Regardless of what we tell you....it's all how ya hook it up (to the ground)! I would look in that department first....I will bet that you can't use all the hp effectively that you have now!

I once had a mod Camaro....ran 10.88s with 460hp (small block) motor, and 10.92s with a 515 hp big block. The problem was getting it to the ground .....and the weight offset!

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STEVE JACK
ConceptOne Pulleys and Brackets
Northern/Southern Rodder Magazine's "Jack'Stands" author and creator
Techical forum/links at www.inccn.net/techforum.htm

 

GMJim, I've been running a ZZ430 for a couple of years now. I'm sure you'll be happy with it.

As far as tuning goes, I've probably tried it all.....good, bad, and indifferent.

I've settled on a combo that is real close
to what I do with the car.

I'm driving at 6000 feet, so I don't know how much my combo will help you.

I didn't see a location mentioned at your profile, so I can only guess. My e-mail address is listed.




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Don~ ZZ430DropTophttp://hometown.aol.com/zz430droptop67rs
~~~~and~~~~
70 RS
67 RS/SS Convertible, 70 RS

 

Yeah baby!!!! Good dyno numbers, that motor seems to be tuned already! I have a similar combo, ZZ4 short block with TFS heads and a hyd roller Crane cam. I have not dialed my engine in yet, but it already runs really well with an out of box Holley HP 750 vac secondary carb. Pulls 15" of vacuum at 900 RPM idle, and I am pretty happy overall.

I'd be very interested in hearing what the HP numbers were on the top end, where one would expect the heavy hyd lifters to start floating (6200 RPM and up). I have been considering a hyd rev kit to keep the valves from floating around, but am not even sure at this point if it is necessary.

You will really like the engine on the street, have fun with it.


Mark

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69 SS, ZZ430 Look-alike, Tremec TKO, Hotchkis Suspension

 

Thanks for the replies guys.
HOTRODSRJ
I'm gonna go about hookin it up gradually. Ok, I'm a coward I don't want to bust anything until I put a few miles on it. Don't know how much abuse the Muncie will take (haven't broken one yet) but It's a work in progress.

ZZ430DropTop67RS
Real Nice Ride!
I'm at about 300 ft above SL.
Thanks for the invite to swap info. I'll take you up on it.

Mean 69
Suprised the hell out of me too.
I made these numbers with a 750 Vac secondary Holley carb. Lightest spring, no check ball.
Was making 400 lbs. @ 3500 Rpm.
Max torqe was at 4000 RPM 429.8 Lbs.
HP TQ RPM
441 362 5700
447 360 5800
445 358 5900
443 357 6000
441 357 6100
439 355 6200
437 355 6300
435 354 6400
429 351 6500

I was considering a Hydra Rev Kit, but I don't think this motor is gonna see much more than 6000 to often.
This car is not on the road yet. I took it apart 2 years ago and it's in the final stages of assembly. Can't wait to get It on the road.
Jim

 

GMJim,

Is your ZZ430 right out of the crate? I have one in a 69 Camaro as well (SN#396).. Not running yet.. about another 6 months or so. I'm very surprised at your HP numbers. (actually I'm stoked to see if mine will do the same) What jets are you running as I heard they like to run a bit lean? I'm at about 300ft to 500ft as well.

I took out the HEI and put in an MSD billet dist. with a digital 6+ and HVC coil. In addition I bolted on an ATI damper.

Thanks and I'd love to hear what you've done to tune so far.

BTW, aren;t you a regular on the Sallee forum? I think I['ve read your name there in the ZZ430 topics.

Regards,

TJ

 

Hey Jim, thanks for the dyno info, nice running engine. I thought also about the rev kit, never used one before, but I am sure that I will be running the snot out of my engine, routinely. I do have a rev limiter, so I can control things that way (my right foot has little willpower....)

Interesting though, I am not sure your engine (and mine?) needs the kit. If you look at the torque numbers, they don't fall on their face over 6k RPM, as I would expect to see if the valves were begining to float. I think GM advertises the HP peak right about where yours is too, which further makes me believe that you should be okay. I'd take the $300 that you would spend on the rev kit and buy a rev limiter (I use the MSD Digital 6 box, and though it is pricey, it is packed with great features, really nice). You may also want to save the money to spend on the tires that you are going to tear apart!

Seriously though, this is my first small block Chevy car, I ran a brute stroker rat motor, so I didn't think I'd be impressed with a small block. I am really happy so far though, you will be too. I'd also be interested in the jetting, I haven't even gotten to that point with my car yet.

