Like most of you, I have the "John Lingenfelter" book on modifying small block chevy engines. On page 158, This combo is stated:

383 cid EFI
440 HP/480 LBS-FT
This would make a fantastic street engine. There is also a milder version of this engine using the SuperRam but with a milder cam that will idle at 750 rpm yet still make 395 horsepower and 450 lbs-ft. of torque. Actually, calling this combination "mild" is a misnomer.
The short block for this 383 is similar to the 385-horsepower carb combination. This 383 uses a .030-over 350 block, cast 400 crank and 5.565-inch 400 rods, Sealed-Power forged pistons, moly rings and Clevite bearings. A roller timing chain drive a Lingenfelter hyd. roller camshaft with 219 degrees of duration at .050-inch tappet lift, .503/.525-inch valve lift and a 112 degree lobe seperation angle.
We then port a set of aluminum 'Vette heads with 2.00/1.56-inch valves adding matching valve springs and Comp Cams stainless steel 1.6:1 rocker arms. With the SuperRam and a 58mm throttle body on the intake side and 1 3/4 headers, this engine is a definite torque monster making 363 lbs-ft. of torque at 1600 rpm! Peak horsepower occurs at 5250 rpm. Like many of the other combinations, a loose converter would help acceleration.

That is for you guys that dont have the book. Anyways to make a long story short. LPE did well with those '113' vette heads, and since that time better heads have came on the market.

This brings me to this: I have been a member of this forum for many years now, and I keep hearing ppl talk about this combo how it is a no brainer etc........How it makes power and the 219 is god for the SuperRam.

I have seen so many posts as of late. One being sami85L98 who has recently raced his car and trapped in the 106-108 with basically the same combo listed above, but better flowing heads. Other being USAsOnlyWay who dynoed in the 335rwhp range with a 4+3 which is around the 400chp mark with better flowing heads then the old '113's'. List goes on and on.

Then there is the other side on the coin. There are some guys that build some kick *** 383's. One being Rich (Corvette0096). He dynoed in the 385rwhp/425rwtq range with a 700R4., Rich also has alot of money into those heads. The other being Jay (J Z06) who's car ran amazing, and I think he had ported 113's.

I know that 1/4 mile trap speed, and dyno numbers arent everything. But it does give you an idea how much power your car is making. I guess I am in somewhat disbelief that LPE made those #'s with '113's'. I have talked to a few head porters have told me that if you got 250cfm out of those, you did really well. Most of these porter's tell me the power is the heads. If this is so, then how did LPE get such good numbers with 113's with small valves? Also anyone on hear actually have an LPE 383 built by LPE?

Thanks for reading. BTW, Happy Thanksgiving to my Yankee pals.


This is my post from corvette forum, but I would love your input as well.

 

It may not make that big of a difference, but the one thing I would do different on that motor would be to run either 5.7 or 6.0 inch connecting rods with custom pistons. That's the one thing I've never liked about the stock small block 400's. Rods are too short IMHO.