Questions about a 92 I'm looking at.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by Ccmano

If your going to buy a 25 year old car you must expect things will go wrong with it. The issues with ZR-1s are well known and well documented. They will happen. Be prepared to either do the repair work on your own or be prepared to the write a hefty check for someone else to do it. This is not just for Z’s but for any older car. After many years in this hobby I have found that there is no way to guarantee minimal exposure to breakdowns and repair expense. Sure, you might get lucky and find one that will need minimal care. The odds, however, are against you there.



This forum and (most importantly it people) are a fabulous resource (better than most) to guide owners through the ins and outs, pleasures and trials of these unique cars. Everything you need is here to make ownership of a Z a wonderful experience.



Embrace these concepts and you will be a happy owner. The wrong expectations will make you regret you ever bought a Z.



The following comment is not directed at the OP...

Over the years I have seen countless posts here and elsewhere with people complaining about cars they bought that need one repair after another. This hobby is not just about driving these cars, it about learning them inside and out, then the challenge of doing the work yourself and the reward of a better performing car. For those not willing to learn and work, at the very least, they should be prepared to spend significant sums of money to maintain the cars. People who complain about reliability and are not willing to do one of the two items outlined above have no business in this hobby.



Sorry for the rant, didn’t mean to hijack your thread.

H

Very well said and so true. You’re spot on in every respect.


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

[Paul Workman]

Marty...If ever you buy an airline, DO let me know so I don't accidentally board one of your planes!

I like the feeling I can jump into my Z and drive it anywhere with confidence. Like Hans says, my Z is a hobby unto itself, and I take pleasure in doing all the maintenance stuff I'm equipped to do; learning all the time (with the help of many experts on this forum, I might add). And, tho I'm generally in favor of what Marty says: "Don't fix what ain't broke", one can't say enough for monitoring everything (I) can so as to anticipate and replace chit before it leaves me stranded somewhere.

Unexpected stuff is always gonna happen. That's why having a spare tire or stuff to make a repair on the road makes sense. But, soon as possible, I feel better after I "reset the clock" on various parts, and be ready, at least; or anticipate when it will be "time" to consider replacement.

Some time ago I started a thread, a POLL regarding "common mode failures" (resurrected below). It could be or should be reconstructed to focus more on specific data/details to enhance its usefulness. But, still the poll and comments might interest those new to the ZR-1 HOBBY.

http://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread....ommon+failures

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

Marty...If ever you buy an airline, DO let me know so I don't accidentally board one of your planes!

I like the feeling I can jump into my Z and drive it anywhere with confidence. Like Hans says, my Z is a hobby unto itself, and I take pleasure in doing all the maintenance stuff I'm equipped to do; learning all the time (with the help of many experts on this forum, I might add). And, tho I'm generally in favor of what Marty says: "Don't fix what ain't broke", one can't say enough for monitoring everything (I) can so as to anticipate and replace chit before it leaves me stranded somewhere.

Unexpected stuff is always gonna happen. That's why having a spare tire or stuff to make a repair on the road makes sense. But, soon as possible, I feel better after I "reset the clock" on various parts, and be ready, at least; or anticipate when it will be "time" to consider replacement.

Some time ago I started a thread, a POLL regarding "common mode failures" (resurrected below). It could be or should be reconstructed to focus more on specific data/details to enhance its usefulness. But, still the poll and comments might interest those new to the ZR-1 HOBBY.

http://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread....ommon+failures

I have owned two ZR-1's.
Continuous ownership for over 25 years.
Driven them over 60,000 miles combined.
NEVER had a breakdown except for blowing a muffler off once and a lower radiator hose during a 7k plus 1-2 shift, both times, car got me home.

I pay very careful attention to even the slightest anomaly whenever I am in any of my cars.
I perform fluid and filter maintenance with near religious fervor, and inspect the car on the ground and on the lift many, many times a year.

However, I do not replace parts just for the heck of it.

I pay AAA and my insurance companies for towing that I never use, but keep just as a safety net.

And unlike many, I will resist the temptation to buy and replace my power steering reservoir, just because I read earlier that another poster's unit somehow failed.

I maintain a stock of ZR-1 parts for customer's cars, however I do not do so for my car. If something fails, I'll find one at that time and replace it.
Our ZR-1 parts become scarce because many owners stash the stuff in their basements, where it sits unused for decades. While fine and understandable, that's why the non owners hear that parts are difficult to locate. They are. Darn near every owner keeps their stash, because they fear the failure and the resultant difficulty in locating a replacement part.
We create and perpetuate our own self-fulfilling prophecy. We make our parts hard to find.
Anything I need, I usually find easily at Jerry's Gaskets, whose inventory just keeps expanding to cover most of what fails.
(Thanks Jerry for my fuel pumps, gaskets and injectors!!!!, all for customer cars mind you)

