for a forced induction application, which would you prefer? I plan on a once-a-month cruiser with going to the drag strip atleast once a month, yet going to an autocross maybe twice a year. The engine is almost out. don't know if I want to build a monster torque 383, a high revving 332ish, or the happy medium 355. I'm building the engine before I build the induction, so I'm either going turbo or super. Having a V8 that can hit 9k, and still be making power would be fun, but I don't want regrets, like not having the drive shaft shattering low end torque of a 383. This is what I am planning on for sure: automatic trans(th350 or 700r4(if one can be made to last)), accel gen6 dfi, holley stealth ram, crane gold 1.6 rrs, eagle bottom end, just don't know which stroke I should go with. I "want" 800 flywheel or roughly 600rwhp.

 

Blower or no, a bigger cube motor will always be your best bet for going faster without having to lean on the motor as much (high revs). I don't build small blocks any smaller than 383 any more. It's so easy to bump up a 350 to 383 it's almost a no-brainer in my book.

If you have to buy a crank anyway (say, if you're replacing a weak stock crank to handle the added stress of a blower) then it really is a no-brainer. Go for the cubes.

Staying at ~350 cubes is OK, too, if you're the nervous type. Wouldn't destroke a motor for any reason short of having to hit an arbitrary ci limit for a certain racing class.

 

if you were to build a high revving engine, i would advise using a manual transmission.

i actually want to take a 400 block and put in a 3" crank in it and see what it would do, but that is a long ways off if it ever happens.

good luck on what you decide. do something different, there is more bragging rights that comes with it.

later

andrew

 

You really need to decide on what type of forced induction you are going to run. If it is supercharged so with the larger 383 but if it is turbocharged go with the smaller motor. The turbo will make so much torque you don't need the extra cubes. You could build a smaller turbo motor and make more power and turn it less RPM then a 383 supercharged motor. Also you will need to know with forced induction so you can get the correct cam and cylinder head for the engine.

 

I've pondered putting the baby LT1 crank into a 350 block and build a 302... add 2 turbos... something different

 

I have a 412 (.060 400) going into my non blown car. I was going to put a 415 (.030 400 w/ 3.835 stroke crank) w/5.7 rods in my blown car. I only have a P1sc, the upgrade is the D1sc (for $1000 + trade in). After talking to a few people doing some math and looking at the outputs of the two blowers, I decided that even with the P1sc or D1sc really cranked up the boost would be kinda low and power might be too. If I could have started with a "F" series blower I would have been better off but its too late now. I decided to run a 3.25" stroke with the same block and pistons using a 6" rod. I couldnt find any practical solutions for running monsterous smallblock chevy heads using a large gasket without spending outrageous amounts so I havbe decided to run good flowing heads with a 1205 gasket (works well with a smaller motor), stealthram, and P1sc with 14# pullies. If you have a choice now over the size of your blower and want to go big on the cubes, go big on the blower.

 

The only reason to go with a shorter stroke is if you plan on revving it way up. Of course this would mean solid roller cam, lightweight valvetrain parts, light pistons/pins/rods, etc. Lightweight is expensive. If you're looking for the best bang for the buck, build the biggest cubes you can, and then you won't have to rev it to the moon to make power. On the other hand, if you're building a race engine which will live up top, a shorter stroke will put less stress on the reciprocating parts (at the same rpm).

A.

 

thanks for all the replies. it would be unique to destroke it, and it would be neat to be able to rev upto 9 grand on a sbc, but I didn't think about the lightweight pistons/rods. I'm planning on having all forged eagle products (crank/rods) and JE Racing pistons. as I'm changing it all, was thinking about destroking, but will probably go for the 383 instead as it will be mainly for street/strip and only slight, if any, autox. Thanks.

Ryan