GM ZZ4 Crate Engine

[heathbirkendahl]

Hello Everyone!

Anyone put one of these in their truck? (dumb question probably)

I'm ordering it today and want to do one last gut check to make sure there was no gotcha's!

Thank you!
HB

[1972SUPERSB]

I had one in my 84 short bed. You will love this engine. Great power. Aluminum heads. Engine runs very strong. I have no regrets after buying this engine. You need to get the d port headers and a hi torque starter becuase of the hi compression
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[heathbirkendahl]

Originally Posted by 1972SUPERSB

I had one in my 84 short bed. You will love this engine. Great power. Aluminum heads. Engine runs very strong. I have no regrets after buying this engine. You need to get the d port headers and a hi torque starter becuase of the hi compression
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Awesome! I'm 1/2 way there with the dport. And my starter is blasted. LOL

[1972SUPERSB]

I had the hedman headers and regular starter. The started worked for a while then started to slow down. That's when I got the hi torque starter. I bought my engine at pace performance. This was about 10 years ago
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[Chief29]

High torque starters are the way to go. Heathbirkendahl be fore you order have you looked in the all the GM crate engines? Cause for the same price (depends where you get it) the "604" engine is the same price and more HP lowr compression for pump gas same heads bigger intake valve and an open plentum intake also the cam is the same. They run these engines in dirt late models here in Indiana and on some night the out run the 800hp engines. Just wanted to share that with ya and they have the same camshaft aswell.
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[Tim Christian]

I bought one with they first came out. They are a excellent motor. Put mid length headers on it from Street and Proformance. But i disagree with everyone on the Hi-Torque mini starters. I tried 3 diffrent brands and they are all JUNK. I just bought a brand new full size starter from my GM Dealer installed it a five years later still not the first problem.

[heathbirkendahl]

Thanks everyone this is all great info. Keep it coming.

I have shorty headers already but will need a starter. I will look at the dealer as well.

[70blackfish]

how much are these engines? where you going to order it from?

[HotRod C/10]

jegs has them

[67_ShortFleet]

Subscribed for the info!

[1972SUPERSB]

I paid $3500 10 years ago. Now I think they are around $4200
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[Z10]

I purchased one about 2 months ago. I'm in the process of prepping it for installation. 700R4 came in last week, Sanderson ceramic headers, on the way. I purchased mine from a dealer in Nebraska for about $5,200 with free freight. Complete carb to pan and serpentine system. I have the same engine in my 69 Camaro and love it. Still need to add the aluminum pan pics.

[dan42]

I have one in my pickup as well. Very nice motor that likes to be driven hard, and there is a lot of info on the Internet about them. One thing that is annoying about them is that they are pretty noisy motors - a lots of valve/ lifter noise, like you haven't changed the oil in a while. I got mine from jegs and they 1) sent it unstrapped on a pallet, and it rolled around, crushing the oil pan; sent a distributor that was all jacked up; missplaced parts for the air filter; sent a bad starter, and the flex plate was bent, and since I am running a manual, had to switch out with a flywheel. Other than that, jegs did a great job.
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[Z10]

Originally Posted by dan42

I have one in my pickup as well. Very nice motor that likes to be driven hard, and there is a lot of info on the Internet about them. One thing that is annoying about them is that they are pretty noisy motors - a lots of valve/ lifter noise, like you haven't changed the oil in a while. I got mine from jegs and they 1) sent it unstrapped on a pallet, and it rolled around, crushing the oil pan; sent a distributor that was all jacked up; missplaced parts for the air filter; sent a bad starter, and the flex plate was bent, and since I am running a manual, had to switch out with a flywheel. Other than that, jegs did a great job.
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Wow, mine was perfect. strapped to a wooden engine stand, then to a pallet, covered with a heavy cardboard box. Carb, distributor, starter, serpentine, alternator, a/c compressor, bolt kits, wires, etc were all packaged separately.

[Chief29]

Jegs has free shipping on ALL GM engines that's what there website says anyway. The only thing about the 604 that I said is the same is that you will have to take the seals out of the engine at the dealer or if you know someone to take them out and replace them with regular engine fasteners.
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[dan42]

Jegs took care of all the problems, but it shouldn't have been that way in the first place. Another guy I the shop had a big block Ford motor ordered from Jegs and had similar problems in terms of missing parts. I still order stuff from them and I might even order s motor from them but as soon as you get it, check it out thoroughly, and if its not right, call them and send it back. They are pretty good about that part.
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[Tim Christian]

Wow i cannot beleive how much they went up. I bought mine right when they first came out to replace the ZZ3 and got it for $2995.00 + $100.00 to ship.

[Z10]

Friesen Chevrolet in Sutton, NE. They were actually a couple hundred less than the big guys and free freight. You might have to ask them to match the free freight.

Could have bought it closer but avoided sales tax using an out of state supplier. Which would have been about $400.

[heathbirkendahl]

I could of saved $300.00 or so by getting it from Summit or Jegs. BUT... the warranty they give is not as good as the dealers. So I went with the dealer. It should be here next week and then the project begins.

[mrh33916]

Originally Posted by Tim Christian

I bought one with they first came out. They are a excellent motor. Put mid length headers on it from Street and Proformance. But i disagree with everyone on the Hi-Torque mini starters. I tried 3 diffrent brands and they are all JUNK. I just bought a brand new full size starter from my GM Dealer installed it a five years later still not the first problem.

The starter from a '93-'96 V8 Camaro and a '94-'96 Caprice LT1 is a factory gear reduction starter that was used with the 153 tooth flywheel. I've had one from the junk yard on my ZZ4 for 12 years now.

It cranks every time.

I agree, stay with the factory GM starters

[heathbirkendahl]

Originally Posted by mrh33916

The starter from a '93-'96 V8 Camaro and a '94-'96 Caprice LT1 is a factory gear reduction starter that was used with the 153 tooth flywheel. I've had one from the junk yard on my ZZ4 for 12 years now.

It cranks every time.

I agree, stay with the factory GM starters

I got that exact starter from the dealer with the motor. Thanks for the confirmation.