Daily driving a ZR-1

[8cam]

Taken me a while to make this post, a little depressing. Got an update, won't be DD the Z any time soon. There was a mishap and the right side head gasket is blown. Hopefully the damage is limited to the gasket because it was shut down quickly...big puddle under the car. It's now at my brother's shop in Tallahassee where we'll take our time and get the job done right. I didn't plan on digging this deep into a ZR-1 this soon, but there you go. The engine will come out, off with the heads, and new stuff going back in. Right now my thoughts are new head gaskets, intake gaskets, skim the heads, and check the valve train for anything questionable. It's possible I'll consider some mods since the engine is out, but more likely we'll put it back together stock and just enjoy it for a while. Any WYAIT suggestions?

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by 4cam

Right now my thoughts are new head gaskets, intake gaskets, skim the heads, and check the valve train for anything questionable. It's possible I'll consider some mods since the engine is out, but more likely we'll put it back together stock and just enjoy it for a while. Any WYAIT suggestions?

Yes......be careful if you are plaining the Heads or doing a valve regrind. Keep an eye on the Operational Limits of the Lifters

See LT5 New Rebuild Issues (Lifters and Camshafts)

As you want to leave it stock I will not mention elimination of Secondaries
But having restored a 90' including restoration of the Secondaries so I can have a functional Power Switch......

I would recommend elimination of TB Coolant (and associated top of Injector Housing Coolant Port to Plenum)

See Item #4 LT5 Eliminated Systems

[edram454]

wow, sorry to hear that. What happend that blew the head gasket? was it spirited driving? With 45k miles it seems a bit premature for this to happen. I was shocked to hear this since I was reading all your posts on this thread and all of a sudden lost a head gasket! this kind of stuff makes me worry a bit. this is why I dont redline my car too often. Let me know what you find at your brothers shop. good luck.

ed ramos #3028

[We Gone]

Mark,

Good luck with the repairs, You may want to think about porting the top end and refinishing it as long as its apart. Dynomite has some great write ups on it. If I can help in any way give me a call.

[8cam]

Originally Posted by edram454

wow, sorry to hear that. What happend that blew the head gasket? was it spirited driving? With 45k miles it seems a bit premature for this to happen. I was shocked to hear this since I was reading all your posts on this thread and all of a sudden lost a head gasket! this kind of stuff makes me worry a bit. this is why I dont redline my car too often. Let me know what you find at your brothers shop. good luck.

ed ramos #3028

I wasn't driving, so I can't say for certain how the car was being driven. All I know is it lost the head gasket and puked coolant everywhere. No water in the oil, so it apparently all came out the side and through the tail pipes.

[We Gone]

Originally Posted by 4cam

I wasn't driving, so I can't say for certain how the car was being driven. All I know is it lost the head gasket and puked coolant everywhere. No water in the oil, so it apparently all came out the side and through the tail pipes.

Pardon, my ignorance here but how could you blow a head gasket and not get coolant in the oil? Could it possibly be an injector housing gasket?

[edram454]

Mark that sounds quite mysterious. all of a sudden, a car pukes the head gasket? A car known for its durability and the hundreds of hours of peak power and peak torque durability tests and it just pukes out the head gaskets?? Well, finding out the real reason as to why your car blew the head gaskets isnt going to get it fixed but I would be very careful letting that last person who was driving it while the gaskets blew drive it again.

sorry to hear that Mark. your z will ride again.

[Kevin]

it's very rare that a zr-1 will pop a head gasket...all the ones I can think of have been related to nitrous use or the wrong coolant. Was the coolant in your car green or orange?

Normal driving, up to and including a few pulls to redline wouldn't do this. somethings fishy here

[8cam]

Originally Posted by edram454

I would be very careful letting that last person who was driving it while the gaskets blew drive it again.

Yep.

Originally Posted by Kevin

it's very rare that a zr-1 will pop a head gasket...all the ones I can think of have been related to nitrous use or the wrong coolant. Was the coolant in your car green or orange?

Normal driving, up to and including a few pulls to redline wouldn't do this. somethings fishy here

Normal green coolant, just changed in October when I did the water pump and all the hoses. Previous was also green and about a year old. Before that, I can't say. I have not inspected the side of the engine myself, but the (reported) white smoke and the huge puddle of green AF on the floor was fairly telling. The only other time I've had a car lose a head gasket was running a highly boosted 944 turbo at Road Atlanta, and it ran too lean on the top end. Big white cloud, every drop got vaporized.

I'm just glad to have the car in my brother's shop now. He does restorations, not normal mechanic work, but he's going to help me out and I am very grateful. He's a Corvette nut who loves the ZR-1, and says he's actually looking forward to it. I'm planning on a trip back down in the next few weeks and give him a hand. If anyone is in the Tallahassee area and wants to stop by, go for it.

http://www.fastfineclassics.us/

[edram454]

Originally Posted by Kevin

it's very rare that a zr-1 will pop a head gasket...all the ones I can think of have been related to nitrous use or the wrong coolant. Was the coolant in your car green or orange?

Normal driving, up to and including a few pulls to redline wouldn't do this. somethings fishy here

yeah I thought about the coolant also. Lots of people do not know that the lt5 takes a specific coolant. almost everywhere the stores are selling tons of dexcool and yellow coolants. during the life of the car who knows what was in the radiator?? the mystery continues.

ed ramos #3028