ZZ4 Information Requested
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
ZZ4 Information Requested
I have recently come into a used ZZ4 engine with about 19,000 miles on it and it appears to be in pretty good shape other than the rusty pulleys and water pump, but I will deal with them both soon. The intake doesn't look like a stock ZZ4 intake but I won't know for sure until I remove the carburetor and have a closer look.
Has anyone taken the ZZ4 engine and updated the cam, heads, or intake to build a little more HP than the stated 355HP of the base engine? As long as I am going to play with it I might as well see what options I have to beef this little beauty up, right?
Any suggestions or ideas would be welcomed.
Thank you and best regards,
David Howard
Has anyone taken the ZZ4 engine and updated the cam, heads, or intake to build a little more HP than the stated 355HP of the base engine? As long as I am going to play with it I might as well see what options I have to beef this little beauty up, right?
Any suggestions or ideas would be welcomed.
Thank you and best regards,
David Howard
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
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From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Thank you Jim, what a great article, actually more like a roadmap. I will look this over carefully but for $2,200 this engine produced 436HP which is far more than I anticipated. I will print it and use it, so thank you very much for this.
Best regards,
David
Best regards,
David
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
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From: Downers Grove Illinois
Jim
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
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Also brought a used ZZ4, actually a ZZ3. Before installing in my Malibu, was changing the valve stem seals and when I reached the # 7, the last cylinder, noticed that there was a lot of leak down from the compressed air that was used to keep the valves in-place.
To make a long story short, the prior owner was running the motor with the factory computer Q-Jet, made no changes to the fuel curve, was detonating the mtr and cracked the ring lands on the left bank.
All is well now after rebuilting the short with forged pistons, and now have about 80K miles on it.
Done pocket porting to the 113 heads. Work was needed to clean up the intake side, but the exhaust side was hardly touched. Replaced the pushrod guide plates, Isky springs and Elgin roller tip rockers and installed a good timing set.
To make a long story short, the prior owner was running the motor with the factory computer Q-Jet, made no changes to the fuel curve, was detonating the mtr and cracked the ring lands on the left bank.
All is well now after rebuilting the short with forged pistons, and now have about 80K miles on it.
Done pocket porting to the 113 heads. Work was needed to clean up the intake side, but the exhaust side was hardly touched. Replaced the pushrod guide plates, Isky springs and Elgin roller tip rockers and installed a good timing set.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola Florida
The best thing you can do is to get rid of the L98 heads that are on it. A set of Dart Iron Eagles are great for an iron head and an AFR 190 will work great for aluminum. My ZZZ motor made over 400 after a few changes and was a great driver. The hyperutectic pistons let me down though. It's out now to be freshened up and will be forged when it goes back together.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Also brought a used ZZ4, actually a ZZ3. Before installing in my Malibu, was changing the valve stem seals and when I reached the # 7, the last cylinder, noticed that there was a lot of leak down from the compressed air that was used to keep the valves in-place.
To make a long story short, the prior owner was running the motor with the factory computer Q-Jet, made no changes to the fuel curve, was detonating the mtr and cracked the ring lands on the left bank.
All is well now after rebuilting the short with forged pistons, and now have about 80K miles on it.
Done pocket porting to the 113 heads. Work was needed to clean up the intake side, but the exhaust side was hardly touched. Replaced the pushrod guide plates, Isky springs and Elgin roller tip rockers and installed a good timing set.
To make a long story short, the prior owner was running the motor with the factory computer Q-Jet, made no changes to the fuel curve, was detonating the mtr and cracked the ring lands on the left bank.
All is well now after rebuilting the short with forged pistons, and now have about 80K miles on it.
Done pocket porting to the 113 heads. Work was needed to clean up the intake side, but the exhaust side was hardly touched. Replaced the pushrod guide plates, Isky springs and Elgin roller tip rockers and installed a good timing set.
Thank you, just the kind of information I am seeking. Your experiences will help me prevent some mistakes along the way. I appreciate the help.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
The best thing you can do is to get rid of the L98 heads that are on it. A set of Dart Iron Eagles are great for an iron head and an AFR 190 will work great for aluminum. My ZZZ motor made over 400 after a few changes and was a great driver. The hyperutectic pistons let me down though. It's out now to be freshened up and will be forged when it goes back together.
Much appreciated.
