90RS305

Ok, here's my dilema. I want to stick a 383 stroker into my car. I just recently learned that a buddy of mine likes the idea also, so he offered me a helping hand. He said that a friend of his has a 350 small block sitting in his garage and that he would probly give it up rather inexpensivley. Now to my knowledge a SMALL BLOCK 350 would be too integrally weak to do the bore to a 383 and withstand as hard as I drive my car. He told me that even though it is a small block it can take up to a .060 over so I should be fine. Can anyone please enlighten me? Also, I have the T-5 (5 Speed) tranny in my car right now, will it be able to handle it? (Without perf. upgrades, I know I'll need a stronger one down the road when I get into that, but thats money I would prefer not to spend right now.) Thanks in advance for any advice!

Bruce (90RS305)

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

Obtaining 383 cubic inches, from a 350 small block.... requires the addition of a 400 SBC crank. You don't need to bore it out 60 over bro, it's either 30 or 40 over...

1986redbird

a traditional 383 is a 350 bored .030 over and a 3.75" stroke crank (usually a 400 crank), if you find a 400 crank you will have to have the main journals turned down to fit the 350 block.

the best bet is to find a good 350 bare block and then buy a complete 383 rotating assembly that is already balanced, they usually come with the crank,rods,pistons,harmonic balancer and flexplate. these kits are available from quite a few places for not a huge amount of $$$'s, they can also be had in cast or forged versions, if your going to run really high rpm's (over 7000) or plan on running NOS or a power adder go for the forged versions, if not a cast should be fine for street use with the occasional trip to the track.

snatch0356

383 is just a 400 crank in a 350 block... u have to get the crank ground and the block cleareanced to make it fit... also if you dont put a high rpm cam into the motor the thing will be a dog... u wanna shift that 383 at around 8500 - 9000 rpms... and if u have an auto.. u want nothing smaller than a 3000 stall converter... good luck

mindkiller

the 700r4 tranny is a 4-speed automatic. Not a 5-speed manual.

I have the 700r4 in my 1990 Camaro RS (305 TBI, same as your car). The 5-speed manual is simple a T-5.

91blackgta

8500 - 9000 rpms ? It like to see it get to 9000 and still be in one peice.

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

8500 - 9000 rpms ? It like to see it get to 9000 and still be in one peice. [/QUOTE]


I agree.... you'd have issues of kickin rods, and a bent valvetrain. You'd have to make some serious mods and/or upgrades to rev it that high. This is where titanium might come into play!


Imports can get away with spinning that high, cuz they don't even know the meaning of torque, let alone it's feel. But when you spin a traditional chevy block, with that kind of torque (compared to a Toyota or Nissan), you really need to beef it up....

Air_Adam

Like said before, the 383ci's is in the extra stroke, not the bore.

You could also put a 350 crank in a 400 block (bored .030) and get a 383..

Cronic3rd

.60 over would be 383 .30 is 377 (nitpicking I know)

And if you have a 5spd then you have a t5 which would blow up behind a 383 (I mean literally blow up - little pieces of gears and everything).

As per your first post... I doubt you have the knowlage to do this. Start by modding your 305 then work up to a 383.

Flyte risk

.60 over would be bored into the next cylinder actually. (Thats nitpicking)

.060 is a 388, .030 is a 383 and stock 4" bore is a 377. Of course a 350 crank in a 400 block is a 377 also.

Still, the last part of that post is right, learn more before you tackle a major project like a stroker engine.

Cronic3rd

doh i ment .060 and I was talking about a 400 block. 377 is with a .030 over bore. Stupid I know but I am on a quest to end misinformation.

MrDude_1

hey, hes smart enough to ask and learn first, theres nothing he couldnt learn in less then a week.

heck, you can buy step by step instructions to build a SBC.


NOONE should have to go thru all the work of modding a 305.... only to relize that for the same amount of work and money, they could have a much better motor with more power...

Cronic3rd

The key to modding a 305 is to buy parts that also work well with a 350 .

And there are several mambers of this bord that have had exceptional results with their 305s. Granted all are using forced induction/ NOS but results are results.

90RS305

Thanks, and yes, I agree, I may not know as much about dropping a 383 in my car as I would like to, but thats what this message forum is for, right? And my bad about the trany, I was missinformed on that one. Thanks all you guys for the helpful info, hopefully this is actually going to happen and I really can't wait. And yes, untill is does happen, I will be working on my spiffy lil' 305!

Bruce (90RS305)

The_Raven

This is what I have always been told, a stock bore 350 block, 400 crank is 377, as several members have stated, it's just that most blocks getting a rebuild need an overbore to clean up the cylinder walls, which is where that overbore came from and has since become a pretty standard thing.

