i was thinking of ordering some kind of shortblock from gm rather it be zz4 or something other but i was wondering since the zz4 is rated at like 330 hp anyway is there some way i can get the shortblock and put some brodix or afr heads and a mean cam and get close to 500 hp on the zz4 block?? if some what whould it take to make a gm shortblock reach 500 hp?

 

Theres nothing special or unusual about the ZZ4 shortblock... just a basic GM block, crank, PM rods and flat top pistons. Any competent machine shop can build you that for about the same as what the GM shortblock would cost.

The power is all in the heads and cam - decide what you want from the motor, and choose those accordingly. Then pick the other parts (intake, headers, carb, ignition, etc) to match to the heads and cam you picked first.

 

yea i know that but i work at a dealership so i get a good discount so i will come out cheaper from bypassing the machine shop

 

The ZZ4 is rated at 355 hp, not 330. The 350HO is rated at 330 (also called the 330HO).

The ZZ4 shortblock with Fast Burn heads on it makes 385 HP - oddly enough, it is called the Fast Burn 385. 30 more horses, about 600 more clams than the ZZ4.

 

Ok, well then a new shortblock isn't a bad idea in your case. 500hp won't come from just heads and cam though.. at least not very long. The ZZ4 shortblock is still just a generic 350 GM shortblock. Cast crank, PM rods, and cast pistons. A good setup, but not enough to make that much power with.

To make 500hp with such a little engine, you need to make it spin high - use RPMs to make the power, because there won't be enough torque to do it at lower speeds. To handle that kind of power, you'll need a steel crank, aftermarket steel rods, and a set of forged pistons. A set of billet steel main caps would be wise as well. 500hp is alot to ask of a stock GM bottom end - it will do it, but not for very long.

If you do want to do it though, you'll need a cam in the 250* @ .050 range and a set of heads with at least 195/200cc intake. It will need to breathe very well because of the RPMs that motor will need to hit to make 500hp.

- Cheap
- Fast
- Reliable

Pick two of those three.

 

Try again - steel crank, PM rods, hypereutectic pistons.

http://www.sdparts.com/product/12561...eAssembly.aspx