C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Damn!!!! My block is toast!!!

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Old Nov 9, 2006 | 08:38 PM
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Default Damn!!!! My block is toast!!!

Just got the word from the machine shop......Bad crack in my block. Now I got the reason I needed to go with a new 383 stroker motor. Now I gotta start researching everything I can find about what to buy. My head is spinning already!!
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Old Nov 9, 2006 | 09:01 PM
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Where is it cracked? If it is in the lifter valley, it is trashed.
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Old Nov 9, 2006 | 09:03 PM
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Default Thats it!!!

Yep, they tell me its cracked along the lifter valley. Oh well....Mo Money, MO Money, Mo Money!!!!!
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 12:18 AM
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get a used 4 bolt truck block...
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 02:26 AM
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What about the G.M. crate engine? 383c.i. 425h.p.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 03:04 AM
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So whats the plan?

383
SR or MR or Single Plane?
Cam
Heads
????
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 04:27 AM
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Let pete built for ya, I beat the hell out of it. already logged 10k miles on his motor and tranny.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 06:52 AM
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Originally Posted by USAsOnlyWay
So whats the plan?

383
SR or MR or Single Plane?
Cam
Heads
????

383 for sure. probably proven setup with superram, cam, heads, headers, bullit proof tranny etc., etc.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:07 AM
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You will love the 383 regardless. They are popular for a reason. My car has it's 2nd 383. I dropped the first one in around 1996. I beat it like a red headed stepchild for years.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:20 AM
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Default Cant wait!!

Originally Posted by Pete K
You will love the 383 regardless. They are popular for a reason. My car has it's 2nd 383. I dropped the first one in around 1996. I beat it like a red headed stepchild for years.
Oh Yeah!! I cant wait. Man there is alot of choices out there....Ive been looking at short blocks. Gm is going around $3200 with balancer, flexplate etc. Many others around 1500- 2000. I'm still trying to find out whats the best avenue to take. Then there is head choices....like I said before my head is spinning!!
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:46 AM
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Sounds like you found the excuse to build a montser
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 09:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom 35th anniversary
Oh Yeah!! I cant wait. Man there is alot of choices out there....Ive been looking at short blocks. Gm is going around $3200 with balancer, flexplate etc. Many others around 1500- 2000. I'm still trying to find out whats the best avenue to take. Then there is head choices....like I said before my head is spinning!!
Quality parts buy insurance. That is most of the price difference. It does not make sense to get the best money can buy for our needs. A 1 pc rear main seal factory block is a weak, flimsy piece of crap compared to the old blocks, or race blocks. I have a friend that put a $2,200 crank in a factory 89 block . Add the rods and pistons and his rotating assembly was almost 4 grand!My advice is to try to put together a nice consistant, proven combo. Cast crank, stock rebuilt rods with arp bolts and $500 set of srp pistons work fine for most of us. Upgrade from there (if you choose).
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 10:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Pete K
Quality parts buy insurance. That is most of the price difference. It does not make sense to get the best money can buy for our needs. A 1 pc rear main seal factory block is a weak, flimsy piece of crap compared to the old blocks, or race blocks. I have a friend that put a $2,200 crank in a factory 89 block . Add the rods and pistons and his rotating assembly was almost 4 grand!My advice is to try to put together a nice consistant, proven combo. Cast crank, stock rebuilt rods with arp bolts and $500 set of srp pistons work fine for most of us. Upgrade from there (if you choose).

Which block would you recommend Pete? Are you saying I can reuse my old rods, but just have them rebuilt? I'm gonna have lots of questions, and thanks in advance for any replies.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom 35th anniversary
Which block would you recommend Pete? Are you saying I can reuse my old rods, but just have them rebuilt? I'm gonna have lots of questions, and thanks in advance for any replies.
For a typical 383, your block (assuming it was not cracked) is suitable. Rebuilding your stock rods and installing arp bolts are about all you need.
A factory 4 bolt replacement is a nice option to have, but I have been running studded 2 bolts for years. Never a problem for me.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 10:48 AM
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There is a silver lining to every dark cloud
We (my son and I) had a 383 stroker in a 87 Monte Carlo
It rocked
It was carbed and I always wanted to do an injected one

Please post early and often so I can live vicariously through you

Those crate motors look hard to beat
although I would be tempted to do a turbo or twin turbo setup
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom 35th anniversary
Just got the word from the machine shop......Bad crack in my block. Now I got the reason I needed to go with a new 383 stroker motor.
What does a cracked block have to do with justification for a 383? The fact that it was in the machine shop provided that. With the need for a new block, you NOW have a good excuse for a 421, or a 434.

RACE ON!!!
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 11:36 AM
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Whatever you do, do it quick. Not many of us 35ths out there on the road right now.

383 would be sweet, It looks like thats the plan for mine!
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
you NOW have a good excuse for a 421, or a 434.
Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner! That is definitely how you should be thinking!

Maybe here is an interesting time to bring up a question:

Everybody does forged pistons for piece of mind. I did hypereutectics (<$), now a few k miles later, the couple guys I know with forged are having oil consumption problems and I don't have any.

Is perhaps forged pistons only something worth having if you really need them? Is the expansion/contraction rates of forged vs hypers the difference?

In the end, I don't think with the proven 383/219/SR combo you need a forged bottom end. A lot of money saved there that can be spent on good head/intake work.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 09:21 PM
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It's time to get sick...

Click Here.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by USAsOnlyWay
Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner! That is definitely how you should be thinking!

Maybe here is an interesting time to bring up a question:

Everybody does forged pistons for piece of mind. I did hypereutectics (<$), now a few k miles later, the couple guys I know with forged are having oil consumption problems and I don't have any.

Is perhaps forged pistons only something worth having if you really need them? Is the expansion/contraction rates of forged vs hypers the difference?

In the end, I don't think with the proven 383/219/SR combo you need a forged bottom end. A lot of money saved there that can be spent on good head/intake work.
I think most of the oil consumption happens on cold start up. Alot of forged pistons have skirt clearances of .0035 or larger. Most cast stuff is .001 or less. My kb's were hypers, but used buckets of oil. They were set at .003 (as per keith blac)k. Ring end gaps were required to be apprx .038 on the top ring. Motor ran strong and lived through alot. The pistons clucked like a chicken and oil usage was 1 qt per 800 miles at best.
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