I am putting GM Performance ZZ383 (425hp/460tq) in my 86 TA. I am also putting in Raptor TH700R4 and 2400 rpm stall converter and 9 inch with 3.50 and True track.

My TA is a street car and I like to keep a stock apperance, so I want to use my OEM 16" wheels (also have OEM 15"). I think that the 16 inch wheels limits me to tires around 255.

Is it possible to get in the 12s with 255s?

I have been considering buying drag radials to put on when I go to the track, what times could I then expect?

Thanks, Jon H.

 

Drag radials would make a pretty significant difference on a torque setup like that. A 255 wide ET street drag radial would be plenty of tire to take you where you want to go. You might be a little light on the converter but mid to high 12s should be possible, depending on the elevation of your track there in Iceland.

On regular radial tires, expect 13s times and 12s MPH.

Good luck.

 

more stall and more gear and it'll improve your times a lot more. I'd go 3500 stall and 3.73s if you're staying 26" tires. For best efficiency your converter should be stalled for the peak torque point which I'm guessing a 3500 stall would work out great for you, plus when it locks up you would never know it was there and it would act like a stock stall.

 

I am sure lower gearing and higher stall speed will be better at the track.

This car is mostly street driven, but I go to the track perhaps once or twice a year. When I bought the transmission I asked them to recommend stall speed and they though 2400 with my setup and my use of the car where the best.

I will be happy if I can get into the 12s, but I am sure your are right that I will need a drag radial for that.

The track is almost at sea level.

 

Jon,

What headers are you using? I have that same motor in my 82 z but when I read the information that came with the motor exhaust has a huge part in allowing the motor to make good power.

I have a T56 six speed and a 9" with gears in the 3.70 range. I have yet to run my car. It is still in the construction mode. I figure it should easly be able to be mid to low 12 with that motor.

Alot depends of what you have for a fuel system, exhaust, and tires.

 

I did buy coated Hooker 2210.

Its carburated, edelbrock 750 cfm Q-jet. I will probalby lose ~10 hp because I have a dual plane (edelbrock performer) intake manifold but might pick up some tq.

Other than that, MSD ignition, MSD6AL, aluminum rad etc. etc.

I hope I can take some time of next eastern to finish the TA so I will probably find out this summer how it will do on the track

 

going to a performer rpm air-gap intake will make more HP and torque than a performer. Ditch the Q-jet and step up to a 750 dp holley as well for most power.

 

For the amount of track time it'll see, that converter will be ok. It's not too far off. That motor has got a tiny cam and a wide power band. I think 3500 would be too much. Assuming a 110mph trap speed and 5% slip those gears put you through the traps at 5200 RPM. Less than ideal but they'll work. It'll be a good bracket car but don't look for optimum ET's with that combo.

 

The GMPP cut sheet says you will loose at least 25 to 30 ho by going with a dual plane. I don't think your going to run 12 with an edelbrock 750 carb. Like Xpndbl3 said you are going to need a double pumper holley. It sounds as if your more concerned with how it is going to run on the street as 99% of the time that is where your going to run it. My guess is with your set up your probably looking at a mid to low 13.

 

yeah i am curious about this too, i have the zz 383 setup in my car with a superram and 3 inch exhaust with 2.73 gears, i am not sure if i am choking the motor with that exhaust, but yet to see what the car will do.

 

IMO your car would run quite a bit better with a rear end gear change and a 3 1/2" exhaust. Your single 3" exhaust is just under the same area of volume as dual 2 1/4" exhaust.

I would put something in the 3.31 to 3.55 range and get a bigger exhaust. I will come to life with that change.

Also right now it has good torque with the smaller exhaust and if you put larger exhaust and keep the rear end gears it will actually go slower as you will loose quite a bit of torque that is helping you pull your tall gears.

 

I had a very similar combo in my 85 Z before the ls1 swap. I built the motor it wasn't a crate but it can give you something to compare to...

383 short block...8.9 static compression.
The heads were orig. from a $1200 350 goodwrench crate motor. I gasket matched them that was IT. 76 cc's
Comp 268XE flat tappet cam
Edelbrock perf rpm intake
Holley 3310 single pump vac secondaries
long tube hookers
2.5 y-pipe to stock 4th gen exhaust with a cutout installed under passenger seat. cutout made a huge diff. @ the track...like 3-4 tenths!
700r4 with b&m transpak and b-stall converter (about 2000-2200 stall with the 383)
stock 3.42 rear...275/50 bfg drag radials Bone stock suspension except for subframe connectors and tube control arms.

The car weighed about 3350 with me in it. Complete car with interior and radio, no a/c.

12.33 @ 109 w/1.7 60ft @ hub city dragway in hattiesburg, MS. I dont know how this compares to Iceland but that zz motor should easily reproduce those #'s.

Good luck

Joey

 

I think your combo is very similar to mine, and mid to hight 12s with drag radials and low 13s on street tires would make me happy

Thanks, Jon H.

 

The car would almost always have 60 fts in the 1.7-1.75 range. Even with 235/60-15 viper radials from sears.(lol) I think the lower stall converter helped. It was enough stall speed to keep the engine from bogging but it didn't hit the tires too hard. I think if you use some 255 dr you should have no problem at all at a decently prepped track with your setup.

 

The zz383 only has 385hp 420tq
If you do the upgrade from GM the hotcam kit, ur looking at 425hp 460tq - I have the same setup 385w/hotcam , but tko600 tranny and moser9 in the back with 3.89 gears. Running 12.1 - 12.4 on drag radials hoping to jump into the 11's this year with slicks.

 

When I bought the engine, there was a few pages from GM Performance Parts:

ZZ383 High Performance engine Specification:

Peak Horsepower: 425 hp @ 5500 RPM
Peak Torgue: 460 ft.lb @ 4500 RPM

You are probably refering to Fast Burn 385 but thats a 350 cid engine vs. ZZ 383 wich is 383 cid.

 

The ZZ383 is:

Peak Horsepower: 425 hp @ 5500 RPM
Peak Torgue: 460 ft.lb @ 4500 RPM

Kelham is talking about the fastburn 383.