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.

[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