ZZ4 Engine Question Purchase
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
ZZ4 Engine Question Purchase
Hi Everyone,
I'm about to make a purchase for a used GM ZZ4 engine. It apparently has low miles (est. 8K on it). It came out of a wrecked vehicle. Seller is including ZZ483 heads, but from what I tell this is what I don't see on the engine: intake manifold, distributor, harmonic balancer, timing chain cover. Seller is asking for $1,500 which I think seems to be fair. I realize that I'm probably taking a pretty big risk not being able to test compression or seeing the engine run. Anything else that I should be aware of? Thoughts...sound like a good deal/bad deal?
Regards,
Fred
I'm about to make a purchase for a used GM ZZ4 engine. It apparently has low miles (est. 8K on it). It came out of a wrecked vehicle. Seller is including ZZ483 heads, but from what I tell this is what I don't see on the engine: intake manifold, distributor, harmonic balancer, timing chain cover. Seller is asking for $1,500 which I think seems to be fair. I realize that I'm probably taking a pretty big risk not being able to test compression or seeing the engine run. Anything else that I should be aware of? Thoughts...sound like a good deal/bad deal?
Regards,
Fred
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Looks like my engine which is a '89 truck 350 block, factory 4 bolt main caps, the heads, I can't see the cast numbers on BUT if you see #113 yada yada in them they are L98 heads, as I have..... been in the car through thick and thin for some 19 years now.....but my car is a highly modified hotrod, and so I recommend you get a GM cam from a L98 it's a roller cam and go with stock lifters and the hold down spider......and a CLOYES double roller chain......
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Looks like my engine which is a '89 truck 350 block, factory 4 bolt main caps, the heads, I can't see the cast numbers on BUT if you see #113 yada yada in them they are L98 heads, as I have..... been in the car through thick and thin for some 19 years now.....but my car is a highly modified hotrod, and so I recommend you get a GM cam from a L98 it's a roller cam and go with stock lifters and the hold down spider......and a CLOYES double roller chain......
You are GOOD...and you nailed it on the head (pun intended) without even seeing the cast numbers.
Well, as it turns out, the engine is NOT a ZZ4, but actually a ZZZ which is the first generation of ZZ crate engines that Chevy started making from 1987-1995. The Also, the heads are not ZZ430 heads as the seller thought, but actually L98 heads from 88-91 Corvettes (you nailed it again)!
Based upon the above, I thought that I was getting an actual Z4 engine not a first gen motor. I've decided to not move forward with the purchase and sock my money away and save up for a newer used or possibly new ZZ6 crate motor.
Again, thank you for your help and advise...very much appreciated!
Regards,
Fred
