ZZ4 are T56 are definetly going to be swapped in.... the car is being taken to the shop within the next week or two.

I think that it would be a good idea for me to explain my goals for this swap. I am looking to swap the ZZ4 in place of the L98 and maintain the TPI. The L98 is tired, and I want to replace it with a realiable, daily driving worth, powerful but yet reasonably mild 350 that will be able to pass NJ emissions with TPI and dual cats. The ZZ4 seems to fit the bill.

I am well aware of the fact that the stock TPI is more or less designed for a 305 and will severly restrict the ZZ4 motor. In light of this, I would like to change some of the TPI components while keeping cost and emissions down. The ZZ4 itself costs over $3k, so a MiniRam is out of the question.

The reasons stated above are why I was thinking about porting the plenum and getting some LTR's and leaving it at that. You say the base/intake manifold is the most restrictive part. Would a new TPI base along with the ported plenum and LTR's make a ZZ4 any more or less likely to pass emissions testing rather than the stock pieces???

Porting of the heads is not going to happen, and neither is a larger throttle body. New injectors are a must for me as well. Given the guidelines of the project, any suggestions/comments/ideas?

 

I did it (but with a 700R4) and I am very happy with the result. Go with the 24# injectors, I recomend SVO's they are cheap and good. I have a supper ram base and SLP runners and a 58mm t-body wich will be about the same as you are looking at and I port mached all of it but it is not somthing you have to do I just dont see why you would not. I know you are going to be spending alot but if you have the cash get a HOT cam and 1.6 rockers and do them before you put the motor in. The ZZ4 cam is ok and like I said I am happy with it, but after driving a car with a ZZ4 and a HOT cam I wish I had done it to start. Another thing to think about if you have not purchased the motor yet is the Fastburn 385 with a Scoggin-Dicky vortec base it will cost about $600 more but you get about 40hp.

As far as the chip goes the best thing to do would be to checkout the DYI board listen to what they have to say and get the stuff and start burnning you own, but if you dont feel like you want to get into that try someone like www.fastchip.com and get a custom chip they will take all you info and brun it to the specs you give them.

 

You are als going to have to dril new holes for the manfold beacuse the 89 base is setup differently than thezz4 motor. the zz4motor says its only good for 86 and older. so yeah just thought id let you know.

 

The holes in the intake will need to be angled to allow for the older style heads on the ZZ4. I had my old 92 stock intake angled at a NAPA machine shop for $25.
You'll need the 350 knock sensor.

 

How 'bout a clue as to what all these go fast goodies your blindy spending money on do and how they work or don't work together, Or else your going to end up as another 10k 15 sec engine build.

 

<--- Bites tongue.

I have done lots of research on this and I am looking for opinions and suggestions from those who may have been there and done that, not flames... thank you.

 

How about you watch your attitude and what you say, please? Bort62 is a respected and knowledgeable member of this board and ICON Motorsports, and you should listen to him. It looked like you, and the other posters, were blindly making suggestions about how to put your engine together. He was making sure you know what you're doing, that's all.

First of all, if you're putting together a new TPI engine without an aftermarket intake manifold, you're cheating yourself power. You'll need one to go with those ZZ4 heads, as they do have the older intake bolt pattern. Why keep the stock intake when its the most restrictive part of the TPI setup?

Second, the ZZ4 heads are the exact same as Corvette L98 heads. As such, they are missing a hole for the f-body serpentine accessories, on the passenger side. It'll need to be drilled and tapped.

Next, I ran mine just fine with 22 lbs injectors, but your combo may or may not need more fuel.

About the chip, there really isnt any "magic chip" that someone can make for you over the internet that will make your car run awesome, get 30 mpg, and 500 horsepower. The only good chip is the one you make yourself, by sitting down with a scan tool and reading the data about your car it tells you. Then you use that data to change the proper values in the chip with your computer program. The alternative is taking your car to a friend with with equipment and having him do it. Something you buy over the internet is at best going to be "close" and at worse, not even in the ballpark.

Why are you buying a ported plenum from TPIS? You know they're the most overpriced company in the business? You'll pay a fortune for something you can do yourself or get done locally pretty cheaply. Yes it needs to be port-matched to your SLP runners.

The LT4 HOT cam is a poor match for a stock TPI intake and stock ZZ4 heads. They dont flow that well, and the cam will be too big. I'm using it in my combo, but I have the heads and the intake ported. I'll be installing a set of fully-siamesed SLP runners soon, and I expect it to really wake up the combo.

My last engine had ported ZZ4 heads, a ZZ4 cam, and a ported stock intake with SLP 1 5/8" headers. It made 282 HP and 380 TQ at the rear wheels, and ran a best of 13.24 @ 107.19 MPH. If you siamesed the intake manifold, I'm sure you'd get over 300 HP with that combo and break in the 12's.

