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Old 10-04-2018   #1
TimNH
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Portsmouth NH
Posts: 6
Default So, you inherited a ZR1..

Hi all, quick intro, my family has inherited a 1991 ZR1 from my uncle, who bought it new and tried to get it going after "15-20 years storage", but it still needs help. I will be selling it for our estate, need to decide whether to sell as-is or invest the work to get it back on the road. Only 5200 miles, mostly in the early years, and the storage since seems more "barn" than "climate controlled" Maybe even stored outside, as the paint is all faded, so this is very far away from "nice" despite the low mileage.

As mentioned he tried to get it running - I have receipts from 2016-7 for:

Fuel flush, Fuel pump, Fuel filter
Cleaned primary & secondary injectors
4 coils
8 spark plugs
Throttle body & intake gaskets kits, seal
An "F-(S) Sender" for $683, whatever that is
Oil change
Some minor other non-engine related stuff

States good 215 lb compression in each cylinder, but it is now at my personal mechanic in NH, they say the gas tank is rusty inside, muck inside tank, needs replacing, and probably all 16 injectors too. Big bucks.

My own observations from one 2 mile drive to the mechanic (yep I did drive it that once, wouldn't have if I knew about muck in the gas tank):
* Car started and seemed to run beautifully for about 2 minutes, then started coughing and choking and would almost stall w/out blipping the gas.
* Brakes stop the car nicely, didn't test ABS though
* Transmission feels great, tight and precise.
* Paint is poor, faded and uneven
* Tires are original 1991! Cracked and need replacing before it is ever driven at speed.
* Interior is solid and complete, but smells musty and some of the fit & finish has a 'curl' to it, where stuff doesnt fit flush. Most notably the glove box does not open nicely, the casing around it has deformed and tends to "untuck" out of its housing.
* Most dash/electronics work except the radio produces no sound.
* Wheels are very nice, very little blemish on any of them.
* Driver side headlight does not return to closed position, motors both churn away but the left one needs a push to shut it.
* 2 tops - one body colored, one glass, both fine condition except the body colored top headliner is sagging.
* Weatherstripping and rubber around windows is dry and cracked, plan on a full replacement of all the rubber around the windows.
* Has a big box of goodies - original "collectors kit" type thing w/ VCR tape, sample sound cassette, books, original sticker, 3 sets of keys, all that

That's about all I know - basically needs a fuel tank & injectors as the next step, and even then of course no guarantee more gremlins won't pop up. Any thoughts for what I might ask "as-is"? Many thanks for this long read!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg zr1.jpg (170.0 KB, 64 views)

Last edited by TimNH; 10-05-2018 at 02:39 PM.
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