383
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton, Illinois
383
Hello, I have a 79 Vette 355, auto, 355 gears. The engine was rebuilt 5000 miles ago. The engine was bored 30 over. I want to build a 383 stroker w/ heads and 962 cam. Do you think the block is fresh enough to rebuild without reboring? I also want to install four bolt mains, looking for torque and about 425hp. Thanks, al
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 409
From: California
you don't install 4 bolt mains,,, the block is either a 4 bolt or 2 bolt... thats it. you will have to buy a new crank... have machine work done on the block for clearance, and it goes on and on and on.... so, $8k later you will have a kick but 383.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 46
From: winter haven florida
St. Jude Donor '12
i think the op may be thinking of billet splayed caps. this takes a 2 bolt block and it is angle drilled, converting it to a very strong 4 bolt. my 396 has had this done. here is a pic. clicky the linky.
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...esp-c4102s.jpg
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...esp-c4102s.jpg
Last edited by 2000FRCZ19; Apr 18, 2009 at 12:39 AM.
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 81
From: Nashville, TN
i think the op may be thinking of billet splayed caps. this takes a 2 bolt block and it is angle drilled, converting it to a very strong 4 bolt. my 396 has had this done. here is a pic. clicky the linky.
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...esp-c4102s.jpg
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...esp-c4102s.jpg
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 409
From: California
i think the op may be thinking of billet splayed caps. this takes a 2 bolt block and it is angle drilled, converting it to a very strong 4 bolt. my 396 has had this done. here is a pic. clicky the linky.
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...esp-c4102s.jpg
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...esp-c4102s.jpg
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 12
From: Schaumburg (Chicago) Illinois
Hello, I have a 79 Vette 355, auto, 355 gears. The engine was rebuilt 5000 miles ago. The engine was bored 30 over. I want to build a 383 stroker w/ heads and 962 cam. Do you think the block is fresh enough to rebuild without reboring? I also want to install four bolt mains, looking for torque and about 425hp. Thanks, al
You don't need 4 bolt mains under 500 hp.
From what I understand a torquey 425 hp is easy to get on a 383.
$8K, thats rediculous. Since you had it rebuilt recently you can do what you want for 2-3K if all you need is a rotating assembly and the clearance work. Ad another 2K for heads. I am told that you don't need forged components under 500hp either. That really keeps the cost down.
Again I am no expert and am just repeating what I have learned and then applied to my own 383 which is not running as I am doing a frame off.
Racer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 296
Likes: 4
From: London Ontario
Not all of the kits need to be clearanced. I had my engine built and they went with eagle over scat for that reason. They said that it was close and sometimes needed clearanced but not always. I think my total rebuild cost about 4000. forged crank, hyper pistons, vortec heads. Mine didnt need bored. we checked it when we brought it in and it was within an acceptable range ( I think .001-.003,but cant remember for sure).
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 540
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '09, '24
Hello, I have a 79 Vette 355, auto, 355 gears. The engine was rebuilt 5000 miles ago. The engine was bored 30 over. I want to build a 383 stroker w/ heads and 962 cam. Do you think the block is fresh enough to rebuild without reboring? I also want to install four bolt mains, looking for torque and about 425hp. Thanks, al
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton, Illinois
I have read many opinions comparing 2 bolt vs 4 bolt blocks. Many people say a low hp 425 hp 383 street driven motor revved up to a max of 5500 rpms is good to go with a 2 bolt w/ ARP studs. I have read that 4 bolts are designed for performance use with higher hp and high revving applications. I was going to add 4 bolt mains to my block, however, I read that the outer bolts on a 4 bolt block can crack blocks. Then there is the splayed caps, many two bolts can be converted with positive results. Any opinions? 
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 540
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '09, '24
I have read many opinions comparing 2 bolt vs 4 bolt blocks. Many people say a low hp 425 hp 383 street driven motor revved up to a max of 5500 rpms is good to go with a 2 bolt w/ ARP studs. I have read that 4 bolts are designed for performance use with higher hp and high revving applications. I was going to add 4 bolt mains to my block, however, I read that the outer bolts on a 4 bolt block can crack blocks. Then there is the splayed caps, many two bolts can be converted with positive results. Any opinions?
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 81
From: Nashville, TN
If it a street motor it is really just up to you. I just did it because I got them cheap. Not because it needed it. 2 bolt mains will run forever on the street with no problems. You won't see any kind of performance boost from doing it so it all comes down to what you prefer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
$8K, thats rediculous.
I am in process having my tame 350 crate turned into a 400HP+ 383 at a local engine builder. New SCAT crank and I-Beams, KB pistons and Comp Cam. Total cost = $3K
I would expect that at 5K miles you cylinder wear should be nil. My builder told me he could have honed mine out and not bored if I wanted to at ~40k had .005 wear.
I also agree 2 bolt mains are fine with the ARP studs.
I am in process having my tame 350 crate turned into a 400HP+ 383 at a local engine builder. New SCAT crank and I-Beams, KB pistons and Comp Cam. Total cost = $3KI would expect that at 5K miles you cylinder wear should be nil. My builder told me he could have honed mine out and not bored if I wanted to at ~40k had .005 wear.
I also agree 2 bolt mains are fine with the ARP studs.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 725
Likes: 1
From: FL.
I like the Idea of having a 4 Bolt main Block But is it really necessary in a Light Weight Vette Under 500hp, I dont really Know.
I do know Chev. 4bolt Main blocks were standard equipt. in heavy 3/4 ton trucks of the 70's For some reason. Maybe the stress of just get the heavy weight rolling thousands of times.
I do know Chev. 4bolt Main blocks were standard equipt. in heavy 3/4 ton trucks of the 70's For some reason. Maybe the stress of just get the heavy weight rolling thousands of times.