I've never heard of using the 350 crank in the 400 block though, you really trust bearing spacers? or do they get welded in? As far as I know, the 400 crank has larger main journals than a standard 350 block, correct?

Flyte risk

Your right, it does require bearing spacers to work. I personally wouldn't have a 400 SB for anything except as a planter box for the garden. Still it's a popular circle racer combination for those who have to stay under a displacement limit. When you go changing to bore and stroke your changing the chareterstics(sp?) of the powerband. Destroking to a 377 will produce more hp per tq then stroking up to the same displacement, hence the reason for people using that combination.

90RS305

Ok, to get back to my original question, would I be able to make a structurely(sp?) sound 383 stroker with a 350 small block? I'm understanding the concepts of bore more and more as this thread grows but I still am unsure if I need to find myself a diff. option. If that engine will work that will by far be the cheapest alt. because the guy can also do any kind of boring for me. He lives in Cali though, only setback... Believe me though, all the advice and info you guys have given is greatly appreciated. Any more would be accepted with open arms!

Bruce (90RS305)

Cronic3rd

A 383 is a 350 block with a stroker crank. You can't make one with a bigblock unless you figure out how to put a MOPAR engine in your maro. All you need to make a 350 a 383 is a stroker crank (either a 400 sbc crank with the mains turned down or an aftermarket piece) and pistions with the correct compression height (if you use 400 sbc rods (shorter than standard) stock 350 pistons will work).

90RS305

Awesome, that summed it up right nicely. Cool, then this will work great! I'm getting goose-bumps just thinking about it.....:lala: :lala:

scottland

Why not?

It's more cubes from a small block, isn't that what we're all after.

Depsite popular belief, the physical size of the block has no bias on the power the motor makes, all that matters in that aspect is the bore and stroke. So if you can get 427 ci out of a small block, congratulations, you have the exact same thing as a 427 big block, only its easier to fit a small block under the fenders of a 3rd gen.

so under that rational a 400sb block is a better motor than a 396BB, because of the extra bore of the 400 it has more cubes, and it is physcally smaller.

92 zzz28

Big block engines usually had larger bores. A key to high power production is to have a large bore. A 427 small block is a awesome thing, but I would not go that far with a stock 400 block. I know it has been done, but I just think that is much to much stroke for the stock casting to with stand in the long run.

My 383 is actually a 385, .040 overbore. It uses all aftermarket parts except for the block because it is destined to be a blower motor.

Don't let anyone tell you you need to run a 383 at high rpms to make good power. The idea of using more stroke than the stock engine offered was to increase torque. The more torque you have the more you move. 383s are very well known these days for making goobs of streetable power. If you select you parts carefully, depending on what you are trying to do, you can build an engine that puts out 400+ hp and scraps 500 lb. ft. of torque.

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

I have to strongly disagree with you. It's true.... you can get 454 cubic inches out of a small block chevy, and be 'right there' as far a horsepower, but there is absolutely no way you can compare it in 'torque' numbers.....

The size of a BBC head is enormous as compared to a SBC..... and this is it's key to a MUCH higher torque reading.

Lets not forget.... as much power as you can squeeze out from a SBC, you could easily DOUBLE with a BBC. BBC's can be bored, stroked and boosted just as easily as any other engine, and the physical size of the block allows it to be bored to 600 cubic inches, plus....

But yeah, a 454 SBC's power and torque can easily be compared with engines like the 455 Pontiac (bore and stroke, and the Poncho's heads are relatively the same size of a SBC).... but when you talk about BBC's, the heads can, and always will, flow more than any small block out there.

When it comes to racing, torque is king, and when it comes to torque, there is no replacement for displacement, and there is NO substitute for cubic inches (except maybe for cubic money)!

90RS305

Ohh yeah, that I did know. I have a 94' GMC Suburban with a 454BB in it. Gah I love that thing. I really just wasn't sure about making a 383 stroker out of a SBC, cuz I wasn't sure how well it would withstand it. I still want this to be a daily driver, so I'm not going to be doing any A/C deletes or the like, so I knew if I had to go to a BB then I'd be screwed on bay room. Sigh of relief that this is possible with a SBC. When I get my 69 SS Camaro though......thats going to be a whole nother' story (insert snickering evil laugh) :lala: :lala:

Bruce (90RS305)

83t-top

i am transplanting my 383 from my 72 camaro into my 83 t/a. i have had this engine for 2 years now with my foot in it at every opportunity with no problems. remember this, big block #'s with small block $$$. imo, a 383 will give you the numbers you want without the big block cost. hope this helps.

