383 cam help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton, Illinois
383 cam help
I am building a 383 w/ forged bottom end. 9.5 compression, Dart heads 200, Performer intake (due to hood clearance) Q-jet carb by Cliff. 355 gears, auto trans, Hooker super comps w/ Flowmaster exhaust. I am looking for performance from a 383 that won't destroy my trans, rear end ect. Maybe 425hp. Here are my two picks. Comp 280 Magnum 230/230 470/470. Or I already have a 962/L82 cam that would be 224/224 480/490 W/ 1.60 rockers. Any other I thoughts are welcome. Al
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,926
Likes: 739
From: Youngstown Ohio
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,529
Likes: 27
From: Auburndale Florida
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'09
I built a 383 with 195 cc Trick Flow Heads, 9.7 CR. I used a Comp retro rolloer .510 lift, 224/230 duration on a 112 LSA. Cam is good, little lope at idle. I have an auto with air so I didn't want to get too crazy. If I had it to over I might be tempted to tighten up the LSA to 110 for a little more lope or go fora little more duration, I have a 308 rear gear. Regarding an intake, ck out profeesional products. I used a polished one with a Holley Street Avenger. The ports matched the ports on the TFS heads and hood clearance was good (running a stock hood). The Perfomer's ports are too small for your heads.
If you are interested I can look up my notes on the model of the intake and measurements on the hood clearances
Just my 2 cents...best of luck
If you are interested I can look up my notes on the model of the intake and measurements on the hood clearances
Just my 2 cents...best of luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
Pretty healthy set of heads 
262CFM @ .500 lift, with a max lift of .520 with the 110# springs - all from Dart. If you've got a different spring package, call it out. That kind of lift and flow cries for a retrofit roller if it's in the budget. Anyting in a flat-tappet cam with that kind of lift is going to be a pretty radical cam. You definitely need a stiff converter.
The Magnum 280 (12-212-2) isn't a bad pick with the right converter, nor is the 1.6 ratio rockers with the L82 cam. There's room for more lift to get the most out of the heads...but IMHO not without going to a hydraulic roller.
My $.02...and worth every penny
262CFM @ .500 lift, with a max lift of .520 with the 110# springs - all from Dart. If you've got a different spring package, call it out. That kind of lift and flow cries for a retrofit roller if it's in the budget. Anyting in a flat-tappet cam with that kind of lift is going to be a pretty radical cam. You definitely need a stiff converter.
The Magnum 280 (12-212-2) isn't a bad pick with the right converter, nor is the 1.6 ratio rockers with the L82 cam. There's room for more lift to get the most out of the heads...but IMHO not without going to a hydraulic roller.
My $.02...and worth every penny
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,317
Likes: 111
From: St Louis MO
Although I like roller cams more than flat tappets, in either case, pick an intake duration of about 230 to 235 and exhaust duration of about 5 to 10 degrees longer. Pick a lobe separation angle of 108 for performance, or 112 for slightly less performance than economy; 110 deg lsa is a reasonable compromise.
A lumpy or radical idle occurs with the lower lsa grinds.
A lumpy or radical idle occurs with the lower lsa grinds.
