Showdown: Famous Big Blocks Edition
It’s been a while, man, since our last Showdown. Last time, the topless ‘Cuda narrowly edged out the scooped and blown ’71 Mustang.
Today we’re getting to the heart of the matter: skipping cars and just doing engines. But not just any engines, some of the more legendary lumps of the ’60s. Today’s contestants come from an era when displacement limits in racing were still over 400c.i. (~6.6.L), aluminum was an exotic material and overhead camshaft motors were on their way to being banned from NASCAR. It’s Cammer Vs ZL-1, after the jump.
For the first half of the 1960s, prior to the 335 “Cleveland” and 385 (429 Cobra) series engines, Ford’s racing efforts were split between the 260/289 small blocks and the mega-heavy FE (for Ford-Edsel) series motors. The small block had the advantage of compactness and light weight, making it a great match for hybrids like the Sunbeam Tiger or some Texan’s kit car. The FEs had the advantage of stoutness from a deep-skirt block and loads of low end torque. That, and the world’s heaviest intake manifold. Unfortunately, higher-revs were not the uber-lump’s strong suit. Solution? Pull the cam about of the block and build the world’s longest timing chain. Thus, the “Cammer” was born.
Today’s example makes no claims of originality, so it’s most likely been constructed from a more plebeian 390ci or the like. For those of us more interested in results than heritage, this may well be the better option. This one’s been bumped out to 488ci and makes 924hp at 8,000 rpm (and 600lb-ft of torque at 3000). That’s only running two 750cfm “street” carbs. For an extra $3000, they’ll outfit it with a multiport fuel injection intake and FAST EFI setup. You know, for better mileage. Without the efi gettup, they’re asking $45,000.
488ci Ford SOHC Cammer – eBay Motors
On the bow tie side of the things, we’ve got an equally absurd engineering change to a big block motor: an all aluminum original “600hp” (which is, in reality more like 400-something at assembly line spec) Yenko ZL-1 427ci big block. Largely developed for racing applications, it’s actually a pretty terrible street motor. It barely idles, and low-speed cooling can be an issue. According to the seller, it’s still got the break in oil in it. How a motor like this managed to stay squirreled away for roughly 40 years is a mystery unto itself. As an added bonus, there’s a Muncie M21 included with the sale. The ZL-1′s definitely down on power compared to the Cammer, but it definitely takes the cake on looks. That clean cast aluminum flat grey is almost too pretty to hide in an engine bay somewhere. Almost. Luckily, here’s a rough looking Chevelle in need of new motivation. If you go that route, the cost of car will be less than 1/10th the cost of the motor, as it’ll speed away with $50,000 of your dollars.
427ci Chevy Aluminum ZL-1 – eBay Motors
Oddly enough, this is one of our most expensive showdowns of all time, and you don’t even get a car with your motor. Obviously, we need you to tell us what you’d drop you choice into.
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Holy hell. I'll keep my cast iron BBC and have about $43,000 left over to spend.
All that said, if I had to pick out of the two listed above I'd take the Chevy over the Ford on a originality choice. That and just having that Yenko stamped makes it worth bucko bucks for resale.
I'm a little suspicious about the Bowtie. Claims to still have the break in oil but that starter is a much much newer aftermarket unit. The goober leaking around the water pump gasket and the discolored clear silicone at the intake joint do not say I haven't been touched since leaving the factory.
Good catches!
That and I'm most certain that engine would have been backed by an M22 Rock Crusher.
That M21 looks a hell of a lot like the Borg Warner T-10 in my Falcon.
I know the T-10 was used in Ford full sizers, but when it eventually found its way into GM vehicles I thought it was only mid-70s compacts and the like.
Great catches…never clicked closer. Oil pan isn't factory at all.
I would have to go with the Chevy and drop it in an Impala. An original 427 body sold sans motor would do the trick. The hardest part would be justifying putting a year's salary into my hot rod.
Either way, but that is an awesome post. I like.
Something something replacement something something displacement… How does that song go?
Anyway, uh, the Ford would be my choice of destruction, because its cheaper, and that Chevy sounds sketch.
Cammer for me, please! Did someone make a gear driven cam setup for these? I thought I'd seen one (pictures) before.
I know Edelbrock made a gear setup for a few common GM blocks, I'm sure they must have something for Ford as well. Not sure about a 390 though, and this is pretty far from stock.
Cammer in Maurader: The sensible choice.
Cammer in Lincoln LS: Tempting.
ZL-1 Solstice Coupe: Nice, but other engines do it better.
No, if I'm going big, I want full-on bizarre alternate-history.
<img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/SCExpression.jpg">
The ZL-1 would save you squinting to make that factory body kit into an F-body triplet.
<img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/L-series.jpg" width="500">
Hat tip to the genius who said the G8 GXP should have been a Saturn V, because I'm stealing that name.
Gotta go with the Cammer on account of the extra absurdity and the fact that it makes roughly double the power of the ZL-1.
In the interests of not orphaning my son, I'd accept this as a replacement for a Turbonique rocket drag axle in my Tobbacco King replica '64 Galaxie.
If I have to pick one of these two, this is the only case where I'll take the Ford. However, for that kind of salad, you could build some really, really cool engines – and maybe even a rod to put them in.
/394 Olds with 8 Strombergs on fuel anyone?
There is a guy on Team Chevelle who built a "what if GM had" 1969 ZL-1 Chevrolet Chevelle to all factory spec, to up the insanity I would put one in a 69 Nova
The street-going FE-series engines (332/352/390/428) were not noted for their breathing or rev potential, but the race-bred 427s were notably superior in that regard. (As I recall, there was not a lot in common between the pushrod 427 racing engines and the standard 390/428, beyond the bore spacing and general dimensions.)
I think a SOHC Pontiac 421 would be more interesting, myself.
Heck yes! Even a 303 would be more interesting. Then again, I have a well-documented softness for the arrowhead brand.
Yenko.