Those contemplating a purchase stumble onto sites like this one and turn and run after seeing us talk endlessly about parts that must be replaced when contemplating buying a used one.
When asked, I always tell them if they buy a cheap car that has had the snot beat out of it, and never had much maintenance they will likely be faced with problems talked about here. The cars owned by people who treated them like a toaster are the ones to avoid. Fortunately, a careful inspection can spot them, and a low price is usually a good warning that such an inspection is required.
HOWEVER, if they buy a well-maintained and cared for ZR-1, it should be no more of a risk than buying any other performance car that has been enthusiast owned.
I have no plans on buying an airline, but my earlier post stated that airplane maintenance procedures are what they are because people may die if something fails should the aircraft fall out of the sky.
That is not likely to happen with a ZR-1.
So no, I will resist the urge to replace my water pump or starter, etc. until it actually presents some degradation of performance.
We should have a poll to determine how many thousands of parts are in basements being saved, rather than on a shelf for those whose part has actually failed.
At car shows, I enjoy dismissing fear of ZR-1 ownership. Do you think that it an accident that those are the first things said after someone says how intrigued they are by the car, but would never buy one because of parts rarity and no shops in the universe can work on them.
I shake my head, and try to help them understand, but that is what we create whenever someone comes on to these forums and asks about buying one, and we proceed to talk of all that must be replaced the very minute they buy one.
Some then wonder why the market is as it is; This talk causes it, and they figure we, as owners certainly know what we are talking about.
The buyer then runs away with hair on fire.
ZR-1's are no more likely to fail than any other Corvette, and far less than many other C-4's in fact. Did you ever hear the word Opti-Spark?
Thankfully we have no such part on the ZR-1.
Drive them, maintain them, and ENJOY them!

Marty

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by DRM500RUBYZR-1

I have owned two ZR-1's.
Continuous ownership for over 25 years.
Driven them over 60,000 miles combined.
NEVER had a breakdown except for blowing a muffler off once and a lower radiator hose during a 7k plus 1-2 shift, both times, car got me home.

I pay very careful attention to even the slightest anomaly whenever I am in any of my cars.
I perform fluid and filter maintenance with near religious fervor, and inspect the car on the ground and on the lift many, many times a year.

However, I do not replace parts just for the heck of it.

I pay AAA and my insurance companies for towing that I never use, but keep just as a safety net.

And unlike many, I will resist the temptation to buy and replace my power steering reservoir, just because I read earlier that another poster's unit somehow failed.

I maintain a stock of ZR-1 parts for customer's cars, however I do not do so for my car. If something fails, I'll find one at that time and replace it.
Our ZR-1 parts become scarce because many owners stash the stuff in their basements, where it sits unused for decades. While fine and understandable, that's why the non owners hear that parts are difficult to locate. They are. Darn near every owner keeps their stash, because they fear the failure and the resultant difficulty in locating a replacement part.
We create and perpetuate our own self-fulfilling prophecy. We make our parts hard to find.
Anything I need, I usually find easily at Jerry's Gaskets, whose inventory just keeps expanding to cover most of what fails.
(Thanks Jerry for my fuel pumps, gaskets and injectors!!!!, all for customer cars mind you)

Those contemplating a purchase stumble onto sites like this one and turn and run after seeing us talk endlessly about parts that must be replaced when contemplating buying a used one.
When asked, I always tell them if they buy a cheap car that has had the snot beat out of it, and never had much maintenance they will likely be faced with problems talked about here. The cars owned by people who treated them like a toaster are the ones to avoid. Fortunately, a careful inspection can spot them, and a low price is usually a good warning that such an inspection is required.
HOWEVER, if they buy a well-maintained and cared for ZR-1, it should be no more of a risk than buying any other performance car that has been enthusiast owned.
I have no plans on buying an airline, but my earlier post stated that airplane maintenance procedures are what they are because people may die if something fails should the aircraft fall out of the sky.
That is not likely to happen with a ZR-1.
So no, I will resist the urge to replace my water pump or starter, etc. until it actually presents some degradation of performance.
We should have a poll to determine how many thousands of parts are in basements being saved, rather than on a shelf for those whose part has actually failed.
At car shows, I enjoy dismissing fear of ZR-1 ownership. Do you think that it an accident that those are the first things said after someone says how intrigued they are by the car, but would never buy one because of parts rarity and no shops in the universe can work on them.
I shake my head, and try to help them understand, but that is what we create whenever someone comes on to these forums and asks about buying one, and we proceed to talk of all that must be replaced the very minute they buy one.
Some then wonder why the market is as it is; This talk causes it, and they figure we, as owners certainly know what we are talking about.
The buyer then runs away with hair on fire.
ZR-1's are no more likely to fail than any other Corvette, and far less than many other C-4's in fact. Did you ever hear the word Opti-Spark?
Thankfully we have no such part on the ZR-1.
Drive them, maintain them, and ENJOY them!

