I am on a tight budget, but can I see over 300 horespower with a 383 stroker, mild to moderate cam w/matched springs etc., headers/high flow exhaust, and a proted plenum & base? If not, can I port the stock heads to get over 300 HP? I really don't want to have to buy a new set of heads cuz I can't afford it right now. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

X84,

Horsepower it torque at a given RPM. To create high horsepower, you have to have good torque at higher RPM. Stock heads typically don't support the kind of flows necessary to create good torque at higher RPMs without some serious port work. You can open up good stock castings to get some really good flows. If you want to weld up some ports and passages, teh port volumes can get ridiculously large if you want.

If your heads are in decent condition and are a good design, you should be able to make respectable power in a 383 with some larger valves and port work. If the castings are shifted, or the design is for a low-power engine, there might not be enough casting to work with.

A fairly inexpensive way to accomplish what you want is to purchase a pair of used heads, then take the time to rework them as desired. If you have more time and tools than cash, you can make some nice flows with stock iron heads. Just don't expect to get the stroker up into the 6,000 RPM area with much power left.

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Later,
Vader
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"I'm gonna talk about some freaky sheet now..."
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The castings with the last three numbers "882" (which there usually refered to as) are the best smog heads to work with. They've got alot of meat, and they flow pretty well.

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'82 Firebird, dead stock, 9 bolt disc rear, over 200,000 miles and still going strong, more to come...
http://www.spinfrenzy.com/stingerssx...easures.html#4

 

I have access to a complete set of PAW built "882" heads for $200 if anyone is interested. They came off a 383 in an S10 that ran 12.80's.

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350 4 bolt main, Speed-O-Motive 383 stroker kit, re-sized rods ground for clearance,TRW Forged pistons,10.7:1 compression,HPC Coated RPM intake, Speed Demon 750 cfm carb,World Products Sportsman II heads,2.02/1.60 valves, Comp Cam 1.6 roller rockers, Comp Xtreme 284 cam,240/246@.050 with .540 lift,Crane pushrods,Proform HEI and MSD6A box,HPC coated 1 5/8 headers, 2.5" exhaust with 40 series mufflers,TH350 with B&M 3000 stall, Powertrax NoSlip Locker, 4.11 gears.