ZL-1 block versus Can-Am block?

[rcalzaretta62]

I have the Reynolds Aluminum Block that came from Grumpy's Toy IV that won the 1970 Winternationals and documentation/pictures from the Peterson Archive with this exact engine in the car. It is a 0-326711 block and what Bill was running at the time. I heard Bill didn't like the ZL-1 block and had something to do with heat transfer causing them to lose power as the day went on. I have been in contact with the current owners of Grumpy's Toy IV to see if they are interested in it before I put in my car. I would post some pictures, just not sure how to add them.

[RALLY]

Originally Posted by rcalzaretta62

I have the Reynolds Aluminum Block that came from Grumpy's Toy IV that won the 1970 Winternationals and documentation/pictures from the Peterson Archive with this exact engine in the car. It is a 0-326711 block and what Bill was running at the time. I heard Bill didn't like the ZL-1 block and had something to do with heat transfer causing them to lose power as the day went on. I have been in contact with the current owners of Grumpy's Toy IV to see if they are interested in it before I put in my car. I would post some pictures, just not sure how to add them.

That is awesome you have that Reynolds Aluminum block. Agree Bill Jenkins has said he didnt like those ZL-1 Blocks because of bad core shift and the cylinder seal had bad blow by causing bad ring seal resulting in power loss. That is cool you are contacting the current owners if they are interested in that Reynolds block. Great story. Good luck and like hearing these stories.

[rcalzaretta62]

To add to the story......So I contacted the folks that supposedly have Grumpy's Toy IV in Pennsylvania (Dale & Vicki) and sent them the pictures of the motor with the documentation that is was indeed the motor that was published by the Peterson Archive. I offered them the motor for what I purchased it for as I thought it should go to them. They let me know today that they wanted to pass on buying it. The potential value of a Jenkins car with the motor that won the 1970 Winternationals beating the Ronnie Sox car would put it in the stratosphere......I was shocked at their response!! Well, it is going in my Camaro where I intended it to go when I bought it. It is a Yenko built SCCA car, later turned into a drag car. This will be a good fit rather than the 1969 ZL-1 block that I was going to use. I will post a few pictures when I get it out of the crate.

[big gear head]

That's really too bad. It would have been great to see it back in that car.

[PeteLeathersac]

'

No need to feel bad as their car's a well known clone also actually a '67.
The truth's been discussed in a few threads here over the years, this one w/ the most info...
https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=139335

~ Pete

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[JoeC]

did you try to contact the owner of the 1970 Grumpy Camaro? maybe they will be interested

Bill used the 68 , the 69, and the 1970 Camaro in 1970 Pro Stock and match racing using many different engines Cam Am , ZL1, iron car blocks and truck blocks


Sometimes running multiple cars in one race

[rcalzaretta62]

Well, that explains it. Thank you for the clarification and link Pete. I did see a few posts on other sites that said it was not Toy IV, but they kept responding and arguing that it was....I fell for it!! I am sorry I sent them a copy of the documentation/details I had on the block. I have not contacted the owners of the 69 or 70 cars. I think I would rather put in my car as intended at this point since I was unable to reunite with Toy IV.

[Sean]

I used to talk to Bill on a regular basis before he passed. I know he did not like the aluminum blocks at all. Even the cylinder heads. Those blocks have a lot of porosity in them just not compact enough. On the dyno your looking at a 10-12% loss

[bracketracer-78]

Originally Posted by rcalzaretta62

To add to the story......So I contacted the folks that supposedly have Grumpy's Toy IV in Pennsylvania (Dale & Vicki) and sent them the pictures of the motor with the documentation that is was indeed the motor that was published by the Peterson Archive. I offered them the motor for what I purchased it for as I thought it should go to them. They let me know today that they wanted to pass on buying it. The potential value of a Jenkins car with the motor that won the 1970 Winternationals beating the Ronnie Sox car would put it in the stratosphere......I was shocked at their response!! Well, it is going in my Camaro where I intended it to go when I bought it. It is a Yenko built SCCA car, later turned into a drag car. This will be a good fit rather than the 1969 ZL-1 block that I was going to use. I will post a few pictures when I get it out of the crate.

The car out in Pittsburgh is a fake. The whole story about Toy 4 was a ex SCCA car was fabricated. Its very easy to disprove the whole story by looking at original pictures of Toy 4 and compare them to the fake one from Pittsburgh. The easy way to i.d. the car is when Jenkins had the car and when Brooklyn Heavy had the car there was no full cage like the Pittsburgh car has that was claimed to be installed before Jenkins got it.

[RALLY]

Originally Posted by Sean

I used to talk to Bill on a regular basis before he passed. I know he did not like the aluminum blocks at all. Even the cylinder heads. Those blocks have a lot of porosity in them just not compact enough. On the dyno your looking at a 10-12% loss

Agree, Bill said the Aluminum heads didnt put out the horsepower like the iron head then. Thinking heat transfer had something to do with it. Yes the aluminum heads were lighter, but loss of horsepower was down.