My ZR-1 Saga...

[Ccmano]

Thought I'd share my recent ZR-1 buying experiance...this is a long post. Love my Z..

Hans

As some of you know I bought the 90' ZR-1 in Vegas that was advertised for $14K with 47K miles. Many have asked to hear how it went so here you go...including pictures. Believe me, it was an ordeal!

I had sent my 24yr old son who lives in LA to check out the car and based on his approval I agreed to buy the car from the owner for $13,900. I knew from my sons inspection that the SES, Inf Rest and LTPWS lights were on, and that the car needed tires, these items would need work. The owners tech felt the car needed an O2 sensor and wires to correct the SES light. We were going to go to Vegas the following week anyway so I planned to pick up the car then and drive it back via Reno, to see my parents, to Denver where I live.

My son and I met with the owner at the appointed hour last Saturday to have a final look at the car and do the transaction. I must say I was disappointed when I did finally see the car because it was rougher than I expected. It looked like it had been sitting for some time and was dirty. However having been in the car business all my life I was able to look past the dirt and see it as a basically good car that needed some TLC. I started the car up and immediately detected a very faint knock from the engine. After some poking around I determined that if I pulled the #8 plug wire the knock became severe at idle. I told the owner I felt it was a rod knock and was not interested in the car. He asked me to make an offer because he just wanted to move the car. I said I would consider it and call him back later in the day after some further research. We parted.

In the mean time (and prior to seeing the car) I had put out a plea on the forum here for help from a Vegas member to help change out the O2 sensor and wires. Ron Hanselman graciously responded. He called me after I had seen the car and I told him I passed due to the knock issue. He luckily advised me not to be hasty and felt what I was hearing was the dual mass flywheel, which when bad makes that exact sound. He invited me up to his house the next day to hear his two ZR's and compare. We went and sure enough when we pulled the #8 plug wire on his 91' we got the same sound. Interestingly his 93' didn't do it.

That day (Sunday) I called the owner and said I would take the car if he took another $1500 off because flywheel needed replaced. He agreed. The following morning (Monday) we went to pick up the car and pay the $12,400. At that point the owner said the car had developed a miss. I figured it was ignition related and I would fix it prior to the drive to Reno. I had brought tools and since I was a trained Mercedes tech (years ago) and thought it would be no big deal.

I took the car straight to be detailed, so it would be presentable for the wife, and in the mean time went to the Nevada DMV to get a "drive away" permit. As I picked up the car from the detailer and pulled up to the gas pump a black Mercedes pulled up along side and the guy offers to buy the car on the spot! I turned it down of course.

So...I'm driving back to the hotel in my rough running ZR in the 110 degree Vegas heat and notice that the temp needle is almost to max and the A/c had turned off and was blowing hot air. I also noticed that the fans were not running. Luckily the hotel with it's under ground parking was not far. A quick look under the hood and I determined that the fan relays were hooked up backwards, switched them and the fans ran fine.

After 3 hours of diagnosis for the miss and another consultation with Ron I determined that the miss was caused by a failed #2 primary injector. Again, luckily I had brought my volt/ohm meter. I didn't have the tools however to pull the plenum to replace the injector. I called around and found a shop, Tucker's GM Performance Center, to do the work on short notice and order the part. The part however had to be overnighted from Kentucky. It was finally finished Wednesday, they did a great job, and also fixed the SES light by reconnecting a secondary vacuum line under the plenum, installed the wires that I had brought along and replace the fuel filter at my request. $702 dollars was the bill. Fortunately, they also pointed out the screw in my right front tire that had to be fixed before the drive. The local Discount Tires Direct did that for free while we waited. Needless to say the wife was not happy at this point!

Off we went Wednesday afternoon (two days late) to drive to Reno 475 miles. The car was very loud on the trip, the tires howled and vibrated and the drive train made alot of noise. The wife was now not speaking to me.

We got to Reno OK and I immediately ordered a set of tires (Summitomos) from Tire Rack. They have a warehouse there and I was able to pick them up immediately. $422 dollars. A local shop balanced and installed them and did a 4 wheel alignment (boy did it need it) They also removed the LTPWS sensors at my request. Now the car drove very smoothly and the LTPWS light was out. $227 dollars for that work.

