Bringing THUMPER Back To Life PROJECT - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Blue Flame Restorations · 02-26-2012

Well, I've threatened to do this since last Fall. The time $$$$$ has finally come to make it happen. This is the year to make the car mechanically sound. Once that is accomplished, the cosmetics will begin.

Background
The car is a 1990 #702. It's a no-hit 40k mile car from Georgia. Sounds nice, huh? Well, the kid that had it blew a head gasket or something and decided he would make a bracket car out of it. He took a really nice Z and just absolutely killed it!!!!! He stripped this thing as clean as you can get under the hood, ripped the gages apart, removed every bit of the fuel and brake systems....everything. The car is Blk/Blk and God aweful UGLY at this point.

I bought the car for $3500 with no drivetrain and alot of missing parts. I've bought just about all of the parts needed to put it back on the road. I only need a few more parts and probably a small fortune of little incidentals. We'll see.

I also bought Dominic's wrecked 92 and a 92 LT5. The LT5 will be used for this car. "PETE" of FBI and Sauage fame is doing the major mechanical work for me and I will handle the rest.

You might ask if I'm a glutton for punishment of just plain nuts????? Well, a little of both. I enjoy "the build" more than driving them. But I want a driver that I can enjoy my way, so I'm about to venture into ZR-1 Day Camp.

The laundry list of mods is as follows:
* ZR-1 Convertible Conversion
* Brake Upgrade with Stainless Lines
* Headers
* 4:10's
* Hurst Short Throw Shifter
* Port/Polish Top End (no heads at this time)
* Custom Chip and Tune
* Coils and Injectors
* Trans Rebuild
* Powder Coat Engine
* Powder Coat Dymag GenII's Argent Silver color 17x11 Front, 17x13 Rear
* Tires 315's Fronts, 345's Rear
* 1996 Style Sport Seats
* Upgrade Radiator
* FBI Free Flow Flapper Exhaust (center exit)......eventually. OBX for now.
* Euro Tail Lamp Kit
* Own Design Body Enhancements
* Jet Stream Blue Paint work

As the project progresses, I'll update this thread like I did the UK Graveyard 88 EX5023 Prototype thread. I hope everyone enjoys watching the car's restoration and modification.

Here's a few pictures of THUMPER now, as the UGLY Z.

efnfast · 02-26-2012

Wow, looks like you've got your work cut out for you.

902066 · 02-26-2012

Thanks for letting us follow along. When done I bet it will be gorgeous.

bdw18_123 · 02-27-2012

Cool, I love following restore threads. After finishing my own long restore project, I know the amount of work it takes to finish them.

I'll be looking forward to the updates, especially the convertible conversion part.

tomtom72 · 02-27-2012

Holy smokes Brett! Now that's what I call a kit car!

subscribed! I have to watch this ZR-1 being born again!

Tom

Blue Flame Restorations · 02-28-2012

Well, the cleaning started on the LT5 today. It's not
TOO bad but does have some thick grime in places. Mostly the sides and around the oil fitting area.

What's the best cleaner to remove the grease? What has everyone had good results with. Cleaning processes??? Testimonials???

Blue Flame Restorations · 02-28-2012

Ordered and/or bought a bunch of parts so far.

OBX Exhaust - Just using it until I build a center exit FBI unit.
Coils
Injectors
Brake lines under the car (they were taken off)
Braided Stainless Flex Brake Lines
Oil Pressure Switch
Coolant Hoses
Upper Alternator bracket
Alternator
Water Pump
C5 Front Calipers and C4 Rear Calipers
Trans Parts for rebuild
NOS Console Door
OBX Headers
AC Lines
Brake Booster
Master Cylinder
Clutch Slave Cylinder
Throttle Cable
ECM
ECM bracket
Long Wheel Studs for 13" wheels
Fuel Tank

Kevin · 02-28-2012

so we can count on you coming up with lots of NLA parts for our cars then?

jesus what a fuster cluck

A26B · 02-28-2012

I use spray brake cleaner by the case, with a short bristle paint prush ans some of the disposable ss wire brushes about the size of a tooth brush.

RHanselman · 02-28-2012

So... Done by BG this year?

