Thread: First post and a few questions

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Howdy everybody, I'm new here and this is my first post.

I own a 1984 Corvette, it's not exactly a "hot rod" but I was referred here from someone I know who said you guys are some of the most knowledge people on the web, so I figure I can ask a few questions.

The car is getting a frame of restoration right now, and I'm going to a buy a crate engine for it. I've been looking at the ZZ383 and purchasing a Richmond six speed, along with a Dana 44 to replace the weak 36 that came with the auto transmission.

What do you guys think about this? Is there a better engine for a car that is going to receive a street setup? Any suggestions, comments, concerns, etc are welcome.

-Phil

Trash it and get a real car! lol... j/k

I like the 383 idea. I've got a Lenco 4 speed for sale if you want to get crazy with it. lol

Originally Posted by monkeyfkker

Trash it and get a real car! lol... j/k

I like the 383 idea. I've got a Lenco 4 speed for sale if you want to get crazy with it. lol

I think he would want a trans with neutral for a street car, unless your lenco is 1 of the newer 1's with neutral

That ZZ motor is an excellent choice, as is the Richmond and the Dana 44. It will make a good street combo. With the right gear spread and differential gear, you can get real grunt off the line - and good cruising mileage with the overdrive. A trans first gear in the 3.0 - 3.2 range, and an even spread up to 1.0 in 5th and an 0.6 - 0.75 top gear would work pretty well with a differential ratio arround 3.00 - 3.50.

Decide how much grunt you want off the line, and talk to Richmond about the right gear spread in the trans.

With a 3.2 low gear in the trans, a 3.55:1 posi will act like a 5.16 behind a Muncie. Even a 3.00:1 posi will feel like 4.36 gears.

With that combo, that 1st year C4 will kick a$$ and take names.

Theres going to be plenty of low end torque in that 383, you are on the right track there. What kind of induction are you going to run ??

I put a zz 350 in a dirt track modified a few years ago, only thing I did to it was a cam change and a alky carb and it ran like a banshee, around here most of the hotdogs run 430's with brodix heads and I could run with any of em on the 1/8,1/4 & 3/8 bullrings. Took it to a couple of mile shows " Duqoin & Springfield Illinois" and got my butt waxed,
I would say it would be a killer street motor.

If you want to kick it up a notch, add the "Hot Cam" kit and 1.6 rockers. It adds another 40 hp or so.

Originally Posted by HWORRELL

I put a zz 350 in a dirt track modified a few years ago, only thing I did to it was a cam change and a alky carb and it ran like a banshee, around here most of the hotdogs run 430's with brodix heads and I could run with any of em on the 1/8,1/4 & 3/8 bullrings. Took it to a couple of mile shows " Duqoin & Springfield Illinois" and got my butt waxed,
I would say it would be a killer street motor.

How did that alky carb work on that low compression engine?

Originally Posted by Matt167

I think he would want a trans with neutral for a street car, unless your lenco is 1 of the newer 1's with neutral

LOL... no, it's not. It would cost him more fore the tranny than the rest of the drivetrain! lol

He doesn't need a Lenco for a street car anyway although they do make streetable trannies now.

Originally Posted by erik erikson

How did that alky carb work on that low compression engine?

Like I said the thing ran like a banshee,was nice and crisp and pulled good.
More compression sure would of helped it out but wasn't a absolute neccesity
as those UMP mods are on 8 inch wide Hoosiers.

Originally Posted by DennyW

Sounds like your on the right track.

Thank you. I've been getting some help from the guys over at another forum, along with a garage I was working at up until this school year so I really can't claim all credit.

Originally Posted by monkeyfkker

Trash it and get a real car! lol... j/k

I like the 383 idea. I've got a Lenco 4 speed for sale if you want to get crazy with it. lol

I'll take a Peterbilt so I can haul it around until this thing starts running instead, haha.

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

That ZZ motor is an excellent choice, as is the Richmond and the Dana 44. It will make a good street combo. With the right gear spread and differential gear, you can get real grunt off the line - and good cruising mileage with the overdrive. A trans first gear in the 3.0 - 3.2 range, and an even spread up to 1.0 in 5th and an 0.6 - 0.75 top gear would work pretty well with a differential ratio arround 3.00 - 3.50.

Thanks. The retailers I have been looking though offer 2.77, 3.01, 3.27, and 4.06 along with an optional .62 sixth gear.

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

Decide how much grunt you want off the line, and talk to Richmond about the right gear spread in the trans.

With six forward gears you I think I can afford to have a short running gear, but I've never driven a car geared this way before. What do you suggest?

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

With a 3.2 low gear in the trans, a 3.55:1 posi will act like a 5.16 behind a Muncie. Even a 3.00:1 posi will feel like 4.36 gears.

Pushing that many horses I know even a Dana 44 isn't indestructible, for a street car a key factor would be reliability. Do you think a girdle or heavy duty cover for the rear axle would be smart?

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

With that combo, that 1st year C4 will kick a$$ and take names.

Thats the idea! Thanks for all the help.

Originally Posted by southerner

Theres going to be plenty of low end torque in that 383, you are on the right track there. What kind of induction are you going to run ??

Well the numbers advertised by the GM website we done using a pair of Demon carburetors.

I'll say up front I've never really done to much with carburetors, but at a shop I worked part time at we dropped a 350 along with the same carburetor setup into an older Corvette in place of the 427 and it made the guy a great daily driver. The only carburetors I've really gotten my hands dirty with have been on old tractors and two stroke outboard engines.

I've seen some FI intakes also offered by GM, along with other options suggested to me such as superchargers. I really don't know too much, what do you guys think?

Is for the actual placement of an intake system, it might be tricky. The 1984 Corvette had the Crossfire engine, and if you haven't heard of it there is a good reason not to. Inside the hood are two air ducks that run down and feed into either sides of the intake housing, which holds the Crossfire system. Just looking at it makes me wonder how the engine gets enough air.

With an engine placed so far back, and a hood so tight, I'm pretty sure I am going to need a brand new hood. With that, I could modify a cold air intake system from later years to feed into a single port such as FI or a supercharger or create some kind of cowl or vent for an carburetor setup, also allowing for height.

If any of this doesn't make sense, it's me not you, so just tell me if I have things wrong, thanks!

Originally Posted by HWORRELL

I put a zz 350 in a dirt track modified a few years ago, only thing I did to it was a cam change and a alky carb and it ran like a banshee, around here most of the hotdogs run 430's with brodix heads and I could run with any of em on the 1/8,1/4 & 3/8 bullrings. Took it to a couple of mile shows " Duqoin & Springfield Illinois" and got my butt waxed,
I would say it would be a killer street motor.

Sounds like quite a car, as I mentioned previously I worked at a shop that did the same engine but in an earlier corvette and the results we amazing.

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

If you want to kick it up a notch, add the "Hot Cam" kit and 1.6 rockers. It adds another 40 hp or so.

Sounds like a great buy, do you know how that might affect the torque curve?

Thanks for the help everyone.