PCMforless Dyno Tuning on Location - ZR1

In mid-September as the first ZR1 Corvettes were hitting the ground, Alvin of PCMforless was commissioned by a local race team to handle the dyno tuning of their personal cars. From Bowling Green, the shop picked up four gorgeous ZR1's, all in black or cyber gray, loaded with options. The ZR1's are destined to be gifts for the drivers their NASCAR team.

As GM enthusiasts, seeing the ZR1s in person for the first time was breathtaking. Even as we pulled up the driveway it was obvious this was not just another fancy C6. GM took it up another notch with tasteful carbon fiber splitters, roof, and other accents. The 19" and 20" chrome wheels (an option) force your eyes to the wheel well, enclosing a rather impressive set of carbon ceramic rotors that barely appear to fit inside the wheel. The ZR1 also had subtle blue accents, on the calipers, badges, and engine cover trim.

Under the hood, the ZR1 boasts an impressive supercharged LS9. What looks like part of the engine cover is actually an intercooler, surrounded by a plastic shroud. The 11 rib supercharger belt reminds you that it's no joke. Another interesting bit - the plastic air intake bears the Jake skull. With the hood closed, the small clear window leaves nothing to the imagination as to what lies beneath.

Enough talk - let's get to the results. One black and one gray ZR1 were the first to hit the dyno on location at the race shop. While their stock pulls were impressive; the gray car yielding 530 hp and 508 ft/lbs torque SAE (542/519 STD), the black car yielding 535 hp and 520 ft/lbs tq SAE (547/532 STD). With really rich air fuel ratio readings from the factory, we knew the stock tune could be improved upon. Using HPtuners software, Alvin set to work on the program. In the end the gray ZR1 put out 567 hp and 532 ft/lbs torque SAE (580/544 STD), and the black ZR1 put out 555 hp & 523 ft/lbs torque SAE (558/535 STD).

Click on each graph to enlarge it

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