Need help rebuilding engine choices?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Need help rebuilding engine choices?
Hello guys I have an 82 corvette that I already made up my mind in getting rid of the CFI and so far with the help of Clint's C3 
so far I have bought a Holly carb 670CFM, MSD ignition package with a vac adv. DISTRIBUTOR, a fuel pressure regulator, and a torque converter lock kit up for the transmission. Now I am looking at getting the Edelbrock 2098 power top end package the link here http://store.summitracing.com/partde...8&autoview=sku
Now my question is what Rotating Assembly will be good to put on the stock block that my 82 has? And what else would I need to rebuilt my engine? I was looking at the Eagle Street and Strip Rotating Assembly 383ci. but there is like 6 to choose from??? Will this fit the block and what else has to be done to it. http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...220&Ne=1147708
so far I have bought a Holly carb 670CFM, MSD ignition package with a vac adv. DISTRIBUTOR, a fuel pressure regulator, and a torque converter lock kit up for the transmission. Now I am looking at getting the Edelbrock 2098 power top end package the link here http://store.summitracing.com/partde...8&autoview=sku Now my question is what Rotating Assembly will be good to put on the stock block that my 82 has? And what else would I need to rebuilt my engine? I was looking at the Eagle Street and Strip Rotating Assembly 383ci. but there is like 6 to choose from??? Will this fit the block and what else has to be done to it. http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...220&Ne=1147708
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Those 2 kits alone total about $2700.
Most folks will caution against edelbrock RPM cam ... for good reason ... search & study
Do lotsa studying of what you have now and of what you might want ... on a piece by piece basis. Then study where's the best price.
You can build a decent 383 that'll scare you for far less than $2700. You won't do it buying overpriced kits that may need meet YOUR need.
Suggest study lots more.
Most folks will caution against edelbrock RPM cam ... for good reason ... search & study
Do lotsa studying of what you have now and of what you might want ... on a piece by piece basis. Then study where's the best price.
You can build a decent 383 that'll scare you for far less than $2700. You won't do it buying overpriced kits that may need meet YOUR need.
Suggest study lots more.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 541
Likes: 1
From: Freeport FL
Not to be a smartass, which does come natural to me, but I think you are going about this all wrong.
I think the best starting point would be to determine your end goal (HP/TQ, streetabilty, etc), then bounce that up against your budget, and with that be realistic, the nickel and dime stuff just pops out of the woodwork. (Like suddenly you will be able to see your lower control arm bushings once the engine is out of the way).
Then you will be a good starting point.
I agree with the above post, and you can also buy an assembled, balanced 383 lower end for about that much, so I dont see any need in reinventing the wheel myself.
It's my personal preference since I dont have much experience building engines to leave that sort of critical work to someone else, especially since I am reaching for 500+ HP.
Once you have a goal, and a budget-
Research, research, research, ask a ton of questions here. I can not even begin to guess how many hours of research I put into my current build, except to say that its a good thing that I am single and unemployed
I think the best starting point would be to determine your end goal (HP/TQ, streetabilty, etc), then bounce that up against your budget, and with that be realistic, the nickel and dime stuff just pops out of the woodwork. (Like suddenly you will be able to see your lower control arm bushings once the engine is out of the way).
Then you will be a good starting point.
I agree with the above post, and you can also buy an assembled, balanced 383 lower end for about that much, so I dont see any need in reinventing the wheel myself.
It's my personal preference since I dont have much experience building engines to leave that sort of critical work to someone else, especially since I am reaching for 500+ HP.
Once you have a goal, and a budget-
Research, research, research, ask a ton of questions here. I can not even begin to guess how many hours of research I put into my current build, except to say that its a good thing that I am single and unemployed
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 541
Likes: 1
From: Freeport FL
Now my question is what Rotating Assembly will be good to put on the stock block that my 82 has? And what else would I need to rebuilt my engine? I was looking at the Eagle Street and Strip Rotating Assembly 383ci. but there is like 6 to choose from??? Will this fit the block and what else has to be done to it. http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...220&Ne=1147708
???
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Called the machine shop and they will bore the block .30 more. So I think I will go with the B13005E kit. I wanna get at least to the 400hp mark. I am very very new to this stuff and so is my husband. He just wants me to buy a 290 crate engine. But I want more Hp just to brag brag brag..and want to spend no more than 3000 building the engine. Ok so now I need help on what route to take choosing the cam and heads. So that leaves me with $1700 or less to play with.. LOL 
This is driving me nuts already Thanks for the help peeps.
Nancy
This is driving me nuts already Thanks for the help peeps.Nancy
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 541
Likes: 1
From: Freeport FL
IMO it's easy to make 400 hp with a 383.
Good heads are expensive, but there is no replacement for them. Plenty of threads here on that subject. Use the search for that subject. Their size will also help determine your compression ratio, which you will see on the ad for the rotating assembly that you have listed. AFR seems to be the manufacturer of choice. They run $1500-1700 which should leaves you short $ left over for the cam. Maybe you can find a used set, if you can find someone you trust.
Cam selection is based on a lot of things, the heads, where in the RPM range you want to make your power, desired idle characteristics. Its easy IMO to get more cam than you need, and maybe get a cool idle, but not make the power you are wanting, especially if you are not planning on running high RPMs. On my engine (383), Ill be running a blower, and all my power will be in by 6500 RPM, so there is no no need for a wild *** cam. Visit the cam manufacturer web pages and do a little reading on that. You may also have to change valve springs to a heavier spring rate, depending on your cam selection.
Once you have selected potential cam and heads you can post the information here and ask someone to do a desktop dyno model for you before you purchase, to see a simulation of their performance.
Good heads are expensive, but there is no replacement for them. Plenty of threads here on that subject. Use the search for that subject. Their size will also help determine your compression ratio, which you will see on the ad for the rotating assembly that you have listed. AFR seems to be the manufacturer of choice. They run $1500-1700 which should leaves you short $ left over for the cam. Maybe you can find a used set, if you can find someone you trust.
Cam selection is based on a lot of things, the heads, where in the RPM range you want to make your power, desired idle characteristics. Its easy IMO to get more cam than you need, and maybe get a cool idle, but not make the power you are wanting, especially if you are not planning on running high RPMs. On my engine (383), Ill be running a blower, and all my power will be in by 6500 RPM, so there is no no need for a wild *** cam. Visit the cam manufacturer web pages and do a little reading on that. You may also have to change valve springs to a heavier spring rate, depending on your cam selection.
Once you have selected potential cam and heads you can post the information here and ask someone to do a desktop dyno model for you before you purchase, to see a simulation of their performance.
