ZR-1 Net Registry Forums - View Single Post - So...How much does it cost to build a 380 cube ZR1?

rkreigh · 09-23-2013

390 ci from LPE with full boogie treatment ($36k)

380 CI from Haibeck or other sources with full boogie treatment (less than half of $36k)

HP at tires. the same

technology marches on. the 380 will have a great rod angle, be MUCH cheaper to build.

stirr in some TI rods for fun (they are cheaper now than when LPE put then in the LSV no too) still way cheaper than 36k

wonder if the LS7 rods could work, they are likely some "take out" rods around and they are good to about 700 hp

sorry, but 4500 for a crank is ferrari prices. top fuel cranks are cheaper than that but it's all in the volume

we tried to get a "group buy" on stroker cranks. good luck. there are probably about 30 415s in the world

like to get a "registry" of the ZR-1 aftermarket builds. that would be pretty cool.

with pete putting down about 500 at the tire with a stock block, I honestly don't think a 415 is worth it anymore

you can go big cubes and you'll just choke it off with the limited flow capacity of the heads and make a bit more torque but not much more HP relative to the big $$$

what we need a new billet head with a bigger cam sprocket and turn up the flow. a stock LS LS7 head flows 370 cfm. that's a dream for a LT5 head. good heads flow around 330 cfm, with the "new builds" doing better

but we do have a HUGE advantage is flow velocity and turbulence and much better combustion chamber design. I think a big bore relatively short stroke engine is the way to go.

don't even need more displacement, just more flow, better cam timing, and nikasil coating on the ductile liners and a very free flowing head.

the factory knows a thing or two about building engines. lowering the friction is huge. the lt5 have direct acting cams which create quite a bit of friction even though the direct acting cams are very nice. look at the modern DOHC engines, they have roller cam followers with a fulcrum lever to cut friction. a modern LT5 head would do wonders. and hell, let's put some deck plates on it and make it a 6 bolt design while were at it.

nelson sure could do it, but so could others. I see billet heads whittled all the time even for lowly BB chevies. love to see this done for the LT5

then we can go kick so LS @SS in the meantime, not so much

getting 500 rwhp out of an LS7 is a cakewalk. on an LT5, it takes pete!!!

kudos to that young man, Pete and Marc have "scienced and engineered" the LT5 to keep it viable and competative. and it's such a great engine,it deserves the love. I still favor the ZR-1 over my "faster and more powerful" hardware. as I get older, the "intangibles" like sound, feel, throttle response, and looks start to matter more than the numbers

it's all in how much you "enjoy the ride"

in the end, that's what matters most. the ZR-1 is a faithful mistress, seductive, powerful, and sexy. and the song she sings is from a siren that calls to the masses.

I went to a car show yesterday and quite a few folks had never seen a ZR-1. all of them commented, what a beautiful car and wow does it sound great. the old LSV when it clears it's throat still roars like a mighty lion.

the CCW 505 rims are still for sale, just not the tires. they are toast. I baked them off in honor of some cool fall air. the LT5 quickly "dispatched" with the hideous run flats and I will gladly light them up in the back yard and dance around them as they burn. runcraps are just not for me.

need to get those 18' ccw 505s so I can get back to the toyo RA1s I have on the turbo car. they work well and I have a spare set of 335s just dying to get roasted. use em up before they get old

what a great weekend to crooze the ZR-1. fyi, bob arnold will be selling has LPE stroker. he has a spare engine too. I'll try to get it up on the registry and keep you all posted when it hits ebay.

it's the "sister" car to mine. not quite a powerful, but very nice. he has 82k on it. I'm going to catch him this month and pass

sooooo......... who out there has more than 82k on their stroker LT5???

raise your hand!! cause you "get it"

drive that beeotch like you robbed the nearest bank and are going across state lines.

the LT5 is a masochist, and enjoys the beatings. the engine is an anvil, and I'm trying to wear it out, and it's a job I truely love.