02-26-2012	#1
Blue Flame Restorations Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pendleton, IN Posts: 3,904	Bringing THUMPER Back To Life PROJECT Well, I've threatened to do this since last Fall. The time $$$$$ has finally come to make it happen. This is the year to make the car mechanically sound. Once that is accomplished, the cosmetics will begin. Background The car is a 1990 #702. It's a no-hit 40k mile car from Georgia. Sounds nice, huh? Well, the kid that had it blew a head gasket or something and decided he would make a bracket car out of it. He took a really nice Z and just absolutely killed it!!!!! He stripped this thing as clean as you can get under the hood, ripped the gages apart, removed every bit of the fuel and brake systems....everything. The car is Blk/Blk and God aweful UGLY at this point. I bought the car for $3500 with no drivetrain and alot of missing parts. I've bought just about all of the parts needed to put it back on the road. I only need a few more parts and probably a small fortune of little incidentals. We'll see. I also bought Dominic's wrecked 92 and a 92 LT5. The LT5 will be used for this car. "PETE" of FBI and Sauage fame is doing the major mechanical work for me and I will handle the rest. You might ask if I'm a glutton for punishment of just plain nuts????? Well, a little of both. I enjoy "the build" more than driving them. But I want a driver that I can enjoy my way, so I'm about to venture into ZR-1 Day Camp. The laundry list of mods is as follows: * ZR-1 Convertible Conversion * Brake Upgrade with Stainless Lines * Headers * 4:10's * Hurst Short Throw Shifter * Port/Polish Top End (no heads at this time) * Custom Chip and Tune * Coils and Injectors * Trans Rebuild * Powder Coat Engine * Powder Coat Dymag GenII's Argent Silver color 17x11 Front, 17x13 Rear * Tires 315's Fronts, 345's Rear * 1996 Style Sport Seats * Upgrade Radiator * FBI Free Flow Flapper Exhaust (center exit)......eventually. OBX for now. * Euro Tail Lamp Kit * Own Design Body Enhancements * Jet Stream Blue Paint work As the project progresses, I'll update this thread like I did the UK Graveyard 88 EX5023 Prototype thread. I hope everyone enjoys watching the car's restoration and modification. Here's a few pictures of THUMPER now, as the UGLY Z. __________________ 1988 KOH Prototype EX5023 sold 1990 ZR-1 #444 Convertible 1990 ZR-1 Black #966 1991 ZR-1 Quazar Blue #296 1957 Duntov SS Project Last edited by Blue Flame Restorations; 02-29-2012 at 10:24 PM.

02-26-2012	#2
efnfast Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dunbarton NH Posts: 7,375	Re: Bringing THUMPER Back To Life PROJECT Wow, looks like you've got your work cut out for you.

02-26-2012	#3
902066 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 189	Re: Bringing THUMPER Back To Life PROJECT Thanks for letting us follow along. When done I bet it will be gorgeous.

02-27-2012	#4
bdw18_123 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Prather, CA Posts: 809	Re: Bringing THUMPER Back To Life PROJECT Cool, I love following restore threads. After finishing my own long restore project, I know the amount of work it takes to finish them. I'll be looking forward to the updates, especially the convertible conversion part. __________________ [IMG]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/bdw18_123/_zr1netforumsigphoto.jpg[/IMG][B] 1990 Corvette ZR-1 [/B][I] White/Flame Red, #2299, mostly stock, 144K miles.[/I] -Cams timed to the '93-'95 405HP LT5 stock timing. -IAT sensor relocated to below front bumper. -Haibeck hoops installed in airduct. -OBX cat-back exhaust. [COLOR=DarkRed][B](SOLD - December 2012 [/B][/COLOR][COLOR=DarkRed][B]:hello:)[/B][/COLOR] 1993 Corvette Coupe Black/Black, 6-speed (SOLD - October 2009 :hello:)

02-27-2012	#5
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: Bringing THUMPER Back To Life PROJECT Holy smokes Brett! Now that's what I call a kit car! subscribed! I have to watch this ZR-1 being born again! Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member

02-28-2012	#6
Blue Flame Restorations Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pendleton, IN Posts: 3,904	Re: Bringing THUMPER Back To Life PROJECT Well, the cleaning started on the LT5 today. It's not TOO bad but does have some thick grime in places. Mostly the sides and around the oil fitting area. What's the best cleaner to remove the grease? What has everyone had good results with. Cleaning processes??? Testimonials??? __________________ 1988 KOH Prototype EX5023 sold 1990 ZR-1 #444 Convertible 1990 ZR-1 Black #966 1991 ZR-1 Quazar Blue #296 1957 Duntov SS Project Last edited by Blue Flame Restorations; 03-10-2012 at 05:49 PM.

02-28-2012	#8
Kevin Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 4,633	Re: Bringing THUMPER Back To Life PROJECT so we can count on you coming up with lots of NLA parts for our cars then? jesus what a fuster cluck __________________ It's not the car, it's the people - Doug Johnson 90 r/r "KEYS ON" nick named "T.L.B"

02-28-2012	#9
A26B Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Arcadia,OK Posts: 3,384	Re: Bringing THUMPER Back To Life PROJECT I use spray brake cleaner by the case, with a short bristle paint prush ans some of the disposable ss wire brushes about the size of a tooth brush. __________________ Jerry Downey JERRYS LT5 GASKETS & PARTS http://www.jerrysgaskets.com 1994 *ZR-1*, Black/Black, Lingenfelter Aerobody, 416cu in, 3.91 gears, coil-over susp, Brembo brakes, etc. 2016 Black-Red, 3LT-Z51 Auto 8-speed.

02-28-2012	#10
RHanselman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cresson, TX Posts: 970	Re: Bringing THUMPER Back To Life PROJECT So... Done by BG this year?