Techie question...383 PERFORMANCE engines

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Mar 31, 2005 | 09:02 AM

#21

DJ Dep

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2002

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From: Silver City NM

St. Jude Donor '05-'07

After checking out all the ins and outs of things...I think a smallblock SHOULD be able to put out at least 100 more horsepower than it's cubic inch. And that is a conservative estimate. Since mine wouldn't be street driven with 12 or 13 to 1 compression and the mods I've made, I can be much less concerend about "driveability".

Dep

Mar 31, 2005 | 09:28 AM

#22

MotorHead

Race Director

Joined: Apr 2000

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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.

Dep glad to see you found the light

Why a 383ci when you can build a 406ci for the same or less because you don't have to clearance the block. More bang for that buck with a 406ci and more power too.

Mar 31, 2005 | 09:42 AM

#23

Solid LT1

Le Mans Master

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 5,727

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From: Fremont CA

The "OTHER" maxi-mouse

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ Dep

Thanks guys!!! I haven't seen much about full blast 383s, and these reports are encouraging. I saw the specs on the crate motor 383 from GM and it was okay, but I wondered how it would respond to being warmed up a lot more.

I wonder if anyone is running 377CI engines any more (destroked 400)?
I guess they fell out of favor when the 383 became popular.

Anyways, thanks for the excellent responses.

Dep

If I planned on going to the far side of 7,000 RPM with frequency, I would do the "other" combination=377 with 400 block and 350 crank (hey as a matter of fact, I have a set of Mahle pistons on order right now for this combination.) The 3.75" stroke and the "short" rods of the S.B. Chevy can cause premature and DRASTIC bore wear. I don't think many poster here are involved directly with automotive machine shops, I see 400 S.B. blocks and 383 motors frequently and many high mileage performance blocks (both racing and VERY hot street) come in with some really beat-up bores in them. Aftermarket blocks will help solve this problem but, if you want to play "for cheap" the 377 is a superior combo to the 4" bore 383 engine, the additional 1/8" of cylinder bore can really "wake-up" cylinder head flow. 383's are great "truck" motors, if you want to REV HIGH with the "Eagles" you need a big bore short stroke combination.

Mar 31, 2005 | 11:21 AM

#24

gkull

Team Owner

Joined: Apr 1999

Posts: 21,953

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From: Reno Nevada

2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified

I've put about 25,000 miles on internally balanced light weight crank high strung 7500 rpm 383's

My only failure was solid roller wheel bearings. Which was partially self induced through the use of oil restrictors.

Look at this.

http://home.att.net/~rhcopeland/

Mar 31, 2005 | 11:22 AM

#25

DJ Dep

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 5,714

Likes: 6

From: Silver City NM

St. Jude Donor '05-'07

Motor: <sigh> The dark side has me in it's grasp

Was watching Speedchannel this morning. They had on American Muscle "Smallbocks". My jaw hit the floor when they described the Penske Z-28 Camaros. 302 engines that put out 475 horsepower!!!!

THAT is impressive horsepower at high RPM with longevity.
And the 358 NASCAR motors are pumping out 700-800HP out of their engines. Granted, they have some super-nice headwork. But that IS 2 HP per cubic inch.

Solid: PAW offers a 377 kit for the 350 engine block. Think I'd rather get a 350 HD block than mess with a 400 if I were going the 377 route.

But even better...4 inch bore and 3 inch stroke

That 302 I always bore people to death about MAY just be in my future

Dep

Apr 1, 2005 | 04:03 AM

#26

Solid LT1

Le Mans Master

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 5,727

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From: Fremont CA

You want a 302 Chevy, I have a 302 Chevy in my garage right now. The motor has REAL Carrillo 5.7 length rods, a factory "tuffrided" crank with Mallory metal to balance those Carrillios, 11.5:1 compression, 292 "Turbo" cylinder heads, L-88 Flywheel, Chevy nodular iron balancer, deck plugs, main studs, Norris Stainless Steel roller rockers, High nickle/tin block (4 bolt mains.) The motor ran 13.97@104MPH in my 69 RS Z/28 and for a bit of history, the crank and rods were in Elliott Forbes Robinson's Huffaker Engineering 1982 SCCA Trans-Am championship winning Firebird. Make me a reasonable offer, I can also sell you a set of new Phase6 Bow Tie cylinder heads if you don't like Turbo heads (I LOVE EM! they were some of the best especially if they never cracked-these are PERFECT.)

Apr 1, 2005 | 08:38 AM

#27

DJ Dep

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 5,714

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From: Silver City NM

St. Jude Donor '05-'07

Solid: I doubt I can afford what you want for the motor, but thanks for offering. Mine doesn't have to be authentic or have a history, just be a 302

Only thing that isn't readily available is the crank and pistons. I did see a Lunati 302 crank in the Scoggin-Dickey catalog, but it was $1450.
I'm sure I can get pistons from TRW or some other source. I'll keep poking around and see what I can find

Dep

Apr 2, 2005 | 07:50 AM

#28

DJ Dep

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 5,714

Likes: 6

From: Silver City NM

St. Jude Donor '05-'07

Got a bunch of mousemotor manuals a couple of days ago and found some nice pistons from TRW.
12.5-1 compression with 64cc heads for a 302

Now I need to find out about this drilled/tapped hole for the pedal linkage stud on aftermarket/replacement engine blocks. Evidently some have them and some don't