09-23-2013	#18
rkreigh Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Alex VA Posts: 1,080	Re: So...How much does it cost to build a 380 cube ZR1? 390 ci from LPE with full boogie treatment ($36k) 380 CI from Haibeck or other sources with full boogie treatment (less than half of $36k) HP at tires. the same technology marches on. the 380 will have a great rod angle, be MUCH cheaper to build. stirr in some TI rods for fun (they are cheaper now than when LPE put then in the LSV no too) still way cheaper than 36k wonder if the LS7 rods could work, they are likely some "take out" rods around and they are good to about 700 hp sorry, but 4500 for a crank is ferrari prices. top fuel cranks are cheaper than that but it's all in the volume we tried to get a "group buy" on stroker cranks. good luck. there are probably about 30 415s in the world like to get a "registry" of the ZR-1 aftermarket builds. that would be pretty cool. with pete putting down about 500 at the tire with a stock block, I honestly don't think a 415 is worth it anymore you can go big cubes and you'll just choke it off with the limited flow capacity of the heads and make a bit more torque but not much more HP relative to the big $$$ what we need a new billet head with a bigger cam sprocket and turn up the flow. a stock LS LS7 head flows 370 cfm. that's a dream for a LT5 head. good heads flow around 330 cfm, with the "new builds" doing better but we do have a HUGE advantage is flow velocity and turbulence and much better combustion chamber design. I think a big bore relatively short stroke engine is the way to go. don't even need more displacement, just more flow, better cam timing, and nikasil coating on the ductile liners and a very free flowing head. the factory knows a thing or two about building engines. lowering the friction is huge. the lt5 have direct acting cams which create quite a bit of friction even though the direct acting cams are very nice. look at the modern DOHC engines, they have roller cam followers with a fulcrum lever to cut friction. a modern LT5 head would do wonders. and hell, let's put some deck plates on it and make it a 6 bolt design while were at it. nelson sure could do it, but so could others. I see billet heads whittled all the time even for lowly BB chevies. love to see this done for the LT5 then we can go kick so LS @SS in the meantime, not so much getting 500 rwhp out of an LS7 is a cakewalk. on an LT5, it takes pete!!! kudos to that young man, Pete and Marc have "scienced and engineered" the LT5 to keep it viable and competative. and it's such a great engine,it deserves the love. I still favor the ZR-1 over my "faster and more powerful" hardware. as I get older, the "intangibles" like sound, feel, throttle response, and looks start to matter more than the numbers it's all in how much you "enjoy the ride" in the end, that's what matters most. the ZR-1 is a faithful mistress, seductive, powerful, and sexy. and the song she sings is from a siren that calls to the masses. I went to a car show yesterday and quite a few folks had never seen a ZR-1. all of them commented, what a beautiful car and wow does it sound great. the old LSV when it clears it's throat still roars like a mighty lion. the CCW 505 rims are still for sale, just not the tires. they are toast. I baked them off in honor of some cool fall air. the LT5 quickly "dispatched" with the hideous run flats and I will gladly light them up in the back yard and dance around them as they burn. runcraps are just not for me. need to get those 18' ccw 505s so I can get back to the toyo RA1s I have on the turbo car. they work well and I have a spare set of 335s just dying to get roasted. use em up before they get old what a great weekend to crooze the ZR-1. fyi, bob arnold will be selling has LPE stroker. he has a spare engine too. I'll try to get it up on the registry and keep you all posted when it hits ebay. it's the "sister" car to mine. not quite a powerful, but very nice. he has 82k on it. I'm going to catch him this month and pass sooooo......... who out there has more than 82k on their stroker LT5??? raise your hand!! cause you "get it" drive that beeotch like you robbed the nearest bank and are going across state lines. the LT5 is a masochist, and enjoys the beatings. the engine is an anvil, and I'm trying to wear it out, and it's a job I truely love. Last edited by rkreigh; 09-23-2013 at 07:14 AM.