Ok Iv been researching 383's and all the ways to do it. I own an 85 vette so iv got the iron heads and FT cam so I wouldn't want to keep that and about 76k miles but it had been sitting in a field for 7 years before I rescued it. I'm wanting to go sts turbo but first I need to address the engine. My question is are all sbc blocks the same? Meaning if I got a 383 stroker crate engine from summit, which is a long block without intake, could I just pull my motor out take everything off and bolt everything back up to the crate motor and drop it back in. I would get bigger injectors, pump and tuning. I 'm just talking about bolt up wise. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MLL-BP3834CT1/

 

Yes, dimensionally all SB Chevy engines interchange (unless you include very early 265 and rare Chevy II 327 blocks). The major differences are:55-79 have the dipstick on the drivers side and 2 piece rear seal. 80-85 have dipstick on the passenger side and 2 piece rear seal. 86-99 have dipstick on the passenger side and 1 piece rear seal. There is the LT1 from 92-97 which will physically bolt in, but has unique heads and water pump arrangement so accessories do not interchange. 55-67 have a small crank journal, but there are no 350s so not an issue for a 383 (327 is also a 4" bore, but I am not aware of a 383 small journal stroker). 68 up is a large journal crankshaft and both 2 and 4 bolt mains are available. Heads are also variable slightly through the years. 55-68 have no provisions for accessories on the ends, 69-85 have 4 external bolts to hold them on, 86-99 have center bolts to hold them on. Also 55-85 have all the intake bolts at the same angle. 86-95 iron heads have the 2 center intake bolts straight up. 96-99 Vortec iron heads have a unique bolt pattern for the intake and require a special intake. 87-91 aluminum C4 heads (and ZZ4 crate) have the earlier 55-86 intake pattern. So to answer your question, yes it will bolt in, but you may have to make changes for the intake or accessories depending on heads.

 

wow thank you for the quick and very extensive reply
this may sound stupid but what kind of changes do you mean, like drilling n taping new holes for my brackets and stuff also what changes for the intake might need to be made?

 

What year parts will your 383 be made from? The block is not a problem-except you need a different flywheel/flexplate if you go from 2pc to 1pc rear seal or vise versa. If you get some really early heads you will have no place to bolt some brackets. Are you using C4 (serpentine) accessories? There is a change and difference in intakes in the 80's-some have the center bolts at a different angle-you just need the right intake to match the heads you have.

 

On the 86 and later heads, the center 2 intake bolts are at a different angle than your conventional intake/head mating surface. They are not angled as much. You cannot put a stock Edelbrock intake on these heads w/out modifying the center holes. I have a stock TBI intake w/ 76cc older heads and routed out the hole so it would line up. Not the best idea, but it worked in my case. The aftermarket mfg make intakes, heads etc that work together, but make sure you keep like years together. I.E. Vortex, TBI, LT-1 etc. As stated, some years have rev. coolant flow and other little issues you need to be clear on before moving forward.

 

How hard will you be driving it? That engine has no forged crank or rods, and the pistons are hyper. Dunno about those, but the hyper pistons that GM uses are made in Mexico. So again, how hard do you drive your hot rods? This engine would never stand to the 7 years of abuse that my stroker has taken since it's careful assembly.

Also, there is no mention of what type of aluminum heads on it from what I could see.

 

Why did you stop the production numbers at 99? The small block chevy is still produced currently. Maybe not in automobiles but in the Marine world the small block is the most produced unit available. Does anyone know exactly which year the Mechanical fuel pump was discontinued in the Small block casting? I am not sure if it was when the Vortec version or even earlier. Al