ask me anything about the ZR1

just got back from a dealership sponsored week long training on aluminum spaceframe and carbon fiber body repair. spent most of the week cutting off and replacing frame rails and welding in new ones. now I have to fix all the wrecked vettes in nevada since no one else is certified

appleton wisconsin is cold


cutaway zo6 (similar body/same frame)


the frame we hacked up and welded back together


they had a total of four bare frames on various frame racks/measuring systems

 

cool

if i were you i'd pick up a totaled ZR1/Z06 and rebuild it at home

 

some of the unusual shit:
wheels must be removed from the car to clean since the carbon ceramic rotors will absorb anything. that means no tire shine, brake cleaner, nothing.

the cooler for the charger has its own coolant resevoir and heat exchanger

dont scratch the roof, the UV clearcoat is a $6000 repaint

you have to buy special ramps to put it on any lift, since there is no ground clearance at all

ZR1 weighs 220lbs more than the z06, even with twice as much carbon fiber

 

very hard car to total since they cost a lot, and there is almost no damage that isn't repairable.

 

Looks fun.

 

GM does not allow a dealership to sell the ZR1 until they've sent someone to this school

 

sold for a pickup

 

Cool pics, thanks for the insight. Future pics of repairs?

 

More details on its suspension vs Z06

 

this

 

I heard (I think it was on Top Gear or another show) that these were a BIG $$$ upgrade over the Z06. I can't remember the exact price, I think it was $10K.

 

i think i heard 1 rotor alone is like 1800

 

engine cradle is magnesium instead of aluminum, and i think different springs and different electromagnetic ride control settings

 

Isn't the suspension or some of it from Ferrari? The electromagnetic shocks I think.

 

Was there any fearful talk of the SRT DIVISION FROM DODGE OR THE GT500 WHILE YOU WERE THERE?

 

I think it was Ferrari that got the electromagnetic suspension from the 'Vette, but I could be wrong. I heard that the ZR1 uses braking components found on the Enzo/FXX though.

 

no ferrari got it from gm

 

you're correct, the system was developed by Delphi for GM, and Ferrari used a version of it after Delphi developed it. They couldn't get it to hold up to teh beating it would take in the Z06 so the Z06 got a traditional strut/shock setup. Apparently Delphi found out how to strengthen the MR system though.