383 87 octane build
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 4
From: Lorena Texas
383 87 octane build
Kinda Corvette related. I have a 1963 Chevy truck and am installing an LT1/460le. What I would like to do is build an 87 octane 383 for towing. The motor is out of a 94 Buick Roadmaster with iron heads. I have a set of 95 Vette heads and some LT4 heads to work with. Anyone have any links to builds or suggestion?
Thanks
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
both heads, and the LT4 for sure, have very small combustion chambers, and if you use either of them, especially if you aim for 87 octane with a long stroke 383, you'll have to use (deep) dished pistons. Check and see what Chevy uses with their various 383 crate engine combos.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 431
From: Dale City VA
First - I would run a 5.7 or even better a 5.565 connecting rod.
The faster piston speed on and off TDC will make the engine more detonation resistant.
Second - Try to find a piston with as close to a reverse dome as you can. Manley and Probe both have a nice D shaped dish with a flat spot right under the spark plug quench pad... Those 2 are probably as close as you'll get with off the shelf pistons.
As an alternative piston theory - You might want to look into the Icon/KB pistons that have a "step dish"....
Third - Read up on "Singh Grooves"... There is a guy on Speed Talk that is a big proponent of them and has a lot of data to show how much they help.
http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4069
Fourth - Follow the common stuff, all engine builders do for normally aspirated engines... Run as low drag of a ring pack as you can afford, reduced windage as much as you can, run the quench as tight as you can, run as little of oil pressure as you feel safe.... all this stuff makes for less parasitic drag or to make the engine as efficient as possible.
Fifth - If your willing to spend the $$$, piston top and combustion chamber coatings.
Will
The faster piston speed on and off TDC will make the engine more detonation resistant.
Second - Try to find a piston with as close to a reverse dome as you can. Manley and Probe both have a nice D shaped dish with a flat spot right under the spark plug quench pad... Those 2 are probably as close as you'll get with off the shelf pistons.
As an alternative piston theory - You might want to look into the Icon/KB pistons that have a "step dish"....
Third - Read up on "Singh Grooves"... There is a guy on Speed Talk that is a big proponent of them and has a lot of data to show how much they help.
http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4069
Fourth - Follow the common stuff, all engine builders do for normally aspirated engines... Run as low drag of a ring pack as you can afford, reduced windage as much as you can, run the quench as tight as you can, run as little of oil pressure as you feel safe.... all this stuff makes for less parasitic drag or to make the engine as efficient as possible.
Fifth - If your willing to spend the $$$, piston top and combustion chamber coatings.
Will
