Yenko aluminum

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

NICE!!! I'll take 3 sets please.

[Chevy454]

M:

The ad says "$2,800 , per set, complete". But, this was circa 1975...so, go ahead and figure up what this would be in todays dollars, and drop the check in the mail. I will see what I can do !

[68TopStock]

It is my understanding a CanAm block was fitted into the Fred Gibb #1 ZL1 when it won the '71 AHRA ProStock championship. A long time ZL1 racer I know indicated those in the "know" used the CanAm block for serious racing on the strip back then.

[Edited by 68TopStock (10-22-2001 at 12:26 PM).]

[bullitt]

Four valves per cylinder, huh? There's a company in California, I think it's called Araos Engineering, that is building the same configuration. They say their heads beat Brodix by almost 200hp on a small block. They even have heads for Rats, too! I think I saw some on Ebay this week starting out at $3500, though I'm sure it had a higher reserve. What tranny would live with that monster? It'd be fun to find out. --Bullitt

[MrMotion]

Joe C
You are totally correct with your info on the aluminum blocks, because the owner of my 68 396 L78 was one of the R&D engineers that helped Bill Jenkins and also used a Can Am Block in this Camaro to test different combinations. He stated that the car ran a 10.90 at Detroit Dragway and held the Stock record running one of the combinations. He has photo documentation of this car from one of the local newspapers stating the car runing this fast. He also stated that the aluminum engine was far superior than even the Motion L72 short block conversion that was installed in March of 1968.

[bkhpah]

Yenko also offered the aluminium ZL/1 engine with two cylinders wacked off. A ZL/1 six banger. Also there was a second design logo on the blocks. The other had the word YENKO spelled out. They also sold the Yenko crest valve covers and an oil pan. The outlaw sprint car racers during the early 80's were using the Yenko ZL/1 engines. Bill Smith was also selling sprint chassis at Yenko Performance and Marine...BKH

[Edited by bkhpah (10-23-2001 at 06:40 AM).]

[JoeC]

Drag Racing magazine Nov. 1984 did an article titled "Build a 502 Yenko Chevy." Dave Riolo racing engines in Roseville, CA built the engine said it was manufactured by "Yenko Speed and Marine" in Canonsburg, PA. They said the engine was no longer available but Bill Smith from YSM had said he may resume production. This was the 4.440 in bore block. I don't know if he made anymore. I believe Bill Smith died around 1986?

[68TopStock]

Bill Jenkins won the Super Stock title at the 1969 AHRA Spring Nationals, held at Bristol with an E.T. of 10.23 at over 135 MPH. His partner at the race was none other than Dave Strickler. The pic that goes along with the Nov. 1969 Super Stock and FX article shows Jenkin's "Toy IV", the 1968 body. Caption under the pic reads "Light Camaro is unbeatable."

I'll quote the writers decription of his second round win:

"Probably the most outstanding single run in super stock was the next classic duel between Nicholson's Mustang and Jenkins' Camaro. Wheels up and tires smokin', Dyno just couldn't keep up with the lightweight Camaro, and lost with a 10.37 to Jenkins' super-tough 10.28 that brought the house down. They could have run that one over ten times, and the pro-Chevrolet crowd would have loved it every time, and so would the assembled press".

[Edited by 68TopStock (10-23-2001 at 08:45 AM).]

[Arctic Z Dan]

WHOA!! Now that's a set of heads!