4-30-20 day for the 430 CanAm aluminum big block Chevy

[William]

I doubt any production ZL1 engine got near 575 hp. We worked with Bill Porterfield back in the '90s on a ZL1 dyno comparison. With a good tune up, open headers, no AIR pump, air cleaner or alternator it did 523 hp.

http://www.camaros.org/copo.shtml

Camaro High Performance has rebuilt several. With racing oil and modern rings, they see 550+hp.

[Flying Undertaker]

Originally Posted by William

I doubt any production ZL1 engine got near 575 hp. We worked with Bill Porterfield back in the '90s on a ZL1 dyno comparison. With a good tune up, open headers, no AIR pump, air cleaner or alternator it did 523 hp.

http://www.camaros.org/copo.shtml

Camaro High Performance has rebuilt several. With racing oil and modern rings, they see 550+hp.

I just had my '69 ZL-1 engine built by Brian Tilburg at Tilburg Racing in Trout Run, PA. All original 052 engine block that was bored .030 by previous owner. All NOS GM internals used, even .030 over GM pistons. Dynoed in Apr. 2019 (2nd pull) at 601 hp @ 6700 rpm limit that I had specified because of the age and rarity of the block. Brian said that the camshaft was still pulling hard, and had not reached its peak on the curve. He said it would have maybe 15-20hp more by 7300, as he had done several ZL-1's for NHRA Stock Eliminator AA/SA cars before. Race break-in oil and modern rings used. I have both dyno sheets. Same conditions as one stated above; good tune up, open headers, no air pump, no air cleaner or alternator!

[EZ Nova]

Originally Posted by Flying Undertaker

I just had my '69 ZL-1 engine built by Brian Tilburg at Tilburg Racing in Trout Run, PA. All original 052 engine block that was bored .030 by previous owner. All NOS GM internals used, even .030 over GM pistons. Dynoed in Apr. 2019 (2nd pull) at 601 hp @ 6700 rpm limit that I had specified because of the age and rarity of the block. Brian said that the camshaft was still pulling hard, and had not reached its peak on the curve. He said it would have maybe 15-20hp more by 7300, as he had done several ZL-1's for NHRA Stock Eliminator AA/SA cars before. Race break-in oil and modern rings used. I have both dyno sheets. Same conditions as one stated above; good tune up, open headers, no air pump, no air cleaner or alternator!

Ya you would have probably made more power 5-700RPM more. Those cam were rumored to pull well into the 7500/7800 RPM range, just not sure they were making more power or just hanging on better without the drop?

I looked at my ZL1 dyno sheet, @ 6700 I was at 785.1 Hp but it should have been higher. And you "probably" left 50 or so Hp on the table with you deal using the GM piston design and not pulling to 73/7500 range. Modern piston with 1/16 rings or better rings and not the 5/16 would have picked it up nicely too.

THEN one can look at the heads/valves and see what "could" be found there? I don't know what you did with your stuff, like better modern valve, back cut and valve job, but there is POWER there too.

[Flying Undertaker]

Originally Posted by EZ Nova

Ya you would have probably made more power 5-700RPM more. Those cam were rumored to pull well into the 7500/7800 RPM range, just not sure they were making more power or just hanging on better without the drop?

I looked at my ZL1 dyno sheet, @ 6700 I was at 785.1 Hp but it should have been higher. And you "probably" left 50 or so Hp on the table with you deal using the GM piston design and not pulling to 73/7500 range. Modern piston with 1/16 rings or better rings and not the 5/16 would have picked it up nicely too.

THEN one can look at the heads/valves and see what "could" be found there? I don't know what you did with your stuff, like better modern valve, back cut and valve job, but there is POWER there too.

EZ Nova: That's some nice power for the ZL-1 Combo. Mine was totally stock, no headwork, ALL NOS GM factory stock internals with stock stroke and a .030 overbore. I was very happy with the results as it will be a trailer queen. If I were building one for power, I'd use a new ZL-1 block with some aftermarket heads with
headwork, pocket porting, etc., a bigger cam and a holley dominator! Don.

[RALLY]

Originally Posted by JoeC

4-30-20 day 430 CanAm aluminum big block Chevy

Even to this day, the 430 BB Chevy is not very well known. I see different info on these engines but from what I can tell, Chevy made the CanAm 430 from about 1968 to 1972.

The aluminum CanAm cast iron sleeve block used a large 4.440 in. bore siamese cyls design.
In 1968 it used a short stroke 3.47 in. crank to get 430 cu. in. and about 700hp on gas.

There was some info printed that the 430 Chevy was considered as a production engine for 1970 but was cancelled along with other 1970 engine options.

In 1969, it was available as a 430 cu in and also with 427 or 454 cranks to get a 465 or 495 cu in and over 750hp.

Chevy also built a Can Am block without the cast iron sleeves and they can go over 500 cu in.

Chevy engineering used the Can Am engine for research using the same siamese cyls design on the 400 cu in small block production engine.

The Alu engine block with no cast iron sleeves design was used in the Vega engine. They used a special cast iron coated piston to control wear.

The CanAm BB Chevy engine dominated CamAm racing late 60's to early 70's beating Ferrari, Porsche, and Ford, all who had more expensive exotic engines.

The 430 CamAm engine would rev like a 302 and was about the same weight installed.

Bill Grumpy Jenkins ran a CamAm engine in his 68 Camaro match racer and used that same 68 Camaro CanAm set-up to win the first ever Pro Stock race in 1970. Bill also ran the 430 in his 69 and 70 Camaro along with other engines.

A few other drag racers used the 430 Chevy.

here is a picture of Joe Frankel who ran one in a 69 Camaro back in the day and had "430 CanAm" painted on the door

I remember Bill Jenkins saying he switched to the CanAm Block because it was better than the ZL-1 Block. ZL-1 had bad core shift and blowby ring seal was bad. Jenkins just didnt like that Block period.

[dykstra]

Very cool!!

[Carleen]

430

[Carleen]

Farmer

[Carleen]

1968 EXP 0-326711 430 Can Am

[bugsy]

Anyone remember the 69 nova with the can-am engine in it at mecum harrisburg a few years ago. Supposedly had yenko documentation or connection with yenko.