Hi,
I have a 87 z28 camaro w/ a 305 TPI in it, i am looking at buying a ZZ4 crate engine and using a tpi setup for it so i don't have to mess with to much electrical stuff....but anyways, i was just asking for opinons on what setup i should use and if i need to have the runners, lower and upper all ported to match for the best air flow.. and how much something like this would cost including the new TPI setup parts...and possibly anything i might need to make this swap successful..Thanks and i greatly appreciate the help!


John

 

Welcome aboard.

A few guys have done it. I know one who did it here, but he went nuts on the engine. I'll list things you need to do if you don't go nuts.

Flow - port the base & plenum to get them to feed the new engine. A 52mm TB is a good idea.

Runners - stock are too long and too small. Get shorter fatter ones to support the higher RPMs and flow of the ZZ4. You might look over the TPI forum for ideas there.

EGR - The ZZ4 heads don't have the exhaust cross-over passage. So, you'll have to plumb a tube from the exhaust manifold (although you'll be using headers, right?) up to the base to feed exhaust gases to the EGR valve. A Vette style base will have provisions for this (the ZZ4 heads are the same as Vette TPI heads, '86-1/2 and later).

Fuel flow - An adjustable fuel pressure regulator is a must. 22 lb injectors are a very good idea.

PROM - you'll probably need to reprogram to get these new parts to play well together. Either custom chip (my bud gets his from TPIS), or get yourself set up to burn your own.

Minor issues:
Your '87 base has the center two bolts on each side at a different angle from the others, the ZZ4 will all be the same angle. Either elongate the bolt holes in the base, or get that Vette base. You may also want a higher stall torque converter to let the engine get up into its torque band quicker.

I couldn't tell you how much all this will cost. It won't be cheap, though.

 

Thanks for the help...one question though...with the EGR crap,would it be posible to not have to plumb that stuff in, and yes i wil be using headers....probably the SLP headers.

 

I've heard you can take the EGR out of the PROM, but don't know any more about it than that.

If you don't have emissions testing that looks for NOx emissions, you can probably just mount everything as if the passage existed. There isn't any feedback from the valve, so the ECM couldn't care less if the EGR is actually doing its job, just wants something to accept the commands.

 

Thats cool cause they don't make us pass an emissions test inm county...so i don't have a catalck convertor either, but that makes it seem alot easier to do this swa w/o having to mess w/ the EGR junk...anyways...Thank you for your help in my project...i aprreciate it!