Any recommendations on the best deals out there on a ZZ4 crate engine shipped to Va. Beach? Gotta' do a Tim Allen on my 61'. Thanks. Bert.

 

Go to your local dealer (Chevy) They have the 355 hp version. You will see the same price just about everywhere within reason. (Go to the parts department)

You could also check the prices on JEG's and Summit. (Not sure on Summit's engine delivery cost)

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...=KeywordSearch

If you belong to a club, you may also have a discount at a dealer if you have any dealership sponsors. We save 10% from our local dealer on all items from the parts department.

I have one in my '59 (355 hp version). I went with a 2x4 carb set up, along with an MSD tach drive distibutor with remote coil to replicate the look of stock and retain the dist cover. Power is great and really makes the car fun. I have 3:70 rear so Hiway fun is possible as well. Entire set up (with carbs and new dist) was about 4k.

Good Luck

Good Luck

 

Price: $ 3779.00

here http://www.crateenginedepot.com/

In my experience if you take the lowest price to the dealer (any GM flavor) they will match the price. Then figure out if sales tax or shipping is cheaper.

 

Both of the suggestions above are good.... Scoggin Dickey and Autocenter are also competitive GMPP dealers.

I don't know if you are completely sold on the ZZ4 choice yet...
The reason I say this is because the ZZ4 uses L98 heads, from 85 to
89 Corvettes... the L98 heads were good in their day... but the
Iron Vortec L31 heads on the 96 up Vortec 350's (truck engine) make more power than the L98's. There are some other options you could choose also if you were willing to let your local machinist do some assembly for you or do some yourself.. I don't really know where you are in the process.

I usually come at solutions from a performance angle so I will list
a few alternatives.

Buy the ZZ4 short block.. GM# 12561723
Use the LT4 hot cam ... the kit is GM# 12480002

Any of these GM heads will provide more performance than the
L98's.

1. L31 Vortec Iron (96 Truck)..... GM# 12558060
2. Small Port 185cc Vortec "Bowtie"....GM#25534421
3. Aluminum "Fast Burn" Heads...GM#12464298

Another thing you could do would be to get the GM 350HO engine
and drop the LT4 hot cam w/roller conversion in it.. the GM 350HO
crate motor comes with the L31 Vortec Heads on it... you can get the
350HO as a long block or turn key w/carb,etc..... the only small drawback is the nodular crank.. which will be absolutely fine without
nitrous under 500hp power levels.

Anyway, if you are willing to play with the combos a little.. rather
than just take what's offered...the reward will be an engine more powerful than a ZZ4 for comparible money. You could also rebuild
what you have using AFR heads and beat a standard ZZ4.
Good luck to you whatever direction you descide to go.

 

I got mine from www.sdpc2000.com. But if you go to craigslist.com, i came across one there a fella was selling because he changed his mind. Found it:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/pts/231428087.html

You could move up to the ZZ383 and get more horsepower if you want it.

I had good service from Scoggins Dickey
Dave

 

Go Here There in Chesapeak VA.

http://www.performancebuick.com/

Phone number is on the web site. Ask For Mike Labuduvich in Service or Parts not sure.....
Tell him Mark Richman sent you from the forum ..the guy he sold the ZZ502 ..to.

 

Bert, Bert, Bert....Bert, a ZZ4 is a fine peice of equipment, but you need more. AND, it seems we taught you little at BG last year. Look at what recently did to Patrick's Casper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGmoqtthnV4 There are parts a,b,c video


You may not need a street 820 RWHP 598ci, but if are not going for over 400hp, why open the tool box?

Let us guide you to the LIGHT...you can have the fastest street 61 in the world.

Joe

 

Hey Bert...if nothing else...do some searching on Steve Barker's buildup (632C2) on his '67. He used the new GM 383 shortblock with Dart Platinum series iron heads, cast iron manifolds etc. He has that puppy well over 400 RWHP and running 12.15 in the 1/4 with a Tremec on drag radials. He gave lots of details and pictures.....same setup in your lighter car would run 11's easy!!


JIM

 

OK, I just today had a severe attack of common sense. I have a brand new, unstarted (by me) ZZ3, purchased in 1996, sitting in a 63' Impala I own. I'm going to pull that engine (block, heads,intake) out of the Impala and put in the 61' Vette. Now, my question is: I have the Eldelbrock Performer heads,Intake and 600 cfm carb available off the 327 I have currently on the 327. Would I be better off (performance-wise) to keep the ZZ3 basics as is, or use any of the Eldelbrock components off the 327? Keep in mind the hood clearance factors with the C-1's. (With the 350 ZZ4, maybe I should get the 750CFM Carb?). Bert.

 

I have the original ZZZ motor originally purchased in 1989 by someone who never used it. I purchased it for $2100 in 1992 still in the crate and didn't fire it up until 2003. Its now sits in my 34' Ford Coupe. I also purchased the suggested 750CFM Holley carb brand new at the time from the owner of the ZZZ motor. This motor runs real strong at 345 hp from the factory and has more then enough power for me. Unless some of you guys are going to do a lot of racing and you feel you need more, the ZZZ series should satisfy the majority out there.

