ghbrothers

Has anyone installed this ZZ383 in their C4 with TPI? How has it worked for you? This just may be my next move to upgrade my L98.
Thanks for your input.

Zix

Yep, there's one right now down at a shop I do some work at occasionally. It has the ZZ383 with the TPI and a Vortech supercharger. When we were doing the initial tuning we left the supercharger off the car, I was really impressed with how well it ran! It's a fast car without the supercharger, but when we hooked it up it was like

It's a good engine for the price, better than I expected!

kopbet89c4

Bump... I'd certainly hope most people or even redneck mechanics can build a 383 cheaper than the current price tag of that genuine GM motor. Looks like sometimes the heads alone are worth 50% of the entire package. Unless you can get the HT383 long block assy and put in your choice of really good flowing iron heads.

Zix

Um, the ZZ383 engine is $4700 complete, all you need to do it bolt-on an intake and you're done. This includes aluminum fast burn heads, which are damn nice heads and the GM846 cam, which is a $300 cam if you bought it seperatly. Not to mention the fact that is a completely warranteed motor...something that really can't be said for almost any other engine you buy elsewhere. Yes, I know a lot of places say they'll give you a warranty, but they'll fight you tooth-and-nail over replacing anything if something goes wrong...whereas GMPP is very easy to deal with. In fact the engine I saw installed was going to be replced by GMPP because of a strange vibration issue, but it turns out that the engine gets shipped with a weighted front balancer, and we bolted on a stock Corvette zero-balanced balancer which threw everything off. Put the correct balancer on and it was great...but as I said GMPP was ready to ship out a brand new replacement for it.

I know a lot of people that can build a 383 motor A LOT cheaper (and more powerful) than Lingenfelter can, but people buy them because they are well-built and warranteed. The GMPP engine is the same idea, it's not as exotic that's for sure, but it's well built and carries a very respectable warranty.

Also, the ZZ383 provides a solid base to build sopme more power on top of. Getting a safe 460-480 FWHP would be very easy, or bolt on a supercharger like the one I've seen and you have a VERY fast ride!

STL94LT1

cv67

Another vote for the GM piece. How many rebuilds do you see that get driven hard for 150k miles and hold up? Quality has its price.

ROME

Does anyone have the power/torque numbers for the GM ZZ383 vs. the popular Lingenfelter 383 setup (219 Cam, Superram intake, etc)? *Any clue what heads are used with the Lingenfelter engine?

I've been planning on copying the Lingenfelter 383 using AFR 195 heads, but now I'm wondering if the standard ZZ383 will match or beat the performance. If so, I'd rather spend the extra cash and opt for the GM warranty.

cv67

Lingenfelters older strokers used either ported 113's or the old 492 "turbo" head (the vortec will outflow it stick for stock). I imagine a 195 AFR would set your car on fire!

okies93

For a warranty, one that is actually backed is worth a few extra bucks.

Slalom4me

Does the ZZ383 have an 8" damper? I am guessing you initially
installed the Corvette damper to avoid having to modify the
cross-member. If I am right about the ZZ383 being larger, how much
did you have to rework the frame for clearance?

BTW - the ZZ383 has a number of parts like the PM rods that aren't
commonly used by other builders. Local dealers are sometimes willing
to sell GM crate engines for a significant discount under retail. Include
me in the camp that feels these are a lot of bang for the buck.

.

SmokinBlack

For those of you with experience with this package, what injectors, intake, etc. are you having success with?

Zix

Yep, we installed the Vette balancer for clearance, and didn't realize the balancer sent with the engine was weighted. We modified the cross-member, but then decided to have a vette balancer weighted like the one the engine came with instead. That's what's on there now, and it's running very nicely!

Zix

24-30# injectors will be plenty, and the only one I've dealt with still hase the stock TPI runners and plenum on it...but it has a Vortech on top of that so it's a pretty impressive running car.