90RS305

Yup, thats what I've gathered. The nice thing is, it's not even small block $$$, I may just get this engine for FREE.....don't know yet....if it ain't for free than its gonna be hella cheap....

92 zzz28

Don't worry about the block being able to withstand the extra stroke, it will. There are cranks out there that allow 396 cubes of small block engine. To get longevity, select good parts for what you are doing, get the block and assembly machined to exacting tolorances, and get the assembly balanced perfectly. Most of this will rely on you choosing a good machine shop, unless you are a machinist.

Of course, the final cleaning and assembly is just as important. Do all of that and maintain it once its done and you will have torque monster for a long time...

90RS305

:lala: :lala: :lala:

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

I'm currently planning on a 383 TPI engine with aftermarket induction. Mini-ram stealth ram or superram. I haven't decided the last part.

tamatt27

I'm in the process of planning a 383. I got a free 350 block from my uncle. But I've found a rotating assembly that looks good. http://www.built4speed.com/html_docs..._and_parts.htm
Their in Dallas. 87WS6, where in Texas are you? I'm just south of Austin.

Light2LightRace

Ya'know, they do make 383 Crate Motors.

90RS305

$$$

92 zzz28

Crate motors are expensive, but they are also a very good way to get a powerful engine. I don't have any personal experience with crate engines because I do my own engine work. However, some of the companies offer great power with all the hardware from quality manufacturers. Some even offer limited warranties.

Another thing is you could easily spend as much as or more on parts and good machining/balancing before the thing is even assembled. Maybe a crate engine is not for you, but it may be worth looking into...

BillZ28

You could check eBay. I saw a couple of auctions for assembled 383's going for $2400.

kfoley

I don't know if I would get one off ebay without knowing the engine builder first. For all you know it could be a complete idiot that put it together, on the other hand if it's a crate motor or built by a reputable company/person I'd say hop on it.

90RS305

IMHO, there is no more gratifying of a feeling when something so powerful, so awe-inspireing, is brought to life in a big explosion of fury and might by your own 2 hands....



........wow that was a cool mental image...........

Bruce (90RS305)

92 zzz28

Yeah, that's why I do my own engine work!!!

Air_Adam

Man... that is basically like comparing a 305 sbc (3.75" X 3.48") to a 302 sbc (4" X 3")

The 302, as we all know, is LIGHTYEARS ahead of the 305 as far as power output... same with the 427sb and 427bb. The 427 small block (4.125" X 4") cannot breathe NEARLY as well as a big block 427 (4.25" X 3.76") because the bore is too small and the stroke too long to make comparable power the the big block.

tamatt27

Very Nicely put!

Cronic3rd

The BBC has better heads and splayed rockers, the bore and stroke is the least important thing in the equasion. And 302s are light years ahead of 305s in HP production but not necessarily in torque.

90RS305

When I was at the track the other night I ran into a guy with a 68' Camaro RS/SS. I don't know what steps he took to get his engine from a 454 to a 560, but I was too giddy just being in the presence of it to ask. The thing was a daily driver and ran a 8.8, I know a lil. of subject but I just had to say something....

Bruce (90RS305)

92 zzz28

Its probably a 502 bored and stroked to 560. Either way it makes for one hell of a powerplant...

90RS305

Your telling me! He made 2 runs, the first time to make sure the tranny wasn't going to snap in half, and the second to see what it could do. On the first launch, he got the nose a lil in the air but got really squirrley, and ran a 10.4, then on the second one he nailed it, got a good 2-3 feet of the ground, and ran the 8.8. That car was orgasmically beautiful....

I wish I could just get half that performance....

And I'm positive he told me it was originally a 454. Big jump, but I believe him! I'm afraid not to!

Bruce (90RS305)

92 zzz28

So, you've got yourself a goal then. You want to run a 4.4!!!

You should have not problem getting a 12 second car with good mileage out of a 383. If you go for more power with a hit in the mileage department, you could see 11s. GO even futher, like me, and shoot for 10s, who really cares about gas mileage anyway...

IF you were to do 400+, it would all be easier.

Hey, why don't you see if you can stuff a big block in your car like your friend's. 560 cid of powerplant in 3rd Gen sounds good to me!!

90RS305

LMFAO!!!

Jebus that would be awesome to stick a 560 in my car. You should have seen that Camaro though, about the only other thing on the engine was an alternator. I could have fit my entire self inside the engine bay with the room that was left, and let me tell you I am no-where near a little guy....

Bruce (90RS305)