95 convertable ZR.5 - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

RICKYRJ1 · 09-07-2009

I keep thinking it would be cool to have a 95 black convertable to go with my blk 95 ZR1. If I picked up a solid donor car cheap would it take stupid money to put a LT5 in it? I would leave the body stock and only add the GS fender flares to fit the wider tires. Is this idea taboo in the Z community?

GOLDCYLON · 09-07-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICKYRJ1

I keep thinking it would be cool to have a 95 black convertable to go with my blk 95 ZR1. If I picked up a solid donor car cheap would it take stupid money to put a LT5 in it? I would leave the body stock and only add the GS fender flares to fit the wider tires. Is this idea taboo in the Z community?

Ricky its not taboo, in fact Phrogs proposed the idea a few months ago.

tccrab · 09-07-2009

Definitely not a Taboo subject.
However, it would be a buttload of work to do and it wouldn't be cheap.
To do it right you'd need a donor ZR1 for all the ZR1 specific stuff.
The mechanical stuff wouldn't be too bad.
All the mounts should be the same.
The electrical stuff would be the tough stuff.
You'd have to tear the dash completely out to transplant all the ZR1 specific wiring.
It HAS been done, there's a few ZR1 'Verts out there.
There's at least one guy here on the forum that has one.

I would think the cheaper/easier way to go would be to cut the roof out of a ZR1. You'd have to stiffen the frame and a roll bar wouldn't be a bad idea.
It would be a mortal sin, though.
You'd have to deal with that all on your own.

TomC
"Crabs"

gbrtng · 09-08-2009

Go for it !

-=Jeff=- · 09-08-2009

Not so sure about replacing ALL the wiring in the car. I think you could get by with not swapping the stock dash wiring as long as the car has C69 A/C

in my 89 when I did the 91 dash conversion, it got a dash from a 1991 ZR-1, the L98 engine harness plugged right in, but the Forward lamp harness was different (lt5 to L98) as I used a 1991 forward lamp harness from a ZR-1

compare all the connector pin outs from a 95 LT1 and LT5 bet it would work

QB93Z · 09-08-2009

Go for it Rick! Don't let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do with your car. I think it would be cool. The LT1 and the ZR-1 were built on the same assembly line. I believe that GM made them as similar as possible.

Jim

ZZZZZR1 · 09-08-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICKYRJ1

I keep thinking it would be cool to have a 95 black convertable to go with my blk 95 ZR1. If I picked up a solid donor car cheap would it take stupid money to put a LT5 in it? I would leave the body stock and only add the GS fender flares to fit the wider tires. Is this idea taboo in the Z community?

Just do it!!!!!!!!!!!

secondchance · 09-08-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by tccrab

I would think the cheaper/easier way to go would be to cut the roof out of a ZR1. You'd have to stiffen the frame and a roll bar wouldn't be a bad idea.

TomC
"Crabs"

Quite a few years back when I slammed into highway light pole sideways in my 91Z and the car was being repaired at Roger's Corvette body shop in Maitland, Florida, we, Tim Burke and I, discussed this possibility. I dropped it not because it was technically difficult but decided I still preferred a coupe.

One item that evolved out of this discussion was a convertible "X" frame (a glorified steel channel) was closed off with flat piece to form a box section and installed on the car. For rear attachment point I recall Robbie with Corvette Master's fabricated a sheet metal piece with a bolt welded in.

This mod stiffened the chassis substantially and would be a must especially with ZR-1 convertible IMHO.

Tim now has his own shop right behind Roger's Corvette called Burke's Corvette - the best Corvette body and paint shop as far as I am concerned.

RICKYRJ1 · 09-08-2009

My thoughts were to buy a low mileage 95 6 speed convt. with a great body & interior that way money is not wasted fixing them up. I would then maximize my dollars towards the LT5 & install. I know Marc. H. has a 500 hp motor for sale. I would think the car would have to be stiffened up a little to help handle the extra hp.
This is a list, please add if I'm missing something.
1995 black convt.
LT5 motor
wire harness
computer for the motor
Zr1 gage cluster
cover story to tell the wife ( the guys that know me, know what I'm talking about)
$$$$$( stimulus check)
I was thinking about if it would be easier & cheaper to take a real ZR1 and cut the top, but I think I could not do that

PS. If it matters, I would not care if it had AC or not because The top will always be down.
My end goal would to have a 95 convert with the same performance as well as cosmetic mods as my real Z

