ZZ4 Cam, L98 heads.......success for cheap!!!
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From: Virginia
ZZ4 Cam, L98 heads.......success for cheap!!!
Well I've been wondering for awhile about whether a ZZ4 cam can be installed in the iron F-Body L98 heads...without having to pull the heads and cut the pockets for bigger springs.
I'd talked it over with a guy I know, as he was looking to swap a cam into his L98 TPI 68 Chevelle.
Turns out, you can use a set of GM "Z28" springs. Cheap too...buddy of mine paid $40 at a machine shop, and they fit perfectly.
I talked to a guy I know at a well established machine shop ( they do mostly circle track engines ). He recommended a set of Manley retainers that would give us more than enough retainer to seal clearance at the higher lifts of the cam.
The retainers were like $60.
Take off ZZ4 cam from a guy we know at a machine stop. $100
This L98 motor is currently in a '68 Chevelle. So the actual cam swap was much easier with the roomier engine compartment.
When I got to his shop, he had the oil pan dropped off the engine, and all the accessories off. I popped the balancer off, while he worked on top. By the time I had the crank gear and cam gear off, he was almost ready to go.
We fought the akward the spring compressor he had for awhile and then called in a night. When we went back at it, a friend had dropped off his "custom" compressor he'd modified from an existing one he had.....much easier to use.
Using the old rope in the spark plug hole trick, and some rubber coated wire to help hold the valves, we put everything back together.
He fired it up the next night. He's been driving it with NO problems for the past couple of weeks, including alot of WOT runs
I drove the car.....it's MUCH more responsive. Will actually bark the tires now when it hits 3rd...
This is a L98 that's stock except for the cam, an airfoil and some headers.
I'm hoping to get the WC T5 swapped into MY car by Feb.... then the next step will be the ZZ4 cam. I'm hoping with the addition of a posi and some 3.42 gears that the car will be solidly in the 13's BEFORE chip tuning. The 165 ECM conversion will come with the cam swap, and the addition of an ARAP prom for now.
Right now, with it running 14.6 before the headers with a SORRY 60ft time, it's very capable IMHO of a LOW 14, if not close to 14 flat with some traction.
That will be fast enough until after I install the '96 Formula seats I found, new carpet, etc.
Then I'll be looking for a roller 350 core to start my 385 !!
HTH
I'd talked it over with a guy I know, as he was looking to swap a cam into his L98 TPI 68 Chevelle.
Turns out, you can use a set of GM "Z28" springs. Cheap too...buddy of mine paid $40 at a machine shop, and they fit perfectly.
I talked to a guy I know at a well established machine shop ( they do mostly circle track engines ). He recommended a set of Manley retainers that would give us more than enough retainer to seal clearance at the higher lifts of the cam.
The retainers were like $60.
Take off ZZ4 cam from a guy we know at a machine stop. $100
This L98 motor is currently in a '68 Chevelle. So the actual cam swap was much easier with the roomier engine compartment.
When I got to his shop, he had the oil pan dropped off the engine, and all the accessories off. I popped the balancer off, while he worked on top. By the time I had the crank gear and cam gear off, he was almost ready to go.
We fought the akward the spring compressor he had for awhile and then called in a night. When we went back at it, a friend had dropped off his "custom" compressor he'd modified from an existing one he had.....much easier to use.
Using the old rope in the spark plug hole trick, and some rubber coated wire to help hold the valves, we put everything back together.
He fired it up the next night. He's been driving it with NO problems for the past couple of weeks, including alot of WOT runs
I drove the car.....it's MUCH more responsive. Will actually bark the tires now when it hits 3rd...
This is a L98 that's stock except for the cam, an airfoil and some headers.
I'm hoping to get the WC T5 swapped into MY car by Feb.... then the next step will be the ZZ4 cam. I'm hoping with the addition of a posi and some 3.42 gears that the car will be solidly in the 13's BEFORE chip tuning. The 165 ECM conversion will come with the cam swap, and the addition of an ARAP prom for now.
Right now, with it running 14.6 before the headers with a SORRY 60ft time, it's very capable IMHO of a LOW 14, if not close to 14 flat with some traction.
That will be fast enough until after I install the '96 Formula seats I found, new carpet, etc.
Then I'll be looking for a roller 350 core to start my 385 !!
HTH
Last edited by ctandc; Jan 5, 2003 at 12:50 PM.
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