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

new 383 build

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Old Apr 30, 2013 | 08:45 AM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by strotter13
Do you run two seperate pipes all the way back, or do you somehow fit your headers into the stock y pipe? I want to put headers on mine, but I also want to keep the emissions stuff. I know I can put the 02 sensor somewhere else on the exhaust, but I have to figure out a way to bring the two headers back into the cat. I know it sounds dumb, but I want to keep all emissions stuff, just in case I want to sale it again, and I am really intent on keeping everything stock, that is another reason why I am rebuilding the stock block, rather then tossing a crate engine in.
I got the Hedman headers, they come with the plates and joiners to weld onto the Y pipe, I dropped the Y pipe off at the exhaust place while I was putting the headers on, driving a c4 on a public road with just headers on is a very interesting experience, VERY loud inside the car !
I had to weld an o2 bung in the collector,
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Old Apr 30, 2013 | 07:28 PM
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Would you recommend a certain brand for my "rebuild kit", head gasket, intake manifold gasket, cam bearings, rod bearings, main bearings??
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Old Apr 30, 2013 | 08:33 PM
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Subscribed. Love motor builds.
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Old May 1, 2013 | 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by strotter13
Would you recommend a certain brand for my "rebuild kit", head gasket, intake manifold gasket, cam bearings, rod bearings, main bearings??
I saw your links in your engine thread, Im still thinking you cant build an engine for less than a lot of the built short motors especially taking into account having the machine work done and the time involved in building a rotating assembly, tristar for example have a 355 short for 1200, a 383 short for 1800 and there are other engine builders with similiar prices,
If you go that route you end up with a complete new engine block, you can put your original engine in the garage and its always there for the future ?
But if your keen to build one yourself, then go for it !
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Old May 1, 2013 | 09:16 AM
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My next package from summit has arrived, so its back to the engine, first thing is the new chev 400 balancer, i got the summit racing sfi rated balancer, its the same as the one i had on the 350 engine except it has a weight bolted inside the back for the external balance,
i put it in the oven for 15 mins at 120c and it screwed in pretty easy !


next up is the oil pump, summit have a high volume pump kit that its specifically for the corvette sump, its actually a Melling HV55 with a welded on pick up. I got a ARP chromoly shaft too,

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Old May 1, 2013 | 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by blackozvet
I saw your links in your engine thread, Im still thinking you cant build an engine for less than a lot of the built short motors especially taking into account having the machine work done and the time involved in building a rotating assembly, tristar for example have a 355 short for 1200, a 383 short for 1800 and there are other engine builders with similiar prices,
If you go that route you end up with a complete new engine block, you can put your original engine in the garage and its always there for the future ?
But if your keen to build one yourself, then go for it !
I want to be able to say, "I built that engine." I know it sounds stupid, but its just one of my life goals, to build an engine. I agree, it will probably be about the same cost to buy a short block, but its just something I want to do. I appreciate all of your help. One other question:

With that crankshaft, piston and rods, that I linked to, will I have to have the block machined for rod and crank clearance?
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Old May 2, 2013 | 04:31 AM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by strotter13
I want to be able to say, "I built that engine." I know it sounds stupid, but its just one of my life goals, to build an engine. I agree, it will probably be about the same cost to buy a short block, but its just something I want to do. I appreciate all of your help. One other question:

