The L98 in my late model 85 is starting to smoke up the rear bumper and burns a quart about every 500 miles. It is still strong and runs pretty good so I figure that its good for a few more miles yet. I am starting to reseach and price my 383 options as I would like to bump up the horsepower while still retaining the stock look. The Red Sled is a hobby car, not a daily driver but used for road trips and cruise ins and will probly never see a strip.

OK, that being said, I am wondering if any of y'all can make suggestions on sources for crate 383's? I have looked at the JEGS site and they have a nice one, 405/440, for about $3K, which is about my budget. http://www.jegs.com/p/Blueprint+Engines/761056/10002/-1
Any comments on this motor?

Looks like Summit has exactly the same engine at the same price. There are a few engine rebuilders on Ebay too, anybody bought one from any of them? I did find one thread with a warning about one such rebuilder but I cant find it now. If I am going to go the crate route, I think I would like to stick with a well known company but the lower prices could be an advantage in buying other needed parts and work.

I do have a local rebuilder with a good rep that could handle stroking my L98. Would this be a better route? Hopefully the $3K budget will still apply here, he does normal rebuilds for about $1500.

I am sure there's alot of threads out there but I have never been successful in searching the right terms to get what I need. Have mercy on this Noob and help me out with this decision.

TIA!

 

Check out CNC motorsports and talk to Jason or Cliff. It might cost a little more and take a little longer, but they built me EXACTLY what I wanted.

I did see the Jegs motor and was impressed with the price, but it wasnt suitable for my application, which =

But perhaps your local rebuilder would be the best choice for you $-wise. I just had no one here locally I trusted with this project.

 

IMO if the shop has a good rep, this is your best choice. A local shop and the fact that your a local guy makes for good business practices most of time.

If you have any problems (everybody no matter how good has one sometime) you can go and work it out in person.... No dealing with a huge company over the phone or with some eBay scammer.

Depending on how much power your looking for, 3K will will get you a pretty good street oriented long block (cast crank, SIR rods, Probe/KB pistons, ect). You won't make a bunch of power re using the stock TPI and stock exhaust but if the cam and heads package is mild enough it'll make a ton of TQ down low and drive like stock. If you want big power your going to have to upgrade those 2 areas, which will cost more. Be aware your going to have to add in a couple hundred more for the price of a tune as well.... A 383 no matter how mild will never run right on the stock one.

BTW that Jegs motor is built by a mass rebuilder and sold by a couple of mail order places. The cam is way too big to work with a TPI intake and Vortec heads require a special intake bolt pattern. The rest of it is nothing special cast crank, stock rods, hyper pistons... all stuff you can get from a local shop.
Will

 

Thanks for the input guys. I am still reading here about different parts and options. I know I will have to upgrade the fuel system, probly new runners and Bosch III's from FIC and new programming for that and a mild cam. I still want to run pump gas so too much head shaving is out, keeping the compression down but larger valves all around, I can always do that later. Some porting and polishing

Most of the stuff posted here is way over the top for my needs. Yall are way more into squeezing every pony out of whatcha got. The tech aspects are way over my head too but I am learning tons of info from the pros posting here. I am grateful for this board and everyone who particpates here.

I probly will go to the local rebuilder and discuss price and options with him before I make up my mind. I wasnt thrilled with the Vortec heads and other items that would make extra work with the crate motor. I did like the warranty.

Thanks again guys, I still welcome more ideas if anyone cares to comment.

 

GM has a brand new not rebuilt 383 forged short block you can build on.
Look around for some quality parts but yeah you have to deal with fuel and timing issues with your old computer.
They are not too expensive already programed w/your info.
Go to scan and tune for that info.
The 383 is the best bang for the buck .

 

Be sure you can find someone that will do the programming for your 85. Seems to be a shortage of chips or something. I have heard of guys changing to newer ECMs because the 85 is sort of obsolete.

 

Just checked out CNC and they are way over budget for me. A seriously sweet engine tho. Unfortunately having to buy a warranty at the $4500 level kinda turns me away. I would love going with the GM Performance short block and let my local do the head work on my aluminum heads. That puts me again way over budget after buying the extra stuff I need. Am I dreaming with my $3K budget for a stroker??

 

Keep a good eye on Racing Junk.com , and ebay.
I see good used engines on about every racing site I belong to but you need to find some close If you want to look first.
Find web site for car club or drag strip close to you they will have classifieds.

 

If your budget is just for a long block, then it is do'able.
I can speak from experience that a 383 in an 85-89 mass air car will run fine with stock tuning. Will it be optimum, probably not. Before the "you MUST have a custom tune" crew jump on board remember I have done this many, many times, so I don't need the lecture.
Disclaimer: Any car can benefit from a proper tune. Even a stock pick up truck, chain saw or lawn mower can benefit from a tune.
My point is you don't need it to complete this project. Been there and bought the shirt.

If I were you, I would do the following:
Machine the block
Cast crank
stock rods with new bolts and resized
Hyper pistons, or forged if the budget allows
hydraulic roller conversion with intake duration in the 212 area, exhaust close to 218 or so on a 112 center
Balance the rotating assembly(external)
New 7 inch damper
New flexplate
Now oil pump standard volume, standard pressure
Aim for a 9.75 compression ratio
Port the intake base
Port the plenum
Rebuild the heads with a 3 angle valve job and blend the bowls. Don't pay for a gasket match, save your money.

Put it in, run it, and enjoy it. The above will get you there in your 3k budget.

 

I'd go with a crate and be done with it. Summit, Jegs, Golen etc...Way too many benefits not to go that route.
Less down time, a spare engine, warranty, etc...
I have neevr had much luck dealing with local machine shops.

Just my 2 cents.

John

 

 

that having your engine rebuilt by a local shop is a good idea. It allows your budget to fit in better parts. If you dont on beating it much, then forged pistons with a cast bottom end will work just fine. However, pologreen makes a great point about not having as much down time with a crate.

 

Let your local machine shop do the work like Pete says.You can buy a balanced rotating assembly pretty cheap.Other than clearancing the block for the added stroke its not that much different than building a 350.

 

I would also look at a local builder. It's someone u can talk directly about your wants vs needs, and to lay hands on (figure of speech) if something goes arry. If u look at the fine print on those warranties, they don't cover all that much. Are u going to use the stock intake? If so, keep in mind those hp numbers in the builders engines will be no where close, as they are almost all made using a carb. I would at least strongly consider forged pistons in case u want to up the power level later. Being careful with parts selection, u might make ur $3000 goal, but it won't include incidentals like new hoses, waterpump, belts, and anything that may come up broken or at the end of it's life span, when u take the motor out. This is also assuming u are doing all the work of R&I. I think a better estimate would be between $4500 and $5000. JMHO, also been there, done that.

 

Thanks Pete, good suggestions and hope for the budget. Your idea of not needing tuning immediately lets me focus that money elsewhere initially. I will put it together and tune it a little later if it runs well enough. I do plan to do the R&I myself and the budget is for just the engine. I know there will be more incidental costs but those can be absorbed alot more easily. Down time isnt a big deal, I am finishing a 3 year Jeep CJ project now, not that the Sled will be down THAT long. No frame off for it.

I was looking to the crate for John's comments tho, less down time, warranty and ease of installation. It will save me from buying mismatched parts as the technical side is way out of my league yet. The local here has done other work for me with good results altho nothing like this, just general rolling assemblies for simple rebuilds. Most racers from the area use this guy and he's been in business for 20 years or more. I will talk with him next week when I get back from working to see what he says about it and I may revisit the crate idea.

Great comments and ideas fellers! I appreciate the input.