I've got a '76 L-82 that is starting to get tired. Thinking about putting in a ZZ4. Does it work with the stock hood? How much trouble is it, ie. new radiator?, a/c and alternator brackets. Does the stock ones work? How about the stock air cleaner? I was thinking about the 502 but that sound like way too much trouble. Or, should I just build my L-82 up to the same HP?
May be I should just get a 69-71 big block and sell the '76. Open to any suggestions.

 

I am also thinking about doing the "swap" with a crate motor. I have a 75. I am thinking about the exact same things you are. I have often thought about just saving up and buying an older car. Here is what I think I will do though.
1. do the swap (get a ramjet 350 or fastburn 385)
2. Rebuild original motor with some minor (not noticeable to the eye) mods.
3. Buy older vette, hopefully a 63-67 that needs motor,tranny work.
4. Put original motor (rebuilt) into 75.
5. Put crate motor into the older car that needs work.
6. Have two kick foot cars....

Now I realize that this can take many years to complete. But I look at it this way. I can have a fast vette that Im not going to ruin (75 isn't too desireable) but its still the same basic car as a 69. I will still have the stock motor to put in it at a later date. I will then have a good running car with a spare motor !! Buy another car to put this crate motor in after a few years. Swapping motors in these cars isn't too bad. All the motor mounts fit, there is plenty of room.. OWN LOTS OF VETTES :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:

 

I would think that it would be a basic swap, but I have not done one so cannot give expert advice. Everything should fit except the water pump (the old short vs. long issue) and the intake may be too tall for the hood. The RamJet will not fit under the hood. Otherwise should be a basic bolt in.

One thought, put the old L82 in storage, future owner may want it. The value in old vettes now is for original cars so having the original engine available my make it worth more in the future.

tom...

 

ZZ4 is a direct swap for small block engines. It has all the accessory bracket holes so all you have to do is remove your brackets and bolt them to the new engine. There are a few small differance such as the ZZ4 has a 1 peice rear main seal with a different flywheel/flexplate bolt pattern, 3 inches, and the engine comes with a new flexplate for autos that I think is of the 152 teeth variety. To check how many teeth you have look at your starter. If you have a staggered mounting bolt pattern then your flywheel/flexplate is 163 teeth. If your starter bolts are ligned up then you have 152 teeth. I had to buy a new 4 speed inspection cover and modify it to work with my original bell housing and the 1 peice rear main seal design..no big deal though. The engine fit under my 1971's hood with no problems. I have the base model hood so you should have plenty of room under the cowl hood of your year. The ZZ4 comes with the long style water pump so you will have to get a short neck pump. You will have to grind down one of the timing chain cover bolts to make the short water pump work, again no big deal. Bserry is doing a write-up on his ZZ4 engine swap in his 1980 so you might want to follow his posts. He just posted his first one. The ZZ4 is a GREAT engine!!! Since you have the original engine it would be a good thing to put a different engine in and save the old engine instead of modifying the original and risk block damage. Good luck with whatever you decide but remember if you leave the shift key pressed while typing ZZ4 you get ZZ$ :lol: :lol: :lol: .
John


[Modified by theandies, 1:20 PM 9/10/2001]

 

I am in the middle of a ZZ4 swap project now.

Check out the thread called "BSeery's 1980 ZZ4 Project" here in the C3 forum. Also look at http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/bseery/zz41.html -

I HOPE the brackets are all the same. The only problems I can really see at this time were the water pump, the flywheel, and a temp sensor issue.

See my post at http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=146088 about this one.

Also search the entire Corvette Forum for "ZZ4", you will be amazed at the information already out there.

Someone who has done this already is sure to chime in soon. (or as I am typing this as TheAndies has done :D:D:D)


[Modified by BSeery, 11:21 AM 9/10/2001]

 

It ain't the engine that turns the ZZ4 into a ZZ$... It's all the other stuff that you decide to do while you're in there... :smash:

 

OOPPs..forgot about our temp snesor issue.
BSerry, I am using my old sensor in the intake. I verified with my Rayteck IR temp gun that it runs about 5 to 10 degrees cooler at the thermostat than the head location.....no big deal to me. I am still having a hard time finding the button type connector for my old style sensor but I ordered a new sensor from Corvette Central and they also had a part listed as Insulation with terminal for $6.00 so I ordered that also. If it is wrong I am only out $6.00.
John


[Modified by theandies, 1:29 PM 9/10/2001]

 

Thats the truth :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:
John

 

Looks like this may be what I have to do as well :cuss :cry :( :cuss :cuss

 

Its actually not too bad looking because the hole I used is under the upper raditor hose so when I get the new sensor and wire I think I can hide the wire under my PVC vapor canister vacuum hoses with some tie-wraps. I'll posts some pictures as soon as I get it all finished. I have it rigged right now, just in time for some cool winter driving. Didn't have a temp guage reading all summer :eek: :eek: but I don't drive it that much in the summer because of the heat here in TX and no A/C.
John

 

loflite - The early sharks have the big block power, but the prices are just too high. Another bonus with the early cars is the fact that thet are not smog testing them - up to '72 in California.
If I was going to build a motor in a later or smog tested car, I would buy one of the "Motown 415" short blocks. Install a pair of 215 heads, good intake, and paint it Chevy orange & make it look totally stock. (Total sleeper - right down to the 350 decals)
If built right, I believe it would pass a smog inspection.
It would probably keep up with most big blocks too.
Something to think about :yesnod:

 

Go BIG BLOCK power, you will never look back if you do. I plan a mild swap for my 70, 427/435 motor to get me around. :cool: :D :D :chevy

 

I would definetly install a new ZZ4 and save the old L-82. I rebuilt my engine about 4 years ago and didn't really know that the ZZ4 existed, because I would have done the engine swap. You mentioned the 355 & 385, just remember that there are a lot more opions available to you. If you are looking for better performance and do not mind having the engine assembled locally. An example is adding the hot cam to the 385, now 430. GM also has a new cam availiable called 0847 for the ZZ4. I would get a copy of GM Performance Parts and do some research to get exactly what you want from your new engine the first time. I have spent a ton of money to get my 355 to perform at a level that I am happy with.