69 ZL1?

[Dr. Jamie]

[QUOTE=radz28;3528448]not many people would've wanted to put up with that kind of motor in their cruiser,QUOTE]


Thanks for the feedback. Point taken. I've quoted the key part of your statement, which drove product decisions ....

The foundation is still there to take one of these engines and make it your own. Let me know if you need help locating one ....


Jamie

[radz28]

[QUOTE=Dr. GMPP;3534498]

Originally Posted by radz28

not many people would've wanted to put up with that kind of motor in their cruiser,QUOTE]

Thanks for the feedback. Point taken. I've quoted the key part of your statement, which drove product decisions ....

The foundation is still there to take one of these engines and make it your own. Let me know if you need help locating one ....

Jamie

My opinions need to be taken with a grain of salt. I'm young-ish and would put up with probably a lot more than some more mature people would in these regards. However, I'm finding that's changing as I finally get more mature (my wifey would tell you how slow that is...). Knowing that was the goal, however, makes total sense.

Seeing the specs' on those babies from several years ago, I know the potential is just waiting to be unleashed. I'm an LS' convert, now, though I still give the highest respect to the rats though

Respectfully...

[LOWDOWN]

"Cruisin" with a ZL1 or L88 was NOT the intent, as far as GM or knowledgeable owners were concerned. Hot Rod Magazine, in March or April '69, featured a road test of a '69 L88 Vette with Automatic and J56 HD Brakes, in which they stressed the fact the car would only stop in traffic if placed in Neutral! And the ZL1 cam was even more extreme...

For Corvettes, L88/ZL1 meant no fan shrouds, no Power Steering, no Radio, no heat/defrost...not your typical Main Street cruiser...

The COPO 9560s were, strangely enough, available with all those features, but the $4,160 tag and "realistic expectations" predicated their virtually exclusive use as racers...organized, or otherwise...

The current "ZL1" engine the good Dr. is talkin' about is lower compressioned and less cam'd than the "original", making it much more suitable and likely to be seen at the local A&W. A great piece of eye candy, with terrific heritage.

[ViperTomcat]

The 69 ZL1 was about as street livable as a 65 AF/X Mustang with a 427 Cammer was..

It wasnt.

Simply put they were 1/4 mile killers, not the car you go cruising in.

[Cdn Camaroman]

I must admit,being a bit of a hardcore Camaro lover,that naming the new "ZL1" for a version in gen 5,a bit odd,considering it was a low-key affair to even get one in '69,so the current badge sort-of feels off. As far as dreaming of that new motor,my 69 would gladly replace its' current 96SS-LT1 bullet,with that,Summit seems to have some,but its' that $32K hurdle I have a little trouble with...but nothing wrong with dreaming I guess..GMPP Rocks Doc!

[radz28]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

"Cruisin" with a ZL1 or L88 was NOT the intent, as far as GM or knowledgeable owners were concerned. Hot Rod Magazine, in March or April '69, featured a road test of a '69 L88 Vette with Automatic and J56 HD Brakes, in which they stressed the fact the car would only stop in traffic if placed in Neutral! And the ZL1 cam was even more extreme...

For Corvettes, L88/ZL1 meant no fan shrouds, no Power Steering, no Radio, no heat/defrost...not your typical Main Street cruiser...

The COPO 9560s were, strangely enough, available with all those features, but the $4,160 tag and "realistic expectations" predicated their virtually exclusive use as racers...organized, or otherwise...

The current "ZL1" engine the good Dr. is talkin' about is lower compressioned and less cam'd than the "original", making it much more suitable and likely to be seen at the local A&W. A great piece of eye candy, with terrific heritage.

Yes, I'm aware of all those facts and more, and it's not necessary to have been an owner. Furthermore, I consider myself relatively knowledgable considering I wasn't alive back when these were stomping the sh*t out of the Mustangs and MOPARs.

What the Doctor was saying is that despite the original ZL-1s complete race-intent, the new one was meant to be able to actually driven on the street without it barfing flames out of the carb' while it was trying to warm up. It mean non-race-only fuel.

[DrkPhx]

The original ZL1 engine comes from the racing development for Can Am racing which dominated in it's short run with output closer to 700 hp. It was a true racing motor (much like the Boss 429) that was detuned for the Corvette and Camaro which accounts for the temperemental nature of the motor. A modern day equivalent would be like Chevy offering the LS7.R motor in a production car.

Here are some pics from Car Craft Nationals of the ZL1 motor.

[NicKey]

Real deal; ZL1s COPO, Yenkos, Nickey and Motions all racing at Super Car Reunion XIV at Route 66 in Joliet, tomorrow!

[radz28]

Originally Posted by Nickey Chicago

Real deal; ZL1s COPO, Yenkos, Nickey and Motions all racing at Super Car Reunion XIV at Route 66 in Joliet, tomorrow!

MAN - I wish I could go to those events! I'd LOVE to see ZL-1

[Scarrzz]

Originally Posted by DrkPhx

A modern day equivalent would be like Chevy offering the LS7.R motor in a production car.

I love it when you talk dirty.

.

[Dr. Jamie]

Originally Posted by Cdn Camaroman

its' that $32K hurdle I have a little trouble with...but nothing wrong with dreaming I guess..GMPP Rocks Doc!

I've seen our dealers advertise these for much less than that number. I think I saw $19k on one recently.

Drop me a PM if you (or anyone that reads this) is seriously looking for an Anniversary Edition 427 version of the ZL1 crate engine. I'll do my best to get a dealer to work with you.

Thanks for looking.

Jamie

[OldScoolCamaro]

Originally Posted by radz28

What the Doctor was saying is that despite the original ZL-1s complete race-intent, the new one was meant to be able to actually driven on the street without it barfing flames out of the carb' while it was trying to warm up. It mean non-race-only fuel.

True dat Radz. Those crazy, heady, infancy of factory production drag racer motor days are so far off the map from today nothing can really be compared on any level. We are not even talking apples and oranges...we are talking in other dimensions of time. Testing and design were tantamount to lets see what happens when we do this..., it was shoot first and ask questions later. Those bezerk engines were like handgrenades with loose pins...and making them stay happy and on an even keel was like trying to have a T-Rex for a pet and not having him bite you on the arse. Those guys involved who did all that back then were akin to the Wright Brothers and we owe to them all where we are today. From the Chevy engineer all the way through the process to the driver at the tree, my hats off to you guys.

[ViperTomcat]

The BOSS 429 motor made the transition from race world to real world a bit better than the ZL1 motor did.

Its funny the comment about barfing flames out of the carb, thats exactly my experience when I saw a ZL1 motor being fired at Woodburn International Raceway (near Portland, OR) a few years ago.

[zq8colorado04]

Originally Posted by Dr. GMPP

And, the story continues with the original ZL1 engines ....

In 2008, GM Performance Parts restored the original, ZL1 block tooling, build 427 special crate engines named the Anniversary Edition 427, and you might be able to find a few still in dealer inventory. They are individually numbered and documented and highly collectible. For folks building a '69 ZL1 clone, this is a great place to start. More details here:

http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/En...6392&engCat=bb

Thanks,
Jamie

My dad put #182 in his 69 Camaro Convertible....that engine is a beast especially compared to the 350 that came out of it.