427 Mystery Motor

[Verle R.]

This 1963 era engine came from Smokey Yunick's garage. The 63 mystery motor is obviously smaller than a big block chevy, about like a small block with scaled down BB heads.

I cannot find the pictures with casting number and date.

Verle

[Joseph T.]

Re: 427 Mystery Motor

Ray Fox built the heads for the original mystery motor..working for Smokey. He is still in Daytona...above ground!

Joe

[Robert Willis]

Re: 427 Mystery Motor

Wasn't that engine built useing a 409 W type block ? I have saw one of them and I have saw a couple of the 409 W 427 cu in engines (with W heads) in 1963 lightweight Passenger Cars

Bob

[Dick W.]

Re: 427 Mystery Motor

You are thinking of the Z-11, a 427 built on the Mark I "W" block. The Z-11 NASCAR engines (read Mystery Motor) were the Mark II engines, the predecessor to the Mark IV engines. The only one that I know that is running (there are probably a couple of more) has 7 cylinders sleeved..

[Verle R.]

Re: 427 Mystery Motor

The story I heard was the Mystery Motor basic design was the W block that was recast with 90 degree head surfaces. The crank would interchange with the W block and maybe the rods but not much else.

Verle

[Robert Willis]

Re: 427 Mystery Motor

I saw and heard the Old Reliable (Jenkins/Strickler) 1963 Impala with the W style 427 and I also saw a 1963 Junior Johnson Chevy with the Mystery Motor (BB style heads) . The Mystery Motor Car was in a Museum so who knows if it was broke internally ?

Bob

[Dick W.]

Re: 427 Mystery Motor

The #3 Holly Farms Chicken car runs but it is the one with the sleeves in it. Jr. and Darrel Waltrip took it to Goodwood 3-4 years ago and made some exhibition laps with it.

It resides at Jr's farm now.

[Robert Willis]

Re: 427 Mystery Motor

The Holly Farms car would be the one I saw in Darlington some years ago.

Bob

[Verle R.]

Re: 427 of a few years later

A ZL1 on a test stand "out on the farm".

Verle

[Dick W.]

Re: 427 of a few years later

Verle, that would look good with one the sets of Chapparel or McLaren magnesium valve covers I have (NOT FOR SALE). My memory has gone NCRS on me. Is that the casting # for the original ZL-1 engines?? Or is that the later block??

[Verle R.]

Re: 427 of a few years later

Dick,

That picture was taken in 1991 so it is not one of the recent blocks. The casting date on the block is 68 or 69, I don't remember now.

The block was pristine before we put the engine together. It showed no sign of having been assembled before, standard bore. The heads are 074 castings with 69 dates. The intake is a 69 casting.

The carburetor in the picture was used for testing and was replaced with a Holley before the engine was installed in the maroon glass thing just behind the stand.

Verle

[Mike McKown]

Re: 427 Mystery Motor

Looks like it has the long Pontiac four speed hanging off the back of it.

[Mike M.]

Re: 427 Mystery Motor

mike: wasn't aware the Pontiac Muncie tailshft and housing differed in length from its corvette cousins.you sure the Indians are longer? mike

[Verle R.]

Re: 427 Mystery Motor

Mike,

I recently saw a Muncie 4-speeds with very long tailshaft housing at a swap meet and was told it was a Ponitac part.

Don't know about earlier trannies.

Verle

[Dick W.]

Re: 427 Mystery Motor

The Massey Ferguson??????