That would have been one of the blocks that never made it into a Camaro. I think GM ended up selling something like 12-15 bare blocksthat they still had. The cost of the option was just a little to much for most people.

You did happen to own that car in Florida did you?

 

If I'm not mistaken the ZL1 was in fact an aluminum block L-88..If memory serves me well the iron block L-88 had a bit more hp but was heavier and didn't handle as good but was stronger on a drag strip.

 

well that sounds like a crapy 4k option

 

have you been into corvettes a long time ?

 

not the thread/post that I saw, but it has the shortened version of the relevant information...

thanks for finding this & sharing !

 

do tell! a hot rod "tribute" ZL-1 C3 would be a pretty cool stable mate for the LPE ZR-1 I built a hot rod L88 style 71 vette which my buddy still has (for sale) but wanted to do an alum BB. the GM block is worth a fortune and even the aftermarket alum blocks aren't cheap!

 

It's quite amazing how much we've progressed. Now just about everything is aluminum.

 

Yep.

 

Thats really cool. Who makes it ?

 

Don't know. I saw one at my dealership and thought it was so I just Googled "LS7 block coffee table" and that was one of the results. I believe it is an LS block, not sure if actually LS7.

 

I was just kidding around. However the thought of paying $200,000.00 for a Pratt and Miller C6RS, or a cool Million for the first C7 at Barrett Jackson, that most likely will become a garage queen; does not turn me on as much as a stock Z06 running at the local drag strip. I have more love for a small block 67 that goes on road trips.

 

And it had a bigger bump stick.

 

Not sure I would call it crappy, but more like excessive. The RPO for the ZL1 was $4,718.31 and the base coupe was $4,781.00. So basically double the price just for the aluminum block. That is why I am sure there were only 2 Corvettes and 69 Camaro's. The intent of the ZL1 option was actually for the Camaro, for drag racing, but GM/Chevrolet had to have at least 50 productions car and they ended up with 69. Only around 20 actually ended up as drag racers. Some were sold to individuals in street legal trim from what I understand and I remember a few in the Chicago area running on the street (for shame , fir shame) also showing my age. There were some of the blocks sold to so I am sure a few more ZR1 Corvette's existed, that were not true ZL1's from the factory.

 

The ZL1 Camaros running on the street in Chicago were likely from Jack Douglas Chevrolet on Ogden avenue in Hinsdale. I was there in 1969 and saw 3 ZL1 Camaros side by side. That dealer was involved in racing sponsorships so a few of the ZL1s were likely distributed to them to sell.

 

I grew up on the south side (many years ago) We use to hang out at a place called the Pit. A lot a racing went on out of that place.

 

Im almost positive one came from Baldwin Motion.

 

1967, 1968, and first design 1969 L88's had closed chamber heads, 12.5 compression, and a wild cam. Second design 1969 L88's had open chamber heads, different pistons, 12.0 compression, and a different wild cam. ZL1's were the same as second design L88's except the block was aluminum.

ZR1 was a package combining all the heavy duty chassis and brake options with the LT1 smallblock engine. The options could also be bought separately.
1970 had 11.0 to 1 compression, 370 horsepower
1971 had 9.0 to 1 compression, 330 horsepower

The 1971 ZR2 was a big block version of the smallblock ZR1, using the low compression 454 LS6, 425 horsepower, 9.0 to 1 compression, with the solid lifter cam from the 435 horsepower 427 (all LS6's used this cam. The hotter street cam was the 1965-1966 425hp cam, it had a real lope)

The 1970 465hp 454 LS7 was listed in the early ordering information but was cancelled before any production cars were built. The LS7 was the same as the second design L88 but with a longer stroke, 454 cubic inches instead of 427. Because that engine got cancelled at the last minute there was no solid lifter big block Corvette for the first time in 1970 and no 1970 ZR2. 1970 was the year that Corvette didn't have Chevy's biggest engine. Corvette should have at least gotten the 454/450 LS6 in 1970, but only the Malibu got it. LS7 engines and parts were readily available over the parts counter for a number of years.

LS6 in 1970 = 450 hp, Malibu only (11.0 to 1)
LS6 in 1971 = 425 hp, Corvette only (9.0 to 1)


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An absolute must for any Corvette man-cave!

 

GM has spent decades trying to change public opinion that American cars can only go in a straight line. The LAST thing we need is a drag racing version of anything, especially a Corvette.

Michael

 

they'll dig out any old lingo they can if they think it's what the old boys want. They fear losing the old boys while trying to please the younger guys with the styling.