427 aluminum block
 

I purchased this tonight having known about it for a few years. Who in the PA, MD area is good at repairing aluminum? It has led a hard life. But after seeing the casting date I bought it. How many were made? The block was decked so no numbers are on the front deck. Interested to hear what you folks know about these. You can see where someone ground the Winters foundry mark off. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...3-im000169.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...4-im000181.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...5-im000173.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...6-im000174.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...7-im000177.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...8-im000178.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...9-im000180.jpg

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

Jerry MacNeish's Camaro High Performance, Inc. does such repairs. The website is www.z28camaro.com

Good luck,
SAL

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

MacNeish does have a shop that can handle aluminum repairs. I took a Muncie case there for repairs and the work was perfect---not cheap, but perfect.

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

Theres even people that can put the winters back on

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

I know he has good work done. I am trying to find out who does it for him. I am in the middle of PA where circle track racing is king. This engine out of a sprint car and they have a stroker crank that was in it. They thought it was 513 inch.

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

I have a ZL1 block dated 5-7-69 so they were pretty close!

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

I have seen dates 5 14 69 and 5 28 69. I am trying to find when the blocks were cast, what dates. I was trying to find out how many were made. The numbers I found were between 300 to 500, but many were junked in machining. I read about the blocks being numbered on the rear and the main caps being numbered also. I got the matching number main caps with the block. I looked into buying this block after reading about the ZL1 cars, knowing that the low production of the blocks and costly price kept people from throwing them out after they were broke. As I said earlier it came out of a sprint car. When I asked about the broken pieces I was told they would be outside turn 2 at Port Royal Speedway. They last ran it about 1992 and it sat under the work bench. I saw it 6 years ago when I bought a set of factory heads from them. I figured it was beyond repair. I guess I am going to find out.

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

Found out 10 ZL1 cars were sold here in PA and 2 were from Sutliff Chevrolet in Harrisburg which is closest to me. My block could be an over the counter from Sutliff, but was decked so the numbers are gone. The stolen car from Bethleham is close also. York is 2 hours away, Ammon R Smith. Trying to figure out if it is a production car block or not.

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

With a casting date of 5 15 69 there is virtually no chance it was an original engine in one of the 69 production ZL1 Camaros. By that date 67 had been delivered. The last two were final assembled on or about June 3, 1969.

Unlike production cast iron engines commonly built within a week of their casting date, the span between casting date and pad assembly date for production ZL1 engines was considerably longer.

It is possible it was built as a service engine assembly as several have been located. Production engine codes were ME, MG, ML, MM.

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

Did you look by the oil filter for a vi stamp ?

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

No vin by the filter. Looks like I got my answer above. Does anyone know how many blocks were made? How long was the block casting run? Is the number on the back and on the main caps a consecutive order number. Trying to find out about it, but I can not find a lot of information on these engines. ZL1 #35, a Sutliff car, is supposed to be a MACN. Has #46 been found?

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

Yes #46 exists.

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

Do you know what the number on the back of the blocks stands for?

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

Back in the '80s I was involved with a ZL1 restoration project. At the time I corresponded with an Engineer at the Tonawanda engine plant, Fran Preve. In one of the letters I asked that question. He stated ZL1 cam and main bores had to be done on a boring bar-very slow process. Caps were fitted to a block; block and caps stamped with a number. The caps had to be removed for some of the machining process, re-united later. I believe this is no longer necessary with today's cutting tools.

Never met him but Fran was a great guy, passed away several years ago. Always pleasant, promptly responded to my letters. Much of the BB production data came from him.

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

I know who does MacNeish's aluminum work and that fellow has fixed stuff for me. I'm friends with Jerry MacNeish and wouldn't feel right "backdooring" him by posting that contact info. here. He makes a living doing what I do for a hobby, and I'll be happy to ask him to post here so you can speak directly to him regarding your repair. I couldn't tell you if there is some type of "contract" between himself and the "aluminum wizard" (the guy really is that good). I'm pretty sure you can contact him here or at his business which does have a website.

Re: 427 aluminum block
 

Some race shops do aluminum. When guys at moving ports in heads it amazing how much welding is done. Any pro stock race teams or big engine places in your area? I am in Ohio and my engine guy has a small place but does weld aluminium