Those 383s need lots air to breathe so next you'll be looking at bigger heads, intake and headers along with a good exhaust system.
383 stroker
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Nottingham
383 stroker
Hi,
Im in the middle of a complete resto of my 77', i have the engine stripped and it is bored to 0.030" over, im considering going 383 while the engine is at this stage.
Being a novice to engine building im reading as much as i can in this mind field but have seen 383 kits on the market, these offer cranks that are made to fit rather than the 400 re-grinds that you have to check clearances etc.
Question is, has anyone used these kits and could they recommend a good supplier, i believe there are some kits out there that come ready (int) balanced as well?
Any help appreciated, but please dont get tooooo technical (it will take me longer to research your reply :-) )
Thanks in advance
Wev
Im in the middle of a complete resto of my 77', i have the engine stripped and it is bored to 0.030" over, im considering going 383 while the engine is at this stage.
Being a novice to engine building im reading as much as i can in this mind field but have seen 383 kits on the market, these offer cranks that are made to fit rather than the 400 re-grinds that you have to check clearances etc.
Question is, has anyone used these kits and could they recommend a good supplier, i believe there are some kits out there that come ready (int) balanced as well?
Any help appreciated, but please dont get tooooo technical (it will take me longer to research your reply :-) )
Thanks in advance
Wev
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Even if they say no clearancing needed I sure would not take their word for it. Check it maybe 50 times for the correct clearance. When it is turning 6500+ rpm this is not when you want to find out if it needed to be clearanced. Get quality parts and do it right. Cheap and high HP don't mix very well. Spend your money wisely but don't go for the cheapest and easiest kit out there.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 12
From: Schaumburg (Chicago) Illinois
There are different approaches. I was a complete novice at this a few months ago. Now I know maybe 10%. If you look for threads that I have started you will see the pain and fun I have gone through from even deciding to turn my 327 into a 383 on down to figuring out what parts to use for my 383 build.
It is all recent and if you have any questions you can contact me any way you wish. Right now I have my heads rebuilt, block is almost ready, all the big parts are purchased. I am probably going to have the short block built up as opposed to doing it myself.
I have what seems to be turning out to be a EXCELLENT machine shop, Opel Engineering. (They have a web-site)
I think you will need heads with a 77 engine because my 68 camel hump heads created varying positions on their suitability for a 383. But I have bigger valves and some porting done. And I will not be running at high RPM's much. Just stuff that I shouldn't be doing on the street. So my heads are fine. The big thing is everything has to match reasonably so there are no links that are much weaker than the rest. If you PM me I can give you a few people who's opinions I trust, or you can probably tell from the way the threads go.
It is all recent and if you have any questions you can contact me any way you wish. Right now I have my heads rebuilt, block is almost ready, all the big parts are purchased. I am probably going to have the short block built up as opposed to doing it myself.
I have what seems to be turning out to be a EXCELLENT machine shop, Opel Engineering. (They have a web-site)
I think you will need heads with a 77 engine because my 68 camel hump heads created varying positions on their suitability for a 383. But I have bigger valves and some porting done. And I will not be running at high RPM's much. Just stuff that I shouldn't be doing on the street. So my heads are fine. The big thing is everything has to match reasonably so there are no links that are much weaker than the rest. If you PM me I can give you a few people who's opinions I trust, or you can probably tell from the way the threads go.
Last edited by AWilson; Jan 12, 2008 at 11:41 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
I got my crank from Ohio Crank and had to grind the block at each cylinder. It all depends on your block.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Nottingham
Thanks for the advice guys, this is deff a minefield and so much info out there, its a matter of filtering through it and learning, reading about the diff quality of cranks, heat treated, cast, forged 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Nottingham
Hi Guys,
One other thing is bothering me about the build, OK, the block can be ground to ensure the rods are OK in the block, but, if you buy a balanced set up ready for install, and the rods catch the cam, you have to rework the rods, surly this will upset the balance and make the balancing process pointless at the earlier stage??
Sorry if the questions are basic, im learning and its a long trek
One other thing is bothering me about the build, OK, the block can be ground to ensure the rods are OK in the block, but, if you buy a balanced set up ready for install, and the rods catch the cam, you have to rework the rods, surly this will upset the balance and make the balancing process pointless at the earlier stage??
Sorry if the questions are basic, im learning and its a long trek
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 12
From: Schaumburg (Chicago) Illinois
Hi Guys,
One other thing is bothering me about the build, OK, the block can be ground to ensure the rods are OK in the block, but, if you buy a balanced set up ready for install, and the rods catch the cam, you have to rework the rods, surly this will upset the balance and make the balancing process pointless at the earlier stage??
Sorry if the questions are basic, im learning and its a long trek
One other thing is bothering me about the build, OK, the block can be ground to ensure the rods are OK in the block, but, if you buy a balanced set up ready for install, and the rods catch the cam, you have to rework the rods, surly this will upset the balance and make the balancing process pointless at the earlier stage??
Sorry if the questions are basic, im learning and its a long trek
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Shore Maryland
Scat has a great budget kit cnc-motorsports.com carries w/the best prices, I have 1 of thier 383 6" rod kits in my SJ 327 block. Competition Products has a 363ci kit if block clearancing bothers you, it offers a forged crank, scat rods and forged f/t pistons rings and bearings for 989.95 a bit more stroke @ 3.562. I just received my 400 kit from cnc. Internal balanced 9000 crank, 4340 I-beam rods w/cap screw bolts, Probe forged f/t pistons clevite bearings and total seal rings 784.95 on my doorstep in 5 days. They also have kits for less with cast or hyperutectic pistions.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Nottingham
Scat has a great budget kit cnc-motorsports.com carries w/the best prices, I have 1 of thier 383 6" rod kits in my SJ 327 block. Competition Products has a 363ci kit if block clearancing bothers you, it offers a forged crank, scat rods and forged f/t pistons rings and bearings for 989.95 a bit more stroke @ 3.562. I just received my 400 kit from cnc. Internal balanced 9000 crank, 4340 I-beam rods w/cap screw bolts, Probe forged f/t pistons clevite bearings and total seal rings 784.95 on my doorstep in 5 days. They also have kits for less with cast or hyperutectic pistions.
wev
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Nottingham
Lol guru im blagging my way thro'
The engine rebuild is doing my head in, so much to think about and learn, my head is full but theres so much more to squeeze in.
Can you get in chat on the CCCUK site?