2 bolt 383
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton, Illinois
2 bolt 383
I have been looking for a crate motor for my 79. The engine builder is CNC Motorsports and he was selling a 383 425hp 470tg 2 bolt main engine. My engine is a 2 bolt, can I just use my 350 2 bolt and stroke it?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 541
Likes: 1
From: Freeport FL
I agree that there is nothing wrong with stroking your current engine, but for all the time and effort shopping for, and having a rotating assembly installed, into your current block (and clearancing it), I find CNC's prices well worth not having to go thru the effort. You are going to be buying the rotating assembly, cam, bearings, gaskets, machine shop work etc, anyway- how much would you really save?
Especially with the fact that now that I think about it, your current heads are probably not going to be able to produce those kind of HP/TQ numbers, your going to be buying pretty much everything anyway. Take new cam, heads, rotating assembly, etc, throw in the cost of decking, bore aligning, shot peening, mangafluxing and clearanceing your current block and you save $???
Especially with the fact that now that I think about it, your current heads are probably not going to be able to produce those kind of HP/TQ numbers, your going to be buying pretty much everything anyway. Take new cam, heads, rotating assembly, etc, throw in the cost of decking, bore aligning, shot peening, mangafluxing and clearanceing your current block and you save $???
Last edited by Droshki; Jan 22, 2009 at 05:29 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,631
Likes: 293
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
yeah you can rebuild your 2bolt into a 383....i did mine 2 years ago with no problems yet....built it to rev to 6500. I just used bolts for the mains, i bought the arp studs but had trouble getting the maincaps on over them.
definitley go with some compression and aluminum heads and you'll be very happy.
it's up to you about building it yourself or buying it....i personally like the fact that I can say, yeah I built that. and i like "shopping" for the stuff too.
definitley go with some compression and aluminum heads and you'll be very happy.
it's up to you about building it yourself or buying it....i personally like the fact that I can say, yeah I built that. and i like "shopping" for the stuff too.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 124
From: Lubbock TX
If your engine is still in the car, pick up a good 4-bolt block and build it into a 383 before you pull yours out so you don't spend weeks or months without your ride, plus you'll get to keep your engine if it's original. 2-bolt smallblocks are fine to a point, but there's so little area where the cap contacts the block registers that they're subject to cap walk. This isn't the case with 400's and big blocks because the caps have the same contact area on 2 and 4 bolt blocks. If yours is just going to be a cruiser, you might be fine, but routine beating on it will take a toll. Read thru this thread on Team Chevelle before you decide:
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/show...ht=2-bolt+caps
You'll really do better with good heads, a budget stroker with Vortec heads will make plenty of power without breaking the bank. You can pick up a Scat or Eagle cast stroker crank for around $200, they'll handle 500hp with no trouble.
Why build an engine that makes you cringe when the tach approaches 6,000 - build one you can drive like you stole it and have the confidence that it's built to take the abuse time and time again.
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/show...ht=2-bolt+caps
You'll really do better with good heads, a budget stroker with Vortec heads will make plenty of power without breaking the bank. You can pick up a Scat or Eagle cast stroker crank for around $200, they'll handle 500hp with no trouble.
Why build an engine that makes you cringe when the tach approaches 6,000 - build one you can drive like you stole it and have the confidence that it's built to take the abuse time and time again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
"Cap walk" happens when the bolts stretch from sustained high rpm operation. The contact area has nothing to do with it. Using good studs prevents this from happening.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 124
From: Lubbock TX
Check out the thread - that was a studded block. Those are very experienced engine builders and racers. Register size has a lot to do with it - that's why 400's don't have the same problem, they use exactly the same bolts or studs. Same with big blocks, huge registers even on 2-bolt blocks.
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Victoria BC
383
For what it's worth I've built several 383's over the past years. Some, two bolt mains others were four bolt. I had no problems with any of the 383's. Several of the four bolters were raced successfully. Having said all that, my most recent 383 is a GM short block "crate engine" Why?? because I couldn't purchase the parts and do all the machine work for the same price as GM charges. The GM 383 crate engine is a nice piece. Nice crank, nice rods and very nice block casting. The latest stroker ended up with Patriot aluminum heads, roller cam & rockers, Victor intake, Holly 780, MSD ign and a two shot NoS system. A strong reliable engine for my street toy.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Check out the thread - that was a studded block. Those are very experienced engine builders and racers. Register size has a lot to do with it - that's why 400's don't have the same problem, they use exactly the same bolts or studs. Same with big blocks, huge registers even on 2-bolt blocks.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
For what it's worth I've built several 383's over the past years. Some, two bolt mains others were four bolt. I had no problems with any of the 383's. Several of the four bolters were raced successfully. Having said all that, my most recent 383 is a GM short block "crate engine" Why?? because I couldn't purchase the parts and do all the machine work for the same price as GM charges. The GM 383 crate engine is a nice piece. Nice crank, nice rods and very nice block casting. The latest stroker ended up with Patriot aluminum heads, roller cam & rockers, Victor intake, Holly 780, MSD ign and a two shot NoS system. A strong reliable engine for my street toy.
Last edited by jsholm2; Jan 23, 2009 at 08:17 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 3
From: NORTHEAST
It not really the HP but more stroke does side load the caps more and cause them to walk.
Here is another good link to look over
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/advanc...ever-seen.html
Last edited by BLOCKMAN; Jan 24, 2009 at 05:46 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 3
From: NORTHEAST
We have had a lot of 383 two bolt blocks come in the shop for splayed center caps because the 2 bolt caps were walking.
If the 2 bolt 350 blocks had 2 bolt caps like the 400 blocks do (I mean wide) it would be a different story.
It seems GM could see a problem using the narrow caps years ago on their 3.750 stroke engines and they made the caps wider to handle added stroke.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 3
From: NORTHEAST
Here is an interesting link to a broken 2 bolt main cap on a 383
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...ps-1992-a.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...ps-1992-a.html
