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70rs/ss · 06-06-2007, 12:24 PM

Forged is overkill unless you plan to pound on that motor daily, as for why are the two motors built with them? For one, the manufacturers get them for pennies on the dollar, they are warranteeing it for two years (good insurance) forged just sounds better in the info, etc, etc. I have found forged cranks to be tougher to a point, but then they can break instead of flexing like a cast crank will, which can be a bad thing. A balanced 383 cast crank kit can be had from Summit for $900, then all you need is the $600 Vortecs, a 350 block and someone to put it together. I'd say I could build you a wicked bad 383 for no more than $2500 (and so could you) or at the very least your machine shop should assemble it for you for $3-500 more, still way below the $4k asking price on either of these motors. I think powerhouse offers an even more reasonable 383 kit for about $600 balanced, and you can upgrade the components as you wish, but still under the $900 from Summit. For what you want, the Summit or powerhouse kit will make you very happy and save you at least $1-1500!!

06-06-2007, 12:24 PM	#20
70rs/ss Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,270	Re: Which one's the better engine? Forged is overkill unless you plan to pound on that motor daily, as for why are the two motors built with them? For one, the manufacturers get them for pennies on the dollar, they are warranteeing it for two years (good insurance) forged just sounds better in the info, etc, etc. I have found forged cranks to be tougher to a point, but then they can break instead of flexing like a cast crank will, which can be a bad thing. A balanced 383 cast crank kit can be had from Summit for $900, then all you need is the $600 Vortecs, a 350 block and someone to put it together. I'd say I could build you a wicked bad 383 for no more than $2500 (and so could you) or at the very least your machine shop should assemble it for you for $3-500 more, still way below the $4k asking price on either of these motors. I think powerhouse offers an even more reasonable 383 kit for about $600 balanced, and you can upgrade the components as you wish, but still under the $900 from Summit. For what you want, the Summit or powerhouse kit will make you very happy and save you at least $1-1500!!