383 Stroker Vs. 454 Big Block

[Project77]

i was wondering what would be best for my truck which one is faster and has more get up and go and what kind of transmission and carberator would go best with the engine that meets my needs. i know im thinking a little ahead of my ball game but for future plans id like to start finding this stuff out sooner rather than later. and before i put a motor in the truck i will upgrade everything else such as: Tires, rims, brakes so i can make sure i have maximum performance )))

current truck information:
77 chevy silverado
regular 350 engine
regular 350 tranny
tire rims and brakes they all suck but ill fix it

just let me know what you would go with and why

[texasfunk]

There are ALOT of things to consider...a 383 can be built to blow a 454 equipped trucks doors off. And vice-versa. Depends on how much you want to spend. Since you already have a 350 a 383 swap is simple. Putting a BBC is not much different but you have to change more than you think..again it's all personal preference. My 502 equipped 81 will blow the doors off my 383 elcamino..but my old 383 equipped 82 would smoke the 502....also had double the money in it
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[my4by2]

He's right - if you've already got a good core 350, then just go with a 383 - you can spend more on the internals due to what you'll save not having to buy the parts & core for the 454 swap. Only way I'd go 454 over the small block is if it were gonna be a pure tow rig just for that extra bottom end low RPM torque the big block has. You'll love the way a 383 puts ya back in the seat I guarantee it!!!

[mfwcar11]

i guess its all in what u want? i'm going with a 454 just 4 the wow factor.

[von guido]

umm,you really think there is a comparison between a bbc and sbc? you have to build a radicle street sbc to get 500 rwhp and a bbc on the same power level would be MILD. I have a 30.1 inch rear tire with a 3.08 gear and with a MILD 454 I can flash the convertor at 40 and break the rear loose...and my cam is right @.500 lift so VERY tame for a bbc.

[texasfunk]

Originally Posted by von guido

umm,you really think there is a comparison between a bbc and sbc? you have to build a radicle street sbc to get 500 rwhp and a bbc on the same power level would be MILD. I have a 30.1 inch rear tire with a 3.08 gear and with a MILD 454 I can flash the convertor at 40 and break the rear loose...and my cam is right @.500 lift so VERY tame for a bbc.

Off topic but the truck in your avatar=amazing! Really makes me want to get started on my 79!
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[von guido]

I appreciate that

[my4by2]

Originally Posted by von guido

umm,you really think there is a comparison between a bbc and sbc? you have to build a radicle street sbc to get 500 rwhp and a bbc on the same power level would be MILD. I have a 30.1 inch rear tire with a 3.08 gear and with a MILD 454 I can flash the convertor at 40 and break the rear loose...and my cam is right @.500 lift so VERY tame for a bbc.

Ok, so how many people with "daily driver" vehicles have true 500RWHP numbers??? Gimme a break.... Sure you're gonna make more power with the 454 - no replacement for displacement as they say. But given he's talking about a street driven vehicle that already has the SBC installed he'd be plenty happy (and have more money left) with a mild 383 engine. Anything over 300RWHP for a street driven vehicle is going to feel GREAT & with the 383 he'll have gobs of torque down low to make the truck really pick up off the line. Besides "breaking the rear loose" might be fun in an empty parking lot, but on the street in a light rear-ended pickup (especially with posi or in the rain) it can get just a little hairy!!!
And NEVER forget the trade off of fuel mileage between the 454 & SBC - it takes more fuel to fill that large a bore & stroke without question!!!
But, just my feelings on it.

[my4by2]

Originally Posted by mfwcar11

i guess its all in what u want? i'm going with a 454 just 4 the wow factor.

Will definitely concede this point - a well dressed 454 looks WAY better inside that large engine compartment in comparison with the SBC!!! But on the flip side, it's much easier to get in there & work on a SBC - so it's a toss up I guess.

[dos0711]

I vote for the big block!
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[Redcap]

No replacement for displacement.

[Pop's C-10]

Find a good roller cam block & gather parts as money allows...

[BigBlocksRule]

If you're gonna stroke the small block, stroke the big block to make it a real apples-to-apples comparison.
Great thing about a big block is that you can make massive power with production pieces - large ovals for a strong street engine, rectangular ports for all-out and higher rpm power. Plenty of 468's running 10's and faster with factory parts. It generally takes some port work on factory castings, mind you, but it can be done.
A well-built big block will pass anything...but a gas pump

[b454rat]

Big block, everyone has a small block.

I'll give yah an idea on fuel economy. My old 84 1/2t 4wd had a 350, stock but ran good. Auto tranny, killer 2.73 gears, and 31" tires. Was a dog.

Swapped in a rebuilt stock 454 with headers, 4-speed, 3/4t's with 4.10s and 35s. Of course I had a lot more power, AND GOT BETTER GAS MILEAGE. I drove this truck almost every day. I drove this more than the '08 Tundra that was my dad's.

[jasonroman]

forgive the stupid question from a guy who knows nothing....
383 comes from beefing up a 350?
if so, this comes by buying add ons. or pulling the motor and sending it to a shop?