GOLDCYLON · 09-08-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICKYRJ1

My thoughts were to buy a low mileage 95 6 speed convt. with a great body & interior that way money is not wasted fixing them up. I would then maximize my dollars towards the LT5 & install. I know Marc. H. has a 500 hp motor for sale. I would think the car would have to be stiffened up a little to help handle the extra hp.
This is a list, please add if I'm missing something.
1995 black convt.
LT5 motor
wire harness
computer for the motor
Zr1 gage cluster
cover story to tell the wife ( the guys that know me, know what I'm talking about)
$$$$$( stimulus check)
I was thinking about if it would be easier & cheaper to take a real ZR1 and cut the top, but I think I could not do that

PS. If it matters, I would not care if it had AC or not because The top will always be down.
My end goal would to have a 95 convert with the same performance as well as cosmetic mods as my real Z

Go for it Ricky, it seems you can never have enough to mod and polish. Id love to see your project come together. Id suggest a 96 because it had the best in the last suspension package available.

09-07-2009	#1
RICKYRJ1 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tinton Falls, NJ Posts: 1,177	95 convertable ZR.5 I keep thinking it would be cool to have a 95 black convertable to go with my blk 95 ZR1. If I picked up a solid donor car cheap would it take stupid money to put a LT5 in it? I would leave the body stock and only add the GS fender flares to fit the wider tires. Is this idea taboo in the Z community?

09-07-2009	#3
tccrab Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Folsom CA Posts: 1,648	Re: 95 convertable ZR.5 Definitely not a Taboo subject. However, it would be a buttload of work to do and it wouldn't be cheap. To do it right you'd need a donor ZR1 for all the ZR1 specific stuff. The mechanical stuff wouldn't be too bad. All the mounts should be the same. The electrical stuff would be the tough stuff. You'd have to tear the dash completely out to transplant all the ZR1 specific wiring. It HAS been done, there's a few ZR1 'Verts out there. There's at least one guy here on the forum that has one. I would think the cheaper/easier way to go would be to cut the roof out of a ZR1. You'd have to stiffen the frame and a roll bar wouldn't be a bad idea. It would be a mortal sin, though. You'd have to deal with that all on your own. TomC "Crabs" __________________ TomC '90ZR1 #792 Honorary Pirate [B]If it ain't FUN, you're doing something terribly WRONG. [/B]

09-08-2009	#4
gbrtng Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio area Posts: 1,179	Re: 95 convertable ZR.5 Go for it ! __________________ “Buy the best example of what you want, and pay whatever it takes. That way, you cry only once.” ~ Bruce Meyer

09-08-2009	#5
-=Jeff=- Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 7,153	Re: 95 convertable ZR.5 Not so sure about replacing ALL the wiring in the car. I think you could get by with not swapping the stock dash wiring as long as the car has C69 A/C in my 89 when I did the 91 dash conversion, it got a dash from a 1991 ZR-1, the L98 engine harness plugged right in, but the Forward lamp harness was different (lt5 to L98) as I used a 1991 forward lamp harness from a ZR-1 compare all the connector pin outs from a 95 LT1 and LT5 bet it would work __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 #1051 Watson Headers (2" Primary) - Borla Catback Late Model IH - Plenum Coilovers - 4.10s Custom Interior NCM Lifetime Member #978

09-08-2009	#6
QB93Z Join Date: May 2007 Location: Westminster, Maryland Posts: 3,687	Re: 95 convertable ZR.5 Go for it Rick! Don't let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do with your car. I think it would be cool. The LT1 and the ZR-1 were built on the same assembly line. I believe that GM made them as similar as possible. Jim __________________ If it isn't fun, you aren't doing it right! 1990 Black ZR-1 - sold 1993 Quasar Blue ZR-1 1994 Competition Yellow ZR-1 1995 Dark Purple ZR-1 Maryland State Coordinator WAZOO Member

09-08-2009	#9
RICKYRJ1 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tinton Falls, NJ Posts: 1,177	Re: 95 convertable ZR.5 My thoughts were to buy a low mileage 95 6 speed convt. with a great body & interior that way money is not wasted fixing them up. I would then maximize my dollars towards the LT5 & install. I know Marc. H. has a 500 hp motor for sale. I would think the car would have to be stiffened up a little to help handle the extra hp. This is a list, please add if I'm missing something. 1995 black convt. LT5 motor wire harness computer for the motor Zr1 gage cluster cover story to tell the wife ( the guys that know me, know what I'm talking about) $$$$$( stimulus check) I was thinking about if it would be easier & cheaper to take a real ZR1 and cut the top, but I think I could not do that PS. If it matters, I would not care if it had AC or not because The top will always be down. My end goal would to have a 95 convert with the same performance as well as cosmetic mods as my real Z