383 vs 400 ?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
383 vs 400 ?
Too much winter "down time" and the mind starts to wander. .... Hm... those that have "been there, done that"... is there any signifigant performance increase in the 400 c.i.d.? vs a 383? I've got the AFR 190's, superram, headers all ready to assemble on the original 350 but now pause to re-consider. The oppourtunity still exists to go to more cubes. Question is- what are the rewards for the costs additional block etc. (400 c.i.) vs the stroker kit(in a 383) ?
Can a camparison be made to make the choice based on solid info/ ? Thanks, Jack
Can a camparison be made to make the choice based on solid info/ ? Thanks, Jack
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: 383 vs 400 ? (bigjack)
The only substitute for cubic inches, is rectangular dollars. It sounds like you are pretty well aware of the differences in the operations. Good luck, and...
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 17,103
Likes: 39
From: stop the fun suckers
Re: 383 vs 400 ? (CFI-EFI)
The only substitute for cubic inches, is rectangular dollars.
[Modified by BluByU, 7:57 AM 3/9/2004]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
Re: 383 vs 400 ? (loiq)
Hey I havnt done either but thats not going to stop me from giving my opinion. :D If it were me, and I could get a 400 block at a reasonable price, I would go that way instead of the stroker kit on the 350 block. The only advantage in doing the 350 block verses the 400 block is first buying one and some say that it cools better due to the block not having siamised (spelled wrong) cylinders like the 400, which IMO is not that big of a concern. There are a lot of nice running street 400 blocks out there. The extra cubic inches IMO outweight the concerns.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Re: 383 vs 400 ? (93 ragtop)
If you decide to go with the 406 be sure to have your machinist drill the steam holes in the head. This is sometimes forgotten and the reason that 400 blocks have an undeserved bad rap for overheating. We have put a few 406 and 434 motors on vettes and f-bodies without any issues. :jester
[Modified by Pete K, 2:01 AM 3/10/2004]
[Modified by Pete K, 2:01 AM 3/10/2004]
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
Re: 383 vs 400 ? (Pete K)
Please consider the tuning issues, if it was as easy as just going big cubes, many of us would not be burning tons of chips to get themtuned/running, I guess I am saying be prepaaired for debug if you lean towards the radical.
This coming from a been there done that guy :seeya
This coming from a been there done that guy :seeya
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,099
Likes: 0
From: PITTSBURGH PA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: 383 vs 400 ? (Pete K)
If you decide to go with the 406 be sure to have your machinist drill the steam holes in the head. This is sometimes forgotten and the reason that 400 blocks have an undeserved bad rap for overheating. We have put a few 406 and 434 motors on vettes and f-bodies without any issues. :jester
[Modified by Pete K, 2:01 AM 3/10/2004]
[Modified by Pete K, 2:01 AM 3/10/2004]
i on the other hand do not believe in steam holes in 400 and when you do steam holes you open pandoras box for other problems
i do not drill steam holes did once and never again :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: 383 vs 400 ? (Pete K)
Conventional lore says, you do not need steam holes for a hi perf or race engine that will spend most of it's time at 3500 rpms or above. At that speed the water pump volume purges the pockets of steam that can form. On the other hand, 15 years ago, or so, I swapped a set of undrilled 350 heads onto the 400 in my pick up truck. NO problems. My machine shop says he can't even drill my Bowtie block for the holes, due to the thickness of the deck.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
