Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Porsche 917-30 vs. Ferrari 612 vs. UOP Shadow Turbo?

[Hans E. Hansen (FList]

PS:  Back somewhere in the mid-1980s, I saw a magazine article
in some publication like Popular Mechanics that said Porsche
had bought the rights to use the alloy big block Chevy race motor for
aviation use.  I never heard another thing about this, but it would
certainly be strange if true.

Hans.

On 8/5/08, Hans E. Hansen <FList [at] hanshansen.org> wrote:
> I used to sell aluminum big block Chevies.  Technically, the motors used
> in CanAm were not ZL1.  The ZL1 was the alum motor fitted in the Corvette,
> and was nothing more than an iron sleeved alloy version of the cast iron
> 427.  ie - the castings resembled each other and the internal parts were
> the same.
>
> The CanAm engines were available in 430, 465, 495, and I think 510
> cu in.  Initially sleeved, some were available, as I understand (never
> saw one...), in a sleeveless silicon etched alloy, like used in the 928
> and some (many?) BMWs.  The blocks were A LOT different than
> the regular big block, being gusseted, reinforced, etc., and with
> different internals such as much bigger bearings, etc.  Heads were
> different, and not interchangeable with the rest of the big block
> lineup.
>
> Externally, they probably were a bolt-in replacement for a regular
> big block.  I say "probably", because I never saw anybody put one
> in a Chevelle, for example, simply because the parts cost was Ferrari
> level extravagant.  Like $20K - $25K in 1980 dollars.  I have no idea
> what an assembled race-ready motor would cost, but it was
> certainly north of $50K.  Still cheap by Porsche/Ferrari race car
> standards, but way out of reach for the street rodder.
>
> New Chevy pickups use a 495 cu in motor.  I've wondered, but never
> bothered to look, if might be a cast iron version of the old CanAm
> motor, complete with the bigger bearings and other internals of
> that motor.  If done to production car specs (not race spec...), the
> cost would only be marginally higher than the original big block,
> but it would be much sturdier than the regular big block.  The pickup
> 454 was not well suited to truck use, especially in our area where
> full throttle for 10 minutes at a time is needed to pull big loads
> up our mountains.  The 495 seems to be holding up much better
> in this application, suggesting that it might be a "civilian" version
> of the old race motor.
>
> Hans.
>
> On 8/5/08, LS <lashdeep [at] yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Does anyone have any good info on the potential of the turbo ZL1 that 
> > McLaren and Shadow were developing for Can Am when the series was cancelled?
> >
> > I'm reading the Unfair Advantage by Mark Donohue and was intrigued at the 
> > possibility of some sort of competition from the McLaren's for the 
> > almightly 917-30.
> >
> > The Aluminum ZL1 was an impressive engine...did it have the architecture to 
> > handle a 2-3 hour road race with forced induction? I'd like some info on 
> > what setup some of the teams were experimenting with.
> >
> > BTW-What was the real power output of the 712 Can Am Ferrari? I've heard 
> > 680-750bhp.
> >
> > LS
> >
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, please visit:
> > http://lists.ferrarilist.com/mailman/options/ferrari/flist%40hanshansen.org
> >
> > Sponsored by BooyahMedia.com
> > and F1 Headlines
> > http://www.F1Headlines.com/
> >
>