In closing, I'd highly recommend the ZZ4 cam to go with the ZZ4 heads in your combo. You'll have a much easier time getting the computer to agree with it, and you'll have better gas mileage and a smoother idle. However, if you want more power and can afford it, then go with the ZZ4 shortblock, throw in the LT4 HOT cam, and pick a better set of heads such as the Trick Flow 23* or the Edelbrock Performers. But by all means dont stick a stock long-runner TPI intake on it.

 

I just looked at your post again and I missread it the first time I thaught you where getting the TPIS base. I would defenatly get a bigger base if you car afford it and save some money and port the plenum your self (I know if it you first time doing it it can be a bit scarry hacking up your parts but if you take it slow it is easy to do and there are many people on the net that have detailed how and where to port)

As for the hot cam it may be a bit much for the a stock intake but it works well for the ZZ4 heads with a high flow LTR intake I have seen it with my own eyes. And you seem smart enough to know to never just take an opinion from one person check and recheck and you will find a good setup.

Just a side note I have never seen a quick car with Trickflows, portted ZZ4 heads are far better (again just my opinion) and AFR's are worlds better.

 

I think that it would be a good idea for me to explain my goals for this swap. I am looking to swap the ZZ4 in place of the L98 and maintain the TPI. The L98 is tired, and I want to replace it with a realiable, daily driving worth, powerful but yet reasonably mild 350 that will be able to pass NJ emissions with TPI and dual cats. The ZZ4 seems to fit the bill.

I am well aware of the fact that the stock TPI is more or less designed for a 305 and will severly restrict the ZZ4 motor. In light of this, I would like to change some of the TPI components while keeping cost and emissions down. The ZZ4 itself costs over $3k, so a MiniRam is out of the question.

The reasons stated above are why I was thinking about porting the plenum and getting some LTR's and leaving it at that. You say the base/intake manifold is the most restrictive part. Would a new TPI base along with the ported plenum and LTR's make a ZZ4 any more or less likely to pass emissions testing rather than the stock pieces???

Porting of the heads is not going to happen, and neither is a larger throttle body. New injectors are a must for me as well. Given the guidelines of the project, any suggestions/comments/ideas?

 

You know, not to start anything but I think Bort should be the one to watch the attitude. I don't think a bite tongue and head slap is anywhere near the attitude of "How 'bout a clue " to start a post. And what does ICON motorsports have to do with this board? How many new visitors to this board know anything about ICON motorsports?

A well thought out answer like what you posted Kevin was much more appropriate then basically telling the guy he's stupid.
I was clearing up a misconception I perceived from a post that made it sound like you needed to drill new holes in the intake.

 

Yeah Rob... even I thought Bort's reply was a little harsh, but I'm willing to reason that this same guy has posted about 30 posts in other forums about this same topic. I'd have to do a search... nah!

Kevin has done extensive work with this combo over the past few years. I would suggest listening to what he has to say and save yourself a world of troubleshooing and $$$.

 

The base will have no effect on emissions at all. I was able to pass with no EGR and no cats in NC. If it is not in your budget now just do it later I only suggested it because I think it will make a good difference and you will enjoy the results.

 

Being a member here since the hay days of thirdgen.org...I fully agree with Rob P. Let's chill a little people.

 

i don't know wherther to agree with kevin or bort. if it were my car, my engine, nad my money i'd buy a aftermarket induction system, and port the heads at the very least.

 

L98IROCZ89, I think you edited the wrong post at the top? Its the same wording as your second post.

Dont forget the ZZ4 heads dont have EGR passages, so you'll need to hook up an external EGR tube like the Corvettes do. For that you will for sure need an aftermarket intake manifold (or one from a Corvette, but why bother with stock?) You can keep the stock throttle body, and SLP runners and ported plenum like you suggest are a good idea. You shouldnt have any trouble at all passing smog with an aftermarket intake instead of a stock one.

You'll need to modify your headers for the EGR. Here's how I did it: http://para.noid.org/~thresher/image...1&dispsize=800

Anything else I can help with?

 

Kevin91Z is correct about the EGR and is giving some of the best detail I have seen on how to get it done, but it is also very easy to just leave the egr on your manifold turn it off in the chip and you will still pass emmisions with no problem and save money and work.

 

Maybe this is another "gee that woulda been great 2 years ago" product from Scoggins Dickey but here goes....

I just got my new Scoggins Dickey catalog in the mail and there is an alternative to the ZZ4 for about the same money that will probably be better suited to you without buying parts you won't need and for less than a ramjet.

It's the new 357hp vortec TPI engine... pn sd360vtpi that's going for $3399. Looks like a 4 bolt zz4 shortblock with vortec heads, LT4 hotcam and the SD vortec tpi intake.

It claims 357 HP @ 4200 and 416 ft/lbs @ 4200 with headers, edelbrock runners and 52mm TB.

Yeah, it needs the EGR kit for the headers too.

Just a thought...

 

Kevin91Z where did you get the egr tube with the flange on both ends and the tube with the flange that's welded to the headers? I got a tube from tpis but it's only got a flonge on one end and a flared out end on the other for attaching to a bung that come with it. I like yours better.