383 or 396 for blower?

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Apr 14, 2003 | 06:25 PM

kawboy5792

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Burning Brakes

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From: Iowa City IA

383 or 396 for blower?

I am going to build an engine for use with a blower, and have just a few questions: first, would a high winding 383 or a normal 396 offer more horsepower? second, should i build it on an LT1 platform, or use the standard SBC? I plan on running ATI D1SC or P1SC. Thanks! :seeya

Apr 14, 2003 | 09:22 PM

tjwong

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 8,596

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From: Portland Oregon

Re: 383 or 396 for blower? (kawboy5792)

Depends on what year your car is. If its a LT1 car its better to stay with that foundation otherwise you will have to deal with PCM related problems with integrating a different type of distributor as the LT1 uses the Opti-Crap distributor and the PCM needs those signals.

As for displacement issues, if you got the $$$ go for the 396. Thats what I am running in my car and I have lots of Hp to spare :D Just make sure whoever is going to build your engine that he knows the ins and outs of building a stroker motor and that he knows you are installing a blower. In other words find a GOOD and RESPECTED machinist in your area. Going cheap on a project like this will only cost you in the end. Beleive me I have been there and done that before :banghead:

Apr 14, 2003 | 09:46 PM

StealDads67

Melting Slicks

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From: Atlanta GA

Re: 383 or 396 for blower? (tjwong)

:iagree: The motor is only as good as the machince shop.... Im looking to do the same thing. Im getting the D1-SC for it. I wont be maxing it out constantly and figure if Im not asing it to do all of its job it will acually last a little longer too. Wont have to over rev it to make the boost you make want down the road

Apr 17, 2003 | 03:48 PM

mn_vette

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From: Jackson MI

Re: 383 or 396 for blower? (kawboy5792)

I was going to go with a 396 on mine, but I couldn't figure out a way to make it low compression. The rods ended up being to long and you'd have to get some custom pistons made. If you are going with a blower, HP starts to change from how well you build your motor to how much air you can push into it. I think a 383 will be better in the long run and if you want more HP just add more boost and you are there. How else would import motors make so much HP??

Apr 17, 2003 | 04:37 PM

Brand-X

Pro

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 704

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From: Dallas Texas

Re: 383 or 396 for blower? (mn_vette)

I went 396 LTx block w/Diamond 12cc custom pistons (about $510) and Lunati 6" promod rods ($650)...you're going to need a new set of heads to flow that much cfm (afr 210 or 220...about $2000) and w/76cc chamber it puts you in the 9:1 cr. My old motor was a LT1-383...it costs about the same to build a 396! mn-vette has a good point, the 383 can make just as much hp with fewer headaches...

[Modified by Brand-X, 9:41 PM 4/17/2003]

Apr 18, 2003 | 12:08 AM

AKS Racing

Safety Car

Joined: Apr 2001

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From: Houston TX

Re: 383 or 396 for blower? (Brand-X)

The key to what is being said above is that in order to get the required compression and use 6" rods, you must use the large chamber heads. If you are stuck with 58 cc heads, then 5.875" rods are required. Buy the good stuff (rods and crank) and it will pay for itself over the long haul. I run a 408 based on a 350 ci block in one of mine, and it has great "streetable" power with a D-1R.

p.s. I have not posted in over a year, as there was an issue. Maiden Voyage.

Aaron

Apr 18, 2003 | 01:14 PM

krivera

Drifting

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 1,937

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From: Arvada CO

Re: 383 or 396 for blower? (AKS Racing)

Chris Friedl.... here is my 2 cents...i would build a strong 350 block (it is cheeper and you can spend the money on tuning it to a bad butt FAST bank to bank or a DFI GEN VII) and get the blower and then get a high profile computer system and with like a D-1 SC or a D-1R and crank that boost on that bad boy and fine tune the computer you will run down alot of vettes/vipers/farrari's..etc!

Or if you have the DOE go with the 383...heads...and computer system! see i have a 383 almost done right now and now i am trying to figure out how to tune the thing but i dont want to cut no corners and i want to run the best stuff since i spent 5K in my block alone! So i think i could of build a bad A $ $ 350 with all the forged goodies and had enough for a computer system then i could run alot of boost? so keep all that in mind because when it is all said and done...Tuning is going to be the iceing on the cake!

Apr 19, 2003 | 02:50 AM

StealDads67

Melting Slicks

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From: Atlanta GA

Re: 383 or 396 for blower? (krivera)

A 383 is going to cost about the same price as doing a new 350. The crank is the same price. Maybe 50 bucks for clearancing the block.... but heck, I did it last time I built a 383 myself.

I want a 396 to say.. I have a 396, but If you use a 6.0 rod then you need some serious dished pistons and the wrist pin is up there. If you use a 5.7 rod the rod angle and storke could be dabated as not being a good combo. I personally think a 350 can make more then plenty of power for the street on boost. But i will go with a 383 because it will be bascally the same price.

If it was going to be N/A or a spray motor I would go with a 396, but oon boost... Ill stick with a 350 or 383..... IMHO... I could be wrong or others may veiw it differently