1990 ZR-1 - Forums - Official C4 Vette Registry

SPONSOR AD

Support our Vendors! | Advertise Here

Topic: 1990 ZR-1

in Forum: C4 ZR1 & Grand Sport Discussion

Already a Member?
Login
Not yet a Member?
Register for Free!

1990 ZR-1 (1/9)
6/17/15 7:48am

crossfire1984
Standard Member
Send Private Message

Vette(s):
1984 - light bronze 1987 - black coupe - std. shift

Joined: 2/9/2010
Posts: 6

Looking to purchase a 1990 ZR-1 with 11,000 miles on the odometer. The car was driven approximately 7K miles in the firs year and the balance of miles put on since 1991. The car fax show approx. 75 miles registered per year.

What should I been looking at before I make an offer on this car? Are there any particular problems with the 1990 ZR-1 model year. I have heard numerous comments regarding the good, bad and ugly regarding this car. I heard the same about the 1984 which I have any 99% of those comments are false.

Is this a car worth purchasing or passing.

Crossfire 1984

Quote

Our Sponsors help support C4VR

Re: 1990 ZR-1 (2/9)
6/17/15 10:27am

CaledoniaBrian
Former Member
Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
1988 Convertable

Joined: 11/3/2011
Posts: 150

I really like the 90 ZR1. This sounds like it just might be a great car for you.

I can't speak from experience at all; but I think the LT5 is a great motor, although might be a bit tricky finding some parts. With a nice low mileage car like this one you are looking at, I don't think this will be an issue. One thing for sure, you would never have a problem getting rid of it; certainly one of the more sought after C4's.

Good luck.........

|UPDATED|6/17/2015 11:27:08 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

______________

Quote

Re: 1990 ZR-1 (3/9)
6/17/15 3:12pm

crossfire1984
Standard Member
Send Private Message

Vette(s):
1984 - light bronze 1987 - black coupe - std. shift

Joined: 2/9/2010
Posts: 6

Thanks for the feedback. Good to hear some positive about the LT5. Next step is to have an inspection done it before I sign on the dotted line.

Thanks again.

Quote

Re: 1990 ZR-1 (4/9)
6/18/15 10:40am

93PGC4
Standard Member
Send Private Message

Argyle, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1993, C 4 Polo Green Coupe with auto. Auto air and Fx3

Joined: 3/7/2014
Posts: 5

I'm in the middle of a restoration project on my 93 LTI Coup so please don' think I'm not being pesomistic. The C4 is a great vehicle and the ZR1 is the King of the Hill, what a Vette.

I would recommend that you have the car put on a lift so you can check out the underneath of the car to see if there is any damage to the undercarriage, and floor pans which are half metal and fiberglass. For some crazy reason people tend to put jacks in the wrong places. I would think it�s clean with no dents or fluid leaks which will be easy to see and a problem on a low mileage engine and transmission seals/gaskets.

The only other issue other than the normal old vette issue such as dried out rubber parts, weather stripping and the A/C conversion is the lack of parts for that wonderful engine. I wish GM built more than 6,000.

Quote

Re: 1990 ZR-1 (5/9)
6/18/15 4:09pm

crossfire1984
Standard Member
Send Private Message

Vette(s):
1984 - light bronze 1987 - black coupe - std. shift

Joined: 2/9/2010
Posts: 6

thanks for the feedback. checking for a misplaced jack is a valuable tip.

Thanks,

Quote

Re: 1990 ZR-1 (6/9)
7/1/15 4:29pm

GSJoe
Former Member
Send Private Message

Charlotte, NC - USA

Vette(s):
1995 ZR-1

Joined: 7/15/2014
Posts: 8

In my opinion you're considering one of the most spectacular sports cars ever made. The LT-5 Corvette is nothing short of amazing. I've owned at least six C4 Corvettes and three of them have been ZR-1's. The first was a 1990 that I bought new. Although in it's first year of production, the car was spectacular in every respect. I traded my 1988 Porsche 911 Targa to buy it. My second ZR-1 was also a 1990 model that I just happened to stumble across which had 50K miles on the clock. I found it late in 2011 and decided it was a bargain that I just couldn't pass up. It too was a fantastic automobile, and to this day my godson owns and drives that car with great pride and enjoyment. There were no major issues with either of my '90 cars. Currently I own a 1995 ZR-1 which I bought about a year ago. When I found it it had just emerged from a collection and had only 1850 miles on its clock. It has more miles on it now and shares the garage with my 1992 911 Porsche. I drive both cars on a regular basis and love them both. The Corvette, however, is still amazing to me. I must tell you that if you opt for the 1990, you will have to change the injectors--all sixteen of them. Corvettes of those years had injectors that were not alcohol resistant, and our current ethanol infused gasoline does them in. It's not a bad job--I did it on the car I bought in 2011--and parts are not expensive, either. All in all I cannot tell you how much you'll like the ZR-1 if you buy it. Like me, I'm sure you'll find it simply amazing.

