Stroker Engines ???
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by Ruff Rider
1. What makes a engine a Stroker engine ???
Longer than stock stroke
2. How come I mainly/only see 383 Stroker's being talked about ???
It is relatively inexpensive and proven package.
Just trying to learn, thanks
101st Airborne
Longer than stock stroke
2. How come I mainly/only see 383 Stroker's being talked about ???
It is relatively inexpensive and proven package.
Just trying to learn, thanks
101st Airborne 
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 34
Likes: 1
The short answer:
Strokers are made by switching the crank. The piston diameter is still the same, so you don't have to change the bore.
The 350 engine was made by stroking the 327 small block engine and keeping the bore the same.
The 383 is made by stroking the 350 even more by using the 400 crank that Chevy made to make the small block 400 (a limited production low proformance smog engine). The 400 crank was a stock Chevy part and was an easy way to get more of a stroke.
Making the bore bigger isn't always that easy if you want to make a big change in cubic inches. Cylinder thickness and bores getting too close to each other to get a seal at the head and allowing coolant flow between the cylinders in the block becomes a problem on some engines.
Bob
Strokers are made by switching the crank. The piston diameter is still the same, so you don't have to change the bore.
The 350 engine was made by stroking the 327 small block engine and keeping the bore the same.
The 383 is made by stroking the 350 even more by using the 400 crank that Chevy made to make the small block 400 (a limited production low proformance smog engine). The 400 crank was a stock Chevy part and was an easy way to get more of a stroke.
Making the bore bigger isn't always that easy if you want to make a big change in cubic inches. Cylinder thickness and bores getting too close to each other to get a seal at the head and allowing coolant flow between the cylinders in the block becomes a problem on some engines.
Bob
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 484
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From: Redwood City CA
Originally Posted by GTRbob
The short answer:
Strokers are made by switching the crank. The piston diameter is still the same, so you don't have to change the bore.
The 350 engine was made by stroking the 327 small block engine and keeping the bore the same.
The 383 is made by stroking the 350 even more by using the 400 crank that Chevy made to make the small block 400 (a limited production low proformance smog engine). The 400 crank was a stock Chevy part and was an easy way to get more of a stroke.
Making the bore bigger isn't always that easy if you want to make a big change in cubic inches. Cylinder thickness and bores getting too close to each other to get a seal at the head and allowing coolant flow between the cylinders in the block becomes a problem on some engines.
Bob
Strokers are made by switching the crank. The piston diameter is still the same, so you don't have to change the bore.
The 350 engine was made by stroking the 327 small block engine and keeping the bore the same.
The 383 is made by stroking the 350 even more by using the 400 crank that Chevy made to make the small block 400 (a limited production low proformance smog engine). The 400 crank was a stock Chevy part and was an easy way to get more of a stroke.
Making the bore bigger isn't always that easy if you want to make a big change in cubic inches. Cylinder thickness and bores getting too close to each other to get a seal at the head and allowing coolant flow between the cylinders in the block becomes a problem on some engines.
Bob
101st Airborne
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From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by Ruff Rider
What can i expect to $$pay$$ if I decide to stroke my 1995 LT1 C4A into a 383 ??? 101st Airborne
101st Airborne Depends on the parts you choose. Cast rotating assemblies can be found for under 1K, and forged USA made assemblies can be found for many times that price. Plan on spending another grand (or more) for machine work.
383 LT1 shortblocks can be found from around 2.5K to skys the limit.
Remember if it sounds too good to be true; it probably is.
Mike
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 484
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From: Redwood City CA
Originally Posted by aboatguy
Depends on the parts you choose. Cast rotating assemblies can be found for under 1K, and forged USA made assemblies can be found for many times that price. Plan on spending another grand (or more) for machine work.
383 LT1 shortblocks can be found from around 2.5K to skys the limit.
Remember if it sounds too good to be true; it probably is.
Mike
383 LT1 shortblocks can be found from around 2.5K to skys the limit.
Remember if it sounds too good to be true; it probably is.
Mike
So then how does an engine-idiot make a decision in this area ???
101st Airborne
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 21
From: Orlando Florida
Originally Posted by Ruff Rider
So then how does an engine-idiot make a decision in this area ???
If you come to a choice of whether you want to do it yourself or have someone else do it, you're going to have to trust your abilities in whether you can do it or not.
These days, there are a lot of options out there from buying parts and doing it yourself to buying turn key motors.
I think the biggest consideration you have to think about is the budget. Everything starts from there.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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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 Ruff Rider
What can i expect to $$pay$$ if I decide to stroke my 1995 LT1 C4A into a 383 ??? 101st Airborne
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
Great write up here.
http://www.wku.edu/~nathan.plemons/h...placement.html
I think I'm going with an all forged 396 short block when the time comes. Probably from these guys.
http://www.golenengineservice.com/ht...rt_blocks.html
http://www.wku.edu/~nathan.plemons/h...placement.html
I think I'm going with an all forged 396 short block when the time comes. Probably from these guys.
http://www.golenengineservice.com/ht...rt_blocks.html
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 13
From: Romeoville IL
Originally Posted by GTRbob
The short answer:
Strokers are made by switching the crank. The piston diameter is still the same, so you don't have to change the bore.
The 350 engine was made by stroking the 327 small block engine and keeping the bore the same.
The 383 is made by stroking the 350 even more by using the 400 crank that Chevy made to make the small block 400 (a limited production low proformance smog engine). The 400 crank was a stock Chevy part and was an easy way to get more of a stroke.
Making the bore bigger isn't always that easy if you want to make a big change in cubic inches. Cylinder thickness and bores getting too close to each other to get a seal at the head and allowing coolant flow between the cylinders in the block becomes a problem on some engines.
Bob
Strokers are made by switching the crank. The piston diameter is still the same, so you don't have to change the bore.
The 350 engine was made by stroking the 327 small block engine and keeping the bore the same.
The 383 is made by stroking the 350 even more by using the 400 crank that Chevy made to make the small block 400 (a limited production low proformance smog engine). The 400 crank was a stock Chevy part and was an easy way to get more of a stroke.
Making the bore bigger isn't always that easy if you want to make a big change in cubic inches. Cylinder thickness and bores getting too close to each other to get a seal at the head and allowing coolant flow between the cylinders in the block becomes a problem on some engines.
Bob
Bore .030" over and drop in the 400 cid 3.75" stroke crank.
4.030" x 3.75" for you standard stroker 383 cid.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by Ruff Rider
So then how does an engine-idiot make a decision in this area ???
101st Airborne
101st Airborne 
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,088
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From: Poop land
I see you can make a 402 stroker without a boring out a 350 block. Some local third gen Fbody guy rebuilt his 350 L98 into a 402 by just a hone job and custom parts. Of course his block had very little miles on it so there was no need to go .030 over. He used a 4" crank, custom rods, and a small base circle cam to do the job. This is pretty much a mega stroker for the least amount of $$$, using a 350 block. From what I hear, he's making over 500 rwhp and its a daily driver with a smooth idle. He claims the total cost was just over $4,000 and change. Now that's a clever idea...
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 34
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Here it is,
A forged steel crank 383 with 425 hp on 92 octane gas. From GM
http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/GMPerfor...8772&engCat=sb
A forged steel crank 383 with 425 hp on 92 octane gas. From GM
http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/GMPerfor...8772&engCat=sb
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From: Lahaina Hi