The ZZ6: A New Crate Engine on the 60th Anniversary of the Small-Block

About twenty-five years ago the era of modern crate engines began with General Motors (GM) release of the “H.O. 350,” an all-new, high-performance small-block engine assembly that blended the best of old and new technologies through the use of hydraulic-roller cams and aluminum cylinder-heads. For perhaps the first time, the “ZZZ” stamped blocks made it as cost-effective to buy a fully assembled crate engine as to build an equivalent engine from speed shop parts. In 1990, those first ZZZ crate…