Pre production ZR-1/King of Hill Pictures

[1989ZR1#74]

Originally Posted by Corvettes White

Eric, how do we know this? Tks, George

According to the Pilot build sheets the last pilot built was #003 (they were not built in VIN order) #003 began being assembled shortly after the 82 day of 1988 (March 22, 1988)

To support this no VIN sequence data, #004 has a kick in behind 116920 (meaning build right after 1988 C4 #16920) and #010 (yours) has a kick in behind 116462 (#16462).

According to Heart of the Beast (HOTB) Phase IV motors did not start being assembled until 6/15/1988. This is also somewhat supported by the Lotus report on the LT5 from January 26th. According to the report the first Phase III engine is either #69 or #70 arrived early in January 1988 or late December 1987. This was also the first MM engine manufatured as stated in HOTB (Page 64) "We finally got all the parts by Chrismas Eve.... At 7:00 pm, we cranked it over. It sputtered then fired up. We were all jumping around and hugging each other, and I think we even were crying" I suggest everyone interested, read Page 63 to 66 in HOTB for the timeframe for Phase III. #070 became the first validation engine. An interesting side note is the Cam cover logo design was not released to MM until 1/7/88 so no logo covers are before 1/7 logo covers after....

[Tyler Townsley]

The 400 hour engine was a modified Phase 2 motor. Forged crank with duplex chains. They machined the front of the motor to adapt to the new chains'. Geoff has that motor. All the 88 KOH cars started out with Phase 2 engines shipped from England and the first MM build was the Phase 3 motor. There were 1,000+ engineering changes between the Phase 2 and Phase 3. The actual commitment date was Dec of 87 and was when MM was given the go ahead to start the production effort based on the changes mentioned above, as far as I know there were no more complete build engines done in England from that point on. Again all Phase 1&2 engines were England build motors from the ground up and shipped to the US as needed.

Tyler

[1989ZR1#74]

Originally Posted by Tyler Townsley

The 400 hour engine was a modified Phase 2 motor. Forged crank with duplex chains. They machined the front of the motor to adapt to the new chains'. Geoff has that motor. All the 88 KOH cars started out with Phase 2 engines shipped from England and the first MM build was the Phase 3 motor. There were 1,000+ engineering changes between the Phase 2 and Phase 3. The actual commitment date was Dec of 87 and was when MM was given the go ahead to start the production effort based on the changes mentioned above, as far as I know there were no more complete build engines done in England from that point on. Again all Phase 1&2 engines were England build motors from the ground up and shipped to the US as needed.

Tyler

On #70 crank:

Page 2,012 of the Lotus report does show #70, (Built) #73, #74, #79 "will be built using internally balanced cast iron crank shaft and dual mass flywheel"

Page 2,011 #72 was fitted with a "solid steel crank... with full plane balance." it also states validation engines will be fitted with production intent cranks that are forged steel and nitride treated when available. So it looks like #70 started with a cast crank and fitted with a forged one "when it became available" "Forging due week 11..." (11 of 1988?? not sure if so that week of March 3rd to 11th)

Looks like #074 was a phase III engine:

Page 2,107 "Lotus to sign off sump surge on prototype vehicle fitted with phase III engine as soon as possible. Vehicle P8Y078 (my note: EX5005 88 VIN #0037 MBlue Mblue KOH) to be fitted wth LT5 #074 Feb 1988. Plan is to use this vehicle or another vehicle to complete this work."

[Tyler Townsley]

Originally Posted by 1989ZR1#74

Page 2,107 "Lotus to sign off sump surge on prototype vehicle fitted with phase III engine as soon as possible. Vehicle P8Y078 (my note: EX5005 88 VIN #0037 MBlue Mblue KOH) to be fitted wth LT5 #074 Feb 1988. Plan is to use this vehicle or another vehicle to complete this work."

I would consider the 'another vehicle' to be Bretts EX5023. That vehicle was still alive when GM sold out Lotus, it had been back to the US and back again according to Geoff, that would also explain the rear that was on the car. IE it had been 'updated' for some reason. That vehicle had a later Phase 4 engine in it when it was scrapped in England.

Tyler

[1989ZR1#74]

Originally Posted by Tyler Townsley

I would consider the 'another vehicle' to be Bretts EX5023. That vehicle was still alive when GM sold out Lotus, it had been back to the US and back again according to Geoff, that would also explain the rear that was on the car. IE it had been 'updated' for some reason. That vehicle had a later Phase 4 engine in it when it was scrapped in England.

Tyler

Are you talking about this rear:

[Corvettes White]

Originally Posted by 1989ZR1#74

On #70 crank:

Page 2,012 of ...

Eric,

That must be one hell of a thick book! BTY thanks for the reply above.

I do have a question or two for you but will ask later.

George

[1989ZR1#74]

Originally Posted by Corvettes White

Eric,

That must be one hell of a thick book! BTY thanks for the reply above.

I do have a question or two for you but will ask later.

George

HA! well its not as thick as the page number shows. It's using a "English" page numbering style, first number is section. Numbers after comma are the page number in the section.

[1989ZR1#74]

Tyler, back to your original thread topic for a minute.

Here is a few different versions of 1989 #084

#084 in the October 1989 issue of Car Craft




Now sporting 1990 wheels it appeared at a drag strip and was shown in the 10/1989 issue of Vette Magazine






And finally dressed up as Snake Skinner II

[Tyler Townsley]

Originally Posted by 1989ZR1#74

Are you talking about this rear:

Yes. I had Queenie to a painter some time ago to ask him about the pimples in the paint. He advised me that in some places there was several coats of paint over the original factory paint. Surprised me but given the purpose of the cars I should have figured that may have been the case.

Tyler