Z-11 Project

[Phil Reed]

TomK and Travis have mentioned our set of Z-11 heads over at Tony Shafer's machine shop. We finished up this project and delivered it about a month ago. I took some pictures and thought I'd post them here for you to look at. It will take many posts to get here what I think most of you would like to see so bear with me!!!

We didn't get to finish the detail with painting...the customer wanted to do that himself so this is not all pretty like we like to make them!!

Yes Bob and Wrench.......you don't need to ask!!!!

 

[Phil Reed]

the other side!!

The other side!!

 

[Phil Reed]

Z-11 head

Z-11 head showing the guide plate installation.

 

[SS425HP]

What did you do with my motor

Isn't that pretty. I want it :

Fred

 

[Phil Reed]

Z-11

This is the intake side. The Z-11 head had the first big block intake port design. This was a major improvement over the 690 and 583 heads!!

 

[Phil Reed]

Z-11 and 690 heads

Here is a picture of both Z-11 and 690 heads so you can see the differences.

 

[SS425HP]

Z-11 heads

Per Curt Harvey, 30+ horse power just right there.

 

[Phil Reed]

WOW!!!!

You can see here how much taller the Z-11 head is.

BETTER FLOW.....DON'T YA KNOW!!!!!

 

[Phil Reed]

intake side

Here's the intake side for comparison. Z-11 on the left and 690 on the right.

 

[Phil Reed]

bottom side

This shows the head gasket surface.

Notice how the Z-11 intake valves on the left are not real shiny...that's because these heads were TOTALLY untouched....no porting...which is unheard of.....that we used all 8 original intake valves when we rebuilt them!!!! Most heads have been "worked" so much that you have to spend alot of time getting them back to "original". Not these.....they had never been touched!! A real virgin set of heads!!!

 

[SS425HP]

Z-11 heads

Phil, as easy as it seems to be to get castings today, why can't we get someone to cast the Z-11 heads and intakes? Surely someone would do it. Lamar's stuff was just too pricey. But, maybe that's what it has to be. Just seems like the technology today would lend itself to good heads and a lower price.

Fred

 

[Phil Reed]

Z-11 intake

Here's a shot of the Z-11 2-piece intake manifolds in the installed position.

 

[Phil Reed]

Z-11 intake

Here is the intake separated. The vally pan seals off the top half of the engine while the intake is all carbs and runners to the heads!!

 

[59elcooldsuv]

WOW!

 

[Phil Reed]

Z-11 intake with carbs

Here is the intake system with carbs. The Z-11 used the same carbs as the 425HP...3361-S for the front and 3362-S for the rear. The is a shot from the passenger's side.

That is the special Z-11 only fuel filter. Had 5 made about 5 years ago....this is the last one!!

 

[Phil Reed]

Z-11 intake and carbs

Here's the view from the driver's side. Carbs have all been restored and recolored. They really look better in person!! It's really a sin to put fuel in them!!

 

[Phil Reed]

Z-11 water pumps

Here are the 2 water pumps I had rebuilt. One is dated jan. 15, 1963 and the other is Jan. 16, 1963!!

Of course, the Z-11 water pumps are aluminum. They are kinda rare too!!!

 

[SS425HP]

That's recoloured for up north!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Heehee

 

[Phil Reed]

Z-1 water pump

Both of these pumps had a unique feature. They had both the Pre-production or engineering number...that's the 0-217949 number and the regular 7 digit GM part number.

Well...that's it for now. Hope you enjoy!!! Now...we have to go look for another one!!!!!

 

[Tom Kochtanek]

What a difference!

Phil:

Those heads and that block look sooooo much better than when I last saw them bare. And I thought that was a pretty neat sight

Congrats on a job well done, and thanks for sharing the pics. Please tell me that the engine is going in my '62 and not some guy's truck

Best,
TomK