ZZ Small-Block Partial Engine
For the hot rodder who wants to feel more at one (sort of a Zen thing!) with the building of his personal engine, there is the ZZ partial engine. This assembly provides a solid bottom end for any serious street engine, with a four-bolt-main block, a forged-steel crank, forged powdered metal rods, and LT1-design hypereutectic pistons. The combination ensures durability and high-rpm performance potential. The block is designed for a one-piece rear main seal and will accept a roller camshaft. From this solid base, a hot rodder can select the camshaft to suit his own needs, as well as his choice of cylinder heads, induction (carb or EFI), ignition, and other accessories. Based on a compression ratio of 10:1 (dependent upon the cylinder heads and deck height selected), this engine is easily capable of producing upwards of 500 hp.
ZZ4 Small Block
Even though it's not really a new offering, we've included GMPP's ZZ4 350 in this guide simply because it's such a popular choice for a street machine engine. And it's easy to see why. Equipped with four-bolt mains, a roller cam, aluminum heads, a dual-plane intake, and an HEI distributor, the ZZ4 is good for 355 hp (at 5,250 rpm) and 405 ft-lbs of torque (at 3,500 rpm). The power is not only good, but the engine offers that great-sounding musclecar idle that so many Chevy fans are after. The ZZ4 is a great choice for street machines, circle track cars, and drag race vehicles.
ZZ502 Fully Assembled 502 Big Blocks
Driven by consumer demands, GM Performance Parts has recently made available fully assembled big-block ZZ502 Base and Deluxe crate engines. Previously, the ZZ502s were available only as partially assembled kit engines.
The ZZ502 Base crate engine includes an assembled roller cam long-block with aluminum big-valve cylinder heads, valvetrain, torsional damper, flexplate, and die-cast 502 valve covers. The ZZ502 Deluxe crate engine includes all that plus a dual-plane intake, an 850-cfm Holley carb, an HEI distributor, spark plugs, plug wires and looms, an aluminum water pump, and a starter. With 502 hp and 567 ft-lbs of torque, the ZZ502 fully assembled engines are clearly king-of-the-hill material for the Bow-Tie enthusiast who wants (and needs) the utmost in stump-pulling power and torque.
LS1
It's finally here! Though a handful of hot rodders have learned what it takes to put an LS1 in an older car, GM has made the swap easier for the rest of us with its LS1 engine kit. The kit, which should be available by the time you read this, includes an ECM and wiring harness that allows you to install the LS1 in almost any car that currently has a carbureted V-8. Based on the Camaro/ Firebird version of the LS1, this engine represents nearly 50 years of small-block V-8 technology at its finest, offering a package that is not only potent but also reliable and extremely efficient. The engine features an aluminum block and cylinder heads with a 10.25:1 compression ratio, and is rated at 320 hp at 5,800 rpm, and 330 ft-lbs of torque at 4,400 rpm. The kit will ship complete with fuel injectors, exhaust manifolds, and a flexplate. It's designed for use with a 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission. Aside from the computer, wiring, and possibly the exhaust, little else needs changing when swapping an LS1 in place of an existing small-block powerplant.