Colbert Z-11 News

[Blk61409]

It’s been a while since I posted anything about the Colbert Z-11.

Many discussions with Dave to continue building the history.

An interesting story how Dave outran the Ramchargers, more on that another time.

Anyway, before Covid I received a call from Russ Campbell who had talked with Mark Johnson about a 57 Corvette that was for sale with what looked like a 409/427 Z-11 or maybe a top half.
I gathered the info, reached out and made a flight to look at it. That took about a year.

Upon arrival I discovered an old 57 vette race car complete with a push bar, Fiberglas in a mess, split, torn etc. Working my way to the car, it was obvious it had sat outside for 30-35 years. The engine was missing the intake with cylinder heads full of debris and the dipstick end was all rust.

It was a Z-11 set of heads and valley cover.

Now for the best news.

The pad on the front of the block was stamped QM!

Not only that, but it had the serial number stamped from the Colbert Z-11!!!!

Now, after 2 more years of negotiating I purchased the car and engine with the transmission. Got it home and began dismantling it. Rods, std, mains std, 0- crank, big white balancer(was white paint gone), all pistons std and perfect except 1 hole that rusted from water setting. Needs a sleeve. Has the Eonic cam.

Lots more to the story and I’ll post more photos. Will take a while for completion.

 

[No409]

Wow thats awesome Pat! Congrats

 

[RussC]

So…I guess that makes the motor Phil broke extra????

 

[63409]

Wow nice

 

[Iowa 409 Guy]

Amazing

 

[63 dream'n]

So the owner of the Colbert car, at one point pieced it out…….???

 

[dakota tom]

Once in a while the unbelievable happens.

 

[dm62409]

Wow ! What a great story Pat. Congrats on the purchase. Dreams do come true.

 

[Blk61409]

So the owner of the Colbert car, at one point pieced it out…….???

From what I have learned, someone that owned the car pulled the engine, put a small block and heater in it and his wife drove it for a while. When I got it there was no motor or trans in it, but there was a heater. I called Dave Colbert about the heater and he started laughing. He said “hell no”, he had to drive it about 40 miles in freezing temps bundled up with costs and gloves to get to Jan-Cen Automotive to pull the engine and balance it.
Confirmed it did not come with a heater

 

[Blk61409]

So…I guess that makes the motor Phil broke extra????

 

[Phil Reed]

Russ.....you are an AGITATOR!!!!!!!! Go back to work and quit stirring the pot!!!!!!

 

[1964SuperStocker]

Super excited you were able to work a deal Pat. Nothing worse then these rare race parts getting stuffed in cars to go for hamburgers. Tell you the truth I keep holding out hope I will hear/see some of Vincent's "Bad News" parts in one of these Z11 finds. No dice yet.

 

[63impalass409]

Nice find Pat

 

[63impalass409]

Pat you say it has the big white balancer on this motor and the mystery motor in the other thread? I know the Z balancers are different from HP balancers as I have one of the balancers and you can tell the difference just by looking at the back of it but is there a reason why you called it a white balancer other than the actual color of it? Another question is are the mystery balancer and Z balancer the same? Just curious.

 

[RussC]

Russ.....you are an AGITATOR!!!!!!!! Go back to work and quit stirring the pot!!!!!!

Phil..Didn’t mean to raise old issues…go back to sleep…just thought Pat might want to thin the inventory

 

[409envy]

Pat… once again you have outdone your self! How many Z11’s can say they have the original numbers matching engine!!! Can’t wait to see this reunion.

Russ!! Welcome back to the forum, I didn’t know you were posting again. Hope all is well.

 

[Iowa 409 Guy]

Phil..Didn’t mean to raise old issues…go back to sleep…just thought Pat might want to thin the inventory

Probably caused by the 8,000 rpm chip malfunctioning.

Sounded like an airplane taking off.....

 

[Blk61409]

Pat you say it has the big white balancer on this motor and the mystery motor in the other thread? I know the Z balancers are different from HP balancers as I have one of the balancers and you can tell the difference just by looking at the back of it but is there a reason why you called it a white balancer other than the actual color of it? Another question is are the mystery balancer and Z balancer the same? Just curious.

Yes, the MM and Z-11 balancers are the exact same, as are the crankshafts. Both painted white.

 

[oldskydog]

Great find Pat.
What are your plans for the 57?. I have a 57 fuelie block waiting to be built.

 

[Blk61409]

Sold the 57, frame rail was rusted in half.
Guy is building a restomod