Lots of questions!

[Snaps]

I just bought a 1990 Zr1 and I have a few questions/problems. First off when it starts sometimes it cranks for a bit, is this normal? My idle is at 1100 until the car recognizes it comes to a stop than drops to 950, but sometimes it sits around 650 too. I do not have the lockout for reverse, when going from 5th to 6th i have to be careful it doesn't try reverse. Also when putting it in reverse sometimes it grinds, ideas? My oil temp gauge rises but not by much and my pressure sits around 60-70psi when cruising, normal? Thanks for any input and sorry for the bombardment.

[Kevin]

the long cranking is normal, the idle is a common issue with the original chip 750-850 is about the normal idle. If you don't have the lockout for reverse you may not have the original shifter. the factory one has a ring you have to pull up on to get into reverse. oil temp doesn't generally rise that fast.

welcome to the forums.

[Snaps]

It looks like the original shifter and has "average" long throws. Also I would put the oil temp just a bit above 100, even after driving for 1hr. Of course the temp isn't the biggest deal I just would like to know if everything is working correctly. Im more concerned about the oil psi. Most cars Ive owned sit at 35 run at 45 and WOT at 60ish.

[efnfast]

Sounds about like my oil pressure.

[32valvesftw]

Your oil pressure is the same as mine, my oil temp says pretty low as well. Not 110 but probably about 150ish. My Idle acts in a similar fashion, but the more I drive it the more stable the idle is.

[Paul Workman]

That all sounds 'bout right. My oil temp and pressure runs pretty close to what you're seeing as well.

As for the start-up, I turn the key ON and listen for the pumps to come up to pressure - takes a couple seconds or so. On a cold start it will crank for 2-3 seconds before it fires.

Being a '90, the calibration is such that idle will zoom up to about 1900 ± for 3-4 seconds before dropping back down to settle at 850 (750, I believe, is 'normal', but my idle was bumped 100 rpm as part of the secondary port throttles (SPTs) being deleted.)

For what its worth, the calibration in my Ford F150 truck is such that it too has an 1800-ish idle upon a cold start-up. However, it stays there for 7-8 seconds before dropping back to normal, and it only does that when the water temp is below some set level. I guess that is SOP for some fuel injected motors - prolly keeps them from stalling on cold fire-up as well as building up some oil pressure(?)).

The LT5 ain't no gen-I SBC! So, like many of us that graduated from SBC hot-rodding, you'll soon begin to understand there isn't much about the way those old motors run that applies to the LT5's characteristics...and don't ya know that is a very good thing!!