I had also noticed that the oil pressure guage was reading wrong and the sending unit was leaking. The local NAPA store had the part and I replace it. $27 dollars.

So..yesterday the wife flew back to Denver (she had to be at work today) and I drove. The trip went well (15 hrs) and the car drove great! I did notice that the drivetrain noise was still unusually loud. I remembered the owner telling me that the clutch and sychros had recently been replaced, so I was a little concerned there might be a problem. I suspected, however that the rubber boots between the shifter and the body had been incorrectly replaced when the clutch was done, allowing drivetrain noise to transfer to the cockpit. (I've done clutches on these before.) Sure enough, today I pulled the console trim and had to reinstall the boots.

Now...after all this, the car is really nice. It's quiet inside, only normal noise levels, idles smooth and runs strong (including the secondaries)
Shifting is perfect (still have to disconnect CAGS) The interior is near perfect with only wear on the drivers seat bolster. The paint is very good only the rear lower valance will need repainted. It will need rear wheel bearings this winter and brakes. I'll probably change out the flywheel at that time too. I have a Power Effects exhaust sitting here just waiting to go on. All in all not a bad $14k ZR-1.

Many thanks to to Member Ron Hanselman, couldn't have done with out you!!!:thumbs: I'll buy you that beer when I see you at VOTR

Thanks to the forum too...couldn't have done it without the help and info here.

Here are some PIX of the $14K ZR-1.
Hans

[Z Factor]

As you can see Hans, I transferred your post and pictures over here rather than having a link. The pictures need to be divided so the rest are in this post.

[Z Factor]

Now that I've read your post, I must give you on acquiring a ZR-1 for that price. Sure it needs some work, but sounds like she is in good hands.

[Ccmano]

Thanks!

It won't take much more to get this one up to snuff. Let the mods begin...

Hans

[FU]

Nice car ! Nice price ! Enjoy the miles

[We Gone]

Nice find looks like you found a keeper..Congrats

[rkreigh]

reminds me of my first ZR-1 purchase, a 90 DRM 450 black with red guts for 23,500 (1999) It was the cheapest ZR-1 I could find, had 60K miles, when I started it the chains rattled like gravel in a can and I almost walked away. I was so nervous driving it I forgot to turn the power key on even though I knew what it was. when I got to the mountains of west va I couldn't figure out how to get it reverse. that was 3 zr-1 ago!!

you stole that car. it looks to be in good condition, in need of only minor maint & tlc to bring it up to snuff. that is alot of corvette for 14k even if you have to do a few repairs.

great buy!! welcome to the brotherhood.

[Zr1 Destroyer]

=D> Congrats on the purchase...hope to see ya out and about in Colorado some time!




Ry

[tomtom72]

Sweat deal! Good luck with your new ZR-1!!!


I'm glad to see I am not the only one who couldn't find reverse....oh I also couln't figure out how to get the key out of the ignition either!!!

[WB9MCW]

Wow way to go Ccmano you got one heck of a deal. Pays to be patient and have the knowledge to get thru that! I had to laugh about the wife part so typical, I can just imagine the "ear chatter" you took on this one! But its worth it cause you have the KOTH in "YOUR" garage now!

Like our VP sayz the koth is addicting. The rush of holding the hammer down to 7000 r's is a KOTH exclusive. But only Z heads understand what it is like to be in those regular daily rides (in my case the 97 t- bird which red l's at 5200) and dreaming of the next Z-Zone drive.



I can hardly wait every time I am going for a ZR-1 ride in the country side and my wife can never be ready to go on time it seems (she knows she is going for a torture event [she hates the speedboat on hammer down full thottle more so the vette is better that way]). I am always antisipatory of the 'hammer time' event. I love the look on her face after I do a good 1-2 pull to 90mph. She always gives me that look like "ok hot dog that was nice but don't even think ur gonna do the next two gears"!!!

Every now and then I try to get away with a third pull but right about 115 she starts yelling and whackin at me. I never get to do a "4th Pull" if I wanna stay married when she is aboard.

This is where the legendary 'good buddy blast-hot laps-rip/snort check it out' test ride comes in. You know the ones that make for the good copy in the "kill stories" sections. Like remember the 'guy that couldn't shift his viper worth crap' that night story and similar. They become our bench race Z stories extraordanare! The ones that legends are made of.

And that my friend is what the KING is all about! Welcome to the club!