I was arguing with friend last night about the ZL1 engines. He said that they have ALUMINUM blocks?!!? I was like, "You're an Idiot." I thought that until he told me that they had like "super strong metal inserts" that go in the bores and all that where moving stuff touches the block. I don't believe this. If this isn't true, wouldn't that be great though if someone made that? Is it true?


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1984 Firebird SE
1985 Camaro z28 305 engine T-5 Five Speed Tranny, 92 Camaro Leather Seats Console, carpet everything. Soon to put in 700R4 and 427CI. (Hopefully.
To view my car go to:

http://geocities.com/jmboriss/bluecar.html

 

uhhhh they do have aluminum blocks

 

The usual 10 second quarter mile times can be credited to the following:

CONFIGURATION
Front-engine/rear-wheel drive
101.1 in wheelbase
Track: 62.3 front/ 63 rear
Weight: 3390 lbs. (dry): 1865 lbs. front (55%) 1525 lbs. rear (45%)

DRIVETRAIN


Aluminum V8 pushrod engine
Three-disc hydraulic clutch
5-speed manual transmission
Solid rear axle
1-piece Prop Shaft


CHASSIS

Front suspension: independent coil-over-shock SLA
Rear suspension: three-link coil spring with torque arm
4-wheel disc brakes


ENGINE SUMMARY


DISPLACEMENT:

572 cu.in. (8.4L)
BORE: 4.5 in. (114.3 mm)
STROKE: 4.5 in. (114.3 mm)
COMPRESSION RATIO: 13.8:1
PEAK TORQUE: 683 @ 5200
PEAK POWER: 770 @ 6900 (through complete exhaust system)


ENGINE SHORT BLOCK
DONOVAN aluminum cylinder block (#500), with milled head surfaces
CROWER forged steel crankshaft, 4.5in stroke, internally balanced, (#S-95137)
VIBRATECH 61/4" Torsional damper, neutral balanced (#713282-000)
CROWER forged steel connecting rods, 6.535in C-C, (#F91092-B)
FEDERAL MOGUL main bearings, chamfered for crank fillet, (#8-7200 CH-STD)
FEL PRO rear main oil seal
JE forged, domed pistons, (#111595)
JE piston pins, .990 x 2.930 double spirolocks
SPEED PRO 1 1/16" moly top, 1/16" cast 2nd, 3/16" chrome faced oil ring set, (#R-10317+035)
CLOYES roller timing chain/sprocket set, (#9-3100)
FEL PRO front cover gasket
TITAN oil pump & pickup
Balanced & fitted assembly
Fabricated aluminum 8 qt. oil pan with baffling and trap doors

 

Yes, the ZL1 engines were aluminum block. Chevy made something like 69 1969 ZL1 camaros and Im not sure how many vettes. The ZL1 was based on a 427 style motor. The horsepower ratings from the factory were super conservative at 425. You do realize the LS1 is all aluminum as well right? The way the ZL1 stayed together was sleeves. I believe Iron. The LS1 is new technology to me, Im still reading up on it myself. Companies like merlin make aluminum blocks for drag cars, not so sure they would stand the test of stop and go driving though. Mike

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I would love to be there when those Muslim Bastards hit the Pearly Gates and realize they were wrong...

 

there were two ZL1 corvettes. ones white the other is yellow.and ther was only 69 ZL1 camaros

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when the green flag drops the bull$hit stops

Gold 85 Camaro with no motor, pulled the 2.8 to make way for a 350 wich was pulled this summer because a 406 will replace it. The 406 sports a stock bottom end with ARP bolt holding it togeter, flat top hyper pistons. Comp 282 solid cam(.528 lift with 1.6 rockers) Savin up for my Sportsmen 2 heads right now. still Have the perf RPM and 650 DP i used on the 350. Headers and 3inch exhust. Shooten for mid to low 12s next summer

 

I believe Chevy also made alumninum bowtie blocks. Saw one in a 92 RS camaro. Basically a ZZ3 pkg with the aluminum block. 4" dual exhaust. The guy cut is trunk well and stacked two flowmasters on top of each other in the space for a unique "two on da left" approach.

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Rob P
89RSconvtZZ4TPI Edelbrock Intake
SLP Dual Cold Air Intake 1 5/8" Headers Semi-Siamesed Runners, IROC
suspension, alum shaft. Numerous mods.
92Z28convt5spd (stock)
71Impala convt 402BB
BETTER DRIVING THRU SUPERIOR HORSEPOWER!

 

i saw a red zl1 vette....????


i think in a camaro edition hotrod **** harell had a zl1 camaro running low 11s with a few tuning things and headers....nice!

 

the ZL1 vette's released to the public were only yellow and white. 69 camaro's to the public is the correct number. aluminum block and head 427. low 13 second car stock. with headers, slicks, timing advance, and carb rejet they had no problem hitting 10's. the later version john moss built was just a show model with the ZL1 name. it is listed at 572, but according to moss it's more than that. aroun 580. the car is currently in the low 10's to high 9's as it has been improved since the last mustang verses camaro article.

 

gm has rereleased the zl1. its vailble, at a price of about 5k for a bare block and crank i think, 427cid setup for a solid lifter. the 425 estimates were sooooo off for the 69's,i remember a dyno sheet tht showed 620 fter a carb advance on race gas.

 

Since were talking about Chevy aluminum blocks, you can't forget the LT5. Or the new straight 6 that GM just released.

And IIRC, I've heard that the 327 was available in aluminum, but only as a crate motor. I may be thinking too much on that though.

I hate it when I think. It hurts my poor little head. I may be thinking of the 4-27 (which of course is what you all have said already).

Time for my medicine,
AJ