63Corvette

OK, I'll defer to IGO200 on this, but my understanding is that the Reynolds engines were T390 Alloy, and that the bore centers were different (wider spacing) than the "stock" chevy engines, which (I believe) have always been 4.40". BOTH engines had GM "stock" part numbers, and both were available over the counter. Also, available were "semi-finished" chankshafts, which had mains finished, but "as cast" rod journals, which could be ground by your engine builder to 4.00" to 4.50" (about) to give engines from about 430 CID to 530CID. In other words, they were truly "Bespoke" or "Custom" RACE motors.

IGO200

Actually it was A390. The silicon content was approx 17%
I worked on another project (after shadow, until 1984) also using this alloy, which entailed casting new blocks "from scratch". I happen to be looking this very moment at a certification sheet for 4000 POUNDS of A 390 ingots that I found in my files. But that's another story.

joe58

Those 60s Cam Am engines were great.

Around 1974 Chevrolet granted premission to Yenko Chevrolet to purchase blocks from the Winters foundry and to market the alum big blocks.
This is documented with paperwork and ads from the Yenko estate and blocks have been found with Yenko name cast in.

They sold the ZL1 block and the Can Am block and sold them in a few different versions. Some with water jacket some with out.
Some had the Yenko name cast in.

They were sold into the 1980s and used in drag racing, sports car, boats, sprint cars. etc.

Don Yenko and Bob Grossman ran a ZL1 engine 69 Camaro at Sebring in 69 and 70 and later into the late 70s Yenko, Jerry Thompson, and Kim Mason ran Corvettes and Chevy Monsas in SCCA or IMSA some times with alum big block power

KyleDallas

Doug.. Do you remember how much the block weighed.. or per
chance the complete engine??

I almost bought a 928 Porsche V8 engine for a hot rod project about 5 years ago untill I found out how much the Porsche engine weighed..582 lbs.. and the block is all aluminum... I found that a little strange since the SBC weighs 575 lbs....

Anyway, when you mentioned the Reynolds aluminum being used
by Porsche it made me wonder about the weight of the Can Am Blocks.

When I looked at my engine weight list I noticed the ZL-1 weighed
550 lbs, complete..... (25 lbs less than a SB Chevy).

Just for comparison... the 426 Street Hemi weighs 765 lbs..A
Mark IV Chevy Big Block weighs 685 lbs....

KyleDallas

Can Am began in 1966... Here is the Jim Hall/Phil Hill/Mike Spence Chaparral 2F passing
the Camaro of Joie Chitwood/Jack McClure on the outside on February 4th, 1967 at the 24 Hours of Daytona... the Can Am All Aluminum Big Block in action.. at speed.

KyleDallas

the Chaparral 2J

KyleDallas

Thanks for bringing this up Joe.. the "Yenko" is cast in plain non descript
letters on the front of the block. This block belongs to Gary Holub of Marion, Iowa


**
**

joe58

Yenko sold a few different versions some had no yenko name, some had block letter yenko, some had yenko crest.

I am not sure what year the Can Am block was first used. The 66 Chaparral may have ran an early version of the ZL1 block.
The bore spacing was larger on the Can Am block but they looked similar on the outside.
I think the Cam Am block came out later when the ZL1 block would not hold up too well
The Can Am block has the siamese cyl walls that proved to be a stronger design.

I'm sure IGO200 can tell more about that then me

Critter1

I thought the cyl C/L's were the same for both the ZL1 and the Can-Am blocks? The Can-Am block uses the same crankshaft dim's as a standard big block which would position the cyl C/L in the same position. In fact, the paperwork states that a 427 or 454 crankshaft is used to create the 465/495. Still looking for more paperwork.

joe58

yes my mistake should have said bore diameter not bore spacing.
Going by memory, the CanAm block was originally 4.44 inch bore with de-stroked crank to run as a 430 cu in.

KyleDallas

Many of the Pro Stock racers used the cranks from the 348/409 engines to make high winding big blocks in the early 80's... The 348/409 shares the same bore spacing as the Mark IV BB-4.84 inches.
The 409 has a stroke of 3.5 inches and the Impala SS still had the 409 in 1964- two years before the start of Can Am. I would imagine in '66 that GM had plenty of 3.5 inch 409 cranks lying around.

348- 3.25 inch stroke
409- 3.50 inch stroke
Z11/427- 3.65 inch stroke

Seems logical that the 4.44 bore block would have standard BB bore
spacing to use the 409 crank... I have no idea on the Reynolds blocks.

tt 383

I know this is old, but I was wondering if anyone knows what heads (part number) were used in the CanAm big block engines, and how they may have been modified. Maybe someone can give an idea of real power numbers, rpm's etc...

Dr L-88

Wish I'd found this thread sooner................. I have an old Can Am ZL-1 block that came from Smokey Yunick's shop in the late 80's. It was purported to have been part of the Chaparral engine development program. I spoke with Jim Hall (Mr. Chaparral) a couple of years ago about the block and he confirmed that it "probably" was one of his engines, but he could not say with 100% certainty. Regardless, it is one of the GM prototype blocks as designated with an 0 - (zero dash) casting number (0-321270). It has a casting date of Feb 1968 in the lifter galley. Since I purchased it, I have discovered that it is one of the Reynolds high silicon blocks, designed to run without liners. However, someone (probably Smokey) installed cast iron liners in the block, as well as bronze sleeves in the lifter bores (again, probably Smokey). In the pictures below are several very unique pieces: NOS magnesium valve covers, prototype aluminum water pump, prototype cast aluminum timing cover with integral "crank-driven" gear (this was a Smokey design and was developed as a power steering pump), dual pickup oil pump, again a prototype piece. GM used the "0 -" designation for all their prototype / experimental / development parts. Heads are not original to the block, but they are from the TRACO shop in Culver City, CA as verified by the TRACO stamp on each head. Also shown is an original TRACO fully degreed balancer with original TRACO gray paint. Block has had several repairs but is now good to go. Engine will be assembled with 4 in stroke Kryptonite crank, Carrillo rods, NOS GM Can Am pistons. This combo will yield 495 cu inches. Had planned to use it in the car in my Avatar............................

These blocks also generated quite a stir on another forum..........GT-40 of all places..........http://www.gt40s.com/forum/auto-coll...lock-help.html

I would love to hear from anyone who has one of these rare beasts or has any information they can share.

Thanks,
Rex

cv67

Wow, simply awesome thanks for posting that.

Major history right there, keep it coming.

IGO200

Oh Man that is COOL stuff. Very early. I don't think that's a Reynolds block. The Reynolds 390 was hard to weld because of the high silicon and the welds on the valley core plugs are too nice and conventional for 390. I reckon it's a conventional casting with sleeves. All those parts are
really rare!
Here's an actual 495" Reynolds Can Am engine fresh off the dyno, probably in 1973. 725 hp or so. If it was a '74 it would have D shaped exhaust ports and 735 hp

redvetracr

pick up an early copy of the Chevy power book....like this one

Steve439

Great thread!

Bill32

I remember watching the Shadows run at the Glen.

Not a Shadow but, a guy here has another car that Vic drove. Currently running the HSMA stuff around here.

VetteRed1965

mashinter

Here are the Shadows on the pace lap of the '74 5-star Can-Am at the Glen. They ran away and hid from the competition...