David
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Freedom Pa
Think about getting a set of Profiler heads & they are $1090 with HR Springs. Find yourself one of these good cam guys & tell them exactly what you have (gear, trans, tire size etc.), what you want & what you can live with. Buy a Edelbrock RPM or Weiand Stealth.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,417
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From: Redondo Beach, California
Too late a night for me for a detailed discussion.
I want to really review and re-read this posting carefully. I have a ZZ4 in my 68. I thought it was a 395 Hp engine upgraded to 405Hp with a "Hot Cam" addition.
........I would have bought a Z383 engine, except I knew it wasn't internally balanced. I thought the ZZ4 was internally balanced. After I bought it, I realized it wasn't internally balanced...I should have bought the Z383!!! Hate it when I outsmart myself!!
I want to really review and re-read this posting carefully. I have a ZZ4 in my 68. I thought it was a 395 Hp engine upgraded to 405Hp with a "Hot Cam" addition.
........I would have bought a Z383 engine, except I knew it wasn't internally balanced. I thought the ZZ4 was internally balanced. After I bought it, I realized it wasn't internally balanced...I should have bought the Z383!!! Hate it when I outsmart myself!!
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola Florida
Too late a night for me for a detailed discussion.
I want to really review and re-read this posting carefully. I have a ZZ4 in my 68. I thought it was a 395 Hp engine upgraded to 405Hp with a "Hot Cam" addition.
........I would have bought a Z383 engine, except I knew it wasn't internally balanced. I thought the ZZ4 was internally balanced. After I bought it, I realized it wasn't internally balanced...I should have bought the Z383!!! Hate it when I outsmart myself!!
I want to really review and re-read this posting carefully. I have a ZZ4 in my 68. I thought it was a 395 Hp engine upgraded to 405Hp with a "Hot Cam" addition.
........I would have bought a Z383 engine, except I knew it wasn't internally balanced. I thought the ZZ4 was internally balanced. After I bought it, I realized it wasn't internally balanced...I should have bought the Z383!!! Hate it when I outsmart myself!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,721
Likes: 108
From: Canada
I had looked into buying a ZZ4 last spring, found out that they had stopped production and only the new ZZ5's were available. Was able to get the new ZZ383 (450/450) locally for @ $5500 cdn (before tax) and delivered for $50 so I jumped on the deal. I love the engine, a friend has been running a ZZ4 for about 10 yrs. he added a cam, intake and aluminim pulleys and is very pleased with the engine.
If you want to sell the waterpump pulley or both pls let me know as I need a 2 groove waterpump pulley.
If you want to sell the waterpump pulley or both pls let me know as I need a 2 groove waterpump pulley.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
I had looked into buying a ZZ4 last spring, found out that they had stopped production and only the new ZZ5's were available. Was able to get the new ZZ383 (450/450) locally for @ $5500 cdn (before tax) and delivered for $50 so I jumped on the deal. I love the engine, a friend has been running a ZZ4 for about 10 yrs. he added a cam, intake and aluminim pulleys and is very pleased with the engine.
If you want to sell the waterpump pulley or both pls let me know as I need a 2 groove waterpump pulley.
If you want to sell the waterpump pulley or both pls let me know as I need a 2 groove waterpump pulley.
Thank you.
David
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
I had looked into buying a ZZ4 last spring, found out that they had stopped production and only the new ZZ5's were available. Was able to get the new ZZ383 (450/450) locally for @ $5500 cdn (before tax) and delivered for $50 so I jumped on the deal. I love the engine, a friend has been running a ZZ4 for about 10 yrs. he added a cam, intake and aluminim pulleys and is very pleased with the engine.
If you want to sell the waterpump pulley or both pls let me know as I need a 2 groove waterpump pulley.
If you want to sell the waterpump pulley or both pls let me know as I need a 2 groove waterpump pulley.
Good luck with your engine and best regards,
David
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
From what I can gather from the collective input of all of you is the ZZ4 has what we would call "Good Bones" upon which I can build.
I appreciate the input and thank you for your help.
Best regards,
David
I appreciate the input and thank you for your help.
Best regards,
David
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
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From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
The ZZ4 intake has a bowtie cast into it. The engine is a good base as a 4 bolt main roller cam block. Decent rods and pistons to start out with as well.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
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From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
David
