Our Old Cars Are Well Engineered - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

AirbusDriver · 03-30-2022

...and built.
32 years old and no codes. AC blows cold and LT5 runs comfortably without a thought of overheating.
Original injectors, plugs, freon...original everything.

spork2367 · 03-30-2022

Quote:

Originally Posted by AirbusDriver

...and built.
32 years old and no codes. AC blows cold and LT5 runs comfortably without a thought of overheating.
Original injectors, plugs, freon...original everything.

Still running original AC here as well.

Fully Vetted · 03-30-2022

All the finish on your trim still looks perfect. I'm jealous. We need to figure out a way to refinish normal wear and tear.

mlipmd · 03-30-2022

But your original oil and tires have been replaced I hope, as well as the original gas that came with it. Does your BOSE system still work?
How many miles you have on it? I also have a '90, with about 33,000 miles and running very strong.
My 20 yo C5 had 105,000 mi. when I traded it in and ran as good as the day it was born. GM and Chevy do make good cars and these Zs are the best. Just needs a little TLC as does everything.

tccrab · 03-31-2022

My '90 has 16k miles, original freon,original Bose.
Third gear synchro was gone when i got the car at 9k miles, was cheaper to replace with a new '96 blue tag ZF6 than to send the original black tag ZF6 to Bill B.
I have replaced the exhaust with a Flowmaster cat back system, Accell injectors and Haibec Prom.
No codes, everything works and runs like a raped ape.
I've read you can set the cruise control as high as 150mph, has anyone tried?
I'll never admit it, but 100 works just fine.

Crabs

JohnJones57 · 03-31-2022

It looks fantastic. I'm amazed at how good it still looks. It is true that older cars are made better than the modern ones. Too many accountants counting if something is still too expensive and if it's so, make it cheaper and worse. Older cars will outlive the new ones with no issues

Matt B · 03-31-2022

Unfortunately I can't chime into this celebration... When I got mine she was a one owner gem with a mere 18.5k miles on her. She came with original everything incl. tires, wiper blades and drive belt. Oil? Hope not

This is what I got on top:

- EVERY single Bose component was broken
- rear hatch weatherstrip with cracked corners
- crankshaft position sensor cracked / leaking
- inectors already swapped
- only 1 out of 6 lumbar support cushions working
- hood and both latch struts very weak
- left cat cracked and crumbled
- secondary system leaking plus an inoperative pump (which was an unexpectedly easy and sustainable repair without changing any parts)
- broken A/C high pressure switch
- I still have issues with a sometimes flashing A/C controller LED with no noticeable errors or codes present

So, you're a lucky man, I'm not so much

However, apart from that these babes ARE well engineered and built. I know it, because I touched so many places when fixing the above

. I don't think many early 90s sports cars can compare with a ZR in terms of quality, reliability and maintenance efforts.

AirbusDriver · 03-31-2022

Forgive me while I practice uploading a video...

https://vimeo.com/694528667

https://vimeo.com/694530814

03-30-2022	#1
AirbusDriver Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Harrodsburg, KY Posts: 372	Our Old Cars Are Well Engineered ...and built. 32 years old and no codes. AC blows cold and LT5 runs comfortably without a thought of overheating. Original injectors, plugs, freon...original everything.

03-30-2022	#3
Fully Vetted Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Rockwall, Tx Posts: 1,510	Re: Our Old Cars Are Well Engineered All the finish on your trim still looks perfect. I'm jealous. We need to figure out a way to refinish normal wear and tear. __________________ _________________ 1994 AB/Grey #141 430 RWHP/392 RWTQ FBI Lyposuction / Secondaries relieved of duty / SW Long Tube Headers / Corsa Exhaust / FIC SS Injectors / MSD Coils / Lightweight Pulleys / Corey tuned B & M Shifter / Aluminum Flywheel / Samco Hoses / Shelby Series One's / C4 No Flex Frame Stiffener BBC - Bling By Carter: Custom ZR-1 Center Caps / Custom Plenum Plate / Air Box Knobs / TB Cover / Oil Filter Cover

03-30-2022	#4
mlipmd Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Crawfordville, FL Posts: 198	Re: Our Old Cars Are Well Engineered But your original oil and tires have been replaced I hope, as well as the original gas that came with it. Does your BOSE system still work? How many miles you have on it? I also have a '90, with about 33,000 miles and running very strong. My 20 yo C5 had 105,000 mi. when I traded it in and ran as good as the day it was born. GM and Chevy do make good cars and these Zs are the best. Just needs a little TLC as does everything.

03-31-2022	#5
tccrab Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Folsom CA Posts: 1,643	Re: Our Old Cars Are Well Engineered My '90 has 16k miles, original freon,original Bose. Third gear synchro was gone when i got the car at 9k miles, was cheaper to replace with a new '96 blue tag ZF6 than to send the original black tag ZF6 to Bill B. I have replaced the exhaust with a Flowmaster cat back system, Accell injectors and Haibec Prom. No codes, everything works and runs like a raped ape. I've read you can set the cruise control as high as 150mph, has anyone tried? I'll never admit it, but 100 works just fine. Crabs __________________ TomC '90ZR1 #792 Honorary Pirate [B]If it ain't FUN, you're doing something terribly WRONG. [/B]

03-31-2022	#6
JohnJones57 Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Poland Posts: 1	Re: Our Old Cars Are Well Engineered It looks fantastic. I'm amazed at how good it still looks. It is true that older cars are made better than the modern ones. Too many accountants counting if something is still too expensive and if it's so, make it cheaper and worse. Older cars will outlive the new ones with no issues

03-31-2022	#7
Matt B Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Beautiful Bavaria Posts: 517	Re: Our Old Cars Are Well Engineered Unfortunately I can't chime into this celebration... When I got mine she was a one owner gem with a mere 18.5k miles on her. She came with original everything incl. tires, wiper blades and drive belt. Oil? Hope not This is what I got on top: - EVERY single Bose component was broken - rear hatch weatherstrip with cracked corners - crankshaft position sensor cracked / leaking - inectors already swapped - only 1 out of 6 lumbar support cushions working - hood and both latch struts very weak - left cat cracked and crumbled - secondary system leaking plus an inoperative pump (which was an unexpectedly easy and sustainable repair without changing any parts) - broken A/C high pressure switch - I still have issues with a sometimes flashing A/C controller LED with no noticeable errors or codes present So, you're a lucky man, I'm not so much However, apart from that these babes ARE well engineered and built. I know it, because I touched so many places when fixing the above . I don't think many early 90s sports cars can compare with a ZR in terms of quality, reliability and maintenance efforts. __________________ ZR-1 #638/1991