I'm looking at getting a ZZ4 block including the crank, rods and pistons. I emailed Lloyd Elliot about a top end setup to go with that and I'm still waiting to hear back from him. Any suggestions on heads/cam or any other parts to go along with it?
I'm thinking of later upgrading to a supercharger as well but I hear the compression ratio is a little high on the ZZ4 for boost. That's for the crate engine as a whole though, so I'm hoping to get a good setup for boost in the future. This will be my first build up so any help you guys have to offer as far as parts selection and anything else will be of great value to me.
Thanks

 

Car is currently an LT1 car right?
Why are you looking to take a step BACKWARDS.
The rotating assemblies are comparable and the ZZ4 heads are worse.

 

I'm not looking at the crate engine. I'm only looking at the block with the rotating assembly due to the forged parts for more strength over the LT1. I was planning on buying heads/cam and whatever else I need later on.

 

Best I can tell it uses LT1 rods and pistons as in same exact pieces and conflicting info on crank but the stock LT1 crank is pretty bulletproof. If you really believe all that stuff is better though you would be further ahead to put those parts in your LT1 than to try and swap blocks

IMO though any attempt to use the ZZ4 stuff would be foolish. Like I said same rods and pistons and even if the crank is different it is a difference you will not be able to take advantage of because the stock LT1 piece is so strong to begin with.

Sell it and use the cash to make real upgrades.

 

I was under the impression that the ZZ4 internals were stronger than stock LT1's. I guess I was wrong though. My whole reasoning for the stronger internals is because I want to supercharge later on and I hear that LT1 internals are not the best for boost applications, especially mine since I have about 95K on the engine.
I guess I'm a little lost now. I need strength for new heads/cam, and blower, so I'm planning on building up a new motor, however I'd like to find a block with the crank, rods, pistons etc. in place already instead of buying those parts seperately. I also liked this idea because then I could still drive my car around while building the new motor and it will be much easier to work on it outside of the car.

 

Buy an LT1 block for $300 or so and then do the build up. That way you can still drive your car while you are building it up.

 

I actually looked at that option, but I decided I want to get rid of the opti and just pick something with a normal distributor. Now I just need to figure the best block for that. Thanks though

 

you can modify the lt1 intake and hve a distributer put in and get away from the opti all togther. it looks bad *** ans is supose to work real well.

 

Never heard of that before. But I'd be willing to give it a try if I could get detailed instruction and/or some pictures.

 

The high resolution signal off the opti is what runs the stock computer. Its a major hassle and step backwards to run a SBC distributor on an LT1. The only thing wrong with the opti is that they ran the high voltage through it. Get you a Delteq or LTCC and keep your LT1 Block and opti. As far as a blower motor I've only got about 1500 bucks in my shortblock and its still going strong after 20,000 miles with 15 psi. The main trick is to get rid of those hypereutectic pistons and get forged low compression pistons. LT1 heads and block and intake can be had for dirt cheap. Just get you a used shortblock and take it to a rebuilder. Rebuild rods and crank, Bore it over .030 and get some low compression forged pistons.

Here is a thread:
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...et+short+block

 

Its just a Gen 1 SBC, no stronger than an LT1 block.

 

97WS6Pilot, when you put it like that it sounds good to me. I checked out your car too, very impressive. Thanks for all the replies guys, it saved me a lot of hassle.