Odd Yenko ZL-1 block question?
 

Saw this on FB.. First I’ve seen this ..
says it is cast this way.

Anyone know why?

Pic

Looks to be a real 'low block'.

It has bearing spacers in it. Makes me wonder what they were doing with it. It would just about have to be run dry. I don't see a way to put a water pump on it.

A 348 or 409 crank can be fitted to a big block for a shorter stroke. There was a big block 68-70 Nova running in D/gas at the National Trail Raceway in Columbus Ohio spring NHRA points meet in 1972.

Yenko Performance and Marine was selling aluminum blocks in the 1970s and 1980s. There was a few different blocks sold in different configurations. Some were "dry" blocks and some had water jackets like the iron blocks.

The Yenko blocks were used in drag cars, road racing, boats, Sprint Cars and others.

I'm not sure what that block was used in but maybe was something that ran alcohol fuel injection as I have seen some of them running "dry" blocks or a boat application that ran an external heat exchange cooling system

Thanks for posting the block. I know my pop was looking for a 409 crank to put in it. I was hoping that some short deck engine guys could shed some light on use of this motor.

Anyone building an engine with a shorter than stock block like this one will need to get creative when it comes to an intake manifold. Something like a fuel injection intake manifold that has been sectioned for width would likely be the easiest way to go.