Hello everyone, I normally hang out on the c6 page. I have a '06 a6 coupe as my other toy. I want to start collecting some of the more rare c4s, and I have always been a huge fan of the zr1, but never dreamed I would own one.
Hey I traded a '87 red/red coupe 19k mile car and some cash for a '92 zr1 last tuesday in atlanta (american sportscar center). I am a nuclear contractor and I had to travel the next day 900 miles to dallas. I hated to take such a rare car on the road with me, but I am scheduled to be gone 6 weeks and I couldn't stand to be away from my vettes this long so off to dallas we went!!
The car had 38k on it when I got it. It is red/grey and seems to be in good condition. Its not like me to take a new toy on a road trip and I know that this baby needs to be in the dry and keep the miles down, but fellows, I just couldn't resist, I had to drive it.
So here I am sitting in a dallas hotel and I have some questions. The only concerns I have about the car is follows:
1)The transmission whines bad in 1st gear and most of the time when I shift from 1-2, I cant pull straight back to 2nd, its like there is a knot there and I have to move the shifter around, then it goes in to 2nd.
2) The valet switch seems to make very little difference when its on full power. The car seems to miss a little when its in normal and still does some in power but not as bad. Does this switch really make much diff?
I am taking it to a local chevy dealer saturday and they are going to check the car out for me. Is there anything you fellows know that I should maybe have them check? Should I have them put synthetic oil in it? What type?
I gave 30k for the car and I know thats a little high, but I had to have it, plus being a '92, I figured the 502 production was worth a little more and I have fell in love with these Lt5s!! It is the baddest sounding small block since the 302Z and I love it. It pulls good in 2nd-4th fourth but it doesn't seem to have as much power as I thought it would. I thought it may just be that I am so used to my 400 hp c6. Do you think it needs a good tune?
ZF Trannies can lose 2nd gear sycros, you have the best around Dr. ZF down that way to fix it if that's the prob.
Either you have a chip that keeps the pweer key on or you have som vaccuum or secondary problems if you can't tell the difference with or without the key. If stock gears it should pull hard from 4000-6800/7000rpm and you should be around 113mph at the top of 3rd gear.
Some of the Southwest guys will chime in with guys that can check the car out for you. You'll just be lucky if a dealership has a tech to work on the ZR-1
Just my2cents but you can't go wrong with the ZR-1 you will love it when its running right
Last edited by YorkL8apex; 02-12-2007 at 10:29 PM.
don't mess around with anyone else...more than likely you have a
sycnchronizer..going...along with issue's with your power key..
believe me you will know the difference...the zr1 should be as strong
or stronger than your c6..if they both are stock...then the zr1 would pull away..down the track...check out the www.zr1netregistry.net
join...between this website and the registry...is
a wealth of info...and plan on attending the zr1 gathering..in
bowling green ky...starting may 2nd..through 6th..it's a hoot..
one other thought...drive that puppy like you stole it...garage queens
well...if you want an investment buy real estate...zr1's are made
to be driven...but of couse...if you don't....well...the next owner
will be very happy you didn't....
Keep an eye on the clutch master and see if its losing any fluid, when depressing the clutch sometimes just enough goes around the seal and not fully disengagin the clutch...Sometimes youll get that notchy feel, sometimes it will feel fine. Easy fix.
When the power key/secondary system is working correctly youll defintiely feel a difference when hitting the go pedal.
All the info youll need to fix/troubleshoot your new toy is here, there is a TON of know-how on these cars here .
I've only had my '90 for 2 weeks or so . . . and got the car in Colorado so really couldn't test the difference between normal and full power because of the snow and ice . . . once i got down to Texas i was certaily able to tell the difference. On my car, if i put the key to all the way to the right the light will not be on and i don't get full power . . . if i move the key slightly back to the right the light goes on and i get full power. Just and observation. Seems like the light being on is the best indicator compared to the key position.
Most of the Z owners would disagree though, the ZR1 is made to be DRIVEN and not garaged... I tend not to drive mine much(due to travel and doing some minor repairs), but that is ONE fun car to drive!
