apie2546

Found a 85 camaro on craigslist with a 388 stroker. Went to go see it today and its about 4 grand for a non rust but no painted car that needs some work done. My question is, is the 388 bored differently than a 383. This may be a very dumb question. And is there any way to tell? He swapped a carbbed 305 with this engine and he said he bought it online and it was out of an s10.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Yup, just bored a bit more.

leeperryracing

wont be able to tell by looking at thats for sure, only way to be sure is to pull it apart

Night rider327

iTrader: (13)

388 = a .060" over bore 350 block (4.060" bore) with a 3.75" stroke crank.

383 = a .030" over bore 350 block (4.030" bore) with a 3.75" stroke crank.

350 is a 4.000" bore, 3.48" stroke
355 is a 4.030" bore, 3.48" stroke
360 is a 4.060" bore, 3.48" stroke

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Saying he bought a 383 online and swapped it in can also be a good way for him to make extra money on the sale while maybe not doing any motor swapping at all.
It could still have a 305 in it so do your research carefully

2005Impalla

Try to get a good look at the damper on the motor. Your might have to jack up the car so you can look close at it. If it is a 388 it will most likely be external balance and there will be a counter weight on the back of the damper. They do make internal balance kits but most street kits are external balanced in the front and a counter weight would prove it is a 383/388 as 350s and 305s were internal balance.

2005Impalla

If its an auto and the dust shield is off than there will be a balance weight on the flex plate too.

apie2546

The car is defiantly at least a 383. There no denying the sound and sheer power it is laying down. He said he'd show me a receipt from Phoenix Engines that he bought it from two months ago so I guess we will see. Although my interest in this is dying since he also has those crappy large valve cover fastners that you can turn by hand. Good for show, not for everyday :P

I will check on the balance kit when he has it out tomorrow. Says I can take apart pretty much anything I want as long as I put it back. The car is rough haha.

apie2546

More information I found on the car:
Engine:
4 bolt main block
ARP main cap studs
Eagle stroker crank and rods
Speed Pro hypereutectic pistons
72 Camaro iron heads
ARP head studs
1/2 cam, unknown specs

Freshly rebuilt Holley 750 double pumper, mechanical secondaries. Runs great at WOT, but needs to be tuned for driveability. I have a Holley tuning kit that will come with the car. Air gap intake. Pertronix distributor. Shorty headers. Dual 3" exhaust, that needs to have some pipes finished still.

The bottom end was assembled by Mission Automotive in San Antonio. I've put about 5,000 miles on it since it was built.

Driveline:
T5 speed
Centerforce Dual Friction clutch
4th Gen Firebird 10 bolt
3.73 rear gears

Heres a video of it running:
http://vid48.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0ke7pwl4.mp4

The engine:

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Spend all that money on a 38? And put crappy heads on it.. wow.
And only 1/2 of a cam.. should have went 3/4 or full race.
I'm betting it was a corvette motor too

Night rider327

iTrader: (13)

I run those "tall crappy valve cover fastners that you turn by hand" on my 500+ HP engine, was my daily driver for over 6 years.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...c-dscf3536.jpg

That engine in your vid, sounds way too sharp pitched, not deep enough for a higher compression, high HP engine to me. The heads is killing the power for sure. There is some good parts there to work with, is it worth $4,000..... I can't say, it depends on how much cars/parts go for in your area.

2005Impalla

I would pass on this car 388 or not. Its rough and you could get a better car for the money.

apie2546

Whichever he has on from the shop he got the engine either aren't tight enough or the cover is wrong because it leaks mad.

After looking at it today I'm passing on it. I got my trans am for 2 grand in very good condition. And this car needs body work and a whole new exhaust . Enough leaks to make you pass out. And the headers are rotted to

Night rider327

iTrader: (13)

My guess is someone tightened the hold downs too tight at one point and bent/dimpled the covers. Very common prob with all brand stamp sheet steel covers.

Mine is the thick alum. covers, no tabs are even needed for these.

Now my tall hold downs are not the common bolt type. They are stud sets. Has 8 studs that threads into heads, slip gaskets and covers on over the studs, then screw the tall hold down onto the stud.

apie2546

Probably. He also lost one of the clips they screw into so that may be an issue too.

I've decided to wait and save up money to get a really good brand new 383 for my TA. I'll feel better when I actually put the engine in and know what the car has

2005Impalla

Much better idea.