Zz4 or zz383
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 17
From: South Shore Massachusetts
Zz4 or zz383
I have 76 that I am doing a complete body off on. To make a long story short this was my brothers car and he bought it new in 76, he passed away a year ago and prior to that the car sat for about 15 years. I will never sell this car as it means to much to me. I want to replace the tired L-48 for either a zz4 or zz383. I know the zz4 will fit under the stock hood but will a zz383 fit with the dual plane manifold?
This car will not be raced but used as a cruiser. It does have a 3:73 rear and I will be putting either a tko500 or tko600 tranny in it. I am not concerned engine originality so the l-48 will be put in the corner of the garage, I do however want to keep the stock hood.
Any help or ideas greatly appreciated.
Tim
This car will not be raced but used as a cruiser. It does have a 3:73 rear and I will be putting either a tko500 or tko600 tranny in it. I am not concerned engine originality so the l-48 will be put in the corner of the garage, I do however want to keep the stock hood.
Any help or ideas greatly appreciated.
Tim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,930
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From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
first, I'm sorry for your loss. i lost my Dad a year ago today, its a terrible thing. i believe the 383 works with a dropped base air cleaner.your axle ratio with a 6 speed should work out very well. good luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 17
From: South Shore Massachusetts
Pro
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 613
Likes: 11
From: EVANSVILLE Wisconsin
For a little bit more money, but a lot less than a ZZ383 you could go with a Fast Burn 385. Definitely better heads than the ZZ4 which will get you another 30HP right out of the box. Are you looking for a turn-key or a partial motor?? A 383 will undoubtedly be more fun should you choose to drive it that way but for a cruiser only the 350 would prolly be more fuel efficient and offer plenty of power.
Sorry to hear about your brother for sure.....
Sorry to hear about your brother for sure.....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
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From: South Shore Massachusetts
I do not want to build the motor but have no problems adding distributor, intake and carb.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 912
Likes: 47
From: Kansas City MO
Not quite sure. Maybe someone else will chime. You could also contact the staff at Pace Performance. I am sure they can help...
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
I can see why you never sell it. It's personal. Good for you.
Both the ZZ4 and 383 are small block engines. I have a GM Performance 350 HO that puts out more than its rated 330 hp. IMO, the ZZ4 isn't that much better. Given the choice between ZZ4 and the GMP ZZ383, I would definitely choose the ZZ383.
GM Performance Engine Showcase
Either engine would fit under the hood with a drop base air filter and right dual plane intake. The stock air cleaner won't fit on most crate motors. I have a GM Performance dual plan intake on my HO with a Holley carb and a drop base under a 14x3 filter.
I could get over 400 hp from my with a new cam, springs and rockers, but the HO with a dyno turn is a lot of fun to drive with a Keisler RS500 5-speed transmission.
Both the ZZ4 and 383 are small block engines. I have a GM Performance 350 HO that puts out more than its rated 330 hp. IMO, the ZZ4 isn't that much better. Given the choice between ZZ4 and the GMP ZZ383, I would definitely choose the ZZ383.
GM Performance Engine Showcase
Either engine would fit under the hood with a drop base air filter and right dual plane intake. The stock air cleaner won't fit on most crate motors. I have a GM Performance dual plan intake on my HO with a Holley carb and a drop base under a 14x3 filter.
I could get over 400 hp from my with a new cam, springs and rockers, but the HO with a dyno turn is a lot of fun to drive with a Keisler RS500 5-speed transmission.
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
As said above all Your Engine choises are the same Engine family so what ever Intack Mainfold You chose will fit them all. A 383 make more power than a 350, but with its longer stroke it will make more Torque, wich is more important when useing a 5 or 6 speed. If the Engine can't pull the car at 70 mph at 2000 RPM or less then its not going to work. A 350 should do it, all modern Corvettes do it, but they are Computor controled. As You will probably be useing a Carb and Manual Ignition it won't work as well, but the extra Torque the 383 will make helps. You might double check that Your 76 has a 3:73 ratio, I doubt it left the factory with it. Modern 5-6 speeds work better with a 3:08-3:36 or 3:55, wich would be much more common in 76.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
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From: South Shore Massachusetts
As said above all Your Engine choises are the same Engine family so what ever Intack Mainfold You chose will fit them all. A 383 make more power than a 350, but with its longer stroke it will make more Torque, wich is more important when useing a 5 or 6 speed. If the Engine can't pull the car at 70 mph at 2000 RPM or less then its not going to work. A 350 should do it, all modern Corvettes do it, but they are Computor controled. As You will probably be useing a Carb and Manual Ignition it won't work as well, but the extra Torque the 383 will make helps. You might double check that Your 76 has a 3:73 ratio, I doubt it left the factory with it. Modern 5-6 speeds work better with a 3:08-3:36 or 3:55, wich would be much more common in 76.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
There really isn't much diffrence between a 5 speed and a 6 speed. The diffrence between 1st gear and Top gear are about the same. I have a Modern SBC (400CI) that makes good Torque at low RPMs. I also have a 3:73 with a TKO 600 Trans. 1st gear is to low for me on the Street, at a stoplight I have shifted into 2nd by the time I get to the crosswalk. When in 5th I want to shift into 6th. When I Auto Cross I'm at the point where I need to shift from 2nd to 3rd and I would be faster if I could just leave it in 2nd. If I had a small CI engine, big Cam and didn't have a Computor running the show this would all be different, the 3:73 would be a better choice. When I installed the 3:73, I had a 350 engine, 800 double pumper carb, no ECU and it worked. I however would not let the 3:73 hold You back, go for it, if and when its put togeather you don't like it you can change it then, the common ratio rear ends are easy to get.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
I have a 350 with vortec heads, and a GM dual plane manifold, holley 830 carb. It does fit with a drop base air filter. It doesn't clear by much - 1/2" maybe. I have a K&N air filter and the K&N air filter top. The car is a 75, replacement, stock hood - the car in the avatar
Hope this helps
cheers
Hope this helps
cheers
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 17
From: South Shore Massachusetts
Spoke to pace the other day, this setup is only 1" taller than a bone stock L-48, I measured it last night. This looks likes a nice package. So the choice will between this zz430 or the zz383!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 17
From: South Shore Massachusetts
I have a 350 with vortec heads, and a GM dual plane manifold, holley 830 carb. It does fit with a drop base air filter. It doesn't clear by much - 1/2" maybe. I have a K&N air filter and the K&N air filter top. The car is a 75, replacement, stock hood - the car in the avatar
Hope this helps
cheers
Hope this helps
cheers
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: coon rapids mn
you could have your current 350 rebuilt into a 383 ,or a sbc 396 with a 3.875 stroke crank .competition products sells crank,rods,pistons for this.also see if a elderbrock rpm performer intake would fit.I run a rpm air gap with a 1"spacer and a air pan,but no filter.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
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From: South Shore Massachusetts
After much debate and talking to a bunch of people I found a highly recommended engine shop that will build me a nice 383 with scat crank, afr heads, dyno tune it so I will just have to drop it in for about the same price as a crate zz383, should be fun. He showed me some of the dyno results of some 383's he has built (same I what I will be getting) and he has been in business for 45 years. I will post the dyno results when I get them. Thanks for all the help here.