This thread is awesome. Subscribed! :thumbs:

I started that car way back in 03 (I think it was 03 or 04) when Keith just got it running. What a fantastic piece of history. Keith and his son drove around Carlisle setting off alarms from the open exhaust - first time the car drove since the car had the wrecking ball taken to the plenum. Very cool car and owner.:cheers:

We have all the ZR-1 tachs you'll ever need and can repair the original cluster 770-777-1031

While in England 2 weeks ago, i spotted a 1988 test mule for sale with VIN# EX4607 on it. Was Built in 1986 as a 88 model.. I have a thread on it in the C4 General section now. Thought it may be a interest to you. Ed

When I got home from the NCRS Winter Regional today, I buzzed by the shop before I went to the house. Boy, was I happy!!!!!!!! Looky here!!

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I saved the Pilot #48 part of the front support.
http://i51.tinypic.com/2vbsutz.jpg

Awesome! It's looking like a Z again!

That great! Thanks for the progress pictures.

WOW, Im going to follow this thread, and to think I was intimidated to do some fiberglass work on my rear quarters that are seperating....

GREAT WORK MAN!!!

I want it done this year. Timeline is as follows-----

Painted by May
Interior installed by May
Engine running by August

I'll take the suspension off the car later in the year and rebuild it all

A ZR1 Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Finally, back in form. Depending on our beautiful IN weather, I'll have it home this week.

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Saw your car today Brett and the techs in the shop are almost as excited about it as you are!

They're doing an awesome job and rightfully proud of it. :thumbs:

Great pics!! :cool:

http://i52.tinypic.com/il95ys.jpg
This pic says it all!

No kidding..... great project, great shop!!!

Probably have a waiting list two miles long of tech's wanting a job there

Thanks so much for keeping us posted....my number one reason for logging into CF

Rick

Thanks guys. The shop is top rate and second to none around here. Mark Fesmire did the re-construction of the cage and body. He's an amazing technician.

It's hard to believe that the frame and cage geometry wasn't compromised when it was smashed with the front end loader. The measurements of the cage were still 100%.

There will be one original rocker panel and one original side gill panel on the car when painted. The firewall and floor pan is all original as well. The complete suspension will be the original. It's badge of honor will be the left front upper A-arm. It has a small bend in it from the front end loader.

This has been very exciting for me. It's the first car that I've done for myself in nearly ten years. Customer cars always take a front seat to my own cars.

:cool: from :canadaflag:

Just a great project - thanks for sharing the progress pics... very exciting!

:iagree:

:cool:

:cheers:

Back On All Fours!!!!!!!!!!
 

How great it is to see this car back on all fours. Quite amazing from what it looked like eight weeks ago. Now, it's time for paint prep and a new coat of blue before the Gathering in May.

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Nope. Haven't got that far in my thinking yet. I do have seats at my shop though. Hmmmmmm?????

Pretty excited about it all! :rock:

Vette Daddy/Brett...thanks for this thread. Keep the updates coming please.:cheers: From "across the pond" in Oz!

Just got it in my shop at home about 10 minutes ago. I have other cars that I need to work on but this one will get my attention on the weekends.

Is # 76 a dark blue crushed coupe? A guy I know has one that has been crushed, and I think it is an 89. He gave me one of the damaged front wheels off of it several years ago. I know it is a regular width wheel, but I thought it was cool since it came off of a prototype:D

Its looking good! Keep going, George

Did the test mules not have a 3rd brake light on the hatch?

Fantastic thread, being able to see this amazing car brought back to life is very cool.

Look forward to your next set of photo's :thumbs::thumbs:

Any chance of getting Z brothers to come to BG from Austrailia?

We would love to talk to you about what cars you have (ZR-1 / ZR1) and what it's like to drive in there!!! (make us all jealous!)

Between Bret's car being there, drag racing, GM engineers and every LT5 tuner speaking about modifying the ZR-1. (from stroking the motor, to headers, suspension and brakes)

:thumbs:

David

The mules were normal models with a lt 5 in it, thus did not have the light. The prototypes (both the 1988 King of The Hill cars and the 1989 ZR-1s) which were built with the ZR-1 body parts did have the light.

Tyler

All 86 thru 90 standard cars had a hatch brake light. Unless the mules were 85s ...

Finally showing the graceful lines of the King Of The Hill. Hope to have it in paint by April 1st.

http://i53.tinypic.com/1sjkux.jpg

I can't wait to see it in person come May!

