Price. The ZR1's were $60,000, and that was 10 yrs ago. The LT5 was super pricey to manufacture. If the water pump goes out, good luck finding a replacement and don't choke when you get the price.

The Z06 brought ZR1 performance in a package a lot more people could afford, which is the essence of the Vette in the first place.

 

new LT5 motor on ebay

 

The ZR-1 was overpriced in a sense, but you also have to remember that 400hp 10 years ago was in the same category as 550-600hp would be now, and the ZR-1 was considered a contender in the SUPERCAR wars up against Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Porsche Turbos, etc.

I'm 100% with the idea GM is currently going by -- make it within range of more people. Sell more...

Engine or no engine, the C5 is a much better car in every way, and I'd take a Z06 over a ZR1.

BTW, anyone seen the C6 pics? Looks sweet. Not drastic at all, and VERY Corvette. Sweet.

Also, my best friend's dad's boss (no joke, heh), who I've known for 15 years, is a multi-millionaire (also, no joke... unfortunately I'm not an heir), and he has collection of nearly 50 cars, one of which is a 1995 ZR-1 with under 30,000 miles....... I've seen that engine. I would be willing to make a bet that it wouldn't fit in a 4th gen. Physically wouldn't fit between the strut towers.

-Michae

 

I never heard of any 1990 LT5 motor having more than 375 hp from the factory! 90-92...375 hp, 93-95...405 hp.

 

i thought valet switches were for car alarms how come you guy are talking about this for power in the car. im just confused can anyone help me out here. thanks

 

Have you not ever seen "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"? You go out to dinner at a nice restaraunt and all they have is valet parking. You hand the attendant your keys, and head inside to eat. While you are there the attendant is out pounding on your brand new ZR1 running it up to 7000rpm on every shift and basically beating the crap out of it.

Either that, or he can't figure out how to get it into reverse to park it. I had a valet come in 20 minutes after I was sitting at a nice restaraunt one night and said he couldn't get it into reverse. He couldn't figure out how to operate the lift ring reverse lockout on my 92 Vette. When I came out after dinner, he had parked it right there in front just because he felt uncomfortable driving it.

 

NOT...That was a valet switch. It was keyed off the master ignition key and when enabled it imposed a 4500RPM rev limiter and a took a fair amount of timming out of the motor. With it engaged the car was a bit lazy and would barely spin the tires. I guess GM came up with this to keep parking lot attendants from abusing your 80k vette (like I'm gonna let them drive it in the first place).

A bit of trivia. Anybody know what the lone part was that was shared between the LT5 and the then current L98 TPI motor?.


The rear main seal

 

As stated before, the "valet" switch cut out half the runners and injectors, limiting horsepower on the engine. It was used for letting people you don't trust to handle all that horsepower, i.e. wifes, girlfreinds, kids, parking valets, drive the car without beating it up badly. It was a great engine, very hi tech, but probably 2 to 3 times the cost of an LS6 (adjusted for inflation). some of the ideas from it, like the construction of the lower block around the main bearings, was incorporated in the LS1-6.

As mentioned, cost for the engine and parts is hideousley expensive, due to the very limited production and hand built nature. Much wiser to go with an LT1-4 or LS1-6 buildup.

 

thanks for the answers i get it now. i appreciate the help.