I have a 1985 coupe with the stock L98. Is this engine block sustantial enough to build a 383 stroker with a turbo or supercharger? I am looking for 500+ horse power and torque. Is it a 4 bolt main block? Thanks, Troy

 

The block has 2 bolt Mains. As for 500 hp on that L98, well there wont be much of an L98 left so if youre looking for that much power might as well start fresh and get everything new incl. block. You could use your block, have it ckecked, machined, you can drill the caps and add bolts for more stength. Would be nice, wont be easy or cheap. Good Luck :cheers:

 

I thought I might have to start fresh. Thats OK..... I want this one to be right. Anyone have a good recipe for a 383 stroker with a Pro Charger?!! Particularly heads, camshafts, throttle body size..... :flag

 

As to the caps, you can get splayed 4-bolt caps since it's a 2-bolt. This is even stronger than stock 4-bolt style. All this will require is an align hone and tapping the block.

As to throttle body size, you can use the stock 48mm ones. If you want some harder throttle respsonse, upgrade to the 52mm's. They won't make much a difference at full throttle though.

At 500hp+, you'll want a forged rotating assembly, Eagle makes affordable ones. Scoggin dickey sells awesome kits at http://www.sdpc2000.com.

With a Procharger, you really don't need all this though to reach that 500hp mark, unless you're talking 500hp at the wheels and not the crank.

I tell you what, give us a budget # and we'll spend it wisely for you. :D Call me crazy but you're looking at the $10k+ range for what you want. The money involved will determine the package. You can spend $15k on a bland 350 if you really wanted that much quality. It all depends upon the money you want to spend.

 

I figured I'd have to spend 7 to 10k on it.....that's ok too....just call me crazy but I want "at least" 500 to the asphalt. I want to eventually have a car that is capable of 10's in the quarter. That's my kind of fun. Then I want to drive it around town every day if I want to also.

 

So you'll ne around 575hp at the flywheel. You have 2 choices. Build this motor aroudn the supercharger(low compression pistons with a larger supercharger/boost level). Or a high compression with the small SC/boost level.
Since you are already going to get a supercharger, I'd say go for the bigger one(I think they are called D-1's at Procharger). As for the 383, a completely forged setup(not to brand specific, they all work well). Heads, you'll want some nice ones. AFR are nice, as well as Edlerock. World Products makes some large heads if you can get the airflow up there. I'd locate a blower cam to use. Most companies offer one, Comp Cams or Isky Cams are nice ones. You could even consider a custom grind if you can get all the numbers right. And top it off with a big old boy intake manifold(I think they are called Super-rams for your motor, not exactly sure though). Long tube headers will be a must :)

 

I think that it's going to be hard to build it for 10K considering the parts required to hold it together at those HP levels, not to mention leaving money for your transmission rebuild, rear end upgrade if you have an automatic, possible aftermarket ECU for better tuning over the 85 in a boost application, headers and exhaust to allow it to breathe + dyno/tuning $$ if you're not tuning it yourself. Is the 10K for the motor alone, or for the entire project?

Ron

 

I went naturally asperated and the only thing stock is the bottom end.
I still need some tuning and work on getting all the torque to the ground.
First time out to the track I ran 11.77@120.9mph.

This is actually my second buildup of this engine and with both build ups I have about 11k into it. Be carefull and research what you want and build accordingly.

Good luck, 383's are bad*ssed'

 

I think Ron is right on with his observations. Here's what I have in my car: (this is gonna be ugly....):

$1200..........D44 swap (this was a steal)
$350............Carbon Fiber 1/2 shafts
$2500..........Tranny rebuild and TC
$200............Poly bushings
$150............Fuel Pump
$200............Hi Flow Cat
$650............Headers, Y pipe
$200............Mufflers, Y pipe, tips
$1200..........Wheels and 11" tires (ya gotta hook)
$900............Nitrous
$1500..........Block, 4 bolt, machining, misc. prep
$2500..........Rotating kit (this is a steal)
$250............Cam
$2500..........Heads, porting, valve job, etc
$400............Retro lifters
$250............Rockers
$175............Oil pan
$50..............Oil pump
$150............Damper
$400............Gaskets, fasteners, etc
$1000..........Superram/TB
$600............Radiator, hoses, etc.
$300............Misc. powdercoating

This is just off the top of my head, I'm sure I'm missing some things and could be wrong on some of the numbers....... but it'll be close. I just added this up and it came to $17,625.00......... :crazy:

Oh yeah, Jeb needs to do some Cryo work and Jesse needs to do the chip...... See? I knew I was forgetting some stuff....... This is an expensive pursuit we're in guys!!!!!!!!

