sorry not sure if its been asked before, but I was looking at the ZZ4 350 engine as a replacement and I like that its a complete turn-key package, the only thing Im curious about is its $5,400 shipped, to build a similar, all new parts engine that would be "turn key" could it be cheaper? or am I better off biting the bullet and getting this package?

Tim

 

i did the all the labor (besdies the boring the block the machine shop did that) and installed all these parts

fresh 355 bored .30 over 4 Bolt Main Vortec Block
10243880 Gm cast Block
Blueprinted Performance build ( bored with thrust plates)
9.7 to 1 Compression
Milodon Main Cap Bolts
Eagle 5140 Forged Steel "SIR" Lightweight Connecting Rods
ARP Rod Bolts
Eagle 4340 Forged steel crank
Upgraded Clevite 77 H Bearings
Kieth Black Hypereutectic -12cc dished pistons
dura-bond hi performance coated cam bearings
Pioneer heavy duty brass freeze plugs
Internally Balanced Eagle rotating assembly (rated at 650 horsepower)
LS7 Lifters
Heavy duty flywheel
New harmonic balancer
LT1 mini Starter
High flow water Pump
ARP headbolts
Rebuilt L98 heads with manely springs, retainers, screw in studs
hedman long tube headers
SA performance double timing chain
GM LT4 HOT Cam

218/228 .492"/.492" 112 LSA

Comp Cams 1.5 roller tip rockers

i have all the recipets for everything and its about 2800 dollars.. im pretty sure my short block is stronger than the zz4 shortblock also...i reused my intake and my ignition system was already new when my stock engine finally gave out, so no expense there... i also swapped the engines over..
for that price if you know what your doing, you could build your own healthy block thats stronger and still have money leftover buy afr heads that are way better than the zz4's (l98 113 vette heads) for that kind of money....

 

well I ended up searching every part to build the zz4 with all the gmpp pn's and it ended up being more expensive by over $1000. What if I just took my 305 and had it bored to a 355 and built that up is that an option or would it be better to find a 350 from a jy and start with that?

 

You're not going to get a 305 bored out to a 355, you'll need to start with a 4" bore block.

 

first you cannot bore a 305 out to a 355.... the most you can do is a 335 stroker with your 305 which i think is pointless and a huge waste of money considering all the money u spend makin a 335 and its still less cubes and less power than a stock 350 block which can be had for as little as 50 bux....

gmpp is overpriced for what they are.... they want 630 for only one zz4 (vette l98 head)

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-12556463/

thats about 1300 dollars for a set of factory 113 heads that are basically the same head off a 87-91 corvette.... what are they thinking..... iron l98 heads are not that far behind and they want that kind of money for stockish type heads... for about 150 more you can get afr heads that will KILL those zz4 heads... gm is in it to make money.... they make good parts but most of their stuff is overpriced.... you can build a nice short block for under 2000....

i got my rotation kit from cnc motorsports....

http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/category.asp?CtgID=1020

just find a junkyard 350... take everything out and have the machine shop check the block for wraps cracks or any signs of damage... bore .30 over to get a 355 but ask to bore with thrust plates (much more accurate way of boring a cylinder..) i had to re sleeve my number 5 cylinder because it was too damaged to fix... if you want to make sure u do a good job you want to plastigauge and check all your clearances.... its really not that hard to build a block..

 

It really depends on your skill level, available time, and available money. If you can do most of the work yourself like 88fastgta and have the time and are willing to do it all then no the GMPP crate engines are not really worth the price. But if you have never rebuilt an engine before I wouldn't suggest trying it without a lot of help from someone who has. If you don't have the skills to do it and don't want to invest the time and have the money to spare then maybe its worth it but I think you could get a similar or better rebuilt engine from a local machine shop for a much better price.

 

There's a couple of things you get when you buy a ZZ4 or the like:

1. It's NEW
2. It has a WARRANTY that's good from coast to coast in practically every town on the map
3. Whether the parts are the "best" or not, at least they're a known quantity

So yeah, they cost more; but if things like those are important, they could be worth paying for. Only YOU can make that decision FOR YOURSELF.

Those of us who build our own motors tend to have tools that cost as much as OR MORE THAN the motors we're building, some experience, some time, some space, and some self-confidence. If you lack any of those things, then you have to pay SOMEBODY else to build at least SOME of your motor for you; and it doesn't take very much of that to get the final cost up into the same range as the ZZ4.

All in all, it's more competitive of a price than it looks on the surface, in many situations.

Finding an "equal or better" engine "from a local shop" is a serious crap shoot. Sure, lots of people CAN produce that; the question is, is THE MOTOR YOU'RE ACTUALLY BEING SOLD one of them? How would you know that? Not everyone has the savvy to determine that. What happens if it turns out that it's NOT "equal or better"? See "warranty" above.

Whatever you do, DO NOT spend a dime on a 305 short block!!! Throw that in the trash when it wears out and get a 350 core to rebuild instead. Or of course just buy a 350. You CANNOT "bore out a 305 to a 350"; the 305 bore is 3.736", but the 350 bore is 4.000"; that's .264" difference. You can safely bore a block about .060" in most cases, is all. Clearly you're not going to get it ANYWHERE NEAR that large.

 

I see so I can grab a good 350 block for ~$50 have it machined .30 have a 355 block then I have to pick the rest of the setup for what I want.

 

L31 shortblock -1200
http://sdparts.com/details/gm-factor...parts/12556121

Procomp 190cc Aluminum Heads $750
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ProCo...item43a768443a

 

The machine shop I used was able to buy the rebuild kit and gave me choices on everything. They asked what my goals were for the car and what budget I had. Find one in your area and sit down with them.