Hey group got a buddy who just bought a 81 z. and as usual he wants it fast...faster than my 496 lemans. i have told him about the zz 454 motor and i think it is a good motor for the price. but we got to talking about a cam change and i found you can get a 502/502 from scoggins dickey for 150.00 any ideas how this would perform in that motor? will have shorty headers and a 870 avenger carb. also is anyone running this upgrade. i did a search and saw the one member KNUDSONM was going to put one in his vortec headed 454...how did it run?


zz 454 cam Chevy 454 , 211/230 Duration @ 0.050, lift 510"/.540 stock cam and would swith to:

502 cam 224/234 Duration @ .050, lift .527"/.544"

thanks tommy

I think the ZZ502 cam would work well or for that matter any cam with 224 - 230 @ .050 on the intake. The alum heads on the ZZ motors are the Edel. 290CC rovals and really respond to more cam timing, they also will take more lift. One thing I will bring up, I sincerely doubt that motor has 9.6/1 CR. More realistic 9.3/1, 9.6 if you disassemble at cut the decks to near "0". Seveeral of the aftermarket guys make GenVI replacement rollers that are not that expensive also. Soemthing like the Comp 284 Marine roller would be great in that motor.

Originally posted by GRN69CHV:
Soemthing like the Comp 284 Marine roller would be great in that motor. [/QB]thanks GRN...with that cam could i get away with out zero decking the block. we just want to do a cam swap only. the lift seems to be under the .550" that chevy says would need new lifters so that is ok. and the 230/236 duration should give it some vaccum for the brakes? yes thanks tommy

No expert here, just have spent a bunch of time searching for a cam for the GenVI I have under way. Mot that many choices before buying new lifters, Comp is one the few companies that offers anything that may work. JMHO, but 9.3/1 CR in a 454 should work fine with a 284 duration and a 110ICL. I run a flat tappet hydraulic with 286 seat duration and 110ICL in a 9.5/1 408CI BBC with plenty of vacuum at about 800RPM idle. As a next step up from the ZZ502 cam, I think the Comp 284 Marine is a good option.

I have not gotten to the track yet and the season is over. I hope to get a few fuel delivery problems fixed soon and get to the chassis dyno though. It does sound real nice and purrs like a kitten. Idles about 700-800 with about 18-21 inches of vacuum. I sure wish I could've kept my power brakes, but the big block wouldn't let me.

thanks guys for the replys. we now have some pretty good info to make a choice. thanks tommy

I'll sell you my 502/502 cam for hundred bucks. I switched to a lunati/UD cam.