I want this car!

[vilant]

Originally Posted by Daniel_Mc

No, DRM did not do the other cars the ones directly involved were Morrison, Baker, GM, and Synergies (Better known as Dieline). As far as the 8 Black Widow *cars DRM had GM's "blessing" if you will but GM *did not do the cars. From what I can gather the black finish was on several marine LT5 applications at Mercruiser but was applied by Mercruiser to distinguish the motors as they traveled through the assembly process. Remember the LT5 Mercruiser staff wanted all the 405 HP LT5's to be black but GM shot that idea down (this was discussed at The Gathering 2011). From the net site:*


Morrison used the Black motors in the race cars from what I can gather and worked directly with GM and Mercruiser. *I have not been able to confirm if any of the Morrison Black Motors made it into street cars or even survived. I'm still chasing this.... Baker tweaked a few Black motors as well most for Tommy Morrison but possibly 2 went into street cars. GM had a Black Motor Z known as the SnakeSkinner (the car is now owned by a member of the Hendricks family if I remember correctly) it was John Heinricy's personal car used for testing and one of the 89 Z's. It was sold out of the GM collection in 09 at BJ. One of the black motor Z's wasn't even built in BG it was hand built, frame included, different brakes, different wheels, etc. and given a production VIN number from a donor car. It was done by the company that did all the tooling for the C4 frame and did other one off cars for GM ( Falconnor ZR-12, ZR-1 spider, etc.) This Z from what I gather was done before the Rippie cars and was first seen at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1992.*This is just from memory I have pictures and such on my computer at work I can post up on Monday if anyone wants.

Daniel

Thanks for the info. If you still have it, post it. I would like to read about it.

[Daniel_Mc]

Originally Posted by Demps

I'm pretty sure a Morrison motor is in George Bonefide's '91.*
Ted

Ted,*
Wasn't this the one that the custom cams were removed from or was it the LT5 lost in the fire?*

Originally Posted by Kevin

from what I remember George's car is a "factory black motor" but is' not a black widdow car

The term "Black Widow" was coined by JVD and is referring only to the 8 Rippie Black motor cars. The DRM BW's were Black motors then tweaked further by DRM.*

Daniel

[Daniel_Mc]

Originally Posted by vilant

Thanks for the info. If you still have it, post it. I would like to read about it.

Sure thing. I'll dig through my pictures on Monday.

Daniel

[cvette98pacecar]

The 8 Black widow cars were not done by DRM. Doug pulled the motors than shipped them to Stillwater where the engines got their upgrades. George Car #2 at that time had the most options and upgrades. While Mercruiser was building the Black widow cars DRM was building its own version of the Black widow.
My Purple Aerobody engine was done by DRM during the same time that Mercruiser was building the Black Widow engines. The only difference is my engine was not shipped to Stillwater.

[vilant]

Originally Posted by cvette98pacecar

The 8 Black widow cars were not done by DRM. Doug pulled the motors than shipped them to Stillwater where the engines got their upgrades. George Car #2 at that time had the most options and upgrades. While Mercruiser was building the Black widow cars DRM was building its own version of the Black widow.
My Purple Aerobody engine was done by DRM during the same time that Mercruiser was building the Black Widow engines. The only difference is my engine was not shipped to Stillwater.

Were DRM and Mercruiser putting in the same upgrades or were they tinkering with the engines in their own way, separate from one another?

[cvette98pacecar]

Originally Posted by vilant

Were DRM and Mercruiser putting in the same upgrades or were they tinkering with the engines in their own way, separate from one another?

While the Black Widows were being built GM pulled the plug on the ZR-1. Mercruiser knowing they had nothing to gain gave the specs for the 500HP to Doug Rippie.

If it was me I would find a low mileage ZR-1 for 20k, than put in a "427".

[vilant]

Originally Posted by cvette98pacecar

While the Black Widows were being built GM pulled the plug on the ZR-1. Mercruiser knowing they had nothing to gain gave the specs for the 500HP to Doug Rippie.

If it was me I would find a low mileage ZR-1 for 20k, than put in a "427".

I see, thanks. I bought a fairly low mileage '90 for under 20K. Hmmm.....Now you got the wheels turning. Maybe a 427 powder coated black.

[Daniel_Mc]

Here's a few pictures.

DRM Le Mans Black Motor Z:


GM SnakeSkinner Black Motor Z (John Heinricy's):





Kim Baker Black Motor Z:

[Daniel_Mc]

Snyergies (Dieline) facility with WC cars:


Dieline other cars:


Test muel LT1's:


John Heinricy testing the "New" LT1's (Everybody's gatta eat right?):


A few other cars at an event at Snyergies Corp. You can see the other Falconner ZR-12 here noted by the side pipes and silver not gold wheels. Also the ZR-1 spyder still sporting the Steel Blue with yellow interior in the background along with one of the Tommy Morrison ZR-1's:

[vilant]

Great pics. Thanks. Never even heard of a Falconner ZR-12. Looks pretty wild. I assume it's a 12 cyclinder? At least it looks like one. Happen to know what the HP is on that car.