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Another suggestion I would make is maybe pull the plugs, squirt a few squirts of motor oil in the cylinders... pull the air duct and see if you can get a socket and breaker bar on the crank and try turning it over by hand for a few revolutions. I would do that before hitting the key to try using the starter to turn it over...
Some good suggestions above, I agree. A couple observations. The throttle cable clips are missing from the top of the the plenum. I have a set for sale. PM me. Warning, their not cheap. The spark plug wires are original. They have value if their still good. Ohm them and keep them if possible. Replacement sets are available but they don’t say LT5 on them. The brake fluid in the reservoirs looks black, add a full brake flush to your list. The intake accordion is collapsing. Once the engine is running it will collapse on anything close to full throttle. It will seem like a loss of power, but it’s only that piece. Either replace it (I have one of those available too) or reinforce it with a couple of wire hoops. Flip the accordion hose clamps around so the tightening screws are under the accordion. On top like that it will scratch the hood. Take a close look at the alternator, lots of rust there. Make sure it’s not seized and make sure the serpentine belt hasn’t rotted. These engines can be intimidating but if you have any skills at all, an FSM and access to this forum or the ZR1NETREGISTRY forum tech section http://www.zr1.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9 , most anything can be handled. Oh.... and have fun. That’s the most important part!
H
Some good suggestions above, I agree. A couple observations. The throttle cable clips are missing from the top of the the plenum. I have a set for sale. PM me. Warning, their not cheap. The spark plug wires are original. They have value if their still good. Ohm them and keep them if possible. Replacement sets are available but they don’t say LT5 on them. The brake fluid in the reservoirs looks black, add a full brake flush to your list. The intake accordion is collapsing. Once the engine is running it will collapse on anything close to full throttle. It will seem like a loss of power, but it’s only that piece. Either replace it (I have one of those available too) or reinforce it with a couple of wire hoops. Flip the accordion hose clamps around so the tightening screws are under the accordion. On top like that it will scratch the hood. Take a close look at the alternator, lots of rust there. Make sure it’s not seized and make sure the serpentine belt hasn’t rotted. These engines can be intimidating but if you have any skills at all, an FSM and access to this forum or the ZR1NETREGISTRY forum tech section http://www.zr1.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9 , most anything can be handled. Oh.... and have fun. That’s the most important part!
H
I have the throttle cable clamps. They were rusty so I took them off, removed the rust and painted them. Letting the paint dry in my house overnight. The belt hasn't rotted from what i can see. I'll get a better look at it when i remove the neccessary parts to turn the engine over with a braker bar. After I have turned the engine over manually I'll try to start it. If it runs and doesn't appear to have any major issues I'll keep the car and replace the belt, hoses fluids and filters and things like fuel injectors and so on. If it doesn't run the motor is getting pulled and built for another car. Maybe put it in my 1997 Silverado but that truck has only 115k and runs like a new vehicle so I hate to pull a perfectly good Vortec 350.
Last edited by 94corvetteC4; 02-22-2020 at 11:09 PM.
I would remove the side panels and inner wheel wells cover the motor with a tarp and pressure wash at a low pressure. 2nd pic painted in the car with Jerry's rattle can.
After many hours of reading up on the 1990 ZR1 and their faults I contacted the original owner I bought it from and he said besides the ground effects kit and paint on the wheels the car is factory original. I looked at fuel injectors for the low low price of $729.00 (good grief) and its going to cost about $500 to have the wheels restored back to new condition. Before anyone says "do it yourself its cheaper" I don't have time.
I called a car restoration company and told them what I have and that I want them to get it running and go through the car and address any problems. They said they will call back with a date to drop the car off and I never heard back from them. That was a week ago. From that company and some so called Corvette specialists from when I had my 1994 C4 there ar no reputable Corvette shops in the Atlanta area.
when I get time and weather permitting I'm going to put a new battery and fresh fuel in the car and see what happens. Even if it doesn't start I can still go through the elections and see if I have any problems there.
After many hours of reading up on the 1990 ZR1 and their faults I contacted the original owner I bought it from and he said besides the ground effects kit and paint on the wheels the car is factory original. I looked at fuel injectors for the low low price of $729.00 (good grief) and its going to cost about $500 to have the wheels restored back to new condition. Before anyone says "do it yourself its cheaper" I don't have time.
I called a car restoration company and told them what I have and that I want them to get it running and go through the car and address any problems. They said they will call back with a date to drop the car off and I never heard back from them. That was a week ago. From that company and some so called Corvette specialists from when I had my 1994 C4 there ar no reputable Corvette shops in the Atlanta area.
when I get time and weather permitting I'm going to put a new battery and fresh fuel in the car and see what happens. Even if it doesn't start I can still go through the elections and see if I have any problems there.
Accel # 150821 are about $688. thru Summit and 90 wheels restored for $500. aint too bad. Used ones will cost from $900 to 1300 depending on condition
Accel # 150821 are about $688. thru Summit and 90 wheels restored for $500. aint too bad. Used ones will cost from $900 to 1300 depending on condition
the first wheel restoration company I called quoted me $175.00 per wheel. Not sure if that includes clearcoat. Found a local busines that dips the wheels into a chemical bath that strips everything and leaves a clean surface. He charges $3 a pound to dip them. Second local shop does powder coating and he can clear powder coat the wheels for $250.00 for all four.
I called a car restoration company and told them what I have and that I want them to get it running and go through the car and address any problems. They said they will call back with a date to drop the car off and I never heard back from them. That was a week ago.
Welcome to ZR-1 ownership. You either learn to do it yourself, befriend somebody hopefully local who is willing to help. Or you ship your car to somebody who knows what they are doing and get a huge bill.
If your looking for someone else to do the work there are only a few people around the country that know what their doing on a C4 ZR-1.
Mark Haibeck is by far #1 on the list, he’s in the Chicago area. People send him their Z’s from all over the world. http://www.zr1specialist.com
Welcome to ZR-1 ownership. You either learn to do it yourself, befriend somebody hopefully local who is willing to help. Or you ship your car to somebody who knows what they are doing and get a huge bill.
Your bill will be as much as you paid for the car if not more..Than again what do you want from a $27,000 engine option.At least your close to SGC......
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by 94corvetteC4
I called a car restoration company and told them what I have and that I want them to get it running and go through the car and address any problems. They said they will call back with a date to drop the car off and I never heard back from them. That was a week ago. From that company and some so called Corvette specialists from when I had my 1994 C4 there ar no reputable Corvette shops in the Atlanta area.
I wouldn't trust any "restoration" or generic Corvette shop around an LT5 even if they were willing to warranty their work. The LT5 is just too rare and unique for most shops to have a clue with them. The list ccmano provided are the only people I'd trust. Once you've got the engine sorted out, then you can take it to any general shop for paint, body or interior work as all that is regular C4 stuff.
02-22-2020, 07:05 PM
