383 stroker for my 61, good deal?

[Daniel 61 Apache]

I've decided to yank the 305 for some more power. I've searched and have found a 383 on craigslist for 1200. Below is the craigslist ad and I'll attach a picture of it once I get home. No carb, water pump, or distributor. I'll be looking at the engine this weekend. Ive never had a 383 so I cant comment on how much it'd cost to build one. Does it sound like a good deal to you guys? Also will this be a good engine for my daily driven 700r4 with 4.10 rear gear? Thanks for any advice.

I have for sale a 383 chev with less than 500 miles over 3000.00 invested. Block is 030 over align bored studded mains Speedpro Hyper. pistons ductile moly rings comp 280 camshaft 7 qt oilpan motor is balanced. Aluminum LT1 cylinder heads mild port work with 3 angle valve job. This motor is very fast. only reason for selling is that I sold the car and buyer wanted to use his own motor.

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[msgross]

Can you ID a 383 vs a 305 on the outside? I'd have a shop look at it to confirm it's been stroked, otherwise it could be some sap selling his worn out 350... If it was in a car running then that might be another story...

[markeb01]

If he voluntarily shows all the receipts that went into the engine I'd have a little more confidence, but unless you know the seller personally I'd still be very cautious. You don't really know for sure why the engine is being sold. Maybe the new buyer really wanted his own engine, or maybe there were issues he didn't want to deal with. Or maybe it wasn't in a car at all. In general I like to think that most people are basically honest, but I've been around long enough to know there are others that make a living victimizing the unsuspecting.

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Heres a pic of the engine.

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Receipts will definitely be needed. What about the engine in general? Anyone ever have this setup?
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[65Custom]

I loved my 383 that I built for my 79 Camaro, man I wish I still had that car it was a torque monster, I built it myself using the 350 5.7 rods and 400 stroked eagle crank kit it was a bad little monster with dart II heads
it screamed I can only imagine what it would have been like in one of these trucks

If it is what the guy says it is you will love it

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Buying any used engine needs alot of caution.
It's hard to trust people now days.
Every engine they are selling seems to be a good engine.
So you have to know what to look for and ask alot of questions like does it have hardened valve seats and guides on the heads. What year is the block? What is the specs on the cam? Lift and duration, brand. Is this a roller engine? Has short valve covers so maybe not. What is the compression ratio? Type of fly wheel? What type of timing chain? Does it come with a fly wheel? Who built the engine? What all was done at the machine shop? Etc....
Pictures don't mean jack when it comes what shape it is in internally.

I have for sale a 383 chev with less than 500 miles over 3000.00 invested. Block is 030 over align bored studded mains Speedpro Hyper. pistons ductile moly rings comp 280 camshaft 7 qt oilpan motor is balanced. Aluminum LT1 cylinder heads mild port work with 3 angle valve job. This motor is very fast. only reason for selling is that I sold the car and buyer wanted to use his own motor.

Seems to me that this might of been a race car and that the motor may have been down the drag strip. You never want to buy a engine that has been raced...... because you don't know what kind of shape it is in due to the stress.
As with any “stroker” engine, the 383 stroker uses an altered crankshaft to increase the stroke of the pistons. This increased stroke allows you to get more air and fuel into the cylinders, thus increasing displacement without changing engine blocks. The increased fuel and air means more horsepower and torque!
The Chevy 383 Stroker uses a 350 block and a slightly altered Chevrolet 400 crank. A stock 350 has a piston stroke length of 3.48 inches. The 400 crank changes the 383 to a total stroke of 3.75 inches. This produces a total displacement of 383 cubic inches (thus the name 383). This displacement means that a Chevy 383 Stroker is capable of drawing in a total of 383 cubic inches of air/fuel mixture into it’s cylinder chambers during one cycle of the 8 pistons.

If it were me I would pass on it unless I new the guy very very well.
If you know how to build a 383, 385, 388 stroker then you know how it is built and built to last.

YouTube - ‪Engine rebuild part...

YouTube - ‪Engine rebuild part...

YouTube - ‪Engine build part...

YouTube - ‪Engine build part...

YouTube - ‪Engine build part...

YouTube - ‪Engine build part...

YouTube - ‪Engine build part...

YouTube - ‪Engine build part...

Now you can buy a crate 383 stroker. The advantages of buying a crate is that it's Balanced and Blue Printed with a warranty. (Crate engines carry a 30-month or 50,000-mile warranty)
Base price usually starts at $2,595.00 with with cast iron heads.
http://www.summitracing.com/search/?...20engine&dds=1
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...itemPerPage=90
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...rmer_460.shtml

[Warrens69GMC]

I would not buy it for 1 reason - he's using the LT1 heads which are a reverse coolant flow head. they would need to be re-worked to flow correctly. If I didn't do the work (or have a trusted machine shop) do it, then no.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Agree on the LT1 Heads... Don't care for them!

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...0002&N=0&Nty=0

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...rmer_460.shtml

YouTube - ‪Edelbrock Crate Engine...

[Captainfab]

I agree on the LT1 heads. It is my understanding that they won't work correctly when installed on a Gen I small block without some rework. Even then I would be a little leary of them allowing the coolant to flow correctly. IMO it would be much easier to verify the condition of this engine if the heads and pan were off. Otherwise it is impossible to know just what you are buying.

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Well I talked with the guy and ended up not getting it. Just didn't seem very forthright with his answers. I am starting to contemplate building my own engine now. Maybe a 350 with a good cam and aftermarket heads. Thanks for the $.02 from you guys. I appreciate it.
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