Introduction: New member, new project, first ZR-1!

[Alex0413]

Hi, I've been lurking on this forum for a while and wanted to introduce myself and my car. My name is Alex, and I've been wrenching and building cars for twenty years. Big into Jeeps and Corvettes, last one was a Torch Red C5, that i've dearly missed! I'm very familiar with the LS platform, but this is my first experience with the LT5.

One of my co-workers has had a ZR-1 sitting in his driveway for a coupe of years and i've been talking to him about buying it for the past 6 months. The timing was right for the both of us and we came to an agreement on the car: I was ecstatic and getting back into a Corvette, and such a rare piece of history. Seller was excited about seeing his baby be resurrected, so it was a win-win! He has owned the car for the past 15 years and she has 55K miles. 1990 Red ZR-1. It had developed a miss three years ago, and he changed the injectors and both fuel pumps. It didn't fix the miss. He moved right after and didn't have a place to work on the car, and stopped working on it. She's been sitting and hasn't been started for almost three years. So that's what I know, and here's my plans:

1) Drain fuel
2) clean, test, and inspect fuel pumps
3) change all fluids
4) new AC Delco Coils
5) new AC Delco plug wires
6) new AC Delco spark plugs
7) inspect secondaries - should i disable?
8) inspect vacuum lines
9) Flow test all 16 injectors on flow bench and ensure all are functioning and clean.
10) reassemble plenum with new gaskets
11) Start and pray like hell!

Anything else you pros recommend I check or replace in order to resurrect this beauty?

Should I go ahead and delete the secondaries while I have the plenum off?

Any advice or guidance would be appreciated! Will start a build thread soon once I start working on her.

[conesare2seconds]

Welcome.

[efnfast]

Welcome. Glad to hear you rescued her before the mice had her for lunch.
Secondaries: The only reason to keep them is because of their uniqueness. Mine are gone.
Don't forget that the chip will need a reprogram.

[JThomas]

Congratulations, and welcome to the madness!

[EvanZR1]

Originally Posted by efnfast

Secondaries: The only reason to keep them is because of their uniqueness. Mine are gone.
Don't forget that the chip will need a reprogram.

Congrats on finding a ZR-1, you're going to love it! I agree with efnfast, no real reason to keep the secondaries, and good reasons to get rid of them. Both my ZR-1s had them when I bought them, and I had issues with them on the first (had plenum off a couple times to chase vacuum leaks to get them running properly). My current one didn't give me any problems with them, but when I had the 391 motor done, I went ahead and had Pete just completely remove them.

[We Gone]

Welcome.

[Alex0413]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

As far as the chip for the secondary delete, this just deletes a CEL, it will still run properly without the Haibeck chip?

What write ups can you steer be towards for a secondary delete? Think I'll just zip tie them open, but need to know what vacuum lines/systems to plug.

This car does have some performance works done so far:

SW Headers
Corsa exhaust
Ported Plenum
Tuned

[Alex0413]

Here's a few pics:

IMG_3551.jpg

IMG_3560.jpg

IMG_3549.jpg

[Ccmano]

Welcome! Nice find, luv the red plenum.
H

[Ccmano]

For the secondary delete a tune (chip) is an absolute necessity. It will not run correctly otherwise possibly even damaging your engine. Its not just a simple matter of eliminating the SES light. Since your car already has a tune this needs to be discussed with whoever does the new chip. Pull your chip and see who did the tune. My guess is youll find a Marc Haibeck chip. The only people doing tunes these days are Marc Haibeck, Dominic Sorresso, Pete all in the Chicago area. Closer to you theres Steve at Crossed Flags in Magnolia TX. Haibeck does a very good canned or generic tune. The rest are all custom tuners.
H