Mark

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69 SS, ZZ430 Look-alike, Tremec TKO, Hotchkis Suspension

 

Tharais
My ZZ430 is a clone. You would almost think It was out of the crate. I was able to get the original style valve covers (without the serial number and both ZZ430 and GM Performance parts logos). All of the originals were gone when I tried to get one.
Yes, that's me on the Sallee site. I had some difficulties when I first dynoed this motor. I came up a little short in torque and horsepower. I wasn't disappointed, but I knew I had a little tuning to do. I removed the heads and cleaned up the castings and port matched the intake. I also spent a lot of time on the carb. Experimenting with this and that. What I wound up with was #73 jets in front, #75 in the back and # 26 squirter nozzel. Timing at 32 degrees @ 4000 RPM. I will check this closely after I get the car on the road, what's good on the dyno might not be so good on the road. I also took out the check ball for the vacuum secondaries and installed Holleys lightest spring. For the dyno, I put a screw in the secondary linkage to pull the secondaries open (should have bought a double pumper but an original ZZ430 has a Vac sec.) I used a different Dyno shop and found a world of difference in the knowledge of tuning. This guy did things very different from the other dyno shop. Too much for me to get into on this site. (It doesn't help that I type with two fingers either). Needless to say, I'm very happy with the motor. But don't put too much emphasis on dyno numbers. Dynos like people are all different. The guy who dynoed mine told me that there can be quite a difference in measurement between machines, and also all kinds of weather factors will affect the results. I'm going to try a Demon double pumper on it later. A friend of mine bought one and I installed it for him. It seemed to work real good.
Mean 69
The rev kit is good insurance if you are buzzing this thing at 6000 plus at the strip all the time. I personally have put too much money into my car to take a chance of blowing it up, so I'll settle on a 6200 RPM redline and only on rare occasions at the track. The MSD 6AL is a good idea too. The built in rev limiter will be handy if you miss a shift or loose something in the driveline. It's nice to read that your comparison to a big block is so close to your small block. My 69 had a original 302 in it. It's saftely tucked away in my basement. Putting this motor In has reduced the weight quite a bit. Power to weight is awsome. Now If I could only lay off the beer!
Regards
Jim

 

I actually never got the rat motor running well enough in the Camaro to tell a difference, I had it in a 72 Chevelle for a while though. Pure brute force, so much power down low that at times in was hard to drive. No question the Camaro is better balanced with the small block, for the purposes I want out of it at least. I'd actually not mind giving up even a little more at lower RPM's for more top end out of the 350, I may in the future put longer rods and forged pistons, do some head porting, have it blueprinted and more cam (solid roller?). For now, though, it runs pretty darned good, and will keep me happy until I get the rest of the car sorted out.

 

GMJim,

Thanks for the info on your ZZ430 setup. Once I'm running I'll try the carb mods. Also, what are you running for headers? Since mine will be a street car only, I was thinking of the Sanderson D-port shortys. Any thoughts?

T.J.

 

I prefer the Hooker Super Comps for performance reasons. The 1 3/4 tubes cover the ports nicely on the fast burn heads and the headers don't hang too low. What heads are you using? The Supercomps are made for older style heads and no provisions are made for things like wire looms (the bolt holes between cylinders 1 and 3 and five and seven) (same on the other side) If you have heads with these features, buy The non coated headers, modify them, then have them coated. If you are not using performance heads you may want to use 1 5/8" tube headers.
Jim
P.S. If I could figure out how to insert pictures I have some good ones.

 

Sorry
I got ahead of myself. Thinking of another post?
What heads are you using??? I need some sleep! The Supercomps in my opinion are the best choice for a ZZ430.
Jim

 

GMJim,

No problem on the head mixup..Thanks for the pointer toward the Hooker SC's. I called them and was told that they have tested the fastburn heads and that the SuperComps will cover the ports fine. I'd love to see the pix sometime BTW.

Again, thanks for the info.

TJ