New ZR1 owner

[Mitsumark]

Hello ladies and gents.I am the new owner of a 91 ZR1 #170.From what I've been told,and basing on the huge portfolio of documents the car came with,it belonged to a former member here named Rick Minson..The car seems to be pretty well modified from what I can see,and from the documents.It seems Mr Minson spent a ton of coin at The Vette Doctors in NY somewhere around 93.That receipt consisted of a 368 Ci engine build that cost 18k alone..That doesn't include the other massive amount of mods done to the suspension,exhaust,cooling system,ect..The kicker is that it seems the car was built and it must of sat for years as mileage is only 9k more now than it was back in 95 according to Carfax and maintanence records..I've listed a link to the car below as if anyone here knows Mr Minson or the car,I'd love to hear about it..The reason why Im posting is the car seems to have developed a slight misfire.I have a document that states the coils were replaced in 2010.I also have confirmed the injectors were replaced with FIC SS injectors just last year..I know a spark misfire when I feel it and Im suspecting the coils were replaced with Chinese junk and not Delcos as the car sat at a small car dealer before it came into my possession..I've already installed a current EPROM for my build by Marc Heibeck.Ive also confirmed there are absolutely no vacuum leaks.That includes the PCV valve connections,and the MAP to Plenum hose..I'm convinced I have a bad coil,thus requires removal of the plenum..Here's my dilemma..I plan to remove the plenum to replace the coils with Delcos..During this time I'd like to totally eliminate my secondaries and it's components..I will send my chip back to Marc for a recalibration..Is there any members local to the NJ area as I am not confident doing this myself the first time around..I would love to watch,help,and learn the first time around..I would also be happy to pay somewhere for there time..I can even come to you..If anyone is interested,please email me.Id really feel better knowing someone with an experienced LT5 hand was there..Thanks..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NO-RE...t_49605wt_1021

[efnfast]

Welcome to the forum, sounds like a nice find. I can't imagine you'll have any trouble finding help with the plenum pull.-Steve

[PhillipsLT5]

WOW!

[ZZZZZR1]

Congrats!!!

Great car and lots of documentation!!!

Have you ever been to Corvettes of Carlisle? If not, our club is one of the largest @ the event!! Great way to meet people and learn about your car if you are interested.

It's in Carlisle PA and there are quite a few coming from New Jersey.

Event is August 22 thru 24

http://www.carsatcarlisle.com/ce/events/corvettes/

There will be over 100 ZR-1's there and likely 200+ owners over 3 day's of the event.

Any questions, feel free to post up or send me a PM.

Congrats on your purchase and hope you meet you @ this great event.



David

[msorenso]

I am new to the forum this year and also a new owner to a nicely modified 91 ZR1. It has been my dream car since high school which in those days it was the KING!!!! My Jr year was the ZR1 last With that there are alot of great people here and TONS of help with anything! Welcome and enjoy this incredible forum!!!

[XfireZ51]

There's a couple of ways of "eliminating" secondaries. You can do it physically by removing everything, or you can leave the mechanicals in and tie wrap the secondaries open, which is what I did initially. The calibration for either is essentially the same. Up to you how much u want to do.

[jimmy b.]

Congrats Mitsumark on the Zr-1, is this your first corvette? Where in New Jersey do you live? there's a few of us here. I live in Northwest NJ just off x-25 RT80.

First if you don't have a factory service manual (fsm) get one. When I had a miss I followed mine and it helped me fine a bad 5-8 coil. Lots of info in them. Also just cause some parts are new don't rule them out check em too.

There's a lot of great people on this forum, don't be afraid to ask questions thats how we all learn more about the car we love.

Some of the guys put on repair clinics in their areas and some of them are not too far from us.

[Mitsumark]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys..Ive been a car guy my whole life..However,this is my first Vette..I've been trying to do as much reading as possible to avoid asking what I'm sure has been answered a million times..It sure sucks being the new man in class..Anyway,yes..I do have a few drivability issues..For one,the car does have a stumble at low-mid throttle.It will break up a bit before it clears up and takes off..Also,even once it gets going,I can hear pre-ignition(pinging) and sometimes even slight detonation.I immediately take my foot out of it as I'm scared to hurt it..This happens with or without the power key on..Being this car was specifically Dyno tuned back in 93 right after the build,I figured it was tuned on old fashioned gas and could really benefit from a new tune..After reading about Marc H great rep,I spoke with him and I went with him..So far I've done his chip along with checking for any vac leaks.I have discovered that my secondary vac pump is innop as is will not cycle on.Ive confirmed this by connecting direct voltage.However from what I've read,this pump failure should have little or no effect on driveability,especially with the power key off..My problem occurs weather on or off.So although I have full documentation of a new Marc H chip,new NGK TR71X gapped at .50,new GM wires, and new FIC injectors.I have also checked for vac leaks and can't find any.Map sensor hose is new and attached at both ends.As stated earlier,this car sat on a used car dealer lot for a short span before I got it..Imcluded in the documents was full coil replacement from an outside source.I know they were changed as I can see the hand written #s on each coil from the previous installer.What I'm guessing is that non factory cheap coils were probably used.So my conclusion is I'm almost 100% positive I have a defective coil.Upon changing them I would love to rip out the secondary system as it seems to be a complex system with many fail able parts..Besides the miss,,I have a dyno sheet (vin specific) that says this car was making 423 rwhp..I know what 423 rwhp feels like and this car is not making anywhere near that now so something definitely isn't right.Im located in S.Plainfield NJ which is right in the middle of the state..Again if any knowledgable local members are close,provide me with a list of what parts I would need to fully remove my secondary system,plugs,seals,gaskets,ect and I will be happy to pay for your time.Im sure I can handle the plenum pull myself.What I'm a bit Leary of is removing all of the secondary parts and buttoning up all the loose ends..

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by Mitsumark

What I'm a bit Leary of is removing all of the secondary parts and buttoning up all the loose ends..

Do NOT be Leary.......just post up and Learyness disappears

And.......do NOT try to avoid asking what you are sure has been answered a million times because we do not learn from your experience in that regard.....so ASK AWAY

I always Change All Fluids (I add the Differential Drain Plug) and eliminate TB Coolant as the first step to cleaning the Valley and reconditioning the starter, coils, vacuum system and vacuum canisters.

Oh...and Jerry's Gaskets Jerry's Gaskets has every bolt and gasket you will ever need in any type of restoration you decide on. Also.....It is amazing what a can of Rustoleum can do (I have Powder Coated other Restorations).




Before Top End Restoration but with Carter Bling


After Top End Restoration (with Secondaries NOT eliminated on this one)

[Mitsumark]

Thanks Dynomite..Really appreciate the hospitality.Fortunetly for me it seems the original owner spruced up the engine bay quite nice already.Ok gents..Since my last post,I've verified the old fashion way that I have atleast 1 weak coil.I used the old removing the wire method as I don't have a spark plug tester on hand.I'm getting very strong arching sound to ground on 6 cylinders.The other 2 sound very weak with spark noise coming and going..The coils are definitely in order.I feel it in my gut that there's cheapies in there.The car probably came in on trade with driveability issues and the dealer sent it out to a private garage where they put in new coils(per the receipt).Now onto the secondaries..In your honest opinions,do you guys recommend replacing the faulty vac pump and retaining the secondary function?Or is failure imminent being the car is an old lady.Im not sure if it matters but I forgot to mention before..Pumping air into the hose via the passenger side of the plenum,there are no leaks.it held vacuum for 3 hrs rock solid before I removed the gauge.I also have absolutely no trouble codes through this whole ordeal.Besides my faulty pump,does it sound like my secondary system is fully operational?