1991 ZR1 Black Motor

[Keith Tedford]

What is special about a 1991 ZR1 "black" engine? It's a new one on me. 1991 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe - City of Toronto Cars For Sale - Kijiji City of Toronto Canada.

 

[CCO]

Looks like it's just the engine colour.
C.

 

[buckhorn76]

maybe a gm crate motor, i think they are all painted black ?

 

[Case75]

From a Google search:

the be-all end-all of C4 ZR1's! Originally developed to be the successor to the LT5, the "Black Engine", as it came to be known, was produced by Mercruiser, and then sent to Doug Rippie Motorsports (DRM) for reassembly and tuning. The Black Engine included reworked camshafts, cylinder heads, intake, and throttle body for a hefty 70hp gain over even the higher-powered 1993-95 ZR1's. DRM topped off this package with the newly developed Borla catback exhaust system, high-performance clutch, coil-over shocks, and other minor suspension modifications. The engines and intake manifolds were then refinished in a black crinkle finish, hence the name Black Engine. Unfortunately, lagging sales spelled out the end of the C4 ZR1, and just 8 ZR1s (all of which already had owners) were fitted with these modifications.

Engine made 475HP. Never heard of it before.

 

[Riley P]

One of 141 in Canada? I read the same stuff as above and that only 8 were made....

 

[Keith Tedford]

http://dougrippie.com/ http://dougrippie.com/products/drm-zr1-lt5-engine-building/ So, this engine would be in the 475 hp range? Pretty impressive for 1991. Still Pretty impressive in 2005.

 

[buckhorn76]

so this car would be the same general idea as the roush mustang or yenko chevy or mr. norm's mopar ? i assume it's called the black engine because of the mercury marine connection ?

 

[Keith Tedford]

I've read a couple of stories about needing specific parts for these engines and the parts can be hard to come by and expensive. This could be what keeps the ZR1 prices down. $22K for one of eight. Then again, I remember a friend selling his COPO Chevelle for about $2K back in the day.

 

[Case75]

It may not be a "one of eight" car. DRM is still modifying these cars if you have the money.

 

[88blackz51]

No it is not a Doug Rippie Motorsports motor, but rather a duplicate motor done in the U.S. (Georgia) by Morrison Motorsports.