bernie payne

I have decided to put the tired L-48 aside in my garage and wake my car up with the ZZ383. I am tired of my 76 being the laughing stock of corvettes. I have an automatic, when the new engine goes in I will have 3.7 rear gears, and the TH 400. I will also be running headers and true duel exhaust with no catalytic converters. What should I be able to expect from this engine? Anything like approximate 1/4 mile time, 0-60, etc. Thanks

turtlevette

that's a good one with the fast burn heads, you should be able to do 12s

I'm showing a cost of about $5200 at a place called crate engine depot or scoggin dickey for 5150

ZZ71S

What can you expect tire smoke and happiness

3JsVette

I know someone who has the ZZ383 in a C2 and while he has never run the car at the track he LOVES the motor. He says it has all the power you will ever need and has great street manners. He dressed it to look like a stock 327. I think you will be very happy with it.

Corv80

I installed the ZZ383 in my 1980 for the exact reason you are. Personnaly, I coudn't live with my wife's SUV having more HP and torque than my Corvette. I installed it myself and everything went very well. I went with true duals and no cats too. There are a few things I ran into to keep in mind. The ZZ383 is drilled for a standard intake manifold and a vortec manifold. I discarded the original intake and bought a vortec intake manifold. Otherwise the ports just dont match up right. It's worth it! Next, the tempreture sender port in the head is a different size than the one in your original head. You can either get another sender that fits the port and gives you the correct reading or relocate your original one to the intake manifold. I did the latter. Everything else fit perfectly.

I had one problem with my enginethough. After 300 miles of driving, it developed a loud knock. Because of the warranty, I took it to a Chevy dealer. They fould that the #8 rockers were loose. They tighened them and checked the others. It runs great again.

You will love the power. I got mine from Scoggin Dickey, great service! The engine was in my garage seven days after I placed the order!!

bernie payne

Thanks a lot. This helped me make my decision, and figure out what else I am going to need. I am definitely going to go with the ZZ383.
I cant wait.

BKbroiler

If you are really concerned about 1/4 mile times and zero to 60 etc. you need to replace your torque converter with something around 2,800 rpm stall. You should have the trans upgraded while its out too. You won't see the 12s with a stock converter.

Fast81

and maybe a broken trans.......

63mako

I wouldn't worry about tearing out a TH400 with a ZZ383. They are pretty stout. Rear end will go first and with street tires if it is a good rear it should last for a long while behind an automatic. For that kind of $ and with a 3.70 gear I would have went with the T&L 408. All forged, more power, more torque, more CI, better internals, Dyno tuned, Less money.Look at the torque on the dyno chart on the link.
http://tandlengines.com/chevy_sb_alu...408%20A-1.html

bernie payne

Wow, I do like that T&L 408. It's cheaper, and stronger. You may have just completely changed my mind. If I go with this, should I go with the THM 400 or the THM 200- 4R?
Right now I have the THM 350, and I know this wouldn't last.

FRSTR90

As for strength and reliability. Nothing beats the TH400. In stock form, they can hold about 700 HP. In stock form with a girdle, they can hold roughly 900 HP. A lot of money will have to be sunken into the 200-4R to make to try to make it as strong, and even with that, I doubt it will be as strong as a TH400. If you're looking at a Heavy Duty trans with an OD you can always try a 4L80E. Basically, a TH400 with an OD. In fact, alot of parts from the TH400 are interchangeable with the 4L80E.

Fast81

Horrible gas mileage (from right foot application) and VERY premature rear tire wear (see above)

bernie payne

The car is not my daily driver. I drive it two or maybe three times a week. I am not worried about gas milage, I don't drive far or on the highway, and tires can be replaced. I want my car to be fun to drive, and also be able to occasionally go to the track and not get blown away.

Fast81

Just pulling your chain a little
BUT remember, you are dropping in a 400-450hp motor in where a 180hp motor used to live (and the drivetrain designed to it). Gotta look at it as a system (motor/tranny/driveshafts/rearend).....just like GM designed it originally.
Sound$ like fun

63mako

That 408 is a torque monster! Think you will be very happy with it. Probably saved almost enough to rebuild the rear end when you tear it out. . The turbo 400 is a great trans. If it is a rebuilt or new you won't tear it out. Keisler has an OD automatic that will hold up too. Direct bolt in. It will give you an 11.3 to 1 first gear and cruise in OD like a 2.60 rear end.
http://www.keislerauto.com/index.php...550-lb-ft.html

kellyr073

Google T&L before you do a thing....

BTW, I had a 383 built locally for $5,500, 403HP at 5200RPM, 450ftlb of torque.

Was 428 HP, but lost 25HP by swapping th Air Gap with the Performer for hood clearance, but gained in torque.

Quite a different ride from my 270HP stock 350 w/M21. You'll grin from ear to ear, once you get it installed.

Brass Pass

Do the Google before you buy...

63mako

He is a Nascar shop and has been for 30 years. Also has an E-bay store. His feedback rating is 99.1%. I think this is pretty decent for any engine builder. If you build hundreds of engines a year you will have some issues with suppliers, parts backorders, lead times, meeting delivery dates at times and sometimes an overzelous gearhead just revs the thing too high and blows it up. One or two people have an issue and post it or respond on a four or five different forums and things look worse than they are. I would call Lloyd in the morning, talk to him directly and tell him you are from the corvette forum and get a guaranteed delivery date. You are close enough I would be tempted to drive up and watch the dyno session.
http://feedback.ebay.com/ebaymotors/...ab=AllFeedback
Scroll through and read the 16 pages of feedback.

bernie payne

Okay, now I am freaked out about going with T&L. I read some really good things, and some really bad things. It sounds like they can build a mean engine. I might just start another thread asking who has dealt with them.
I love and hate these kinds of decisions at the very same time.

Bud2

at T&L. Sounds like so much fun I started to bone up! Sure wish we had someone like that here in Oz.

Bud.