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I am planning on rebuilding my '87 and was looking at this kit from Jeg's. Budget constraints will limit the top end to remain stock for now. I will have the stock 58cc heads rebuilt (if no major faults are found) and retain the stock runners and plenum. I know this will limit the upper RPM range, but I can live with that. I was also looking at a mild cam for good torque in the low to mid RPM range. The kit I was looking at (p/n 356-B13004L) has Keith Black inverted dome pistons (-18cc) for a Comp. Ratio of 10.3:1 with 58cc heads. The crank and rods are Eagle, bearings are Clevite, rings are plasma moly cast iron. It also includes the harmonic balancer and flexplate. This car is a daily driver and I'm basically just looking for some good low end and mid range performance. Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
That 383 kit will probably do just fine for your stated intentions ... but IMHO, at nearly $1200 it's overpriced ... it is not junk ... it's just overpriced. Shop around for same or similar components ... you can do a lot better on price ... or find better stuff for same money. Get a $25 book on stroking sbc ... it'll pay big dividends to the uninitiated ... I think David Vizard authored one with focus on stroking sbc. It'll help you choose/match components. If you haven't done so already, establish an honest relationship with a local auto machine shop that does quality work ... quality work ain't cheap ... and you're gonna need their help to clearance/balance/install this or similar stroker stuff. G'Luck & Happy Holidays!
For a budget 383, ck http://www.enginkits.com or http://www.partscavengers.com (their web site is down, but they had good prices. You can email price inquiries to them off the web page that is there. You can spec a cm that is making all its power by 5500 rpm, so your stock top end while hurtins some, will help in making torque. Get Lingenfelters book on building small block chevy engines, some good starting points there and he makes good HP with the L98 heads albeit it with his porting on the heads, but the runner size is well suited to the stock tpi, so your port velocity will help.. Good Luck