well my ZL-1 engine finally showed up...

[black69]

The engine I purchased sight unseen/rolled the dice, finally got here. It definitely was never fired from its rebuild 15-20 yrs ago by verle stevens racing engines (I just found out he built the engine for the champion 2010 lucas stock drag racing car). It was set up for 10.5-11:1 to run on alchohol, like someone guessed already on this board.

Although its a 052 block (with the small 2), I think its a yenko early ZL-1 block considering it has no numbers on it or winters logo on the front, and has press in freeze plugs. I read previous postings by ed cunneen on this site that yenko did some blocks (under license from GM using their molds) before he went to the yenko crest. Once I pop the front timing cover off (it is currently set up for a blower that never fired), I would not be suprized to find a yenko stamped number, according to what Ed posted.

It does have some some cast in numbers on the back side of the block, mirroring the casting 052 number location. It reads HRT CST. (probably foundry other than winters?).

After getting this thing, it is amasing how light it is, and would be great to put in my 61 vette.

[David C.]

What, no pictures!

[black69]

trying to get over to the corvette show in town.
here is a picture or 2.
http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo29/xxxblack69/DSC_0236.jpg
http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo29/xxxblack69/DSC_0242.jpg
http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo29/xxxblack69/DSC_0241.jpg
http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo29/xxxblack69/DSC_0238.jpg
http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo29/xxxblack69/DSC_0243.jpg

[EZ Nova]

I find it strange that this motor of yours uses that block?? People are telling me that my 052 block 480 incher will probably hurt the block with 800 Hp N/A? And your has Dart head and blower??? Just curious. Hope it works for you.

[black69]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: EZ Nova</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I find it strange that this motor of yours uses that block?? People are telling me that my 052 block 480 incher will probably hurt the block with 800 Hp N/A? And your has Dart head and blower??? Just curious. Hope it works for you. </div></div>

EZ Nova, I talked to Verle stevens racing tracking some aspects of this thing being built that long ago. I think the main thing was to have the long head bolt added to handle the horsepower, I guess they stretch (especially an alcohol engine). I know that was something the original block did not support (but was a costly modification to this one). One of my car buddies holds the patent on the girdle for any engine application, I think it is wise for me to see if I can get one from him to add to the bottom of this engine (my personal preference). I am still waiting for the 1987 paperwork to get here, maybe this engine is not ~500 cu in. Verle did say he thought it is a 454 hank the crank (thus is stroked). Maybe that is how it is getting to the displacement.

[black69]

So there are stamps inside the timing cover area (like what Ed Cunneen alluded to in an older yenko.net post about some ZL1 blocks cast by don yenko with the 052 number before the crested blocks came to be).

they read S Y E D on one side and S E on the other side.

what does this potentially mean? Could this be one of those blocks or not? I think it would be cool if it was a yenko early ZL-1 block.

bob

[black69]

Well, got some cool good news I was hoping for today. It is one of the first blocks don yenko made using the original castings provided by GM. It was cast at the laporte foundry. So I have my first yenko! I guess there are records on these blocks too.

[69 Post Sedan]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: black69</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, got some cool good news I was hoping for today. It is one of the first blocks don yenko made using the original castings provided by GM. It was cast at the laporte foundry. So I have my first yenko! I guess there are records on these blocks too.</div></div>

That's great news Bob.....Congratulations!!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif

Kurt

[black69]

anyone ever see this on a motor before? all the oil drain openings have been welded closed. I know I have to change out the blower cam, but does this have to be removed too?

some folks are helping me try to identify what, who, and why, thought I would share. From the guy I bought it from, he said this was all done before he got it long ago.

All I know is it is a yenko serial numbered 052 block so far, and its reinforced in weak areas of the original 052 design.

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo29/xxxblack69/DSC_0859.jpg

[black69]

another shot (with some old hand written numbers)
http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo29/xxxblack69/DSC_0871.jpg

[John Brown]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: black69</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.....I know I have to change out the blower cam.....</div></div>

Generally blower cams are quite mild. You could have it run on a cam profile machine to see if it is suitable for what you plan on doing with the engine.

[black69]

well, before anyone puts too much effort into what this is, here is the scoop I just learned.

By preventing oil from dripping on the cam, and thus down to the crankshaft, you save power and you preserve what the windage tray in the pan is supposed to achieve. You do not want the crank coated with oil.

I was told to leave this in the engine, and there is no need to remove it. I hope those that have never seen this before enjoyed it.

Engine is a ~468 (learned that today).

bob

[iluv69s]

Bob....just read your post..I had a similar block that I sold a few years ago..I think it ended up in Canada..it has the same cast numbers, cast snowflake, stamped numbers, etc.etc...it was an early Yenko block..it also was a tall deck block..I am not sure if they all were tall decks or not..but You could probably check yours...I will try and dig up some old pics I have...

as far as max HP for a ZL-1 block, Ive had 2 complete ZL-1 motors with over 750 HP....They were and stilla re the most radical-racing oriented option ever put in a Chevy..imo..

Good Luck with it!!!

[black69]

post some pictures if you can find them. its good to hear others have run across these, to compare stampings, info. I don't know how to tell its a tall deck block, but it does look like there is NO more deck room left near the water pump housing to me (thus normal deck?).

I would imagine most of these would have been run to death and then discarded for scrap. When I asked Verl Stevens on a guesstimate of the power it could run (thinking concervative 600 HP), he chuckled (and then I felt like an idiot). I probably should have started my first guess at 700HP.

[black69]

My engine was supposidly in a dragster, and now I have it based on research, it was in a rail. Still trying to run down who did the first build that tried to squeak every once out of it as far as horsepower potential, and thus find its true home.

I thought some would enjoy speculation, i.e. the chevy ZL-1s making the numbers in 71-74 were actually yenko zl-1s. One of the top guys was a little too close to don yenko's location to not wonder <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif He was a little over 2 hrs away from cannonsburg.

check out the list of record holders. there are 2 pages.

http://www.draglist.com/draglist/category.php?SORTBY=ENG&amp;ASCDESC=ASC&amp;CATEGORY%5B0%5 D=TOPFUEL&amp;x=dragsters&amp;page=24&amp;VIEW=Extended#53613

[JoeC]

Yenko was given permission by Chevy on Aug 1, 1974, to purchase ZL1 blocks from Winters Foundry.

Before that, they were bought through Chevy

[black69]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JoeC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yenko was given permission by Chevy on Aug 1, 1974, to purchase ZL1 blocks from Winters Foundry.

Before that, they were bought through Chevy </div></div>

My block is obviously before this 1974 arrangement, and is from the laporte foundry. To me it is possible, those drag cars making the times before 1974, were reinforced 052 blocks made by yenko (like the one I have). Thats my thought for the day.
Why the yenko stamping are hidden behind the timing cover is interesting also. Why did he do that....
From the outside it looks for the most part as a 052 standard block.