The first thing you do when you get a C4 ZR-1

[mike100]

Take it apart! anything else would be uncivilized





secondaries are pretty clean:


I think I got the oil cooler leak taken care of- no leaks under pressure.


There was such a mess of oil on the radiator, it was good to get in there to clean it all out. I didn't enjoy that job though.

There was a large hose disconnected under the plenum, so I'm hopeful the issue is fixed now...just waiting for gaskets. The rest of vacuum stuff is 100 percent functional- I'm now LT5 knowledgeable.

It has been a little stressful due to worries about messing up the engine, or not being able to get a part, but that is starting pass now.

[Frizlefrak]

Nothing quite like diving in head first. Kudos.

[PLRX]

Mike, before I read your post I was saying "that engine is clean in the inside" Wow, you got a good deal man.

If you have no oil leak, what made you believe that you had one? Do you have oil dripping somewhere?

[mike100]

Pete, the lines were leaking for sure, but I think I may have had a problem the first time I replaced them- maybe the o-ring didn't seal on one line???

I ran the engine without coolant or radiator for a few moments before I pulled the plenum to see if it would leak oil out of the cooler- it does not. but taking the lines off a couple of times leaked a lot of oil everywhere- hell, maybe it was left over residue just leaking a little bit every time I drove it.

bottom line is that I have not had to really purchase anything- a lot of the stuff is still in good shape.

The charcoal canister purge line popped out- that is why the car would idle so high I think.

[Sweet 90]

All I can say Mike, is that you are a braver man than me
I've never seen a LT5 torn down, hell I've never seen a LT5 period

[mike100]

Originally Posted by Sweet 90

All I can say Mike, is that you are a braver man than me
I've never seen a LT5 torn down, hell I've never seen a LT5 period

I guess they were too expensive...The LS3 powered base coupe is a lot faster than a C4 ZR-1, but I will admit trying to rev the LS the other day and was kind of disappointed that it started to fade out past 6k rpm.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by mike100

Married?

[mike100]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

Married?

you know I'm not...still better than hypoid gear oil on your shoes though

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by mike100

you know I'm not...still better than hypoid gear oil on your shoes though

Dude... you have a memory like a f'n elephant.

[C4Fanatic]

So far I have skipped this step...

[Midnight85]

You are very gutsy to tear into that monster. However, I guess I would do the same. Keep us posted.

[Ch@0s]

Cool thread please don't leave out any details.

[mike100]

The radiator and cooler are back in and everything in the valley has been dusted off- it looks pretty nice now.

I was messing around with a very fine polish to bring back some luster on the engine paint. The plenum top came out pretty nice- I may spend a half hour or so doing the cam covers and other parts tomorrow.

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by mike100

The radiator and cooler are back in and everything in the valley has been dusted off- it looks pretty nice now.

I was messing around with a very fine polish to bring back some luster on the engine paint. The plenum top came out pretty nice- I may spend a half hour or so doing the cam covers and other parts tomorrow.

Few years ago a ZR1 owner bought some German Silver Paint and he painted the LT5 and that MOFO looked so shinny and unique that I cried.

It took me about 10 minutes but I found it. I knew I saved it or bookedmarked.

[mike100]

Originally Posted by PLRX

Few years ago a ZR1 owner bought some German Silver Paint and he painted the LT5 and that MOFO looked so shinny and unique that I cried.

It took me about 10 minutes but I found it. I knew I saved it or bookedmarked.

I'm not even gonna say what we used to call silver spray paint. It's a shitload of work to remove the cam covers for powder coating because the ac housing comes off and the brake booster is kind of tight on the other side-I'll be happy to shine up the oem finish for now.

maybe if I have to get back into it to replace fuel injectors, then I could port the runners and then do all that when I have more money to spend, but for now-forget it.

[mike100]

It runs again!

somewhat cleaned up under plenum. the hose that goes in a circle was open on the other end of it's solenoid connection- vac leak city. fixed that for nothing.




car needs a bath, but the engine is clean. no leaks, good idle, the brakes actually work (I bled them with some brake fluid I already had).


So for the price of some coolant, $28 plenum gasket set, a $7 thermostat, $12 hose I bought to make a new lower rad hose due to oil soaked original, $45 serp. belt, $150 oil cooler line set, a few bucks to power flush and pressure check the rad and oil cooler, and about $20 worth of brake cleaner- she's tip top.

it cruises really nice...a little different personality than the 95- definitely better spring rates for working hard. The car is a little loud for my taste- I think my projects remaining for 2011 will include a different cat back set-up. otherwise it is like a normal car now whereas before, the idle was so high it wouldn't slow down. Not leaking enough oil to reseal the street is a bonus too.

[mike100]

oh yeah...$1100 in tires (trying to forget about that).

[drmrman]

Awesome! Love those DIY projects that are relatively inexpensive and net a great outcome!

Sweet ride man!

[RetiredSFC 97]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

Married?

Please change your avatar. I can't concentrate. What was this thread about?