It's really looking good Brett :thumbs: Could you post up some more pictures?

I'll probably wait to post more pics until it's got some blue paint on it. It's really coming along.

The PhaseII engine also has some rare things that were only used on a couple of engines, according to Geoff. He's just about got the engine done now. Can't wait to install it!

would love details on differences in engine, too
 

Thanks for the updates.

btw....anyone remember the dozen or so lt5 engines and partial engines that appeared on ebay a few years ago....some guy had come across a jackpot....maybe....of test engines or rejects...or who knows. He supplied plenty of photos and they looked like the real deal...but rough.

I do believe that Jerry and Ron bought those engines.

A few prototypes a few test motors with cut outs in the chain area.

I know Jerry ended up with some interesting motors.

thanks, love to know more about them
 

And, looking for a wrecked '93 and up zr 1.
Have parts to trade...got a lot of compressors and
starters...tho I need to rebuilt some of the starters.
Also have a '91 gm rebuilt ecm.

Are these the ones? I used to be in hog heaven, just sittin on a stool in the shop looking at all those LT5's. I sure do miss that. There were about 30 engines at one time.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...LT5HeavenS.jpg

Gotta love it!! My new screen saver......:D

Maybe....the ones I saw were individually photographed and pretty greasy and dusty, as if they'd been put in a warehouse or back of a
garage and forgotten.

So what was the story...where'd they come from and where are they now....thats a lot of engines !

Installed the EX5023 plate with the rosette rivets. Finally getting it's Engineering designated name back.

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Goes for paint this week!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice, can't wait to see it painted! :thumbs:

:iagree:

:thumbs:

:iagree: Looking forward to seeing it in a couple of weeks when I make it over to your neck of the woods.

The engine will be completed in about a week. Just in time for Bowling Green!
http://i53.tinypic.com/28sr9xx.jpg

:lurk:

Wow...incredible dedication!!

Hey ewjx, dont forget to add #016 89 pilot ZR-1 that John and i picked up from Tommy Morrison years ago, its in process but albeit very slow!!!! It still had lots of test eqipment on it for probes etc... white with red guts.... :D

Very Nice job vette daddy..... this is where the anxious part feels like chest pains and heavy breathing......:thumbs:

The car is out for paint. I'll post up pics when it is done.

:lurk: Can't wait, what a great thread!

:lurk:

:iagree: I'm enjoy this so far.

Painting Today!!!!!!!!!!
 

Ready for color. Should be blue by the end of the day. Fingers crossed!

http://i53.tinypic.com/e88phh.jpg

High tech broomstick there ...

And the vehicle is looking great so far. Somewhat more complicated than a 53 I see.

TaDaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!

http://i54.tinypic.com/2cqxy07.jpg

:smiliedrool:

If any of you 89 ZR-1 owners need your cluster repaired, then call us. We have the special tach LCD for the 89 ZR-1 in stock and can make your cluster like brand new! 770-777-1031:cheers:

Looking very good. The fact that you brought this back from the dead is beyond words. Eagerly awaiting the reassembly updates.
53's - 55's & ZR-1's, a natural pairing. You have skilzzz

Just discovered this thread and read through it (well, not all of it.)

Did the prototype King of the Hill cars say LT5 on the back instead of ZR-1?

Subscribed! :cheers:

Chris

The rear had no badges.

http://deliquescence.net/~tyler/prot...eum%20back.jpg

In 1987 when they were built these cars were know only as King Of The Hill (K.O.H.) Prototypes. The ZR-1 designation had not been assigned. See build sheet for mine.

http://deliquescence.net/~tyler/prototype/87_build.jpg

Tyler

Tyler, in speaking with Geoff Wednesday, I found that my car did go to the UK in 88 and then back and fourth between the US and UK. I do have the docs for that now.

Simply awesome man! Thanks for sharing. :cheers:

The remainder of parts were painted today. It looks awesome. Corey Brown did the paint work. Corey, along with Mark Rick and Jeremy, have painted many 53's and 54's for me over the past ten years, not to mention midyears and sharks. These guys are very good at what they do....and it shows!

Gotta give thanks to Mark Fesmier for rebuilding the body from the mangled mess from the front end loader at the UK Salvage yard.

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WOW, she's going to be a beauty!! :cool:

I love Medium Blue Metallic. I'm on my second MBM 89 6 speed.

She's looking great Brett:thumbs:

Oops... I should have said he, after all it is 'The King' .

