383 build
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 274
Likes: 43
From: Vestavia Hills, AL
383 build
I am wondering does anyone have any good links in regards to building a 383. I have the LT1 with about 66k on it now. I have been considering installing a procharger but I am wondering would my best bet be going to a 383. I have seen the crate engine kits that are turn key ready. I have also seen other sites with various rebuilds and even used 383's. I don't have plans for putting it on the track right now.
I will not be doing any of the work.
Would I be better off financially to convert the current LT1?
I will not be doing any of the work.
Would I be better off financially to convert the current LT1?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,271
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From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If you are not doing any of the work, sell your car and put the money towards one that is more in line with what you want. You could also just keep that one and buy one with the upgrades you want for what it will cost you to have someone do the work and buy the parts.
Get a cost estimate from someone who is actually willing to do this work and let us know how much they are going to charge. I would be surprised to see it below $8,000 and most likely much higher. Are they also capable of doing the tune after the build?
Get a cost estimate from someone who is actually willing to do this work and let us know how much they are going to charge. I would be surprised to see it below $8,000 and most likely much higher. Are they also capable of doing the tune after the build?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
buying one done is an option but knowing what you have and doing it yourself, something to be said for that too.
Supercharging is a fast way to stout power imo. Still have OEM driveablility but huge tq everywhere.
Make sure you havea good tune and bullet proof your cooling system...ie Good radiator, fans, oil cooler youll be fine.
Even better if you have a tall fwy gear you can keep it...that SC will pull hard through all gears.
Couple yrs ago had to decide wether to run a 142 Weiand on a solid roller 350...or go NA 383. Once again cheaped out and did the 383. Its prety wicked and all but for most my driving the SC would be the better choice. Better manners, more torque, not having to spin it etc. Down fall of loving big solids....lol
Supercharging is a fast way to stout power imo. Still have OEM driveablility but huge tq everywhere.
Make sure you havea good tune and bullet proof your cooling system...ie Good radiator, fans, oil cooler youll be fine.
Even better if you have a tall fwy gear you can keep it...that SC will pull hard through all gears.
Couple yrs ago had to decide wether to run a 142 Weiand on a solid roller 350...or go NA 383. Once again cheaped out and did the 383. Its prety wicked and all but for most my driving the SC would be the better choice. Better manners, more torque, not having to spin it etc. Down fall of loving big solids....lol
Last edited by cv67; Sep 25, 2020 at 02:40 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,271
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From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I agree with cv67 on supercharging being the best way to go since you only have 66K on the odometer. Just be prepared for the bill since you are not doing any of the work yourself. I am thinking it will also be over $8,000 to have everything done that he mentions.
Plus you get that great sound only a supercharger makes.
Plus you get that great sound only a supercharger makes.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
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Financially it'd be better to buy it after someone else did it.
You'll have 10-12K into the modifications before the car is done. It'll end up costing within a grand to have a new one just plopped in there instead of taking the current out and modding that to 383.
You'll have 10-12K into the modifications before the car is done. It'll end up costing within a grand to have a new one just plopped in there instead of taking the current out and modding that to 383.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 399
Likes: 37
From: Kansas City Metro Area, Missouri
As someone who is planning on sending his heads to lloyd eliot and also getting a cam here this winter while she's in the garage, is my money better spent swapping a 383 into it? I was planning on eventually getting my LT1 into a 383 but if it is really going to be 10k cheaper to drop a already done 383 in there I may do that instead of doing heads/cam.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Check Smeding they do a decent 383....Jim Barth aka tpi421vette on this board builds real nice strokers for guys here.
Even a 409LT1
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ine-build.html
Cool thing about SC is you get all that brute torque way down low where the H/C NA engine has to wait til its higher in the rpm range. They are fun but rpm kills engines. SC....dont need to rev it. As said though if youre really looking at the $ maybe buying done works for you?! One sold recently here pretty clean for under 8k completely done wtih supporting mods, hard to beat that.
Even a 409LT1
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ine-build.html
Cool thing about SC is you get all that brute torque way down low where the H/C NA engine has to wait til its higher in the rpm range. They are fun but rpm kills engines. SC....dont need to rev it. As said though if youre really looking at the $ maybe buying done works for you?! One sold recently here pretty clean for under 8k completely done wtih supporting mods, hard to beat that.
Last edited by cv67; Sep 25, 2020 at 03:24 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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As someone who is planning on sending his heads to lloyd eliot and also getting a cam here this winter while she's in the garage, is my money better spent swapping a 383 into it? I was planning on eventually getting my LT1 into a 383 but if it is really going to be 10k cheaper to drop a already done 383 in there I may do that instead of doing heads/cam.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 399
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From: Kansas City Metro Area, Missouri
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 274
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From: Vestavia Hills, AL
I spoke to someone who runs a Vette shop in FL and he said 3 things really...
If you just want to keep the car, install the 383 crate engine. Obviously the kit would cost as much as its worth. (best option for power/torque)
He recommended against the procharger because you don't know exactly what you are getting for 10k until you install it and dyno it. The crate engine you already know.
