I was looking for a new engine, I wanted to buy a short block and get a new cam/heads and put it on my car, but when I called about a '98 vortech shortblock for $450 the guy said he also had a new ZZ3 minus the cam and intake for 2000 (negotiable). I was thinking of selling my blower and buying the zz3 and putting it in my car, is the engine worth it? I wouldn't get a warranty or anything, but it has never been fired up or anything. I could probably get it for $1800, maybe a little less. I figured I would just burn a new chip, get some 24 lb injectors, put headers, a new slp cam (or something similar) and go. Then maybe later SC it. What do you think? Would the vortech block be a better idea (buy that and put on heads/cam/etc..)?

 

any help? Anyone have one and can tell me what they cost new? Anyone have one and can tell me about the performance they got with it? I want to know if i should buy this engine pretty soon.

 

i would personally get the short block and go from there.. something about crate engines i dont like, there's always like one little thing that irritates me. but its just my preference, because im really picky about what parts i use. I think a ZZ3 would perform pretty well.. but what is hte hp rating on them? i came onto the car scene after the ZZ4 had taken the ZZ3's place.

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• 83 Z28-- not a pretty site to look at, 200k miles and im sure it was treated like a rental car every day of its sad life(before i got it).. sold, thank the lord
• 74 Z28-- 383/400, green on black. pretty clean. FOR SALE!!!

 

I think I want to buy this engine because I don't have a lot of experience building engines and this way would be easiest. Does anyone have any info or can point me to a place that has info on them?

 

The shortblock wasn't hp rated without the heads and the zz3 cam is exactly the same as the zz4....

It's all in the heads.

 

The one I would be buying would be with the heads.. just minus the cam/intake. So the heads between the two are different? I thought both had alum. L98 heads?

 

They probably have the same heads. I though you just got the shortblock.

Should be rated somewhere in the 355 hp range with the intake and carb the give you. Throwing a tpi would prolly set this number back some, but boost the bottom end torque at the same time.



[This message has been edited by JoelOl75 (edited June 01, 2001).]