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im thinking its time to swap my cam. for years ive heard the ZZ9 cam from TPIS worked really well with the stock LTR and aluminum heads setup. but ive also read alot of people putting in the ZZ4 cam with good results. heres the specs on the 2 cams, as well as the stock L98 cam for comparison:
one other thing i forgot to mention was price... $375 for the ZZ9 vs about $150 for the ZZ4. is it just me or does the ZZ4 seem to be a huge upgrade over the stock cam as it is? do you think the extra lift/duration of the ZZ9 will provide that much of an improvement over the ZZ4?
so which would you choose? get the ZZ4 now... or save for the ZZ9?
I have the ZZ-9 in my L98 stock bottom end with TPIS/AFR heads and mini-ram. I purchased the cam new for 225.00 on ebay. My first time to the track was with a trans that slipped bad, a bad fuel pump (only 39 pounds) and street tires was a 13.22 at 107 mph. I have since made some changed, new trans, new fuel pump, 1.6 rr all around and tires. Just waiting to go to the track. The car pulls hard to 6200 (+)rpms. Sorry, this is really all I have to offer becuase of limited track time and No experience with the ZZ4. I stuck with TPIS as a package and spent the extra money and I am really very happy results.
The ZZ4 is just a hair bigger than the stock L98 cam. You are not going a get a big gain in hp and you probably don't need to reprogram the stock and it should run fine. On the other hand the ZZ9 seems to me is a better cam= you will gain more hp. This cam will required you to reprogram the computer.
Bruce
93LT1 Conv w/ZF6
Blown D1-SC/N2O
ARE built 383ci/Stage II heads
Don't know what you plan on doing with the rest of your engine. When I build mine I planned on using the stock 113 heads and since their also used on the ZZ4 I thought the heads and cam would be a perfect match. For the difference in price, I don't think you'd feel a difference in perfomance because the grinds are so close. The ZZ4 is an excellent cam I've been happy with my choice.
I took the money I didn't spend on the ZZ9 and bought the rest of the ZZ4 valve train and then upgraded to Crane Gold Race Rockers :D
if i WAS going ZZ4, i would do some porting work to the stock TPI intake as well as the heads. also, with the money saved over the ZZ9 i would upgrade the valvetrain as well (new springs/roller rockers/pushrods/studs/etc).
Bruce, did you look at the difference in specs between the stock L98 cam and the ZZ4? how can you say i wont feel much of a difference? its like night and day between the 2!
Keep looking for a deal on the ZZ9.. I have the ZZ9 cam, Miniram and CNC L98 Heads.. I am happy with the performance.. I was goign to swap the ZZ9 for the ZZ409 (which I also have) but due to some unplanned events the project is on hold
If i did the ZZ4, id be doing a whole new exhaust. Look at that exhaust duration, if you can get the air out of there you could gain nice HP. I think its a good fit for the stock TPI.
Id still go ZZ9 though, if you can get air into the motor.