Put a ZZ430 clone in my 79 a few years back but I need more HP. Can one ever get enough? I'm looking for suggestions to up the HP without major engine work. What do ya think?

 

HP is a drug. Once you have it you always want more. Sure there is a way for more HP. What is your budget is the key question. I always say the speed is limited by your wallet. How fast you go is how much you want to spend.

 

Just going to

I've got a ZZ430 clone too so I want to hear some of the motor guys opinions.

 

I was going to use some of the fast burns with the lt4 hot cam but I decided to use some AFr 180 eliminators with the hot cam.
NOw I am thinking about adding one of those little super chargers.
I think the recommended limit on the powdered metal rods is 500 hp though.

 

What tranny and rear do you have? You might not be getting the best power to the street.

 

How high are you willing to spin it? To get any more measureable HP/TQ out of that engine, you are going to have to go into it....

Have the Fastburn heads(I assume that is what you have) professionally ported, also have them milled some to get the compression up. Try to get the compression atleast up to 10.0-1....those flat top 350 pistons usually yield 10.0-1 with a 58cc head like the zz4 has....the FB heads are 64cx I believe so you lost some compression/HP there.... Milling the heads will get some of that back...also installing bigger valves in the head will help as FBs only have 2.00" intake valves I believe...

HONESTLY THOUGH. for what you will spend trying to mod those FB heads, you could spend $1450 for a set of AFR 195 Eliminators and probably pick up 30-40hp over what you have...get AFR to mill them some to get the chambers to 60cc or so.

Then a cam swap is necessary....that "hot cam" that comes in the LT4s and Slp stuff is tiny. I would get a real cam ground for it from Straub Technologies or Brett Bauer.....give them the engine combo and they will spec a custom hyd roller that you can use your lifters(or get some good Morel lifters)... This cam will likely net you another 30-40hp...

Next will be the intake manifold....hood clearance always comes to play here but...if you have an L88 hood, I would go with an RPM air gap intake, that should be plenty, they will support 500hp... That or a Victor jr....but the air gap will be nicer around town. Put a 1" open spacer on it if you can fit it. Use a 750 Holley (or any 4150 style double pumper in a 750)..

Ofcourse you need good headers, 1 3/4" are preferred...then a good 3" exhaust system with free flowing mufflers.

All of these changes should get you close to 485-500 crank hp.... You'll spend $2500 or so to get it though...

 

You are better off just pulling it out and selling it. I had a solid roller 355 ci years ago and they just don't have the TQ to accelerate our over 3000 pound Vettes like bigger ci or supercharged does.

The best bang for the buck is blower. It is much cheaper per HP than any N/A motor

 

http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/Chev...8s/safrzz4.cfm
I guess you guys have seen this
.What about this keep the hot cam get some AFr 195 eliminators with the large combustion chambers then use a 142 or 144 super charger,
You could do all this with the engine in the car.

 

i also have a ZZ430 clone

if you want more HP you can go for this camshaft:
GM part number 12370847
Hydraulic roller, I = 234 at .539 lift and E = 242 at .558 lift.
That's with 1.5 ratio rockers. The centerline is 112 degrees.
it's a camshaft that was use on zz465 but i think you need some machinig for valve spring clearance.

About supercharging:
you had to change connecting rods for up to 500hp and need forged pistons that what sallee chevrolet said to me when i wanted to install a procharger (so i leave this solution)

 

I have a 66 Nova with a Supercharged Real ZZ430, 500 plus HP. Fast

 

I had a ZZ430 once great engine. You have a good building block but the pistons and rods are almost that there limit. If you change to forged you should be able to crank it up 100 hp or more.