 

FFAS 23, you are the perfect answer for me!! After your engine sat that long before being started, anything special you worried about before starting it? I am up on the pre-oiling considerations etc. Bert.

 

I agree that you should consider sales tax vs shipping. I could have bought my ZZ383 here in GA at a summit warehouse 50 miles away. I got a good deal from Scoggin Dickey (now gilbert chevrolet) the freight was about 1/2 of the tax here !

AND..... I also got a great deal on an endurashine manifold, and water pump...both installed for free, along with the rasied letter aluminum chevrolet valve covers at a very very good price.

Ask for 'Tom' in parts to negotiate ! He was excellent to me!

Kyle Dallas has a point about the L98 heads.... they are now old technology.....I understand more HP can be had with the fast burn or AFR heads, BUT there is the air going in, (INTAKE) to consider! Dennis Beck found that an Edelebrock 'Performer' intake with his 383 was as 'high' in height as he can go. I think with any better heads over L98, you can't get a bigger intake with stock hood than a performer, ..... it seems you KILL the effect of those better heads! This is my conclusion after many conversations with Scott, one of the main engine gurus at Gilbert Chevrolet.

If I am incorrect anyone please set me straight..

Personally, I wanted to do business with Gilbert Chevrolet because they were great to me giving me a lot of advice and were very helpful helping me learn all the options and to sort thru various decisons.

Check jegs/summit/gilbert/ local dealer / various sources and negotiate! Good luck!!

 

My flowchart is indicating that the Edelbrocks will make power than
the ZZ/L98's.. I have most SBC head flow numbers.. I will follow up

Nassau.. your statement is a little confusing to me.. height is not the determinant issue in flow..
shape and size play a factor...and in the case of tuned manifolds length can be used to improve
torque... single vs. dual plane manifolds can effect torque also...

An example I could site on height not restricting flow would be in a short Hilborn FI set up
with individual velocity stacks... Hilborns can flow huge amounts of air..enough to support
RPM and Air hungry full race heads.

 

From what I understand the ZZZ series engines are already ran at the factory. Yes I had some worries about it sitting so long but didn't have any problems with it. I heard all kinds of stories that maybe the valve springs would be out of wack for sitting in the same position for so many years. Didn't seem to hurt anything. I only put a little over a thousand miles on it since the summer of 2004 and it runs strong. It sat with its factory 5/30 lube all those years since 92' right in the frame of my street rod all hooked up ready to go. When I decided to finish the car in 2003 we just fired it up and had instant oil pressure. At that time I added a 50/50 mixture of anti-freeze to it pryor to that it sat dry in the car.

 

Flow numbers on the Edelbrock,L98,Vortec,and AFR heads.
..
..
Head..........port size int/ex......lift@300........400........500.. ......600....
**************************************** **************
GM
L98/ZZ............163cc/int....cfm-163/129...189/148...199/164...199/164
**************************************** **************
Edelbrock Perf
#6071,6073......170cc/60......cfm-188/140...224/160...233/172...233/179
**************************************** **************
GM L-31
Vortec............170cc/61......cfm-190/129...227/140...239/147...229/151
**************************************** **************
AFR 180
Eliminator........180cc/int.....cfm-195/156...240/178...255/190...260/194
**************************************** **************
AFR Eliminator CNC
Competition.....180cc/int.....cfm-206/152...245/190...260/204...268/211
**************************************** **************

Here are some very rough Horsepower projections if the rest of the
engine was set up for a competition 355ci given these lift,flow,port size numbers.

GM L98/ZZ...............390hp to 410hp
Edelbrock Perf .........460hp to 480hp
GM Vortec L31..........470hp to 495hp
AFR Eliminator 180.....495hp to 525hp
AFR Elim/Comp/180....505hp to 535hp

The ZZ4 has L98 heads... the 350HO crate has the better flowing
Vortecs, but has the cast crank to the ZZ4's forged crank..
Here's a few part you could use putting your own engine together.

ZZ4 Block/4bolt main.. New.. Scoggin Dickey... $669.00
http://www.sdpc2000.com/search.asp?s...5123&doquery=1

Scat Forged 4130 Crank.. RPM Machine..$399.00
http://www.rpmmachine.com/scat-crank...standard.shtml

8 Forged H-Beam Competion Rods..Speedway Motors.. $349.00
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/asp...qx/Product.htm

Keith Black Hypereutetic Pistons... Speedway Motors..$189.95
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/asp...qx/Product.htm

that's $1606.00 on short block before cam/pan/etc.

AFR 180cc/port Eliminators..Race Parts Direct.. $1280.00
http://www.racepartsdirect.com/shop....25_612_613_617

AFR Heads + Budget Forged New Short block... $2880.00

certainly not a complete list.. but a little sample of what's possible.