bams12

Looking at replacing the tired 350 in my 80 and I am lookng at the GM 350 HO and the ZZ383. The first crate 350 HO is about half the price of the ZZ383 and the numbers are not alot different. 330 hp vs.435 hp and 380 tq vs. 450 tq . I do not have any real world experience behind the wheel of such motors and would like opinions . Is the ZZ383 worth the added $2000.00 for a steet driven car ?? Would I really notice the difference on the street . Thanx Brent

DIP51

That IS alot different!!!

ALOT DIFFERENT

jackson

Those hp/tq differences really are a good bit ... and you would definately take note of their differences when leaving a traffic signal/passing. Even the 350HO will show you a noticeable difference over a brand new stock 1980 motor.

bams12

I keep hearing how the 383 stroker is the way to go . Being that I have no real experience it is just numbers on paper to me. It seems the minute I talk sb chevy we end up fastforwarding the converstion to 383 stroker .........

SIXFOOTER

Yes! and YES!

jackson

If the rest of your driveline is in very good condition ... and you can swing the extra $2K ... go for the 383.

Alternately ... have you considered the HT383? ... priced between 330HO & ZZ383 ... plenty of hp and TONS of tq. Don't let the "truck" reference in its description fool you ... AND ... it LOVES regular pump gas.

jdmick

I've got the 350 H.O. and am happy with it. It won't roast the tires at will like the 383 probably would but it sure beats the old POS I had.
The only possible downside to more power is that you might have to start upgrading other components such as the transmission to be able to handle it which will run into even more money.
In the end it all depends on what you're budget is. For $ per HP it's tough to beat the 350 H.O. if your looking at GMPP crate engines.

crazywelder

I have the the 350HO and happy as well with about 4k miles on it. Bang for the buck it's a good value and a good starting point for future upgrades. Car Craft magazine did a 3 part build-up on a 350HO about a year ago and squeezed around 430hp with cam, head work and headers. I bought the basic version 5 years ago for about $2,100 and added my own parts.

platzie

Wouldn't a ZZ4 vs. a 350 HO be a better comparison?

platzie

Or a ZZ385 (the fast burn, al. head ZZ4) vs. ZZ383? While we're at it, we're in the 454 crate motor price and hp! Decisions, desisions!!

At what hp/tq rating are you pushing the limits of the rest of the OEM parts? 400hp?

Glensgages

most-likely, people are trying to 'talk-you-up' to the 383, because THEY are spending YOUR money (an interesting-concept in-itself ).....



What are YOUR goals for/with the car, a decent, reliable, zero-maintenance power-plant to drive to car-shows and cruises, or will you be taking the car to a race-track or drag-strip, where the long-arm of the 383 will really-shine?

bams12

There will be no race strips in the cars future. Just cruzin and car shows. But as you say it's easy for others to spend my money on the stroker. As other have put it, the 350 HO would be a huge inprovement over the stock 350 from 26 years ago....,. I just wonder if I would always be looking back thinking I should have gone the extra $2,000.00 . Brent

Glensgages

..... sounds-like you know what your intentions are for the car, so why drop 2 bills, unless you can 'afford' to stick-out your chest and tell your friends:
"Yeah..... it's a stroker....."


Enjoy the 350 H.O.

The_Dude

If you have the dough to burn, do it. If you don't, you probably will always regret it. If dough is kind of tight, get the 350 HO and do a cam upgrade. This will be a big improvement for relatively little money.

holley505

GO WITH A ZZ4

better (more power) than a 350 HO

not as pricey as a ZZ383...just a thought!


WE ALWAYS WANT MORE!

Doing a 350HO (with cam upgrade) you need to buy the cam... pay for the labor... take a new engine apart and risk losing your warranty??? Hell you will have another 500 in the 350HO then.

If you want that... just get the 350HO put headers on it and DRIVE...

Just don't pay with any LS powered cars or late model turbo imports...

The_Dude

Huh? Cam swap should be pretty simple, especially with the motor out of the car.

Fevre

HT 383 would leave you room to grow. vortec are good heads and a cam swap with new springs would yeild big gains in the future

Some light reading on the subject:

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/57841/

ajrothm

Man they got 490hp out of that HT 383 with TFS 215cc heads, comp XE282 roller and an air gap intake. The thing made over 500lbs tq to. Thats a hell of a combo. It seems the best combo around is a decent 383 shortblock, GOOD heads like AFR or TFS and atleast a 282 roller, Thats a 500hp recipe right there with lots of tq in a light package. I think I gotta start hunting down some good short blocks.