Change in Plans

[edram454]

Well Jeff, I miss not being part of the historical aspect of the zr-1 and eventually not being a zr-1 owning member of this forum. The cars are quite different in many aspects. There is no questions that the LT-5 feels sounds like a much more refined powerplant. It applies the power smoothly and then the secondaries kick in and the power comes on that much stronger until you shift. The z06 engine feels less refined and the power comes on hard after 2900 rpm when the big 600 lift cam kicks in and it hurls it down the street. The z06 will burn the tires 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear. I burned the tires with traction control on at half throttle going 40 miles an hour in 2nd gear. It will go to 6500 rpm before a shift is required.

The z06 does not have any rattles or noise coming from the body or another place. It feels very light as opposed to the zr1 which feels heavy. I feel lower to the ground in the z06 as compared with the zr1. I believe the z06 will outperform a modded zr1 in everything except maybe top speed.

The zr1 makes lots of noise, rattles, body grunts... the targa top,,, lots of noise that in inherent to the 1990 z. A better comparison would be a zr1 against a c5 coupe. The z06 fixed roof coupe,,(hardtop), has much more structural rigidity and it makes a huge difference when performing any driving maneuver. There is a wide difference in technology in both cars and even the engines where the lt5 uses 700 pounds of aluminum and different metals to make up is girth, the ls6 is only 400 pounds complete. the ls6 block weighs only 103 pounds. Weight kills the zr-1 against the z06. Both are great cars. Nothing really special about the z06 except that it is a z06. Like the zr1, the z06 is a whole car engineering effort. It isnt just an engine,, its special suspension, special transmission, the windshield is half as think as a regular c5, titanium exhaust,, half the insulation of a regular c5 etc... they really tried to make this a club racer. The zr-1 s laden with weight.. options... more and more girth makes for a less maneuverable car. Maintenance is nearly impossible for a zr-1 owner unless he is a dynamite or a pete type of guys, the availability of knowledgeable mechanics are few and far between. That is a major drawback. The lack of parts, ecm, vss, body panels,,transmissions, etc... is unsettling. The z06 can be fixed at walmart. I hope that gives you an idea of the difference..the zr1 is a highway cruiser and rides like one. the z06 is a track car on the street.

ed ramos #3028