Project "Payback"

[Vegas69]

My road course experience was so limited, but the car seemed really good. It will push on the autocross but I'm in the middle of a rear sway bar as well. Two different animals for sure. That's the main reason I got an adjustable rear bar. I really didn't go aluminum to shed the weight, it's just a nice side effect. I just felt it made more sense to drop the coin on a special block instead of a run of the mill 454 block. The machining cost is no different, it's simply the cost of the new block minus the pennies I get for the old one. It will end up making alot of sense. To be honest, the engine wasn't on the cars level anyway. I never would've picked that set up today. I wasn't planning on spending this much money on the car. I also didn't have plans to race it much at the time. It's one giant flippin snow ball. I keep telling myself it's going to stop someday. I've done a ton of research lately, pick my brain anytime.

[GregWeld]

I'm lovin' all of this Todd... Merry Christmas to yourself, by the way! LOL

Someone asked me the other day about something I'd bought... I told them... "I'm not broke - but I'm certainly bent"!

[70rs]

Maybe someday that one big flipin snowball will roll into a LSX motor huh?

[comp-spec]

All aluminum 500cid big block...do you really have to say any more.
nice choice

[skatinjay27]

Originally Posted by 70rs

Maybe someday that one big flipin snowball will roll into a LSX motor huh?

hellz NO!!!!!! lol
it would have been much smarter ($cheaper$) for him to go that route...MUCH cheaper!
but no where near as cool...

[Vegas69]

Maybe Erics right, I should buy 3 of Franks LS3's and have a couple spares in the trailer when I race. I called Schwartz Machine which manufactured the block. To my surprise Bob Cross from GM racing called me back and is sending me a care package. Turns out he is responsible for bringing the ZL-1 block back and actually found the forms in a warehouse the size of and airport hanger. http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/_r...ckBirthday.pdf My take was it was all the info from the endurance tests and specs they used on the ZL-1 from there 50 hour endurance test in the article.. Should be interesting. Pretty cool having a GM racing engineers phone number. It's just not quite as simple building this engine. The aluminum block brings in some new variables. For instance the main bolts must be torqued in a similar sequence to an intake but the inner and out bolts have a different torque spec. Also, the bearing clearances are different due to more swelling. It has a steel billet cap and aluminum top half. I could dry sump this block but that just isn't in the cards. Here is the only document that came with the block. Pretty cool stuff....

[89 RS]

That is pretty cool Todd. Can't wait to see the results, as always with what you try to achieve. I saw the price on that though...

[70rs]

Originally Posted by skatinjay27

hellz NO!!!!!! lol
it would have been much smarter ($cheaper$) for him to go that route...MUCH cheaper!
but no where near as cool...

I was kidding. I would actually NOT like to see an LSx in Todds car. This new motor is going to be pretty cool and I doubt there will ever be a situation where another car pulls up and pops the hood and they have matching motors. Not too many of those ZL-1s running around on the street.

[Payton King]

I like your motor choice. My buddy Conrade has the ZL-1 motor in his 69. His made 605 hp at the crank.

There is no doubt that you will feel the difference up front.