383 is finally here. [PICS]
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
Originally Posted by GrandSportC3
I'm happy with my builder too... except the wait 
Hopefully - I'll get my new engine soon...
Hopefully - I'll get my new engine soon...
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Redshark6974
Oliver, I considered AR, and looked and looked at their engines...but yea..the wait was definitely an issue with them. I guess I have no patience, and wanted this car ready to go now.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
Originally Posted by GrandSportC3
Most of the issues that people had were with AR's cheaper engines.. Even though I had great success with my inexpensive 383... my new engine is custom built to my specs!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 986
Likes: 23
From: Florence SC
Nice looking engine, and I do not want to cause you any unnesassary concern but you might want to read this thread from another forum about the AFR heads: http://smokemup.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1167
Others seem to have oil burning issues with them without some serious machine work. Good luck
Others seem to have oil burning issues with them without some serious machine work. Good luck
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
Originally Posted by bracketshark
Nice looking engine, and I do not want to cause you any unnesassary concern but you might want to read this thread from another forum about the AFR heads: http://smokemup.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1167
Others seem to have oil burning issues with them without some serious machine work. Good luck
Others seem to have oil burning issues with them without some serious machine work. Good luck
Last edited by LFZ; Dec 17, 2004 at 12:36 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 986
Likes: 23
From: Florence SC
Cool by me, I was looking at buying heads for my 406, after reading that artical until major design changes in the valve oiling areas occur I won't consider those heads. Who knows maybe the design has already been modified by AFR. I hope so, they do have flow terrific flow characteristics. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
Originally Posted by bracketshark
Cool by me, I was looking at buying heads for my 406, after reading that artical until major design changes in the valve oiling areas occur I won't consider those heads. Who knows maybe the design has already been modified by AFR. I hope so, they do have flow terrific flow characteristics. Good luck!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 986
Likes: 23
From: Florence SC
I think I've located a mildly used set of pontiac 867's with tit. vlvs and the matching intake. I used to run a set of these on my 63 drag car (my avitar) they ran great on that 406. In that artical I posted before the engine builder that was explaining the oil return short commings of the AFR's perfered Brodix, or Dart. I know these two companies have tremendous reputations, having read the artical and understanding the problem presented I would go with one of those companies until AFR corrected the problem. Thats me though and you already have your fine looking motor, I hope you have no problems. 
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
There used to be a guy on this forum "Monty" Who kind of shamed me into building my first 383 for my 79 vette. He had the 100% full ported 210 cc's on his 11/1 compression 383 81 Vette. I believed the hype about large heads and port velocity so I went with modded Dart Pro 1's 215 cc with largest valves (2.08/1.625) so it was more like 221cc after the factory porting was done. I found out right away that I should have gone bigger.
Because 383's are TQ monsters when combined with SR cams. So it smarter to use bigger heads and less duration on the cam
Because 383's are TQ monsters when combined with SR cams. So it smarter to use bigger heads and less duration on the cam
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Redshark6974
cheaper engines..like the ebay engines??
Mine held up perfectly for $13k miles or so and 50 - 60 drag strip passes...
It was still running like new when I sold it..
Others had issues with their engines but AR usually took care of their customers (unless the issues were on a engine that was bought years ago...)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,635
Likes: 0
From: Union Ontario
Loks good very similar to the engine I'm having built now other that I had to go with Sportsman II's on cost. I'll be running a nastier cam so hopefully it should maintain the ~450HP that you have.... or at least come close
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
Originally Posted by MikeC
Loks good very similar to the engine I'm having built now other that I had to go with Sportsman II's on cost. I'll be running a nastier cam so hopefully it should maintain the ~450HP that you have.... or at least come close
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,635
Likes: 0
From: Union Ontario
Undecided yet but the builder wants me to run a 300/500 cam( thats what he calls it). He says actual duration is around 292 and lift is .500" with 1.5 rockers. We'll probably put 1.6 rockers in it so that should boost the lift up to .533".
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
Originally Posted by MikeC
Undecided yet but the builder wants me to run a 300/500 cam( thats what he calls it). He says actual duration is around 292 and lift is .500" with 1.5 rockers. We'll probably put 1.6 rockers in it so that should boost the lift up to .533".
On my cam, the corrected lift is at .541/.544
