Cambridge205

I'm in the middle of selecting a cam because I don’t like the rust on my old one, it has close to 200,000 miles on it and I’m rebuilding my engine. I have been hearing a lot about the ZZ4 cam in my searches. So I have a lot of questions about it.

If I use the ZZ4 cam what exactly will I have to do to my heads? The heads are iron L98 and have just been rebuilt. I have heard I will need new springs, and something about machining the retainers. What springs will work? And about how much will machining the retainer’s cost? I doubt I can do it my self.

Will I need a cam button?

Can I pass emissions with the ZZ4 cam? I already have hooker headers with a high flow cat and a cat back system, and I plan on getting a bigger intake and porting my plenum.

Will I need to tune my engine to make it run right? Like get someone to burn a chip.

I have also heard how picky TIP can be with cams. IE if I get the wrong cam I will never pass emissions and I don’t want that so I’m really nervous with choosing cams.

Kevin91Z

iTrader: (1)

When you say your heads have just been rebuilt, what does that mean? What was done to them? Normally that means new valves, new springs, and new retainers to handle more camshaft lift.
I have been told if you replace the springs and use a retainer that is +.050" installed height, or use a valve lock that is +.050" installed height, that will allow you to use a camshaft up to about .510" lift, like the ZZ4 camshaft. Of course I recommend Manley springs and retainers. The 22409-16, 22410-16, or 22411-16 springs and 23652-16 retainers are all good choices.
The ZZ4 camshaft is mild and will pass emissions very easily. It should also work with the stock computer, but I only have the experience of my ZZ4 camshaft and L98 Corvette heads with the stock chip. It went a best of 13.23 @ 107.19 and made 282 HP and 380 TQ to the wheels thru a T5.

socal

how about a stock lt1 cam its not a bad choice and i dont think you would have to deal with the things you menchend

Cambridge205

I want the ZZ4 cam because it seems better than the LT1 cam which is very close to the L98 cam. Also my engine is in pieces right now so this would be the right time to get a cam that is worth while and I’m willing to get the springs changed again.

Rebuilt means I got all those things changed, yes. I'll have to ask my machine shop if they put those kinds of parts in because I also have to take my crank back to them so I might as well ask them any ways.

Cambridge205

I have also heard that if I don’t get screw in studs i run the risk of pulling them out. Has this ever happened to anyone who runs this cam with the pressed in studs?

socal

If you have the extra cash stud the rockers now. It really happens if you have a high spring rate and/or higher RPM's. The extra pressure will exced the friction of the press in stud and pull it out.

flaming-ford

iTrader: (7)

or if your a tight wad like me you can drill a hole from the head in to the stud and put a pin in them which will also suffice.