It Was Going To Be A 383

[magwakeenercew2jh]

I had illusions...or should I say "delusions" of building a 383 out of a clean "roller" block I have on the stand and the fresh
set of 062 heads that I just had done.

These Votrec heads are all newly and properly machined with 1.94 intakes and the exhaust valves raised to 1.60. I have
nice Vortec valve covers.

The block I have is an unbored 350 and reported to have been fluxxed (sp?).But who knows until the machine shop gets it...
...from ME!!! No internals. No rotating assemblies. The only thing I have for the block is the spider bracket.

The 350 in the truck now is strong. And all of the external stuff is new. Or newer...Serpentine belt system, carb, headers,
alt., electric fuel pump, small style starter, regulator, etc.

But, on start-up, I get a puff or a little more smoke. I kind of figure it's valve seals. Plus, the rear main has a P.I.A. drip.....
..The motor was sealed up well installed a couple of thousand miles and three years ago. But, I missed the rear main, I guess.
This was a motor that came with my pile of parts...I got it from a pal that simply told me that this motor, "got it down the road pretty well".
But he really didn't know anything about it's internals, either. I suspect it has a cam in it from the loping...but I don't really know.

Point is, I don't have the money to build a new motor. Just a fact. And, this one, while it's solid and strong, has a drip and a little
smoke at startup after it sits for a couple of days.

So, since I can't build the motor the way I want it (the 383), I then decided to buy a new intake manifold and gaskets...and drop those
"new" heads on the 350.

Then, I remembered the main seal. "Well, I'll pull the motor and install the heads", I told myself. "I'll fix the rear main at the same time."

Naaaawwww....That's just not me. Even though it runs great, I don't know what's actually *in there*.

Now, I'm thinking short block. Use all my other stuff to hang on the motor.

So, the questions are: Am I making any sense? Sourcing? What specific short blocks make sense for an old guy that likes to hammer it
once in a while...But, mostly, cruise and smile at the sound?