383 build ?
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by luvmy92
You can definitely plan on spending at least twice what your original budget is. Don't ask me how I know.
Mike
Mike
At least twice as much and three times as long as you thought it'd take you! 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 0
From: Belews Creek north carolina
St. Jude Donor '05
oh i know builds arent cheap and i will plan on spending some big bucks on this. but why not do it right. i probably wont get to drive the vette for about three months once i start cause i am **** about these things
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 2
From: Oviedo FL
For me it was more like 11 months, and what I thought was going to cost me about $8K has turned into $18K and still going. This was supposed to be for a very well put together 383.
Mind you I upgraded numerous other parts along the way (Canton pan and Accusump, oil cooler, Wilwood rears, McLeod street twin, etc), but the labor has just about killed me. My first engine builder was going to originally do the whole thing for free (he was the one driving the car when my car spun a rod bearing), but ended up costing me about $3K in labor. I also had to buy new pistons (now a 385) and machine work because he washed the rings down on the original ones. When he put the new motor in the car it was an absolute mess, and then he left town.
I have now spent close to $5K with the 2nd engine builder and have been generally happy with their work, but I still have some issues. Even though you will be doing all the work, all I am saying is expect the unexpected, because things are going to jump up and bite you in the azz...
Mike
Mind you I upgraded numerous other parts along the way (Canton pan and Accusump, oil cooler, Wilwood rears, McLeod street twin, etc), but the labor has just about killed me. My first engine builder was going to originally do the whole thing for free (he was the one driving the car when my car spun a rod bearing), but ended up costing me about $3K in labor. I also had to buy new pistons (now a 385) and machine work because he washed the rings down on the original ones. When he put the new motor in the car it was an absolute mess, and then he left town.
I have now spent close to $5K with the 2nd engine builder and have been generally happy with their work, but I still have some issues. Even though you will be doing all the work, all I am saying is expect the unexpected, because things are going to jump up and bite you in the azz...
Mike
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Varieables
I,m in the process of building a 383 right now, I bought a used two bolt main block and spent the real money on the crank and H beam rods, I also had the block checked, tanked blue printed and everything balanced.
Be careful about buying everything now, I found out the hard way, there are a lot of varieables that you need to keep in mind,what type of heads are you going to use, are they worked, -what are they cc'd at, how much is the block going to need decked, this all comes into play when you go to buy pistons (I went with 11degree relief) and try to get the compression ratio you want. Also there ar e diffent head gasket thickness's.
Be careful about buying everything now, I found out the hard way, there are a lot of varieables that you need to keep in mind,what type of heads are you going to use, are they worked, -what are they cc'd at, how much is the block going to need decked, this all comes into play when you go to buy pistons (I went with 11degree relief) and try to get the compression ratio you want. Also there ar e diffent head gasket thickness's.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 0
From: Belews Creek north carolina
St. Jude Donor '05
thanks for all the great tips guys i am taking notes first and making a list and checking it twice brfore i start buying want to make sure its done right and without wasting money i will need every cent spent wisely 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 0
From: Belews Creek north carolina
St. Jude Donor '05
has anyone dealt with this place if so how was the service and the product 
http://www.strokerkits.com/?source=bookmark
http://www.strokerkits.com/?source=bookmark
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Southampton PA
383 stroker
hey guy,I was glad to see someone give you a little support. first things first: find a good, reputable machine shop..very important. 2nd..expect the unexpected, 3rd always realize that there is nothing "bolt on" that fits correctly. Your engine should be of the highest quality as well. My current experience with this seemingly never ending 396 stroker has been a college degree. I happen to have some killer BRAND NEW IN THE BOX" parts for that 383. I have splayed billet steel main caps. I have a custom grind cam and double roller timing chain and gears, but those won't work with your motor. As far as parts i've used: venolia custom pistons 10:1 comp, hell-fire gapless rings, eagle crank, rods, h-beam. All arp bolts, AFR 195 CC heads, manley valves, isky springs, titanium retainers, superlocs, harland sharp rockers, crane stud girdle, moroso oil pan, with mods, melling oil pump, tpis mini ram, delphi injectors, most importantly...FAST system controller, procharger intercooled supercharger 12 lbs of boost, and a custom grind crane cam. can e-mail for caps. GOOD LUCK!! 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 0
From: Belews Creek north carolina
St. Jude Donor '05
i have a very reputable machine shop,i have been using for years would not take it anywhere else. i have seen plenty of his work and he is veryanal about everything he does. sounds like you have a pretty well built motor yourself how about some pics so we can drool on our keyboards 
anyway thanks for the tips and it sounds like you were happy with your eagle products 
anyway thanks for the tips and it sounds like you were happy with your eagle products
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Southampton PA
reply
as soon as it is finished I will follow up with pics. as far as the main caps, they are still available. They also come with the special bolts. note these are the 3 main caps splayed. But anyway, any help I can give is not a problem. It is nice to learn the correct way to go about things instead of learning the hard way. just to prove a point , my stud girdle came in and neither side was machined correctly. has to go back to mfg to be corrected. quality control certainly isn't what it used to be. take care and happy motoring!!