Marty

I agree with most of what you're saying, Marty. Especially with regard to "if all we read about are issues, then what sort of picture are we painting for outsiders? I get that! Far beit for me to give anyone the wrong impression; just the opposite, in fact!.

And, even more to your point, my ZR-1 experience too has proven to be very reliable - as good or better than some new cars I've had. And, as for issues, most that I've had have been "self inflicted" while racing (typically).

However, to better make MY point, a perspective owner might like to know how often should one change oil, or change serpentine belts, or bleed brakes, or change out alcohol susceptible injectors, or service the SPTs?

Granted, not everything comes due at once, and even parts that are in need of replacing don't suddenly fail w/o warning: 99% of the time there is plenty of advanced notice - IF as you say one is constantly aware of any anomaly that crops up, and make an effort to constantly pour over the car just to spy any little thing that is or going amiss. And, it is out of this constant observation and investigation that one gets a sense of the 'mean time between failure" (aka MTBF as known in statistics).

So, based on a formal or informal understanding of our car's "MTBF" for varius parts, I submit that recommendations for specific maintenance items are based on a certain cadence, and is unique to the specific parts themselves and how the car is used, over all. And, therefore it is important to understand the cadence of certain parts and what effect how the car is driven affects that cadence, in order to assure the vehicle is always ready for a trouble free jaunt across town. a blast down the strip, or a trip across the country.

But! Whenever I head out for an extended distance from home, I also carry a few of those critcal parts items and some tools for those items especially that could leave me dead in the water until a part could be brought to me, wherever that may be. That is the purpose of my poll/questionnaire: to establish information on failure rates of individual parts.

The experience with my car or your cars, does not a trend make. They are but a few datum in the pool of a bigger analysis to determine specific MTBF...and when to anticipate needing/planning for replacement.

I think we're on the same page. I hope now that none think I'm dissing a ZR-1: Just the opposite, in fact!

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Paul,
I should not have responded using your quote as I was making general commentary in all but the airplane reference.
My apologies.
Yes, we are most often on the same page.
Thanks,
Marty

[iliad427]

I live in Syracuse, NY and we have Fast Track gas stations that sell ethanol free gas. I also have a '92 ZR-1 thats still going strong with the the original injectors. The only major issue I had with my Beast is the starter needed replacing to cure the infamous "no-start" condition.

'92 ZR-1 094
'16 Z06
'73 Top Flight

[sljs3413]

Originally Posted by iliad427

I live in Syracuse, NY and we have Fast Track gas stations that sell ethanol free gas. I also have a '92 ZR-1 that still going strong with the the original injectors. The only major issue I had with my Beast is the starter needed replacing to cure the infamous "no-start" condition.

'92 ZR-1 094
'16 Z06
'73 Top Flight

How many miles you have on the 92 and color?

[iliad427]

It's Black & Grey interior with 50k miles.

[Bruce]

I was talking to a good Corvette mate of mine the other day who was just over in the States. His friend there in California runs a vehicle repair garage. He mentioned I had a ZR-1 and he almost lost his lunch. "why the hell did he buy one of those for - is he crazy"? I get that a lot when I lift the bonnet (hood) and people see the engine and you can see the look on their face disolve at the complexity of it.
What they dont understand is that its no different to many other engines out there - fuel and air go in and out of it. It looks complex to the uninformed but the trick is when you understand how it all actually works, then that stigma of "oh no one can work on it" goes away. When you get your head around everything its a simple thing to work on, and knowing how it all works makes diagnosis of issues quick.

As someone said on a thread here I read, probably most of the ZR-1 owners on this forum would know more about the car and repairs than any repair shop in the world (of course not including specialists like Mark and Jerry etc etc).

I bought my ZR-1 from a dealer that had it sitting in the showroom for over 2 years and couldnt sell it because of the rattles at startup (which was a loose heat sheild), the lack of power (vacuum pipe fell off the pump) FX3 not working (broken shock gears) and other small niggling things. Its now got 62k miles on it, 5k of those are mine.

It took me about 3 months on and off with the car in my garage doing all the fixes etc and most of them were just small minor things that anyone with basic mechanical/electrical knowledge could do. I have no hesitation to jump in it and drive it as far as I like knowing its not going to die on me somewhere.

I would rather drive my ZR-1 in confidence than some over-computerised shopping basket anytime.

Oh and a set of factory service manuals is almost a must for knowing where things are and go.

Go the ZR-1 !

[Mr Blue]

There have been a few examples of ZR-1's that have had defects that were not detected at purchase. These became nightmares for the buyer. That is not the norm. These are very robust engines. Any used car can be a crap shoot. Almost every new car is as complex if not more so than a C4 ZR-1. That being said there will be things that need done. For me it was injectors and the VATS system. My advice would be buy and enjoy! if you want a ZR-1, no other car can scratch that itch. You'll always wonder what if.