There is nothing better than accelerating from 75 to 125 and hearing that engine Roar....
If you don't notice any difference in the acceleration with the power key on and off, then maybe the old owner put a chip in and eliminated the need to "turn it on".
tnz5106,
when the key set to normal power, Zr1 hp is set at 250hp, but with power position it goes to 375hp as you got 1991~!
as you know Lt5 is very sensitive motor, Check your sprak plug, and look for any leak from manifold..
my Zr is 90, and it has 56K when i pought it, and it was crzy like hell runing!
if you pay 30k $ , you should have more power than mine!
we dont know the condition of your car when you bought it!
and as you said ,clutch problem? hm.. ,em! i see you should take your car for a good ZR1 tuner and check the engine
check for compressision ratio in all 8 cyl.
who knows, maybe your car hit with nitrous before!
hope you solve engine and trany , then you well be happy with your Lt5
Thanks everyone, I agree, these things are the most fun I have had in a car since I used to drag race in the '70's!! And I also agree they are made to drive!! They are too much d$% fun to be garage queens. I just dont like having mine outside in the elements which is where it is now.
As far as the valet key, I can tell some diff when its to full power(yes the green light is on). Like I said, it seems to miss when I accelerate with the key off. When I turn the key on, it still misses just a little and the power seems maybe 30% more, thats it though. It feels strongest 2nd thru 4th gears pulling up to higher speeds.
I have already emailed Brian Hender here in dallas to see if he can check my z out. ........thanks for the advice!! Hey, I WILL plan on being in bowling green this spring!! See you there.....
Hey BTW, if someone will tell me how to post pics, I will post some of my ZZZZZ.............thanks
Set up a free accout with http://www.photobucket.com and upload your pictures there. Then cut and paste the links to the pics into your post.
Photobucket automatically sizes the pics to the correct size for forum posting.
Hey tnz5106, I was standing there talking to your son-in-law while you were making the trade last week. Congrats. When I first picked my z up I thought..yeah it's fast but not that fast. I think you may have had the same problem I did, shifting too soon. As I was telling your son-in-law, do not shift until you hit 6 grand. He looked at me like I was crazy. The ZR1's power band start a lot higher than other cars. Remember, it redlines at 7200rpm. So, go out and try running it up to at least over 5 grand before you shift. Don't worry the car will take it and ask for more. Do that a few times and let us know if it felt any better. GOod luck, congrats again. Bill
I had a miss in my 91, it was random - sometimes in full power sometimes in normal. Ended up being a coil. I would check the resistence on your coils and your injectors. You have to pull the intake to do it - but it's not a hard job.
30% more power with the key on? Should be more like 60%. That car should scream with full power all the way through the power band.
Last edited by Aaron71771; 02-13-2007 at 08:30 AM.
1)The transmission whines bad in 1st gear and most of the time when I shift from 1-2, I cant pull straight back to 2nd, its like there is a knot there and I have to move the shifter around, then it goes in to 2nd.
First, congrats
Second, on the shifting issue. Wouldn't that be the CAGS? Or do I need coffee??
Unless I missed it I cant believe no one told you NOT to go to a dealership aka stealership
I can assure you that you know more about the car than they do
The early ZF had more straight cut gears so they do whine a little
Might be time for a fluid change
A CAGS bypass may be in order here also
For more info contact ZFdoc who has forgotten more than the tech at the dealer ever knew
Is your check engine light on? That will keep the secondaries from opening
You also should invest $100 in a service manual
Welcome to the addiction
Oh yeah No need to baby a 38k mile Z
Drive it like you stole it
One other thing
Is the little green light next to the power key always on If yes then you have a chip in it that keeps the power key always on instead of defaulting to power off
If the light is not always on does it come on when you turn the key on
If the light comes on then try shifting about 6000 rpm with it off and on
Big difference
Anyway I think Im done
I keep thinking of things after I hit submit reply
Corvette Store
New Zr1 owner!! Need advice!!
