Dan H.

Hello all,
I found a 383 on craigslist that I am interested in. I am not wise when it comes to motors. I intended to get a GMPP 383 crate engine for a project, but ran into this.

My questions
1. Anything about this description strange, not make sense, or evidence of a cheap build?
2. Seller is not forthcoming with a price, what would be a good deal on this?

http://allentown.craigslist.org/pts/3038939928.html

From an email the seller sent

"Morning I would have to find all my paper work from the machine shop again but I do have the whole assembly specs I can send its good for 370 horse n 430 torque of course depends on how u finish it out with intake and exhaust but it will hold for up to 500 horsepower the specs are 1pc main seal scat steel 383 crank rods are gm 3.750 w arp bolts hypereurectic flat top piston 9:5:1 compression Mahle rings edelbrock flat top cam .434/.444 206/212-112 specs mellings high volume oil pump cloyes hd roller timing set cast iron gm heads 2.02 intake 1.6 exhaust stainless valves comp series valve springs .530 max lift gm 1.5 rockers ball n nuts style if you have more questions feel free to ask"

gingerbreadman1977

His email all sounds normal run of the mill stuff and if thats what it is and done properly its a handy piece. The big "IF" is if its done properly and without any warranty on its longevity or the advertised parts actually being in there is always the risk. Receipts are good but certainly not bulletproof on where the dollars or parts went.

I myself would spend the extra on the GMPP and have piece of mind you get what you pay for.

L88Plus

Sounds like the boy is a bit confused about parts.
I'm betting the crank is a Scat cast piece, not forged.
Rods are GM 3.750? 3.750 is the stroke of the crank.
Flat top cam?
Cast GM heads? Unless they're heavily ported, a stock set of Vortecs will make more power. His are center bolt, so they're probably swirl port TBI's. Bleh!
What's the price?

69firebird

With how it's described in the email, I'd pass

ezobens

No mention of price?
For $1500, it might be a reasonable gamble, for $5000, not so much..

Dan H.

I appreciate your perspective and feedback guys, thank you

I'm going to pass on it. Seller wouldn't name a price and wanted me to make an offer. A bit to sketchy for me. His "nothing cheap about this build" comment makes me think its high dollar and it doesn't sound like that's necessarily true.

63mako

Good move passing. Looks like a cast crank, Stock rods, hyper pistons (likely KB), stock heads, flat tappet cam, stock rockers, externally balanced, With those specs and the whimpy cam specs he is not getting 370 HP and 430 TQ out of it, not even close and those are not 500 HP capability parts. Cheapest possible 383 build.

Crepitus

Gotta love the rusty chain laying in the lifter valley. Definatly pass.

tfi racing

Whats wrong with the chain?How else is he going to hold it up to spray paint it after pulling it out of the taxicab at the local PicknPull?

cv67

Everythign cheap about it really.

Stock iron heads down to the rockers, stock type cam hypereutectic pistons. Ok so it has a scat crank big deal.

some of those motors for sale on CL are scary.

Get a GMPP crate. Sure they are more but you cant go wrong
ALL NEW. Nothing rebuilt..with a warranty.

Thats worth something(spending more) in my book.

None of those rebuilders warranties out there are worth a damn I dont care who they are. How many rebuilt motors really take 100k miles +?