Just thought I'd inflame the discussion and post the fact that the engine of the ZR-1 Corvette is made by Lotus...

So at least at that time Chevrolet decided that someone else was better off making them a good engine..

 

Carlos,

The 35,000 to 40,000 was a an accepted range for the longevity of a very high horsepower iron bore small block Chevy with 500+ horsepower. Believe me, the thrill of all that power made me check all over the Country and I talked to many engine builders across the US and they all mirrored the same opinion on the lifespan of an iron block 500+ hp Chevy 350 motor. Could that motor last longer? Sure. However, the motor would start to drastically lose power as time went by according to all the engine builders I consulted. Even if the motor lasted 100,000 miles it would be less than 1/4 the mileage a 928 motor will last.

I was seriously looking in to doing the conversion on my car but the expense was too great for the returns. Any engine worth a damn is going to be very expensive due to the costs of the internals. I was not looking forward to rebuilding my motor every other year. I dynoed my 4.5L 928 motor after 200,000 plus miles and 20 years and it put out more power than was rated by the factory when it was new. I have proof of this engines longevity. Not to mention, for two weeks before I took it to the dyno I litteraly tried to destroy the motor and I couldn't do it short of dropping the motor into first at 100 mph.

"Second, what makes you think that our motors will go go hundreds of thousands of miles at that output level without freshening up? The uninformed will tout this kind of stuff but I havent seen it. Look on the 911 boards, these high hp motors dont last very long. And thats with a motor that has countless hours and dollars of development, unlike ours."

If you didn't know, our 928 motors are much different than a 911 motor. The 928 motor is watercooled and all but the most recent 911 engines are aircooled. Watercooled engines will last longer than aircooled engines in a passenger vehicle due to the dissapation of heat and reduced temperature cycling. Our 928 motors have an Alusil, 911 engines do not share this technology, bore which makes the bore as hard as a diamond and very resistant to wear. The silica content of the aluminum bore is brought to the surface of the cylinder wall on the honing process. The silica impregnation makes these engines last forever and a day if properly maintained. Iron bores wear very quickly in relation to the Alusuil bore.

I hope this helps.

 

[quote] Well now is a good time as any to break the latest update on the swamp monster. I pulled the engine out tuesday to put a 3.6 turbo motor back in. <hr></blockquote>

LOL..that one caught me off guard..then alas more power is being added! <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

 

Chevrolet tried to duplicate the process Porsche and Mercedes used with the aluminum engine blocks with the Vega. It was a failure. I don't know if GM uses this process today, but I think the Northstar is all aluminum and a very nice engine indeed.

I was sold on German longevity after I owned a 1979 VW Scirocco which I really drove very hard through high school. The little 1.6 just ran and ran. While others were replacing parts in their cars, I was enjoying my car. Not perfect, but a good little engine.

I have not seen any other manufacturer's engines last like a Porsche, Audi, Mercedes, Bimmer or VW engine. I worked as a mechanic for two years...just the metals used in the fasteners alone far surpasses what GM, Ford and Chrysler was using during the same periods. Just put a GM product up on a rack and take a good hard look underneath. Trust me, when you are used to working on MBs, Bimmers and Porsche cars, a GM car looks primative by comparison. More castings and precision parts on the kraut stuff.....more steel stampings and lack of aesthetics on the US stuff. Yea, it all works, but doesn't last nearly as long.

I do think the big three have come a long way with their designs and longevity, and in fact I think the German quality has come down in recent years. The could not afford to keep building them the way they used to (case and point...928 is a perfect example) There is still a pretty big gap, but it is nowhere near what it was 10 to 15 years ago.

 

Anders, I might be mistaken but I believe the engine for the ZR-1 was made by Mercury Marine who I believe uses/used the same process to mfg. some of their engines as the 928.
Correct me if I'm wrong guys?

 

Very interesting (entertaining) thread. While I wouldn't touch this one with a ten foot pole, I do have two questions:
Could you agree on the best beer?
Does a mosquito really have a dick?

