Discussing power upgrades options.

[HIZNHRZ]

Originally Posted by rhipsher

I almost pulled the trigger on an atomic orange 08 Z06 with only 900 miles on it. And I really though long and hard about it for 3 days.

Im getting to a point in life where Im financially able to do more. My wife has busted her butt getting her RN nursing degree and BA...

I think you made the right choice. I very much admire the engineering that the Z06 represents and I enjoy it big time. It really is an amazing car; but it's not a ZR-1. I recently went through a period where I thought I was going to have get rid of one or the other. I figured I'd list both and sell the first one I got a reasonable offer on. I know I could have found another Z06, I can't easily say that about the ZR-1. I never got to where I would have been okay selling it.

Originally Posted by rhipsher

And one day I was cleaning out some boxes in the computer room and saw her degrees in one of them. I thought man those don't need to be stuffed in some box! Those need to be displayed on the wall...Im extremely proud of her.

If it weren't for her pushing me to get the ZR-1 I would have never bought it. Im glad she pushed me.

You should be proud of her! I had to finish my degree after I already had a family to support. I can tell you I think having a family, working, and finishing school was among the toughest things I had to do. Any time you want to make her feel good about herself just remind her about what she is about to accomplish.

The only thing I offer as a recommendation is think hard about what you want out of the ZR-1 before you start. The job Marc did on my little 350 was outstanding. It did not take much to get comfortable with the power though. I'm thinking there is one thing that is very different between the ZR-1 and the Z06. While I'm sure the ZR-1 can get away from just about anyone I don't think of its acceleration as "violent". Violent, however, is a very good description for the power the Z06 generates at the bottom end.

[XfireZ51]

I would describe Pete's and Al Dashto's cars as VIOLENT, however.

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

I would describe Pete's and Al Dashto's cars as VIOLENT, however.

Dittos...

I've driven Pete's car - as he did a little data logging, right after he had his new cams in it. I concur...it IS violent! And, I imagine so is Bob Gs 427, and Kevin's 441 LT5s as well!

P.

[HIZNHRZ]

With the kind of power Pete's car is making I'll bet it is violent! What you FBI guys have been doing with your ZR-1's is amazing.

I'm not suggesting an alternative to upgrading the LT-5. I am saying if I could do things with my ZR-1 over again I would have targeted more power. I don't think it would have taken a lot more; just more torque and Hp than I'm getting out of the package I bought. If the Z06 is an indicator, I would have looked for ~450 rwhp and ~420 lbft or torque.

[XfireZ51]

Read Pete's sig. He's at 474rwhp last time he told anybody anything.

[rhipsher]

When I drove the Z06 the dealership salesman said to go ahead and mash your foot in it. Taking off from the lght I killed it because the clutch felt so much different than my ZR-1s. The ZO6 was quiet and the acceleration was very smooth. With the salesman in the passengers seat I hit 120mph on I-10 and he was giggling. And after we were done talking I walked over and hoped right into the Z and could feel the differences between them. Although my Z didn't have as much bottom end as the ZO6 did! The Z's RPM ceiling was higher. Its like this. Let's say hypothetically it takes my car in 3rd gear 3 sec to go from 3500 rpm to 7000. If I could hit that in 1.5 sec then I just beat the stock ZO6 in acceleration. I've raced against plenty of 08 ZO6's at the drag strip and we are always neck and neck for the first 3/4 down the track but that last 25% distance those things come on like a rocket. They are usually running 12.165@116mph and me 12.8@113mph. Visually its not by a whole lot. They beat me buy 1 to 1.5 car lengths. The most powerful ZR-1 I've driven was Brads white 92 Z. It makes 395rwhp with 3.92 rear gears and it has violent acceleration and felt easily as quick if not quicker than the ZO6 I drove.
I know when Corey starts talking about building me an engine that he's talking about building a 368 because that's what his black 91 Z is.

[XfireZ51]

Rick,

A top end job with properly timed cams will pull on an LS-3. Frankly, it's the second half of the 1/4 that has the LT-5 shining. My car ran 12.7 at ~ 117. Lgaff's car w 4.10 ran 12.4 w top end and headers. BTW, we're giving away
.5 litre to an LS3 and 77cubes(over 20%) to an LS7. I ran a C5Z last year and pulled on him top end with just top end port and exhaust. Cam timing was way off. Paul is in Z06 range w ported heads, top end and headers. And I am thrilled with the cam upgrade on my ported heads.

[rhipsher]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

Rick,

A top end job with properly timed cams will pull on an LS-3. Frankly, it's the second half of the 1/4 that has the LT-5 shining. My car ran 12.7 at ~ 117. Lgaff's car w 4.10 ran 12.4 w top end and headers. BTW, we're giving away
.5 litre to an LS3 and 77cubes(over 20%) to an LS7. I ran a C5Z last year and pulled on him top end with just top end port and exhaust. Cam timing was way off. Paul is in Z06 range w ported heads, top end and headers. And I am thrilled with the cam upgrade on my ported heads.

Oh Dom I don't even sweat C5 Zo6's. My friend chris Johnson has a really nice 02 ZO6 with long tube headers and a chip with a B&B exhaust I help him install. He claims it makes 429rwhp and we raced coming home from Coffee & Cars from a 98mph pull and I pulled on him 3 times. The higher my mph the harder it was for him to keep up. And after 150 it was over and he disappeared from my rear view mirror. He txt me and admitted that there was no way he was able to keep up with me. Said when I pulled away from him that in a few seconds all he saw was a tiny red spec.

[Pete]

Rick,i can make one suggestion to you.
If emissions not an issue or a way around them
Go with cams.

I would go all out intake and exhaust cams i know Corey can tune and will make that thing run good.

Don't be afraid of the cams,cams are your friend.

The difference, price of cams and an extra 25 hp.

I would suggest .236 .425 Intake .220 .410 Exhaust.

Pete

[rhipsher]

Unfortunately pete they do emissions testing every year but my car runs super clean and passes with flying colors year after year. Do you think that cam combination will cause those emissions results to deteriorate?
Last emissions test results.