Easiest most recommended option, add NOS 100 shot. You have it when you need it, keeps the "drivability".
If you just want to keep the car, install the 383 crate engine. Obviously the kit would cost as much as its worth. (best option for power/torque)
He recommended against the procharger because you don't know exactly what you are getting for 10k until you install it and dyno it. The crate engine you already know.
Easiest most recommended option, add NOS 100 shot. You have it when you need it, keeps the "drivability".
Pro
Joined: Aug 2020
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From: Liliha Bakery stuffing my face with coco puffs!
Just wonderin' if going through the expense of building a 383...why not go with a 396 3.875" stroker kit? You're basically changing out the same components on the engine. do they cost significantly more???
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
I spoke to someone who runs a Vette shop in FL and he said 3 things really...
If you just want to keep the car, install the 383 crate engine. Obviously the kit would cost as much as its worth. (best option for power/torque)
He recommended against the procharger because you don't know exactly what you are getting for 10k until you install it and dyno it. The crate engine you already know.
Easiest most recommended option, add NOS 100 shot. You have it when you need it, keeps the "drivability".
If you just want to keep the car, install the 383 crate engine. Obviously the kit would cost as much as its worth. (best option for power/torque)
He recommended against the procharger because you don't know exactly what you are getting for 10k until you install it and dyno it. The crate engine you already know.
Easiest most recommended option, add NOS 100 shot. You have it when you need it, keeps the "drivability".
I don't understand why he thinks you don't know what you are getting. If he has built that particular combination, I would think that you do know what you are getting unless he is just experimenting.
NOS is cheap up front but expensive later on unless you can be disciplined enough to only have X shots a week and that still adds up but slowly.
I would think that a built engine is something you can keep and the costs are limited, for the most part. If you set it right, you could just change the cam for a blower.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 274
Likes: 43
From: Vestavia Hills, AL
I'd have a crate engine from a reputable source and not some clown who claims he can build an engine. I would say that if you are keeping the car, you can mod it. If you ever decide to dump it, be prepared to take a bath. That or run it into the ground.
I don't understand why he thinks you don't know what you are getting. If he has built that particular combination, I would think that you do know what you are getting unless he is just experimenting.
NOS is cheap up front but expensive later on unless you can be disciplined enough to only have X shots a week and that still adds up but slowly.
I would think that a built engine is something you can keep and the costs are limited, for the most part. If you set it right, you could just change the cam for a blower.
I don't understand why he thinks you don't know what you are getting. If he has built that particular combination, I would think that you do know what you are getting unless he is just experimenting.
NOS is cheap up front but expensive later on unless you can be disciplined enough to only have X shots a week and that still adds up but slowly.
I would think that a built engine is something you can keep and the costs are limited, for the most part. If you set it right, you could just change the cam for a blower.
This guy said the exact same thing about the NOS, its addictive and you need discipline.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
May get 70hp but bet you get 100 lbs tq so many miss the boat cause they only see a peak hp #.
Same ignorant statement as the guy who asks about building a 383 or 400 and some idiot says "need a 5.3 ls". Sure lol
Either one is fine its up to you what you want.
Same ignorant statement as the guy who asks about building a 383 or 400 and some idiot says "need a 5.3 ls". Sure lol
Either one is fine its up to you what you want.
Last edited by cv67; Sep 26, 2020 at 01:06 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
I completely agree about the crate engine. He recommended going with the GM crate engine because of the warranty. In regards to the Procharger, ok lets say I have 300hp now; if i install the Procharger, am I guaranteed to get a certain number? 100hp? 75 hp? Its just a percentage range of increase power. I saw one dyno test on a forum that a guy installed a Procharger for 10k and got 70 extra HP. So for 7k in parts, I can get a rebuilt/new engine with 425hp or so and I know exactly what I am getting.
This guy said the exact same thing about the NOS, its addictive and you need discipline.
This guy said the exact same thing about the NOS, its addictive and you need discipline.
Problems arise when you keep hitting the bottle and slowly but surely, the bill adds up. If not, how much fun is it? You are going to pay me now or later, with interest.
BTW, 10000 for a procharger? Thought it was about $6k? Was it that much to install?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
Isn't an LS easier to build and expand on, not to mention that the ECM has far more tuners than the L98 or LT1 that has more "guess a tune" people than the dyno people
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: United States
Is your car an automatic?
If so, do a D44 rearend first, then get your transmission build to handle the power.
I personally like N/A cars. 383/396 LT1s are not expensive to build and can make some great torque for a street car.
If so, do a D44 rearend first, then get your transmission build to handle the power.
I personally like N/A cars. 383/396 LT1s are not expensive to build and can make some great torque for a street car.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
I dont know that the ls is any easier or tougher to build. Aftermarket parts for those (heads) are not cheap at all. They have thier place but they arent magic like YT commenters say. How much can one put to the ground anyways? dyno queens dont impress me.
Last edited by cv67; Sep 27, 2020 at 09:13 PM.