I saw the zz383 last night in a crate at a local speed shop. It has a long water pump on it to clear the timing cover. I want to put this engine in my 66 Coupe. All the other aspects of the engine seem to work for the swap except that I need a short water pump. Has anybody tried to get a short water pump on this engine for a Corvette application or any other application?
-
-
Re: zz383 short water pump?
Dennis the picture of the ZZ383/425 in GM's Performance Parts Catalog and the engines parts list does not have a water pump, intake, or distributor like most of the other offered crate engines. It does come with a flex plate which is useless if your 66 is a 4-speed. The timing cover appears to be a cast aluminum unit. I installed a GM crate engine in my 70 and it came with the long water pump I could not use. I did use my short pump off the removed engine from my 70 with no problems, however the timing cover on my ZZ crate engine and the ZZ383 are different. The GM dual plane intake GM P/N 12366573 (no EGR) is listed as being used for hood clearance for the ZZ383, but it results in peak horsepower decrease of approximately 15-20 HP and is ordered separately. Scoggin-Dickey Performance tech line 806-798-4108 can handle all your questions and ordering a crate through them you can exchange the engines new flex plate for a new flywheel. They also have a web site. -
Re: zz383 short water pump?
Dennis, I put one on a ZZ3 in a '60 and never had any problems with it. Just pulled the long pump off and installed the motor mount and short pump on the ZZ3. Hope this helps, TedComment
-
Re: zz383 short water pump?
This really does help! We were going to swap one last night to see if it would work but it was getting late. What intake manifold and carb did you settle on?Comment
-
Re: zz383 short water pump?
Thanks for the help. I knew the flex plate was coming off for a 10 1/2 inch flywheel. Special bolts back there too to clear the crank.Comment
-
Re: zz383 short water pump?
Dennis the ZZZ-ZZ4 crate engines come with intakes and HEI distributors installed and have different bolt pattern heads from the ZZ383 you are interested in. The ZZZ and ZZ1 came with a high rise aluminum Holley carb type LT-1 style intake, the later ZZ 350 crates, ZZ2 the first one,came with a lower aluminum intake for hood clearance and also would mount both either a Holley or Q-Jet carb.Comment
-
Re: zz383 short water pump?
Dennis------
The timing cover which is factory-installed on the ZZ-383 engine is not really suitable for use with a short leg style waterpump. There is insufficient clearance between the water pump backing plate and the cover.
For short waterpump applications I recommend that you convert the engine to the stamped steel style cover. You can use an original cover or, even, the current GM SERVICE cover of GM #10243967. Either way, not only will the fitment be better as far as the waterpump is concerned, but the engine will look more correct and original. On the downside, the new style cover will seal better, but you can usually get an original, stamped-steel style cover to seal just fine if you're careful with installation.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
-
Re: zz383 short water pump?
With changing that timing cover would the oil pan also have to be changed?Comment
-
Re: zz383 short water pump?
Dennis-----
The oil pan would not have to be changed; you could use the one that comes with the engine. However, in order to change the timing cover you would have to remove (or, at least, loosen) the oil pan.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
Comment