89TA383M5

Another 383 or 400 question. I already built a 383 and I'm working a lot so I havent had the time to get it running. I'm hopeing to get the car running in a week. As soon as I get it running I'm dynoing it. But I wanted to know what you guys think. I built a 383 TPI because I wanted rediculous torque. I kept it tuned port with some Dart heads, Crane Cams CRN-104224 cam, 1.6 roller rockers, TPIS Big Mouth Base, AS&M Large tube runners, and 52mm BBk throttle body. I wanted instant insane power right off idle till it starts dying after 4,500. I wanted a street toy and a fun car at the strip. I wanted atleast 400hp and over 500lb of torque. I dont know if its going to be what I wanted but what I want to know is with the same setup would there be much of a difference between a 400 and a 383. Also what would the price difference be for new parts (block included) between the 2. I would tell you how much I spent but I lost count. If you think I'm dumb let me know. I just want some feedback. Thanks.

70GTO

This really isn't the answer to the questions that you asked, more like my opinion.
I do not think that the difference in the CI's is going to be worth the extra cost associated with switching to the 400ci engine.
I'm not sure just exactly how much HP & Torque you will be able to come up with with the 383, but I do believe that it will be in the same ball park as a 400 with comparable parts. Therefore making the swap to a 400 block senseless.

If I were in your shoes I would focus on the 383 that you have at hand. I'm not really a cam expert, but if I remember correctly that Crane grind is pretty much a duplicate of the stock factory 350 TPI cam and from a performance standpoint it is not going to contribute any extra power. You can repost for advice on cam selection, because I'm sure that Comp cams or GM makes some that will make more power and still be computer friendly.

I'd focus on spending my money on
1-Cam swap
2-Custom Chip
3-Headers & free flow exhaust
4- Possibly a set of good flowing aluminum heads & a set of larger injectors.

It might be wise to post your set-up on the TPI Board and ask for suggestions for what kind of upgrades you need to get the maximum gain to compliment the engine that you already have.

This is just my personal opinion & I hope maybe it helped.

Bruce, 70GTO

89TA383M5

I got the biggest computer emissions cam Crane Cams had listed on Summit. I have a custom chip, I have SLP 1 5/8 headers with no cat and 3" flowmaster, DRT-10310010 Dart heads and 30lb injectors. Thanks for responding, I'm not going to change over to a 400 now that I have a 383 but you kind of answered my question of would a 400 make much more power than a 383. If I ever win the lotto or something I'll drop a stoked out 400 in with a Vortech but until that day I was just asking if I was starting over again with the same setup should I have gone with a 400 instead of a 383. Just for your information I had a 305 TPI with my T-5 so regardless I had to buy a block and a friend's brother had a complete short block 383 that I jumped on. Thanks.

Joel07

iTrader: (1)

I'm not a big fan of 400's, but if they're build right, they can be pretty awesome. Sounds like you've got a pretty awesome setup there though, I'd stick with the 383. If it was my choice, I'd go for the 383. Now if cost was no object, and I could buy a good racing 400 block, I would consider that, but IMHO, the stock 400 blocks are junk.

Better start thinking about a tranny upgrade too...

70GTO

As I stated earlier cams are not my specialty, but when I rebuilt the 350 TPI engine that powered my 89 Iroc, I purchased the same crane cam that you have listed. You are correct that it is the wildest of the bunch that Crane cams offers. When I decided that I wanted to increase the TQ & Hp of my 350 TPI I found that it is real close to the same grind that came with the stock engines. Several people suggested a grind that comp cams offers & others use the GM Hot Cam. Sorry I am not knowledgeable enough about cam specs to recommend one, but I know when I posted my set-up several people replied that there were other computer compatable cams out that would make considerably more Hp & Tq.
Sounds like you've got all of the other bases covered & I think that you will have a pretty powerful combination.


Best of Luck. Bruce

89TA383M5

I agree that the cam I selected isnt to wild, I think I might have gone with a ZZ9 cam instead. Back to my question about 383's or 400's. Wich would be more expesive if you had to buy block and all? I didnt go with a 400 because I got a deal on a 383 and I thought 400's can have cooling problems and my buddy told me I might have problems with the heads. Dont know but If I won a lot of money I would get a stroked 400 with a Vortech but with the money I had and the offer of a deal with a 383 I ended up getting the 383.

MOCCASIN

i think that its cheaper to go with the 400.you already have the heads for the combo,both engines are the same stroke,the 400 has a bigger bore.the biggest expense would be to go with a retro-fir roller cam if you wanted it.time and time again,it must be said,there is no replacement for displacement.but hey,if you already have the 383 that is great,but i like 400's.just my .02 cents worth

89TA383M5

Built the 400. I'm just waiting on my pistons. 400 bored .060 over. Should be running by first to second week of June. Going to the track 6-11-05. Will post times then dyno #'s as soon as possible.

CaptPicardsZ28

So did you swap the tpi to the 400 or have you gone carb? I had tpi on my 400 and it wasn't worth it. Choked it out real bad. I went to HSR and then gave up on the tuning and switched to carb. What a beast...

Spectre

Did you get the block magnafluxed, sonic checked?

I always hear .060 aver is streching it on a 400 ..

89TA383M5

The block was fully machined.
Staying with the TPI and seeing what I can get out of it.

89TA383M5

Thats funny how life doesnt turn out like you want sometimes. I have been working on the 400 when I have time. I now have the bottem end and cam in and the cam is degreed. Next is I need to get a different pickup tube because the tube that came with the TPIS pan is a 3/8 tube and is to big for the pump. If everything goes right then I shoud be driving the car in 2 weeks. I need to go through the heads I just bought. (Sold my iron Darts for some used Pro 1's) Then put the trans in and put my new rear suspension in. Adjustable torque arm, LCA's, and LCA relocators on and set them up. Then last is I need to pull the gear out and re-shim it.
Anyone that has a TPIS big mouth base tell me this. Does your intake have 2 coolant holes in the front because mine didnt and I drove the car without heat for a year. Now I'll probable drill and tap the intake for the coolant hole but I dont understand why my intake didnt come with 2 holes. Where does the second hole go because on the stock intake there on top of eachother when in a friends intake I glanced at once, there next to eachother horizontally instead of vertically.