New Member, future ZR1 owner

[dredgeguy]

Originally Posted by bans25

I am in Dover, NH. I grew up in Norwell, MA and went to Northeastern - electrical engineering.. doesn't seem that long ago but been out of school 15 years now.. time really starts to fly!

I was just in Peabody this past weekend as the wife wanted to go to Cheese Cake factory for her birthday.. I am sure we will make more trips down there in the spring!

I purchased my 92 ZR-1 in CT this past summer. Also went to Northeastern but switched to Bentley and graduated in 79. Wife is from Newton, MA and we live in MD.

[batchman]

Hey Polo, I'll chime in with another local welcome and point out you're a brave man going year-round if you're not staying on-campus!

A friend I race with DDs his 89 year round too - and he's out in the boonies.

Look up autocross at Devens sometime next spring (dates are not set yet). Your M6 would be some good fun just as it sits - then the Z well y'know....

Best,
- Jeff

[pologreenvette]

Originally Posted by batchman

Hey Polo, I'll chime in with another local welcome and point out you're a brave man going year-round if you're not staying on-campus!

A friend I race with DDs his 89 year round too - and he's out in the boonies.

Look up autocross at Devens sometime next spring (dates are not set yet). Your M6 would be some good fun just as it sits - then the Z well y'know....

Best,
- Jeff

I don't go year-round by choice, I'm too broke to afford a winter car!

One of my friends autocrossed his Volvo at devens this past fall and said it was really fun, I can't even imagine how fun it would be in a Vette. If you're ever going to a local car show let me know!

[BigJohn]

What?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by efnfast

Yea, damage to the wallet. I wanna go faster than I can afford.

years ago i priced out what a top end/heads job at marc haibeks, $15,000

[WARP TEN]

Originally Posted by Kevin

years ago i priced out what a top end/heads job at marc haibeks, $15,000

Actually Marc's 350/510 HP package of porting top end, heads, injector housings plus larger throttle body, cam timing, chip etc. is priced just under $10k. Still a lot of wallet damage! You will need a low restriction exhaust as well (like a Corsa) but can save a bit if you don't need things (I kept my dual mass flywheel so didn't need the lightweight flywheel). And you can spend more (like I did) to have Marc refinish the engine, add cats, etc. Very wallet painful but very much looking forward to getting the car back! --Bob

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by WARP TEN

Actually Marc's 350/510 HP package of porting top end, heads, injector housings plus larger throttle body, cam timing, chip etc. is priced just under $10k. Still a lot of wallet damage! You will need a low restriction exhaust as well (like a Corsa) but can save a bit if you don't need things (I kept my dual mass flywheel so didn't need the lightweight flywheel). And you can spend more (like I did) to have Marc refinish the engine, add cats, etc. Very wallet painful but very much looking forward to getting the car back! --Bob

the total of everything it would cost to get the car to him, worked on an back to me was $15,000.

[Paul Workman]

Been where you are. Longed for the ZR-1, but too far out of range. So, I settled for a beautiful black/black 95 LT1 Vette. It was pristine and ran perfectly when I came across what is now my '90 ZR-1. I took the Z for a test drive, and left the keys to my 95 with my dealer friend, and never looked back! I recon you will too!

And, guess what? The LT5 has gobs of unrealized potential. GOBS! And, if you're on a budget, and can do some work yourself, you can do it in a logical set phases. For example:

I did my "500" package in two phases. Phase -I was the top end P&P:

I ported the plenum and IHs and port matching the heads myself. And I added headers + X-pipe, and Marc's chip. I spent (including tooling) about $1400, and ended up with about 400 rwhp...not bad for a low budget project!

I wanted more... Who doesn't??

Phase II was porting the heads.

For that I relied on some expertise, as heads can be tricky. For that, Pete and Marc shared in the effort, supplying expertise, and specialized skills; cam timing and valve job, tuning and minor repair work as needed. In the end I wound up with 432 rwhp, at a total cost of under $4k (...or would have been if I hadn't messed up one head and opted to replace it rather than compromise my efforts to that point. Education cost money too, I recon!)

Oh, and I tell ya...there ain't nuttin like blowing away some ricer or some sanctimonious LS3 driver by doing a 5-2 downshift at 50 and a 7200 rpm run-up! Thats where I got my permagrin from!!

Phase III?

Sleeves and stroker crank and cams? OR, boost E85 to established(?) limits?

At present, I'm intrigued by recent developments with the latter. There's news of possible new ECMs on the horizon, ECMs possibly with coil on plug capacity... Lots of new and exciting stuff to keep the newcomers at bay!

Welcome to the Brotherhood! We'll keep an eye out for a nice car for ya. And if it ever need parts or work, don't hesitate to ask!

P.