaller shop that are well capable of doing this type of job.One such shop is in Bakersfield.Ironworks something.

[phrogs]

Well 40-60k plus the car is way above my pay grade. I was thinking 20 for a nice Z and another 20-25 to git it dunn. :dontknow:


heres the deal, I am going to do this just out of principal, so its going to happen I just need to find the parts to do it.


If your willing to track down your cars Ill tell you Ill be willing to do the work hourly work charge will apply $65 and hour and you pay for the supplys ill do the work

Im thinking taking a ZR-1 and converting the rear end or taking a vert and swaping in the ZR-1 parts and doing the wide body conversion to the rear.

What it boils down to is if you really care about the Vin number you should'nt your making a custom car and its no longer of that original caliber anymore.
Your making the car what you want.

So even a raged out vert no motor or trans would be perfect and do the swap.

johnny

[phrogs]

Heres the auction number for the 95 vert without a motor or tranny.

They want to much for the damage to this car most of it is worthless

310143795500

[RICKYRJ1]

heres the deal, I am going to do this just out of principal, so its going to happen I just need to find the parts to do it.


If your willing to track down your cars Ill tell you Ill be willing to do the work hourly work charge will apply $65 and hour and you pay for the supplys ill do the work

Im thinking taking a ZR-1 and converting the rear end or taking a vert and swaping in the ZR-1 parts and doing the wide body conversion to the rear.

What it boils down to is if you really care about the Vin number you should'nt your making a custom car and its no longer of that original caliber anymore.
Your making the car what you want.

So even a raged out vert no motor or trans would be perfect and do the swap.

johnny

I have reached out to 2 builders so I will see what happens. I will PM you my #. Thanks

[phrogs]

I have reached out to 2 builders so I will see what happens. I will PM you my #. Thanks


And so you know I have torn apart and rebuilt a couple of ZR-1s so I know C-4s this can be done and done well as a wide body and Im not talking about splicing a frame to another frame just fiberglass work.

If you get the ZR-1 and get it to me Ill also track down parts you just need to pay for them as I would'nt want to bill you then have something happen and Im left with the costs.

I will be in PA very soon and will be able to work on this over the next year!

I am driving this car at the moment as my daily beater, I didn't get a chance to repaint it but this shows how far I had it torn down and yes the interior is out of it as well.

The other pic is after I put it back together been beating on it for 3 years and its ready to be stripped and painted like no other ZR-1 but I enjoy it.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s103/zr1salvage/DRM/lappypics15686.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s103/zr1salvage/DRM/lappypics16907.jpg