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

[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!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

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.

[black69]

another shot (with some old hand written numbers)

[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 [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img] 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/cat...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.

[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!!!