Finally! Finished 383 Project

[mrein3]

This past May I was driving my truck to Menard's to pick up some building supplies. It is a short, 15 mile drive down a US highway from my place. A couple of miles down the road I heard that oh-so-familar pop through the carburator. Cam #4 went flat on me.
I can see 1 going flat on an engine of unknown origin. But 4?
I decided that was it for that tired 350. It had 0 oil pressure on the oil pressure gauge at idle and had a bit of a knock down low when cold. I hurried a new cam in one year before this because I was moving and needed the truck. But now it was time to do something.

I sent a 350 block to the machine shop I had sitting around. The 350 was out of a 1971 Monte I finally had to junk a few years ago but not before stripping it clean of anything usable. The machine shop guy had a 400 crank laying around that he already cleaned up. He convinced me that I'd be crazy to do anything but a 383 for my truck so that is the way I went. The price difference is basically the cost of the new crank shaft. And that is pretty small considering I'd have to have him go over the 350 crank anyways. The 383 piston price was negligible compared to new 350 pistons so the decision was easy. I was going to build a 383.

Because of a lot of different reasons I didn't get the stuff back until November. Then work got difficult. To make a long story short I today called the project complete.

I had a new edelbrock intake and manifold I was going to install on the old engine right before it crapped out. So that was put on the 383. I finally secured all the brackets for AC so I installed some of that stuff with the project. I'll do the compressor and charge it this summer. I bought a 4bbl air cleaner off the parts board a few years ago. I have that all painted up but there must be a difference between a 2wd and 4wd air cleaner. The one I got hits the firewall - remember 4wd engines sit farther back under the hood. That explains the dirty chrome one sitting on there. It was one I had laying around the shop. One of these days I'll polish it up so it looks nice. Finally I installed the 7-blade fan and clutch out of the Monte. It looks like it was made for this application.

After driving it around some finally I would call the project a success. Anybody looking to rebuild a 350 should SERIOUSLY consider going with a 383.

[mrein3]

Oooopps. I see I need to update my signature.

[Stocker]

Sweet lookin' engine! How's the power/torque compared to a 350? Got my 350 rebuilt several years ago and probably should have done it as a 383, but the extra $500 I was quoted strained the budget too much.

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Sweet lookin' engine! How's the power/torque compared to a 350? Got my 350 rebuilt several years ago and probably should have done it as a 383, but the extra $500 I was quoted strained the budget too much.

I wish I could have driven my truck with the old engine right before the new. There is definately more power but it has been so long since I drove it I'll just go with what I know. That is before the swap I couldn't spin the tires. Now I get tired of them spinning all the time!
And I've been taking it easy on the new engine.

And the new carb is sweet. I've always driven old cars with crappy, used up carbs. This new one is nice. No lag at take off. It doesn't stall at stop signs. It is just a nice setup.

$500 sounds a bit high for a 383 verses a 350. I paid $200 for the crank that was ready to drop in. The price to go over the old one was more than $100. The pistons were less than $50 more than standard, 30 over 350 pistons. Finally the only other extra I paid for is the guy had to notch the block to make room for the longer stroke. I could look up the numbers but I'm guessing the DIFFERENCE was less than $200.

[Yukon Jack]

Looks great in there - I definitely understand how slow projects can go - but it sure feels great when they are finally done. Hope you get lots of enjoyment out of the 383!

[J.Lance]

Originally Posted by mrein3

I bought a 4bbl air cleaner off the parts board a few years ago. I have that all painted up but there must be a difference between a 2wd and 4wd air cleaner. The one I got hits the firewall - remember 4wd engines sit farther back under the hood.

Nice looking motor. Don't recall any difference in air cleaners. I'd be more apt to blame the edelbrock setup but I've used it with no problems fitting the stock cleaner so I just don't know...

[moodybo]

Ive seen a few 383 jobs noticed that they required a bigger than small block radiator! Stock ones would just heat up the motor too much! Is this true in most cases?

One that i last seen ran like a striped ass ape! Good powerplant!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Looks great lets see some burn out pic's???

[Sweet72]

Nice clean near stock looking installation mrein3. That's the look I want with my 383 project.

[70c10]

mrein3, can you take a close up pic of how that throttle rod is conected to the carb?. This question comes up alot on here since alot of members are using that carb. Engine looks great BTW! Thanks

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by 70c10

mrein3, can you take a close up pic of how that throttle rod is conected to the carb?. This question comes up alot on here since alot of members are using that carb. Engine looks great BTW! Thanks

Thanks for the compliment. I will take some pictures when it warms up a bit. It is still -6 fahrenheit here in the great brown north.

I asked the throttle rod attachment question when my engine was still in the planning process. I was told by somebody on this list to get the Edelbrock throttle rod stud. I did and it works great - after I modified it a bit. I had to open the hole up a bit that the rod fits in. In all fairness to Edelbrock there is no guarantee my throttle rod is stock. I also used the set screw on the end of the Edelbrock part to hold my aftermarket cruise control.

Pics will follow.

Originally Posted by Sweet72

Nice clean near stock looking installation mrein3. That's the look I want with my 383 project.

Thanks, I was going for the stock look. I'm still bummed that the stock air cleaner I painted doesn't fit. When I find one that fits it is going on with the warm air tube from the exhaust manifold.

Originally Posted by moodybo

Ive seen a few 383 jobs noticed that they required a bigger than small block radiator! Stock ones would just heat up the motor too much! Is this true in most cases?

I haven't heard that. My radiator is leaking at the seams. WHEN I replace it this spring I'll get a 4-core then I won't have to worry about it. Thanks for the heads up.

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by 70c10

mrein3, can you take a close up pic of how that throttle rod is conected to the carb?. This question comes up alot on here since alot of members are using that carb. Engine looks great BTW! Thanks

Sorry about the blurred photos. I cant figure out how to make my camera focus. That part is automatic.

The throttle rod stud is made by Edelbrock.

[pat]

You got any pics of the rebuild, i.e. where you had to grind and everything? I should be getting all the stuff I need in the mail today or tomorrow for my 383 build, cant wait, sounds like I should be happy.

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by pat

You got any pics of the rebuild, i.e. where you had to grind and everything? I should be getting all the stuff I need in the mail today or tomorrow for my 383 build, cant wait, sounds like I should be happy.

Sorry. I paid a qualified machine shop to do the work. They returned it to me the way you see it in the following photos. Perhaps you can tell where he had to grind to make it work.

I think you'll be happy with the 383. I sure am.