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

383 Crate Engine... few questions

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 20, 2003 | 06:18 PM
  #1  
dbwade36's Avatar
dbwade36
Thread Starter
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,857
Likes: 0
From: Yakima WA
Default 383 Crate Engine... few questions

I have been researching and asking (here) about major engine mods to increase HP. 86 auto. I have a shop that will install the motor for me. My questions are: What should I make should that they replace will installing motor, ie- new water pump, for sure. Is there anything I should make sure to ask the shop, check on? How much HP will the motor put out? My current vette has cast iron heads. The crate one should be aluminum, correct? How bout new wires, cap, rotor, coil? MSD? Accel? what's best? Okay, that's enough for this subject. NEXT Post to follow.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2003 | 06:21 PM
  #2  
vader86's Avatar
vader86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,187
Likes: 1,741
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default Re: 383 Crate Engine... few questions (dbwade36)

You talking about having them build one or buying a crate, because a crate can come with some of the peripheral components already, depending on where you get it from.

No way to tell how much HP it'll make without knowing what cam/heads/intake are going on it.

Reply
Old Aug 20, 2003 | 06:33 PM
  #3  
dbwade36's Avatar
dbwade36
Thread Starter
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,857
Likes: 0
From: Yakima WA
Default Re: 383 Crate Engine... few questions (vader86)

Shop is going to do some reach as to price of purchasing full crate engine. They will merely insall it. Should I ask what peripherals come with it, it so, what should I try to make sure is part on the package?
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2003 | 06:35 PM
  #4  
vader86's Avatar
vader86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,187
Likes: 1,741
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default Re: 383 Crate Engine... few questions (dbwade36)

You need to know EVERYTHING about that bottom end.
All peripherals, what materials used, etc.

It would depend on your final goal for the motor what to really make sure is in the package.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2003 | 06:44 PM
  #5  
dbwade36's Avatar
dbwade36
Thread Starter
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,857
Likes: 0
From: Yakima WA
Default Re: 383 Crate Engine... few questions (vader86)

final goal, simply speaking is about 100 HP gain at crank and decent durability. I don't track race and don't use as daily driver. I like to take it out on weekends and mostly do street driving, no "street racing" per sey, but I do like to gun it occationally and want to feel that neck snapping power. You are a technical expert, so I can't really say specifically what I desire.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2003 | 09:15 PM
  #6  
vader86's Avatar
vader86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,187
Likes: 1,741
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default Re: 383 Crate Engine... few questions (dbwade36)

If you want ONLY +100hp at the crank, theres no need for a 383. The 383 will allow you to make over 400 at the crank, but its not necessary for a 330-350hp engine.

You could get that much out of a 350 quite easily. It would still involve cam/heads/intake changes. Most people go with the ZZ4 crate for the 350. They sell those at places like Scoggin-Dickey Parts.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2003 | 09:30 PM
  #7  
Strick's Avatar
Strick
Race Director
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
Default Re: 383 Crate Engine... few questions (dbwade36)

Does Travis still have an auto hobby shop? If so, they should be able to get a discount on a crate motor. As said before, you can build a 425 hp motor with just heads, cam, roller rockers, exhaust and leave the lower end alone. Take a look at http://www.moreperformanceinc.com for some of their packages for top ends. This might answer some of your questions.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2003 | 10:58 PM
  #8  
86Pacecar's Avatar
86Pacecar
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 6
From: NW MN
Default Re: 383 Crate Engine... few questions (dbwade36)

Just jumping in here with a few questions for you motor experts. With a crate engine can you just reinstall your TPI setup or do you need to do some porting of the runners and such? If no changes to the TPI setup are needed what type of gains will you see with the zz4 motor compared to stock. Do you need a new chip? I like the idea of the crate motor for proven performance along with durability and reliability.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
Old Aug 20, 2003 | 11:44 PM
  #9  
vader86's Avatar
vader86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,187
Likes: 1,741
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default Re: 383 Crate Engine... few questions (86Pacecar)

The ZZ4's cam is small enough that a chip is not crucial to drivability, but its still needed for smooth idle and best performance.

It would be a good idea to port everything while you have it off, if you have to reinstall it on the crate.
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2003 | 01:56 AM
  #10  
tjwong's Avatar
tjwong
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Default Re: 383 Crate Engine... few questions (dbwade36)

Better beware who's crate engine you are going to buy. There are lots of unscrupulous engine builders out there. I would buy from someone reputable such as LPE, Moore Performance to name a couple. It may cost you more in the begining but its well worth the extra $$ rather than the headaches of trying to recoupe from a bad deal.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 383 Crate Engine... few questions





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:52 AM.

story-0
10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: 10 Corvettes to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:31:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

Slideshow: Corvette and Porsche 911, how two icons conquered the last 25 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:18:33


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-4
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-7
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE