Has anyone swapped a zz4 into an 85-88 Vette? Will the stock intake work or do I need an 89 or up intake?

 

I believe quite a few people on the forum have done this, myself included. You'll either need an 86-89 OEM intake or one of the aftermarket intakes: Accel, TPIS, Edelbrock. Also you will need to change out the water pump that comes with the ZZ4, and either replace the plastic timing chain cover with your L98 metal one or grind down the bolts which came with the plastic cover to clear the short water pump. You'll also need to swap out the balancer and flywheel. I might be forgetting some other details, but I'm sure others will jump in.

 

Your best bet would be to buy the zz4 short block and add the rest of the stuff you want instead of paying for the extra parts (intake, water pump, etc) and trying to sell them (at less than what you paid). Even if you want to vortec heads, you will still need a different intake (Scoggin Dickey makes the TPI/Vortec intake - $400). I know someone who has (or had, don't know if he sold it) a BRAND NEW ZZ4 short block for sale for about $500 less than Scoggin Dickey (the cheapest place I've seen the zz4 at). Email me and I'll get you in touch w/ him.

 

P.S. WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!!! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

 

Do you know what the difference is between an 85 and 86 intake is? I have seen some TPI intakes with an exhaust tube at the rear of the manifold for the EGR, the 85 intake does not have this.

 

As far as I know, all the intakes are the same from 85-89, but I could (and probably am) be wrong.

 

Trupp,
The 85 intakes have heat riser passages BUILT in the heads so it can feed the EGR system.

The Late 86 and later aluminum heads DONT have the heat riser passages in the heads and require the EGR feed to be straight from the exhaust manifold,which is why they have that "cross over pipe" to the back of the intake.

If you decide NOT to use the EGR,then it wont be a problem for you with the ZZ4.You can still bolt the intaketo the ZZ4 from the 85 but the EGR wont work.You can delete this function with a chip.

To really simplify a ZZ4, imagine an aluminum head L98 350 engine without the TPI..and put on a carb,bigger camshaft and different water pump,flywheel and distributor to make it work in an older muscle car..thats what the ZZ4 basically is.Its a beefed up L98 engine to use a carb. for older applications.

It uses the same L98 Corvette aluminum heads on a 350 ci engine that the later L98's came with,however it has some added internal stuff to make it stronger but essentially the same.
Its also a 1 piece rear main seal while your 85 has a 2 piece.It also has a roller cam while the 85 is a hydraulic.

Installing a stock TPI on the ZZ4 wont make the ZZ4,355 HP claims you see with a carb either.
You would need to buy the larger aftermarket bases and runners OR maybe the LPE/Accel SuperRam intake set up to allow it to reach power levels closer to 350 HP.

The stock TPI chokes the L98 engines ALOT for high HP.It makes alot of torque but will not feel strong after 4500 rpms.

I suggest a good Book to read called "Small block Chevy High Performance",by Dave Emanual.
Most barnes and nobles stores have them.It will explain what you need to know about the TPI as well and what mods are involved to make good HP.
Good Luck!
:)

 

I'm using a zz4 motor myself in my '87. Did not have to change the flexplate, and for the balancer (my god is it big! due to the weight of the forged crankshaft) so i beat the k-member some for extra security for clearance. The compression in a zz4 motor is also a point higher than in a stock l98 shortblock, and comes with the .474 /.510 , 208/221 camshaft, which produces decent horse, and a wild 405 foot pounds at 3500 rpm. If you keep the stock tpi set up and keep the stock zz4 cam, the two will benefit each other nicely. Best of luck, you'll be happy with the zz4 should you choose that route

 

Ok this is what i have gathered so far that will be needed. Use you dist, harmonic balancer, shorty water pump and modify the timing cover to get the water pump to fit. Now the stock intake will rob you of a ton of hp. so, get you a after market intake. eldebrock is my choose for now. And some after market runners.and have the plenum ported. and modify the maf sensor. Now the stock injectors wont feed the machine so you have to bigger then the stock 19 lbs. Now here is another problem the heads dont have egr passages so that meen you Check engine light will come on?

So you have to get a chip burned to cancel that out? Now i have also read something about the passenger side head needs to have a hold drilled and taped for the ac bracket? Now this car will pass emission after this is done?

Now you will find out that the tranny is the next weak link in the system.