zz4 engine
Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 538
Likes: 7
From: Johnsonville Wi
H20 pump
Nope, need a short pump. I asked GMPP about this once (since I beleive that most people who buy this motor need the short pump), along with a ?? about why they include a flexplate when (I think) most people who buy this motor really need a flywheel. I suggested that they don't include the flexplate or water pump and lower the price, might as well have called my Congressman. There's also no crank bushing or bearing included, and at the time I bought mine, the oil filter boss wasn't setup for a screw-on filter and when you bought that, you found that it didn't include the needed bolts, the supplied HEI is a good unit with an innappropriate vac. can (see many posts here on that, a GM 1973682 is a better choice, connected to full mani. vac (not ported). Still a great motor choice and you will love it.
Anybody want to buy a long water pump ? I have two, ones aluminum and the others iron, both from GMPP on crate motors. Gave the flexplates to stock car racers.
Anybody want to buy a long water pump ? I have two, ones aluminum and the others iron, both from GMPP on crate motors. Gave the flexplates to stock car racers.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: KS
I have a ZZ4 in my 66 coupe. I'm using the Stewart water pump and headman headers. The headman headers are made special for the "D" exhaust ports. I also went with the MSD tach drive unit and 6AL box. I have been very happy with the performance of the ZZ4. It's real fun to drive when combined with the TKO 500 transmission.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,482
Likes: 27
From: Plum Boro, Pa. USA Pennsylvania
Originally Posted by Itza66
I have a ZZ4 in my 66 coupe. I'm using the Stewart water pump and headman headers. The headman headers are made special for the "D" exhaust ports. I also went with the MSD tach drive unit and 6AL box. I have been very happy with the performance of the ZZ4. It's real fun to drive when combined with the TKO 500 transmission.
Cost back then was $120, now $188.
GAVE the long-shaft w/p to a Cruise bud of mine who was putting a V8 into his original owner '65 Malibu 'vert to replace the original "6".
Cruz
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 15,301
Likes: 2,262
From: NorCal
Yup!
Have had a ZZ4 in my '67 vert for about 4 years now - absolutely love it! As others have said, you'll need to use a short neck water pump. I also went with the original style tach drive (cable) distributor instead of the electronic one that came with the ZZ4, so I could use the origial tach. I also agree with the comment about the flex plate vs flywheel; when I went to a flywheel to match up with my then Muncie/now Keisler (Tremec) manual tranny I had the flywheel lightened. Really makes the motor "snap" to revs quickly! I'd recommend it to anyone doing a ZZ4 installation with a manual transmission. Another note - the end product sat about 1"higher than stock (even after driving it so the springs could settle), so I had to change them out to shorter springs. Found and used a set of original '63 Z06 springs; they brought it back down to spec ride height and the car handles great, completely neutral and I can steer it with the throttle in low to mid speed corners. Not brave enough to try that in high speed corners, 'tho!
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 513
Likes: 3
From: And make no mistake, there's women who just wait for the man and machine with the best time
St. Jude Donor '08
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Be careful with the flywheel lightening. I believe that the ZZ4 short block uses weight on the flywheel to complete the engine balancing--in other words, the engine is partially externally balanced. GM does offer a lightweight nodular iron flywheel for this short block, which might be a better way to go--albeit a more expensive one.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 538
Likes: 7
From: Johnsonville Wi
H20 pump
I used a FlowCooler iron pump and a crappy (but worked OK) brass radiator on one and a GMPP aluminum pump and a DeWitts on the last swap.
I ported the original 2 1/2" RamsHorns to fit the D Port heads on the zz3(the L98 heads are a real good head but the RamsHorns did a nice job and included the alternator mount.)
On the second swap the heads were Fastburns and I had custom header$ made to fitup to my sidepipes, fabbed my own alternator mount.
To give a short answer, if the rest of your cooling system is in good shape and your engine is in tune, you can choose between any low cost pump or save some weight with an aluminum pump.
Daffy
I ported the original 2 1/2" RamsHorns to fit the D Port heads on the zz3(the L98 heads are a real good head but the RamsHorns did a nice job and included the alternator mount.)
On the second swap the heads were Fastburns and I had custom header$ made to fitup to my sidepipes, fabbed my own alternator mount.
To give a short answer, if the rest of your cooling system is in good shape and your engine is in tune, you can choose between any low cost pump or save some weight with an aluminum pump.
Daffy
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 15,301
Likes: 2,262
From: NorCal
...not sure I understand ???????????
Originally Posted by sjaroslo
Be careful with the flywheel lightening. I believe that the ZZ4 short block uses weight on the flywheel to complete the engine balancing--in other words, the engine is partially externally balanced. GM does offer a lightweight nodular iron flywheel for this short block, which might be a better way to go--albeit a more expensive one.
In the words of Larry the Cable Guy - Somethin Ain't Right Here!
In any case, using a lightened flywheel hasn't caused me any problems in 4 years and 6000 or so miles................
