Sorry, but I really trust you guys to cut through all the BS associated with buying an engine. Im gonna start buying engine parts for my car soon, and need to know which way to go. Itll be a long process, but well worth it.

I want a SBC, at least 350 cid. After that, it gets crazy. A million combinations, and all seem to be good. Heres what I want: A good, stout, pump gas engine, thatll make at least 400-450hp, on motor(the more the merrier). And Ill be leaning on it hard, with N20, in the future. Real hard. So I know I need forged pistons, forged H/I-beam rods, and a forged crank. From what I have read, nitrous is more of an engine "enhancer", meaning it really likes a good base. And Ive read that I should keep c.r. at or below 10.5:1. I want Iron heads(cost), and the f.i. will most likely be a holley commander 950, or edelbrock rpm pro-flo efi. Both say they will work, and arent too bad priced. But, do I need a stroker? And Im not to keen on a 383, because they are so used, they are almost common. What does a nitrous engine prefer? Bore, or stroke? Ill be getting a used block, and getting it prepped, locally. And Ill be getting an engine "kit", via mail order. Probably be having it built by a local shop too. So, if you could do a slow, 1-time, engine build, what would you build? 355? 377? 395? 402? Long rods? I need a strong engine to kill some rice, and a few LS1s.

 

Everyone is building 383's because they make loads of power and parts are easy to find. If you were to build a 355, then there is no reason not to stroke it for the extra cubues, torque, and horsepower. Having a forged bottom end is always recommended and it opens up the opportunity to use nitrous or other big power makers without too much worry of bottom failure. I don't have too much knowledge of the 377. That is a destroked 400, correct? Just go 383, get some good 2.02 heads, a decent street mannered camshaft, and a solid rotating assembly.

 

Ive always wanted to take a 383 and put pro-comp 210 heads(2.02x1.60)
$619 via ebay, with a good cam like the comp magnum 292 or 305 or a lunati voodoo with a good efi set up. im pretty sure it would be a good 480 hp at the fly

 

Do the 383. Top with AFR 180 heads. Add a COMP 12-000-8, 3015/3037-114 cam. Never regret it.

 

I have a 355 myself and boy does this thing rev. I like the fact I am not much off the 383 but have better range(much more so if I add another gear to the th350) down on the torque but better at mid to top end.
I might be a matter of driving technique on which one you choose. I myself looking to upgrade if you can call it. I would hate to trade out to find I went down in performance. I had the 150 shot of nitros set up but never had to use it. I pretty much caught all mustangs/vettes that jumped out ahead.
BTW anyone familiar with swapping out to a turbo v6?
I heard there is possibly a better combo like the grand national and turbo t/a
at a better cost to power ratio.

 

one of these days i'll build a 352" sbc. 4.125" bore, 3.25" stroke *i think*. would be an all motor situation with really big cylinder heads and spin it to outerspace with a 4 speed behind it...the only reason to build something like that would be to fit a class or something though.