69 Zl-1

[Clem Z.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

That shot is actually Don Yenko's new car storage lot in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania; Don took a good percentage of the ZL-1 Camaros when they were re-distributed by Chevrolet from Fred Gibbs' dealership.

Photos below are of ZL-1 Camaro #6; note the black cast iron water pump (ZL-1's didn't have aluminum water pumps, contrary to popular opinion).

they needed the strength of the cast iron water pump to hold the weak aluminum block together.

[Michael H.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

That shot is actually Don Yenko's new car storage lot in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania; Don took a good percentage of the ZL-1 Camaros when they were re-distributed by Chevrolet from Fred Gibbs' dealership.

Photos below are of ZL-1 Camaro #6; note the black cast iron water pump (ZL-1's didn't have aluminum water pumps, contrary to popular opinion).

I knew it was at a dealer but wasn't sure which one. Weren't all of the ZL1's sent to Gibbs first?

I agree on the cast iron water pump.

If that #6 car is the one from the Detroit area, those are the unique to ZL1 head bolts I received from Chev engineering in 1969. Almost tossed em in the trash in about 1980 but didn't. Sold on ebay about 5 years ago to a ZL1 Camaro owner in Detroit for $700.

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

they needed the strength of the cast iron water pump to hold the weak aluminum block together.

Did not keep them from cracking in the main bearing webs and developing a high pressure oil leak. I have repaired 3 of these blocks that had done that.

[Tom M.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

I went to the auction with a letter for $500K. I got cold feet when no one would bid on the car, Reggie Jackson was reportedly represented as well as an Indy guy. Ralph Eckler started the bidding at $50 or $75K, no one else bid except Roger and myself after that. When the bid kept going up i moved close to see who I was bidding against. My final bid was $295K, if there had been more bidders I may have bought the car. As things turned out I do think Roger got a bargain. When the auction was over the Marshall came over and gave me his hat which I still have. The bidding stalled with Eklers bid and he was sweating. I guess I got the hat for running the bid up. A walked over and asked Roger how much higher he would have gone and he said "I was done"!

The white car was bough new by Jack Cheskaty and ther is an article in the Clasic Auto Restorer in Aug 1992. There is no mention of documents, i found this to be interesting as the Yellow car was mention to have engine problems ( it was blown up in a boat). The yellow car is real and correctly restored, the last time I saw the car it had vertical broach marks not circular.
RDR

I have talked to a guy who has the original block for the yellow ZL1 , and 67 L88 Block, he is on the West coast,

both are junk, but would be neat to own them.
NOT FOR SALE.............

[Chris E.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

I have talked to a guy who has the original block for the yellow ZL1 , and 67 L88 Block, he is on the West coast,

both are junk, but would be neat to own them.
NOT FOR SALE.............

Uh......Tom? When did you talk to that guy? They might have changed hands since then. I actually SAW those two blocks on June 20th. (the 69 ZL-1 block and the 12 mile 67 L88 block). They are fully restored sitting on engine stands, and not on the West Coast....

[Steven H.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

I would guess the block to the Yellow car would be worth six figures if mated to the Yellow car.

[Michael H.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

Uh......Tom? When did you talk to that guy? They might have changed hands since then. I actually SAW those two blocks on June 20th. (the 69 ZL-1 block and the 12 mile 67 L88 block). They are fully restored sitting on engine stands, and not on the West Coast....

I don't think the original 12 mile 67 L88 block has been found.

[Chris E.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

I don't think the original 12 mile 67 L88 block has been found.

Ok. Just telling you what I saw. The guy that owns it is a pretty serious collector, not just a fly-by-night kind of guy trying to make a buck.

[Clem Z.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

Did not keep them from cracking in the main bearing webs and developing a high pressure oil leak. I have repaired 3 of these blocks that had done that.

shrink fit stainless steel thin wall tubing in the oil passages. i did that on a couple of iron blocks that were cracked from heat due to spun main bearings. seemed to work and the engines ran with no oil pressure problems. ask me a bout the "dove engineering" of ohio aluminum BBC blocks when you see me.

[Tom M.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

Ok. Just telling you what I saw. The guy that owns it is a pretty serious collector, not just a fly-by-night kind of guy trying to make a buck.

Yes he has both blocks, not running, they look good too all dressed up

[Michael H.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

Yes he has both blocks, not running, they look good too all dressed up

In the mid 70's, the car received a new over the counter replacement L88 short block. The original block was sold to a machine shop owner in Wisconsin or Minnesota, who decked all the big blocks that came in the door. It was later sold to a customer as "just another block".
No one cared about original engine numbers at that time.

A "look alike" L88 short block was assembled and installed in the car years later. I think my original 67 L88 cam went in it.

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

I have talked to a guy who has the original block for the yellow ZL1 , and 67 L88 Block, he is on the West coast,

both are junk, but would be neat to own them.
NOT FOR SALE.............

Believe nothing you hear and only half what you see

[Michael F.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

Dick Whittington has it exactly right

[John H.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

I knew it was at a dealer but wasn't sure which one. Weren't all of the ZL1's sent to Gibbs first?

At least the first 50 were, until Fred begged Chevrolet to take them back after he saw the pricing ($4160.00 option on a $2700 Camaro); he had been told initially by Vince Piggins that the option would be less than $1500, but the beanies jumped in and jacked it up to $4160, and he didn't know about it until he saw the stickers when they came off the haulaway trucks.

[Richard F.]

Re: 69 Zl-1

I remember hearing that there were a bunch of them out behind Motorsports Research in Des Plaines, Il. They were race car and engine builders supposedly tied to GM at the time. Sure enough, when we went to check it out, there were lots of ZL1's behind the shop in a fenced-in area. I never inquired as to what was going on because I had zero dollars, but we heard they were selling the cars. We thought it was strange at the time. I still think so.