Is this a v6 Turbo ZR-1 Prototype Engine? Friend purchased it (pics) ---

[LGAFF]

[grahambehan]

Originally Posted by Hib Halverson

A turbocharged V6 was never, ever considered as power for the ZR-1.

Way back in 85, when what would become the ZR-1 was still in the early design stage, GM briefly considered a DOHC cylinder head conversion for the existing Gen 1 SBV8, but that's the only other engine configuration which was considered.

The Original contract negociations with Lotus was for just this.

Graham.

[LGAFF]

Before landing on the LT-5 vs a TT setup, GM did build a series of TT cars....Motor trend noted that they ran a test with a Lambo running at 120, as it passed one of the TT prototypes(sitting still) ...Jim Engles punched it....at the end of the mile the TT vette has passed the lambo at 180+....

[Hog]

Cool looking setup for sure. I wonder if the V6 +turbo + I/C + plumbing would be close to the weight of an L98 or the ehavier LT5?

Could V8 manifolds be swapped out to be used in a V8 application?

It would be interesting to get a readout of that PROM.

peace
Hog

[scottfab]

The flange on the headers is what 0.750 in ? wow

[alwayscode390]

---

[1989ZR1#74]

OK I went digging. Per Dave MCcLellan's "Corvette fron the Inside" page 195:

"V-6S AND TWIN TURBOS
To his credit, Lloyd kept the pressure on the engine guys. Their first
response was a turbocharged 90-degree V-6 for the Corvette. They reasoned
that the smaller displacement was needed, both for fuel economy and to
accommodate the turbochargers and auxiliary plumbing. But we rejected
the V-6 engine, and so did the car. The engine caused problems in the driveline
and rear suspension and made the car buzz and the mirrors shake. This
unbalanced V-6 engine configuration was totally unacceptable when
mounted in the Corvette, which had never been designed for such an
engine. So, the engine guys finally got the V-6 out of their system, and we
settled down to work with them to package a twin turbo V-8."





If that is the engine that is a very rare piece of Corvette history. Thanks for posting it.

[1989ZR1#74]

I will go one step further and say the name "ZR-1" didn't really exist until the 1988 time frame. Up until that point the LT5 moniker ruled the day. If you look at the 1988 and earlier build sheets you see LT5 hand written on them and King of Hill noted but no ZR-1 anywhere. ZR-1 really came to fame when Chevrolet denied the use of the LT-5 badging due to GM's own new restrictions on noting engine's badging on the outside of the vehicle. Hmmm does that make Queenie just another Corvette? I will let Tyler decide.

[icarus-54]

Saw one a many years ago at Watkins Glen,it was in a prototype road racer.I think it was around 90-91.It caught my eye because I had just bought my first gmc syclone new.

[Z51JEFF]

That motor looks like a Big Block with 2 cylinders lopped off.