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New crate 383 wont idle in drive and seems weak out the hole. Idle is 9ish in park and sounds fine, drives fine at higher speeds but drops to 5K rpms and stalls when I come to a stop. I'm running stock torque converter with a th350. Could my torque converter be bad or do I just need to upgrade to a 2400 stall thats been recommended?
A stock stall doesn't stall enough to work properly. if You give us the camshaft specs we can get you in the zone on your timing, but I'm guessing like diehard said is you need more inital timing, I'd bet 18 to 20 degrees initial maybe even more depending on the camshaft. The more fuel/air that you have at idle the more before top dead center you need to ignite that mixture in order to get it to burn to a degree, add rpm in gear plus too small of a torque converter and there you are two footing it to keep it running. try 20 degrees intial, once you get it to run in gear, slowly back the idle speed down and when it starts to die, go back up 1/4 to 1/2 turn. then if your vette hunkers down or squatts hard when you put it into gear then your too small of a torque converter.
This is typical. Guy buys a new stroker crate engine. Drops it in his automatic car with a 3.08 rear gear and wonders why it is a dog. You just moved your powerband up 1500-2000 RPM. If you look at a cam with similar specs it will specify needs headers, 3.70-4.11 rear differential ratio, gears. Bet they didn't tell you that when they sold it to you. A "patch" is a 2400-3000 stall convertor. A solution is a 3.70-4.11 rear gear ratio and overdrive trans. My 383 build has a 236/242 duration roller cam. I have 4.11 gears and a T56 with .80 5th and .63 sixth gear. The combination has to be matched. If it isn't the results are disappointing.
Here is a cam that has the same lift and duration as yours.
Notice it says this:
Lopey idle, mid-upper rpm power. Works best with 10:1-11:1 compression, 3,000+ stall, and gearing.
When you stomp on it from a dead stop how long will it take to get into the powerband? It sure won't roast the tires and get there quick. You asked before you bought this engine and these issues were brought up (see below)but you bought it anyway. Now getting the performance you expect will take a ton of work and a bunch more money. When you post a question you need to listen to the answers.
Originally Posted by augiedoggy
The Cam is the heart of the engine it controls the timing of everything. It can make a huge difference...Some can increase dynamic compression and some can bleed it off.
You can easily get larger HP numbers by swapping it out but at the same time you can easily hurt the actual power output in the actual rpm range you would use most on the street. There are a lot of guys that just don't get it and stick the biggest cam they can in the engine only to find out that 450hp at 6500rpm cost them a lot of torque and HP down in the actual range where they would feel and use it most in all situations except when flying at 6,000+ rpm. This is also why if the average person drove two identical vettes except one being an L48 and the other being an L82 that person would mistake the L48 for the stronger L82 because the L48 starts making power sooner and has more torque which throws you back in the seat. Basically everything is a trade off as you can tune it to make more power but at a cost somewhere else like torque at lower rpms and vs versa... things like increasing displacement and better flow are solutions around it this limitation to a point.
You have to make sure the cam you select is a good match for your gearing and stall/ torque converter. If not you will have a 400 HP slug that can't get out of its own way until it finally gets to 50-60 MPH.
Easiest, cheapest fix is to do this. It will cost you peak horsepower. It will be much quicker with your combination. This drops your cam duration 15 degrees getting you to the powerband your car can operate in at an RPM you will use and will run on pump fuel with your 9.5 to 1 compression. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/lu...make/chevrolet
My stroker runs VERY well - WITH the stock 3:08 rear gear.
It lights the rear wheels very easy and pulls very strong
But I did install the stall speed torque converter as recommended.....
I think the stall speed helps a LOT....allows the engine to ramp up before launching.
But, kinda a PITA now that your engine is in. Either gotta pull the engine or the transmission to install it now.
I'm not sure mine has the 3.08. Its a 79 and all the info I've found says 79s have a 3.55 rear. But who knows, after 35 years whats in there. But if it does have a 3.55 would 63Mako's recommendation still be accurate? I also have long tube headers, no cats and true dual exhaust.
Anyway I'm gonna get the timing and carb checked today and see if it helps any.
I really appreciate all the help and comments I receive from this forum. Thanks
Last edited by Bloodzone; Jul 24, 2014 at 11:02 AM.
I'm not sure mine has the 3.08. Its a 79 and all the info I've found says 79s have a 3.55 rear. But who knows, after 35 years whats in there. But if it does have a 3.55 would 63Mako's recommendation still be accurate? I also have long tube headers, no cats and true dual exhaust.
Anyway I'm gonna get the timing and carb checked today and see if it helps any.
I really appreciate all the help and comments I receive from this forum. Thanks
If you have a 3.55 a convertor will help. The cam I linked would be a much better match for your combination. Maybe the next one bigger with a 383: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/lu...03lk/overview/
I got a PM that felt I went off on a rant and essentially called you an idiot. If it was taken this way I apologize as that is not what I meant to do. Your combo is not well matched. Tuning does need to be first on your list. If it does not get you what is expected further modifications will.
If it makes you feel any better I changed my mind and bought and sold a new cam 3 times as I was learning about how they work and building my engine... As mako said its a common mistake and one that's too often encouraged in forums like these.... BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER guys!
Even when setup right, Some guys find that the car becomes too difficult to drive and end up selling it or afraid to to drive it after bumping the HP up in the 400+ range.
On a plus note a bigger stall will mask the problem and work as a partial work around.
If it makes you feel any better I changed my mind and bought and sold a new cam 3 times as I was learning about how they work and building my engine... As mako said its a common mistake and one that's too often encouraged in forums like these.... BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER guys!
Even when setup right, Some guys find that the car becomes too difficult to drive and end up selling it or afraid to to drive it after bumping the HP up in the 400+ range.
On a plus note a bigger stall will mask the problem and work as a partial work around.
No hard feelings Mako I need all the help I can get.
Car is in shop getting timing and carb dialed in. They are also checking what rear I have 3.55 or 3.08 (hoping for 3.55) I talked to blueprint and verified stall of 2000-2400 for my engine. I need to decide between adding stall to my th350 or upgrading to a 200r4 or 700r4 with correct stall or switching cams.
This is what I'm thinking, you guys tell me if I'm offbase.
3.08 rear do cam first
3.55 do stall first
I'll know more tomorrow night. Thanks again for all the help.
If it makes you feel any better I changed my mind and bought and sold a new cam 3 times as I was learning about how they work and building my engine... As mako said its a common mistake and one that's too often encouraged in forums like these.... BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER guys!
Even when setup right, Some guys find that the car becomes too difficult to drive and end up selling it or afraid to to drive it after bumping the HP up in the 400+ range.
On a plus note a bigger stall will mask the problem and work as a partial work around.
I'm in that boat with ya built my engine runs great but know with the right cam it will run better. Got a new cam and going to change it this winter. Like I said it runs good now, met my goals, I think I'll even get it to exceed my goals before summer is up. And think I'll do better with the right camshaft.