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Chevrolet Reveals ZZ6 Small Block Crate Engine with 405 HP at 2015 SEMA Show

Chevy Performance just pulled the curtains off a brand new crate engine on the 60th anniversary of the small block. It's called the ZZ6, and it has 405 horsepower, enough to give your grandpa's car a new sense of purpose.
ZZ6 Small Block Crate Engine 3 photos
Photo: Chevrolet
ZZ6 Small Block Crate EngineZZ6 Small Block Crate Engine
As we've come to expect from them, Chevrolet's marketing people know exactly what to say to get us excited. The 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liters for you metric lovers) block needed a little help with performance at the top end. For starters, Chevrolet gave it a set of "Fast Burn" aluminum cylinder heads and an updated valvetrain inspired by the LS family, featuring beehive-style valve springs.

The ZZ6 also has high-silicon aluminum pistons and an "aggressive hydraulic roller camshaft with .474/.510-inch lift and 208/221-degrees duration, that supports the engine's high-rpm airflow capability, while maintaining excellent low-speed drivability."

Fascinating, right?! Chevrolet also makes the bold claim that its torque curve stays relatively flat from 3,000rpm all the way to 5,600rpm. The maximum twisting power of 405 pound-feel (550 Nm) is actually identical to a brand new BMW M3 sports sedan.

"The new ZZ6 is the ultimate ZZ 350-based crate engine from Chevrolet Performance," said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "After more than six decades, our powertrain engineers continue to refine and update the classic Small Block architecture, adapting new technologies to advance the legacy of the industry's most adaptable V-8 engine and giving customers new choices from the company that pioneered the concept of high-performance crate engines."

Chevrolet has two versions of the ZZ6 available. One is the Turn Key model that you can use straight out of the box. The other is a Base version and lacks the carb, air cleaner, starter, alternator and a few other bits. Both can be paired to the Super Manual 6-speed manual transmission.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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