Is there a name for that beautiful shade of blue?

Code 20 Medium Blue Metallic

Definately one of the most exciting threads currently active here on the forum!

Kind of a strange idea but it would be cool if some of the original craftsmen that built it could be there to help you assemble it again and maybe get some signatures on it or something. I am sure when they were building those prototypes they took great pride in what they were going. Then GM just ran them over with a bulldozer.

Had some fun today. It's the weekend, so it's what I call "mytime" sometimes. It's a whole lot more fun when you get to work on your own cars.

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TRULY AWESOME and I don`t know what else to say................

WOW!!!:thumbs:

Sweet Brett!

:iagree: :yesnod:

Love it!!! :cheers:

I totally agree with the statement of working on your own cars. I will admit that I have never really worked on one, but I can just imagine because it gives you the freedom to do it how you want, and you get to use your creativity to the max.

Chris

[QUOTE=Vette Daddy;1577424985]Had some fun today. It's the weekend, so it's what I call "mytime" sometimes. It's a whole lot more fun when you get to work on your own cars.

/QUOTE]

Don't you love the feel of your skin being stripped by that daub of paint stripper droped on your forarm. Or better yet trying to cut your thumb off with a cut off wheel. If I could afford it I would never touch my cars, but I can't. Anyone want to buy a restored 55 vette? well maybe not as it wouuld start a war with the kids. 'Daddy I just love all the work your are doing on My car for me.' But then I did drive it today.

Tyler

Gotta enjoy the bruises and scrapes along the way. :thumbs:

Dont really enjoy the battle scars but you cant have one without the other unfortunately.I cant imagine anyone working on my car,if I cant fix it will sit until I figure it out.

I've been working evenings on my car and working on 53-55's during the day. Very exhausting lately. Had to get this thing done in time for BG though. Thanks to Jerry's Gaskets, Marc Haibeck, Jim Voter and Pete!, I will have everything I need to install the drivetrain this weekend....finally.

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Amazing! What a great project !

Outstanding job, thank you for posting the progress photos

Wow!!!

[QUOTE=Vette Daddy;1577471062]I've been working evenings on my car and working on 53-55's during the day. Very exhausting lately. Had to get this thing done in time for BG though. Thanks to Jerry's Gaskets, Marc Haibeck, Jim Voter and Pete!, I will have everything I need to install the drivetrain this weekend....finally.

Those are really tough days doing double duty. I've had projects like that too when you work all day and work all night too even when you don't really want to. The results are always worth it though. Good luck it's looking great! Wish I could go to BG to see it in person.

Awesome! Can't wait to see it in person at Bloomington Gold!

I'll have it at the Bowling Green C4 Bash next month but not at Bloomington Gold. Sorry.

Can u legally drive the car on the road? Register as a kit car because of the vin?

If I decide to title the car, I can. I may never do it though. The car does have a vin plus the Engineering EX5023 designation. The PhaseII engine is not something that I want to risk ever damaging. The car will never be street driven as long as I own it.

I have a 90 ZR1 that I am turning into a daily driver.

Great progress, very cool to see this early Z come back to life! :thumbs: :thumbs:

Installed the LT5 today. Tight fit. Trans will be installed tomorrow.

:thumbs: :thumbs: I sure enjoy following your progress

Ever any talk from any magazines out there wanting to do a story on this?


Rick

I'm not really too excited about that either way. I just like having it.

....very, very :cool: project-coming along beautifully. Are you going to ever have it judged at an NCRS meet? Would be neat to see what they thought of it.

...what about displaying it at the Corvette Museum? Any thought on doing that?

Hi Paul. I spoke to Roy Sinor last Fall, at the McDorman Auction. It will qualify for an NCRS American Heritage Award. I just need to work out the timing with the NCRS for which National Convention to take it to. Probably next year, if they accept it for that event.

I will be taking it to the NCM next week for the C4 Gathering. The car will be on display in the atrium for the week. It still needs the interior installed and then get it mechanically sound. lots to do this year after the C4 Gathering.

The dirvetrain is installed but not functional yet. I just need to re-install the hood and it will be ready for the Gathering next week.

:cheers:
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WOW Brett that is bad AZZ. If only people could have been there in person when we picked it up last fall, they would not believe it is the same car. Outstanding job. I will see it in person at the NCM in a couple of weeks. Then :cheers::cheers::cheers: time

im speechless, all i can say is congratulations !!!