With that crankshaft, piston and rods, that I linked to, will I have to have the block machined for rod and crank clearance?
Well if building a chev small block is on your bucket list then you better do it !
Yes, the block needs to be machined and clearanced for the 383 crank throw, find a machinist near you that knows about building one, you can get that done when the bore and hone etc is done, ask the forum for suggestions if you dont know one yourself,
I would have a look at the Scat 383 sets also, they have some good combos that include bearings and everything you need, maybe 200 - 400 more than that Eagle kit but money well spent
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Old May 2, 2013 | 04:58 PM
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Originally Posted by blackozvet
Well if building a chev small block is on your bucket list then you better do it !
Yes, the block needs to be machined and clearanced for the 383 crank throw, find a machinist near you that knows about building one, you can get that done when the bore and hone etc is done, ask the forum for suggestions if you dont know one yourself,
I would have a look at the Scat 383 sets also, they have some good combos that include bearings and everything you need, maybe 200 - 400 more than that Eagle kit but money well spent
I might hold off on building the 383, it depends on the cost effectiveness of buying a short block. Do you have any suggestions on a comprable 383 short block to the one I plan on building? Any suggestions of where to purchase the short block? Thanks for any help.
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Old May 3, 2013 | 04:39 AM
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Originally Posted by strotter13
I might hold off on building the 383, it depends on the cost effectiveness of buying a short block. Do you have any suggestions on a comprable 383 short block to the one I plan on building? Any suggestions of where to purchase the short block? Thanks for any help.
look at tri star engines and cnc-motorsport websites, they have different combinations of built short blocks. read the descriptions tho - they come with varying components, cnc include balancer and flexplate but you pay extra for 4 bolt mains scat rods and scat crank, tristar doesnt include balancer or flexplate but their price includes 4 bolt mains Scat rods and Scat crank, it depends what you want in the engine.
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Old May 3, 2013 | 04:45 AM
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While the engine is out I have put some fire sleeve on wiring looms near the headers and replaced the starter battery wire as it had rubbed through against the side of the starter, also clamped the wiring looms to the firewall where they are almost up against the number 8 header pipe.



need to get in there and clean it up a bit too !
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Old May 5, 2013 | 02:00 PM
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Excited to see this come together! Looks like you have been getting some good help too, I'm taking a lot of notes.
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Old May 5, 2013 | 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by blackozvet
While the engine is out I have put some fire sleeve on wiring looms near the headers and replaced the starter battery wire as it had rubbed through against the side of the starter, also clamped the wiring looms to the firewall where they are almost up against the number 8 header pipe.



need to get in there and clean it up a bit too !
You need to do the obligatory "standing in the engine bay" pic

Last edited by TA; May 8, 2013 at 07:24 AM.
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Old May 6, 2013 | 05:37 AM
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thanks for the messages of support guys !

I have finished the "upside down" stuff now, new engine mounts on, sump on using a 1 piece gasket and studs, and all the other sensors etc on, ready to turn it over,



flipped back the right way, time for the heads to go on, I am using a Cometic multi layer head gasket, its a .040 thou thick, 4.060 bore gasket, these are a strange looking setup, they are 3 pieces rivetted together, they arent actually bonded, but are recommended for a high compression engine, I will be running 11.1:1 with the .040 gasket.
you can see that the head gasket is pretty tight on the bore, and thats a good thing, it gets rid of "bad quench" in the engine, this is a subject that comes up every time people talk head gaskets.

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Old May 6, 2013 | 08:00 AM
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time for the heads to go on, after scrubbing all the surfaces with thinners and cleaning the ARP head bolts, I have put assembly lube on the underside of the head bolt, slide on the washer, and RTV silicone smeared on all threads.
the lube on the underside of the bolt is so the head can turn against the washer without binding so the torque is more accurate.
using the edelbrock info sheet, torque down in three steps, 40 - 55 - 65 ft. lbs. of torque.

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Old May 6, 2013 | 09:02 AM
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sure you checked already but all clears the pan OK as you turn it over?
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Old May 6, 2013 | 09:06 AM
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Old May 6, 2013 | 09:14 AM
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Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
sure you checked already but all clears the pan OK as you turn it over?
yeah, i turned it over a few times and no metallic sounds !
if you look at the picture of the oil pump on post#45 you can see the sump gasket is back from the stroker clearance machining so i was confident it was going to be ok
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Old May 6, 2013 | 06:54 PM
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It looks beautiful! This is awesome, thank you for posting all of this!
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Old May 8, 2013 | 06:38 AM
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I have cleaned up the inlet manifold, and fitted the 30lb Bosch red top injectors,



I have got some new alloy rocker covers and giving them a test fit, whether they fit when the engine is in the engine bay or not, who knows ?
for the people who have changed to this type of rocker cover without the oil inlet, what is the best way to get the oil into the engine ?

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Old May 8, 2013 | 02:55 PM
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probably an electric oil pump using the oil dipstick tube,this is what i use to flush engine oil without removing oil pan plug...
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