Quote

Re: 1990 ZR-1 (7/9)
7/15/15 8:07am

Cvette98Pacecar
Standard Member
Send Private Message

Frankenmuth, MI - USA

Vette(s):
1991 Steel Blue ZR-1 1991 Callaway Aerobody ZR-1 1993 Callaway 40th Anniv ZR-1 1998 Pacecar 2003 50th Anniversary Pacecar

Joined: 1/6/2013
Posts: 14

I can tell you the comments are 99.9% false. There are two items that are hard to get for the ZR-1, The Thermostat housing and an original windshield. Oh, wait I have one of each as spare parts. Joe when you need a windshield for your 95 I do have an original late model windshield.

Here is what you want to look at, appearance, Damage if it was corrected in a professional manner, Paint quality, Interior what shape is the car in.

If you are going to drive this car plan on replacing the fuel injectors, fuel pumps, fuel filter, spark plugs, spark plug wires, coil packs and the charcoal canister. if you can do this work yourself the parts are going to cost you around $1200.00 If you need new rubber 600.00 for Nitto 555. Don't cheap out and use 25 years old rubber. This car will jump up and slap you in the face really fast.

When you get her lets see some photos.

BTW, I have 4 and am looking to get two more specific cars.

______________

Robert J. DeMarco

1998 Pacecar Original Owner Stock

1993 Callaway Ruby Red ZR-1 #219

1991 Callaway Aerobody ZR-1 #1026 Purple Pearl Mist

1991 Shinoda Aerobody ZR-1 #1696 (Under Construction)

2003 50th Anniversary Roadster Pacecar

1990 LPE ZR-1

ZR-1 Registry Member #1393

NCM Lifetime Member #2551

Pacecar Registry Member
Grand Sport Registry Lifetime Member

Quote

Re: 1990 ZR-1 (8/9)
12/1/22 8:51pm

Broke Ol Biker
Standard Member
Send Private Message

Joined: 10/5/2022
Posts: 8

Bought a 1990 ZR1 with 81,000 on it about a year ago. HVAC needs 134A, a couple of switches and the door locks dont work. Make sure the fluid levels, what they look like. I of course checked the fluids on mine and they read correct. I was on here last week because I discovered the oil dipstick was not the factory original. I changed the oil and got about 6 quarts out. Thats when I started looking for the answer of 'What the Hell?', and found the dipstick was out of something, I dont know what. The car had had the oil changed at a 'quicklube',as the oil drain bolt and filter were torqued to about 5682 ft lbs. and they of course put the required 5 + quarts you get with a regular oil change. Getting the dash redone(my tachometer didnt work) will take months, be warned. I am replacing the Bose as it does not work. My stuff is normal stuff that fails on a 30 year old car that the previous owner didnt know or care what he had. I knew most of this stuff when I bought it. It was at a specialty dealer who was going to repair all these things and sold to me kind of cheap "as is". As far as mechanical, it had a small vacuum leak found at my local 'vette performance shop. In short, some things may not work, but the LT5 is a great motor on a lot of respects. Run good, fluids good, put it on a rack and look for damage, no rattles, you probably have a great car which will be a lot of fun to drive. I have had a couple of the mechanics that test drove it at the shop tell me it doesnt drive like most any other Corvette. I also have an 85 Corvette. The C4 ZR1 is kind of a car unto itself.

Quote

Re: 1990 ZR-1 (9/9)
12/14/22 7:41am

freiii
Standard Member
Send Private Message

Reeds Spring, MO - USA

Vette(s):
1990 Bright Red ZR1 2015 Torch Red Z51 Coupe

Joined: 10/4/2011
Posts: 13

As a fellow 1990 ZR-1 owner (#254) this is where you want to go for great information:

ZR-1 Specialist (zr1specialist.com)

For ZR-1 specific engine parts here is the best place:

Jerrys Gaskets

Here is where you want to go to join the Registry:

ZR-1 NET Registry Home (zr1netregistry.com)

Thanks for helping keep the Legend alive!!

______________

Quote

Our Sponsors help support C4VR