Whats a good place to consider a crate zz4 redlined?

[JDS]

I had an MSD "soft-touch" rev limiter for my ZZ383 and I would highly recommend one. This was in my El Camino with 4.10 gears, and the thing would wind up so fast in first gear that it was hard shift in time without nearly overreving it. I had the limiter set at 5800 or 6000 and I hit it every once in a while without trying to. If you're not staring at the tach, you can just fly up past the redline without even realizing it.

 

[76zimmer]

true

 

[79rustyk10]

SBC's are tough. unless something else is very wrong 6000 RPM shouldnt be a problem at all.

I had a factory 1979 350 shortblock that saw 6000 RPM or so almost daily before it finally spun a rod bearing (still ran with just as much power as before). that was 6 months after a bad cam too, so I knew that ones days were numbered.



MSD FTW!

 

[bronc3buster842001]

I run my 97 up to 5500 or so. Factory rev limter is set at 5800. The vortec motors pull hard in the upper rpms.

 

[folkenheath]

Get an MSD 6AL box and be done with it, built in rev limiter, CD ignition that will last for years.

 

[crashandburn]

everytime I hear MSD, the word unnecessary comes to mind. I don't know why, but I feel like I'm paying for the name. Kind of like mickey thompson. As great as their stuff is, it could be less expensive.

So would I be getting what I pay for or is there another product out there that will do the same thing for less moolah

Your HEI ignition starts dropping voltage at about 3500 rpm, and it gets real bad after 4500. Why spend all that money on a nice ZZ4 and then skimp out the 200 bucks on an MSD box and a decent coil? Plus, as others have said, the rev limiter can save your engine if you ever miss a gear or break a u-joint while going full tilt. Intake valves and pistons don't like each other, and when they meet, it's always ugly.

 

[crashandburn]

Damnnnnnnnnnn. I get nervous at the 4800 mark.

Woo- Hoo! You should be in the car when I crank my 471 inch big block Buick up to 7000!

 

[CherryK5]

Your HEI ignition starts dropping voltage at about 3500 rpm, and it gets real bad after 4500. Why spend all that money on a nice ZZ4 and then skimp out the 200 bucks on an MSD box and a decent coil? Plus, as others have said, the rev limiter can save your engine if you ever miss a gear or break a u-joint while going full tilt. Intake valves and pistons don't like each other, and when they meet, it's always ugly.

Oh i didnt know the voltage dropped at all, i figured it would be stronger at higher rpm. And good point, i really do need a nice ignition set up.

 

[crashandburn]

Oh i didnt know the voltage dropped at all, i figured it would be stronger at higher rpm. And good point, i really do need a nice ignition set up.

Yup, it's not about how fast the engine is spinning, what happens is the little capacitor in the distributor has to charge up to give a burst of voltage for a strong spark. As the RPM increases, there is less time for it to charge. Don't confuse time, measured in milliseconds, with duration, measured in crankshaft degrees. The duration does not change, but time does.
That actually brings up another point about an MSD, or probably any other decent ignition control. Not only does it eliminate the voltage drop problem, but it also increases your spark duration to 20 crankshaft degrees. Also below 3500 rpm, the MSD originally got its name because it stands for Multiple Spark Discharge. It will give a rapid fire spark effect for a better burn. After 3500, there is simply not enough time to do so, so it makes one continuous spark for 20 degrees.

 

[Yo]

Yup, MSD 6A on a Super Billet distributor. Mine has no vacuum advance; I wish I had one that had it, bc my truck is a DD. But the ZZ4 is a sweet little engine. Mine is actually an older model ZZ3, but it's been torn down with new pistons and rods. Still has the factory roller cam, which is a little lazy, but I also added a performer RPM that gave me a noticeable difference in performance. These engines need a high flow manifold out of the crate as the factory EGR equipped GMPP unit is pretty crappy. I'll be upgrading heads/cam somewhere down the line when I get some dough. Ultimately I'd like a roller SWB so I can just swap motors around when I want.

I hardly ever spool my motor past 4K. But that's probably bc my tranny isn't holding the power that engine makes. Once I get a raptor in there I'll be haulin around, but I just don't see the point in a rattle trap blazer to be pushing past 5800RPM on a DD.

But I also like my engine, so I take it really easy.