Have a 84 Firebird with stock LG4 motor and 700R4 tranny. . But heard there is a ZZ4 conversion kit made by GM. But now not available through the dealer. Does anybody know how one can get one of these kits?

 

I know there is a 350HO conversion kit. The only reason you would want it is if you still have to pass emmissions.

 

AFAIK it is long since discontinued. Once in a while you see one on ebay, always grossly overpriced of course.

A better cheaper path to a similar thing might be to buy the ZZ4, get a set of headers such as SLP or Edelbrock FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN LG4 instead of the cast manifolds that came in that kit (I'd suggest getting the stuff for a 350 TPI car), a cat and cat-back for the application you get the headers for, and use your existing computer and carb and dist.

 

It was discontinued by GM. Try Scoggin-Dickey. The p/n is 10185077. I just did a search on S-D's web site using that number and the kit did come up. That doesn't necessary mean they have it. BTW, the kit listed for $4695.

Most of the parts are still available from the factory, although going that route is a lot more expensive than buying the kit. I like RB83L69's idea, but I like the Fast Burn 385. Add a HOT cam, 1.6 rockers and you've got a ZZ430.

 

Dual snorkel air cleaner will be an issue. Used is all that's left out there for the housing and driver's side scoop.

I used the parts list of that kit to get a 95 degree C radiator fan switch from the dealer.

Chip w/o EGR would be nice, too, since the engine doesn't need it, and the heads don't support it.

Transmission kit like Transgo, poly bushings in the control arms (I plan on boxing mine as well). As good as, or better, than what's in the kit.

You can get by without the in-tank fuel pump and regulator. I think they included that for vapor lock prevention more than anything else.

Gee, I'm most of the way there to what the kit offers (just need a "bore upgrade kit"...).

 

Considering P.G. county has emission laws using dynos. ,want F. -bird to run clean or registration will be pulled. Second, don't want a ful out race engine because it is a daily driver and don't want to go broke everytime I go to the pump. Thought this kit would be cost and time effective .

 

That was the great thing about GM's HO 350 conversion kit. As long as you installed the kit exactly as recommended, it was smog legal in all 50 states. Yes, even here in the People's Republic of California.

And while five7kid is correct about the availability of the dual snorkel, if you can still find the kit, it comes with that dual snorkel and the accessories.

Now, the issue of gas mileage is a different thing. How heavy is your foot? Other that that, I agree that this kit was (and is, if you can still find it) cost effective.

 

What RB was suggesting is you can pretty much duplicate the kit without actually buying the kit. What I was saying is the kit included the dual snorkel, which you really want if you're going down this route - but finding one is becoming more and more difficult and expensive.

Getting your own "conversion" to pass dyno sniffer shouldn't be a problem. If you put all your EGR stuff on the engine (the ZZ4 intake has the provision), the computer won't care, the sniffer won't know (or care), and the inspector can check it off on the visual inspection if you have that. The computer will keep things under control, and the cat RB recommended will clean it up enough. The only "legality" issue is the fact that the factory didn't offer a carb'd 3rd gen 350, so if Inspector Clueless happens across that tidbit of information, he could cause you some grief (remove any 350 stickers from the valve covers, and he'll probably never know).

FWIW, when I take my car in for emissions inspection & dyno testing, they scan in the VIN and that's all. No reference on the print-out to the fact that it's a V8 (says "V6", actually), or that the V8 is a 1986 model year (the '86 stickers saying all that are on the hood). It has all the required check-off items, and passes the sniffer - that's all they seem to care about.

 

You (and RB) are correct, you can duplicate the kit, aside from certain limited parts. A year or two ago I had to buy my dual snorkel from IROCZDAVE, because factory stock had already been exhausted. Luckily, Dave also had the plastic scoops. (I did manage to get factory original hoses before the stock ran out).

Unfortunately, buying the parts individually is going to be more expensive than buying the kit.

I tried to get some of the cheaper HO 350 parts before they ran out. I think I got everything but the exhaust mani tin for one side. That may be the motivation I need to buy SLP exhaust manis.

The fact that Chevy didn't offer a carb'd 350 isn't a problem. That kit was certified to be smog-legal in all fifty states. Now if that kit was smog legal, any conversion using all (or probably even most) of the parts should also be legal. At least I hope it is, because as soon as I save up enough money I'm pulling my LG4 and replacing it with a ZZ4 (or Fast Burn 385 if I can afford it).

 

I pieced together my own conversion back in 94 when all the parts were available. But I used there 300hp engine due to my budget. It's the same engine as there 330hp engine but without the vortec heads. I ran a best of a 14.06 in the 1/4. I think it would have been quicker but my 3.73's were a little to much gear for the engine.

I still have a complete dual snorkel air cleaner setup and the computer and prom from that kit. Also a reworked Qjet from The Carb Shop that I had on my 84 Bird. If your interested in the parts let me know.