 

you could get 500rwhp out of an easy setup...
1.) SuperRam Intake, LPE219 Cam, ProTopLine or AFR Heads
2.) 2200-3000 stall Converter
3.) 150hp Nitrous Plate Kit
:thumbs:

 

Yep, I'm a big time believer in just juicing the sucker for a grand and being done with it. :lol:

 

The juice is ok to point and shoot, but not real practical for any type of situation where a broad or sustained power band is required. I haven't seen many successful aftermarket supercharged packages on a roadcourse either. IMO, like the old adage goes...no subtitute for cubic inches. :yesnod:
:cheers:

 

AKA - No replacement for displacement :cheers:

As far as cost, if you are planning on building a blown fuel injected 383 for 7-10k, you're not going to have particularly good parts in it. I am building a 383 for a forum member right now, and I won't disclose the total cost to this point, as that's his prerogative, but I will say that we're already into your range, and we're re-using the top end from his old motor, and haven't paid for the tune yet. Then again, we're using premium parts due to the car's intended usage as an almost dedicated track car.

 

And to top it off, your numbers didn't even include the supercharger, so tack on another 4K-5K depending on which Procharger/Vortech kit is ordered.

Ron

 

You'll need some shielding for when that stock L98 bottom end blows up on you though. :-)

Ron

 

Naw, using my Wideband O2 sensor, I'll be just fine, and for the person who said you need the power for sustained periods of time, like road racing...I wouldn't know, I don't roadrace and max speed limits on streets is 70mph.

 

I figure he means 10k into the engine compartment. Otherwise yes, you can spend near that much on what will be needed to take 500hp at the wheels unless you are talking about a drag car(i.e switching to a 9 inch rear and a powerglide which leaves plenty of money for the motor)

Otherwise, 4k for a Procharger kit and 6k for a motor build is pretty reasonable. For 6k, I know I could piece together a lot better engine than my current 383 which I put together for around 4k(including headers, optispark, everything, etc.) and I think if I had a forged crank and a procharger with my engine I could put 500hp to the wheels.

Though I guess at that point fuel lines, etc. would need to be replaced.

Really, if you are looking at over 450-500hp at the flywheel, you're going to be replacing a lot of parts. I think the project can be done for 10k if you build the motor yourself and rely on the boost to make most of the power. Just keep the whole car in mind, the stock car won't handle a 500hp @ wheels engine.

 

Don't forget to add $2500 for an Accel GenVII DFI and wiring harnesses so you can get the tune tweaked right. If you are going to go with that kind of rwhp I wouldn't settle for batch-mode injectors and to go with sequential mode you have to change the computer and the distributor (to provide the crank trigger).

 

I really appreciate everyone's advice and numbers. They are all points well taken. When I said I figured spending 10k, I was talking about the engine. I know it will probably take another 5 to 7k to get the power to the road without constantly worrying about breaking something. Yes this is a costly pursuit we are in. You've heard the saying about men being big boys with expensive toys. Aint it the truth...whew! But that's Ok... you only live once. Live fast, I say, and bring as many people with you as you can. But the one thing I won't rush is this project. I'll do it right and I'll kepp you posted. Thanks a million guys and gals. Troy :cheers:

 

Dam well use that cast iron block overall 500hp no problem I all ready have specs for my 1988 corvette l98 510/495ft lb torque to wheels with automatic transmission 700r4 naturally aspirated 3:73 rear if you do rear gears make sure you do the pozzy gear to
good luck MrLuper