zz502 into C3?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
zz502 into C3?
I´m hesitating between Bill Mitchell´s 540cid/600hp engine and out of box or slightly tuned zz502. anybody having experience or tips around this? especially interested on inexpencive and easy amendment for ZZ502 in order to get the 502hp level into 550+ level... 
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502
For sure I'd go with the 540. You get a MUCH better block that has provisions for a fuel pump and clutch linkage. You get better rods, slightly better crank, pistons are made by same people (SRP), you get choices on cam and heads. All around a much better deal IMHO.
The added cubes are always nice on the street. The ZZ502 is alright, but it really needs some help to perform. I drove one a few weeks ago in my old Camaro that I sold my buddy. When I had it, it was using an oval port 427 with solid lifter flat tappet, single plane intake and 750 DP. The 427 would have flat spanked that 502 in any kind of race. It has pretty good low end, but it runs out of RPM way too early. It needs a real cam and heads to work. Otherwise the shortblock is OK.
I would also look around or ask Mitchell about really building it right..like using pistons for 10.5 compression and zero decking the block etc. It all ads up to a much better motor fro minimal extra work. Another way is to find a good local builder or do it yourself. Everything is readily available and you can end up with better stuff for less $$.
JIM
The added cubes are always nice on the street. The ZZ502 is alright, but it really needs some help to perform. I drove one a few weeks ago in my old Camaro that I sold my buddy. When I had it, it was using an oval port 427 with solid lifter flat tappet, single plane intake and 750 DP. The 427 would have flat spanked that 502 in any kind of race. It has pretty good low end, but it runs out of RPM way too early. It needs a real cam and heads to work. Otherwise the shortblock is OK.
I would also look around or ask Mitchell about really building it right..like using pistons for 10.5 compression and zero decking the block etc. It all ads up to a much better motor fro minimal extra work. Another way is to find a good local builder or do it yourself. Everything is readily available and you can end up with better stuff for less $$.
JIM
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
Thanks for that valuable info!!! Do not undertstand much on parts so it is good to know that those 540 engines are build with better parts. My current Hi-Perf 396 is rather fast so what I definitely want to avoid is that I buy something that does not clearly beat my current setup. If I then think the ZZ502 and plan to put a meaner cam in and do good porting job somewhere or buy totally different heads the price climbs at the same level or even higher than the Mitchell´s 540...
Anybody other having experience on ZZ502s, stock or tuned?
Anybody other having experience on ZZ502s, stock or tuned?
