383 Dillemmon?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
383 Dillemmon?
I purchased a stock 87 fairly recently and I'm not too excited about the torque. I'm currently building a 383 for my C2 and the bug kicked in. On the 87, I had to replace the timing chain & gears so I pulled a few caps off the bottom end and the bearings are pretty well shot. Decided to slap it back together and drive it a bit before tearing it down. Here's the question.... and this is a "future" type inquiry... planning stages. 383's are easy to build, so I thought I'd pick up a roller block at a junk yard and start the process. With a mild cam, can I just drop the 383 in and leave all the rest stock? No racing intended... just would like a little more torque. I don't have time to be messing around with major computer/fuel system mods. Side note: I just deleted the cold start injector and installed new Accel injectors. Will it at least run if I just swap short blocks? Or is the computer going to shut me down?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,502
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From: Hartford WI
How much power is it making? I know my injectors aren't going "static" at 43 psi fuel pressure and we are running 42. Car is making 420 RWHP so I am guestimating a high end of 500 at the crank.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
There is going to be some tuning involved. your adding 34 ci. so engine will require more fuel. Cam choice can also require some tuning, I would do research on other builds to minimize tuning difficulties.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,502
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From: Hartford WI
I agree so go estimate what you can get. So if I know I am estimated to make 450 to 500, get injectors sized for that.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,502
Likes: 3,302
From: Hartford WI
I have 33 city more than stock but making almost doubled the 240 HP it came with. At this point, I wouldn't bother with tuning difficulties. Let the tuner suggest the combination and he can figure out the tune which is what I am paying for
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 14
From: Stafford Connecticut
If you don't have a tune don't go bigger on injectors You can wash your cylinders down and dilute your oil with fuel.The Maf will compensate some.You need to decide what you want to do intake wise and as been metioned find simalar builds like yours.That is what I am doing.Like you said baby steps is O.K.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,494
Likes: 566
From: Clearwater Florida
..... I put a 406 in my '87 years ago with an adjustable fuel pressure regulator set at whatever the percentage increase in Cubits was over the stock 43.5 psi ... As I recall it was something like an 18% increase ... it ran fine without touching the chip ..... 406/350 = X x 43.5 or in your case 383/350 .....
Last edited by C409; Mar 25, 2017 at 08:09 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,502
Likes: 3,302
From: Hartford WI
If you don't have a tune don't go bigger on injectors You can wash your cylinders down and dilute your oil with fuel.The Maf will compensate some.You need to decide what you want to do intake wise and as been metioned find simalar builds like yours.That is what I am doing.Like you said baby steps is O.K.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,258
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From: Ashland PA
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
Last winter I built a 383 with stock L98 heads and intake, 24# injectors and a mild cam, (comp came 08-302-8) with stock tune it ran well but rich, I ordered a mail order tune and it still ran rich, the tuner sent me another tune and it ran much better with that tune, since then I have learned to do some data loging and make my own adjustments.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Unfortunately, I don't do "dyno tunes". If I can't tune it myself, then it's out of my league and for somebody else with deeper pockets. I'd rather buy a new guitar than spend money on a dyno tune. LOL
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Tom under 200 gets you an AEM 02 sensor kit from Summit
If you have a carb easy to tune it to perfection wont be a whole lot different that EFI at least how it "feels"
a 400 in a TPI car has to be a blast.
If you have a carb easy to tune it to perfection wont be a whole lot different that EFI at least how it "feels"
a 400 in a TPI car has to be a blast.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,502
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From: Hartford WI
I saved a few hundred bucks doing TFS heads a long time ago. How cool was that. Instead of having deep pockets and buying the AFR heads, I bought TFS since the specs were good enough. Worked out so well that when I pulled the head I found that all the valves were wobbling and one of them kissed the piston of a 5000 short block.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
If you don't have deep pockets, you need to minimize risk and plan properly. So for example, I won't pay to have a base manifold installed, 3 months later do a throttle body and then do a upper intake. You plan to have it all done at once. Yes, it costs more up front but saves in the long run. You don't take unnecessary risks by screwing up the fueling and have it ruin the motor or lean out. Also, while it runs "just fine" by screwing around, you lose mpg which, IIRC, costs money in gas. Penny wise, pound foolish.
I saved a few hundred bucks doing TFS heads a long time ago. How cool was that. Instead of having deep pockets and buying the AFR heads, I bought TFS since the specs were good enough. Worked out so well that when I pulled the head I found that all the valves were wobbling and one of them kissed the piston of a 5000 short block.
I saved a few hundred bucks doing TFS heads a long time ago. How cool was that. Instead of having deep pockets and buying the AFR heads, I bought TFS since the specs were good enough. Worked out so well that when I pulled the head I found that all the valves were wobbling and one of them kissed the piston of a 5000 short block.
I have 4 EECIV Mustangs and a EECIV Crown Vic so I'm comfortable with fuel injection, but I have to spread the cost out so dribs & drabs it will be. Based upon what people have said here so far, I think I can build up a roller-block 383 and just drop it in with an adjustable fuel pressure regulator and then take it from there at my own pace.
Anyhow, now I'm shopping for the software for OBD1.
