C3 Stroker

......Yes, this is how I built my first 383. The engine was needing a rebuild anyway, and the parts cost the same whichever cam and internal parts I used. Just a general rebuild with upgraded parts.

63mako

Cheap, powerful, durable, pick 2. If you want 500 HP and only want to spend $5000 to get there your skimping somewhere. I spent $8000 on my 383 535 hp build and was frugal (not counting induction). It is fully forged, full roller, 4 bolt mains, ARP studded with AFR 195 heads, billet caps and rev kit. Good quality parts throughout. The weak link always breaks.

ariba

Thanks
Do you have brand name on mind?
for the
Crank & pistons?

what do you think of Comp cams?

ariba

if it's a bit more than 5k it's no problem
but not like 8k+

ariba

my budget is $5000 or a bit more, gole is 500 H.P +

ariba

Thanks
I already have black seramik hooker headers, and all new exhaust with super 44.

jb78L-82

I used JE Forged Racing Pistons and reconditioned the forged L-82 crankshaft in the car for the rebuild.

Howards roller cam is what I used for the cam.

PainfullySlow

Comp is a name that has been around forever in the cam industry. They make a quality product that will easily get you to 500hp. There are certainly more exotic camshaft companies out there but for the power range you are looking for you can't go wrong with Comp.

And yes, I knew that build would be closer to 8 (as I am building a 383 myself right now) which is why I suggested not going this route.

If that is the way you want to go, you can pick up a forged rotating assembly from any of the parts houses, usually in the $1200-$2000 and up range. Here is a list of some of the options. https://www.summitracing.com/int/sea...illocation=int

500hp seems to be the magic cutoff where it is suggested to go full forged on internals which drastically increases your price. I would not expect you to be able to build that 383 with a forged rotating assembly, a roller cam, and aluminum heads on that 5k budget. I think going with that skip white crate motor would be a sensible way to go on that budget.

Another option is to lower your power expectations a bit (450ish say) and it would allow you to use cast components which will allow you to stay within your budget. As many have said here, power does not come cheap and the cost increases exponentially the higher you go.

I think it has been said that it costs twice as much to build a 600hp sbc as it does a 500hp sbc. No personal experience but I can easily see how it would be true (and maybe more than double).

jim-81

wow - that looks nice!

Amelio

How about keeping your current engine, get a good upper end package, heads,cam and intake and maybe a carburetor if what you have will not work. You will pick up noticeable hp and tq!! This will keep you way under your $5k budget and keep you from pulling you engine. If you gotta have the 500hp number hit it with a small 100 shot of laughing gas and you are there with less than $5k in it.

lionelhutz

I think you're putting to much emphasis on the HP you want for the $$$. Concentrate on what you can get that will be reliable and meet your goals.

Don't forget that the car will need the rest of the drivetrain gone through if you actually expect to put 500hp to the ground without things failing and that work isn't cheap either.

If you do a completely new engine, then you can sell the current one to re-coup some of the money you have in it. Especially if you can show the buyer it running and even go for a drive to show it's good.



Junkyard LS and ebay turbo?

If that's too hard then a junkyard LS with a cam, intake and headers then?

I do my own work too, and LS is how I'd go. Could easily hit 400-450hp for under $5000 with the transmission included by finding the right donor.




What happened to the forged 383 crank you first listed???

jb78L-82

Here is what I said in post #11:

As Joe said above ^, since you already have the 350 engine AND you can do some of the work yourself, building your current motor is the way to go with some high quality components which could net you close to 500 Gross Hp with a 355 or 383, either one. However, the crate 350/290 Gross HP is a bit of disaster with a 4 bolt main, cast pistons with 8:1 compression, the L-82 cam which is totally mismatched with an 8:1 compression, and the 1.94/1.50 cylinder heads. You would need to change pistons, Very good flowing aluminum heads, roller cam, and performance intake, all of which could be done easily for under 5K and net you 400+ Gross HP. Change the crank to a forged 383 stroker and you will hit 500+ Gross HP easily with better heads and higher lift roller cam.

Post #20 I said what I have:

Really? I rebuilt upgraded my OEM L-82 355 for about $5K with AFR 180 heads, Howards Roller cam, JE forged Racing pistons/rings, AND had all the machine work for the boring the cylinders, cleaning the block, new bearings, reconditioning the rods and crank by the machine shop...I assembled the rest including the cam, heads, intake, distributor etc....$5K for parts and builder labor.....

I don't see any reference to a forged 383 crank that I have...................355

TedH

I'd focus on performance goals and derive the budget from there.

You can throw $5,000 away pretty quick. If you know what is needed to increase the performance of your 290hp engine (as well as DURABILITY), then you will know if improvement or replacement is best way to reach your goals.

As an example, I spent close to $2,500 in 2013-14 to refresh the top end of my tired L48 (rebuilt in 1999). $700 to recondition the heads, about $1,100 for a retro roller conversion, $250 for ultra pro magnum rockers, and with the remaining misc items.

Fast-forward to today. My engine burns oil (it burnt LESS after the refresh but still burns oil). I figure re-ring. So, instead of having it machined, bored, rings, pistons, I opted for a 1980-85 truck short block for $1350 delivered. It has 4-bolt block, forged crank, moly rings, hypereutectic pistons, stock powdered metal connecting rods, and good bearings. I figure I will have $4,000 (since 2013) when all is said. My heads are DART Iron Eagles and I got them for around $1,000 back in 2004). Considering what I paid for my cylinder heads and all the other stuff mentioned above (and a few items I haven't), I am in the ballpark of $5,000. It is a 375hp/400tq build; comparable to what you get when you drop $3,500 for a Blueprint Motors 355ci roller engine (1-pc RMS). If it were me and considering improving or replacing, the Blueprint 355 (or 383) is worth considering.

My point is, with your 290hp engine, you have cast crank, cast pistons and 4-bolt block. If the engine is not burning oil or having issues, add, headers, heads, carb, intake, roller conversion and you will have spent another $4,000 to boost your cast crank/cast piston engine performance but you may have durability yet to address.

Whether you build-up or replace, you will buy the headers, carb and intake.

Heads and roller conversion can be had with a crate engine.

Weigh your options and be sure you have all cost items covered and your path will be clear.

lionelhutz

Doesn't matter what you have. This was YOUR post that you then took exception to after it was commented on as not being possible for $5k....

jb78L-82

omg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MotorHead

The only 500HP 350ci I have ever seen are at car shows where just about every one has one.

If you want a 500hp engine then you need cubes and nothing under a 406ci engine is going to get you get you there. Sure I can build a 550HP 350ci but the car will only be good for the dragstrip.

A 500hp 406ci is going to blow your budget. I had a 400HP 350 ci in my car once and it was a blast to drive and you don't need to buy exotic parts.

The good cheap cast stuff is out there like Scat or Eagle but I would look at the Scat stuff first with with SpeedPro pro pistons

Vortecpro

Some advice: You talk a lot about parts...........you might want to start thinking about the machinist who will have fix those aftermarket parts to make them right
.
5000.00 500HP is not going to get it done, Everything Scat or Eagle will have to be remachined to make right-period.

7t9l82

Take a ride in a 400 h.p c3 Corvette then come back and readress your request.
I run drag radials on mine and it still has traction issues.

63mako

Everyone is telling him that. He don't get it.

ariba

I got it 5K will not bring me 500 H.P
500 H.P + is more important than saving and cutting corners
I will pray it will not go above 8K.

Any person how had a 500 H.P + engine and did cost him under 8K. Please let me know and share your mods and cost with us