Anthony Tate
79/928 Silver Metallic <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

 

I believe you are right Jim. John, you make me laugh. What German parts do you think lingenfelter is using? Some of those great studs that the 911 guys are always breaking? Oh yeah, you missed those Lingenfelter vette top speeds by about 50 mph. He's been over 200 for years. As for you car's longevity, George bought an Escalade to travel to races. It has a small block with similar power to the bastard, 345 hp and It's good for 200k easy. Turn the boost up to about 17 lbs. That should get you over 500 hp and then tell me how long it lasts. As for that crap about the white car, 200 mph is totally & completely useless on the street, acceleration is not. When all this began over a year ago, George offered to race any Porsche and after hundreds of posts only one guy spoke up, PorschePHD and he wanted escrow agreements with his lawyers and his banker, a new one on me. Bottom line, foriegn cars can produce large amounts of usable hp and if you're a Saudi oil shiek, you can afford one. Otherwise amrican v8's rule.

 

Sorry, I was referring to CALLAWAY's Sledgehammer Corvette, which was well over 200 MPH, that car was a myriad of parts from all parts of the world. I believe the pistons and rods were European and the engine was basically a fully custom unit, much like the Swamp Monster. It was streetable, as Reeves drove it home from the high speed test here in Ohio.

The Callaway C12, which is based on the C5 Vette is made ofer in Germany. Quite a car, but a lot of cash for one. The body is constructed over there.

 

Here is a link to the Callaway SledgeHammer Vette...His work is as impressive as anything Lingenfelter has built. I stand corrected, this car did over 250 MPH and was driven home after the event.

He only made 4 Bastards like mine...two were destroyed and two remain. Rumor has it there is a 5th entire kit for a 928 sitting around in the other owners garage...

<a href="http://www.callawaycars.com/Corvette/Sledgehammer/sledgehammer_article.htm" target="_blank">http://www.callawaycars.com/Corvette/Sledgehammer/sledgehammer_article.htm</a>

 

[quote]Originally posted by Jim V:
<strong>Anders, I might be mistaken but I believe the engine for the ZR-1 was made by Mercury Marine who I believe uses/used the same process to mfg. some of their engines as the 928.
Correct me if I'm wrong guys?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I'm right on this one:

"ZR-1 roared to life in 1990 with an all-new 375 horsepower LT5 engine under its hood. Designed in a cooperative effort between General Motors and Lotus, the LT5's dual overhead cam, 32-valve design made Corvette the talk of the automotive world. "

Cut 'n paste from this page:

<a href="http://www.uib.no/people/mpkso/vetthist.htm" target="_blank">Corvette history</a>

Just do a search on the keywords ZR, Corvette and Lotus and you'll find hundreds of pages that has the same info. After all Lotus is a part of General Motors...

EDIT: Also found this info: "The LT5 engine was designed in England by Lotus Engineering and assembled by Mercury Marine engines out of Stillwater, Oklahoma. The LT5 engine is capable of pushing the ZR-1 Corvette to speeds well over 180+ mph"

<a href="http://corvetteforum.cardomain.com/id/speedemon" target="_blank">On this page!</a>

 

George, I haven't run any of the clashes, just got the car back together the end of this year. Ran a few king of the hill races. may hit a clash or 2 next year

 

Hey guys. Just wanted to put in my two cents worth. I personally think a SB chevy swap is a good route to go if you don't have the deep pockets that some of the users here seem to have. I have checked with Renegade hybrids on a conversion for my 928 if I ever destroy the engine and found their kit to be very reasonable for me. $1300.00. I know you could build a 500 hp chevy with fuel injection for a reasonable cost. I have to disagree with some of the inflated dollar amounts that are being thrown around on this topic. Any way that is my input on this topic. Good luck <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

 

Jim,
As far as renegades prices go dont forget the other costs(all can be done cheaper than what renegade quotes, but it takes some legwork)
1300-kit
1500-LT1
250-custom bellhousing
750-renegade radiator
800-renegade long tube headers
~700-renegade wiring harness/computer repro
~250-custom exhaust work
~250-renegade TQ
~100-assorted cables(throttle, kick down)
etc, etc, etc.
This would get you a little over 300hp and 360 ftlbs tq(at the crank) for around 6k. You could add heads, cam, and roller rockers and get around 400rwhp for another $2500 and have a powerful, fairly relaxed streetable car. Some of this can be done waaaay cheaper than renegade prices, but then you could also fabricate an entire kit. The project is definately doable, but what they sell as the base kit is not all you need to finish the job.

Also:
On some of the boards out there ive heard mixed reviews of the in shop work done by renegade, so buyer beware.

Just a little clarification of the real costs of doing the project yourself

Thanks,
JoshM