[my4by2]

Well with 31" tires & 2.73 gears it's no surprise the truck was a dog.... You should'a had at least 3.73's in there - 4.10's if you had overdrive. The small block - depending on how you had it built, what intake you had & all that - needs to be in a certain RPM range to work best. That combo wouldn't have ever been there... When you did your trans & gears swaps you probably picked up as much as improvement as anywhere - had you done those swaps with the small block it would'a been night & day as well.
Look, I am not saying that the SBC is the end all to all questions & have had my share of BBC's as well & loved them. The guy that asked the questions already has a small block in his truck. I just feel it'd be easier for him to build it up to a 383 - cost wise & time wise. The small block is WAY cheaper to build - hands down! He would need to get a core big block, accessory mounts, headers - everything to do a swap in it!
And for the apples-to-apples comparison spoken of earlier - how about you do a parts list for exact brand items for each engine & let me know how much each comes to - guarantee that the BBC is gonna run a LOT more - especially since he now would have to buy a core.
Like I said before though, if he's gonna tow a great deal - build the big block no doubt! If it's a street truck, then in my mind a mild built 383 would be perfect.

[justinburnett]

BAsically taking a 350 and increasing the stroke by putting a modified 400sbc crank in. Someone will doubtless expand on this, but from my understanding that's the general idea. Look up "build 383" on Google.


As far as cost goes, I just did a rebuild on a 400 and the parts cost easily double what it would have been for
A 350. I don't even want to know what a 454 would cost.
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[b454rat]

I also forgot that I swapped the 3/4 tons with the 410s and 35s before I did the 454/4-speed, still was better mileage and drivable. Sounded 10 times better too.

Here is a cheasy vid of it...

YouTube - 84 Chevy 454 driveby

[jrcaprai]

I had a 383 that dynoed at 430 HP and 465 Ft-lbs, it was not horribly expensive.
it had good parts in it, but only had a flat tappet hydraulic cam in it... it ran high 12's
I used a scat rotating assy with 5.7 inch rods, flat top pistons, Dart 200cc Pro 1 heads

in my opinion, if you are going to build an engine up to about 550 HP go with a Small block. if you are going to build something more than 550HP do a big block....

My current engine is a 408 Small block 550 HP... 500HP 383's are really easy these days

I am planning my next engine, which should be about 700 HP and it will be a BBC. 496 or 540

Don't forget about the weight advantage of a small block...

Chevy big block V8 685
Chevy small block V8 575
Chevy small block with Alum Heads 525

[BigBlocksRule]

^ sound advice.

Big block with aluminum heads: 585lbs

All aluminum LS = featherweight!

[BigBlocksRule]

Originally Posted by justinburnett

BAsically taking a 350 and increasing the stroke by putting a modified 400sbc crank in. Someone will doubtless expand on this, but from my understanding that's the general idea. Look up "build 383" on Google.


As far as cost goes, I just did a rebuild on a 400 and the parts cost easily double what it would have been for
A 350. I don't even want to know what a 454 would cost.
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Why did your 400 parts cost double what a 350 was? Small block pistons are all the same price as are rods, same with a new crank. Machine work is all the same as well...

[Cherub]

I didnt read the other post so ill just comment to the original post.

Before you start modifing i would ask yourself what your end goal is. How much you have to spend. Then work tward that goal.

Both platforms are good but have thier inherant limitations, pros and cons. Reading up on the characteristics of both, then decide which fits your needs the best.

I hope that helps you decide,

Good luck

[pockets]

Originally Posted by von guido

umm,you really think there is a comparison between a bbc and sbc? you have to build a radicle street sbc to get 500 rwhp and a bbc on the same power level would be MILD. I have a 30.1 inch rear tire with a 3.08 gear and with a MILD 454 I can flash the convertor at 40 and break the rear loose...and my cam is right @.500 lift so VERY tame for a bbc.

500 rwhp is not mild in a bbc. that equates to approximately 650-700 hp at the crank. Now it is easy to build that with a bbc and it will be milder than a comparative hp sbc, but it isn't exactly "mild". That is a very healthy motor indeed.

I do agree with pretty much with jrcaprai. If you are going to 500-550, a small block is fairly easy to do. Other than visual factor, a 500 hp bbc is almost a waste these days; on funds, fuel and the cubes that motor can provide. over 500, and the bbc really shines.

My 383, as spec'd in the Aug. 2010 issues of super chevy, puts out 480hp and 495ftlbs. I too used a scat bottom end but with AFR 195 heads and a flat tappet cam. With a little more cam (mine is a .490 lift) or even a roller, it would easily go over 500hp.

The other route would be an LS or LQ motor. With their heads, they can do 550-600 hp as easy as a BBC, if not easier. Of course there are other costs associated with swapping in one of those.

[jrcaprai]

Originally Posted by BigBlocksRule

Why did your 400 parts cost double what a 350 was? Small block pistons are all the same price as are rods, same with a new crank. Machine work is all the same as well...

X2

My 408 was not double what my 383 was... and I went full roller on the 408, which the 383 was not

[jrcaprai]

Originally Posted by pockets

500 rwhp i


My 383, as spec'd in the Aug. 2010 issues of super chevy, puts out 480hp and 495ftlbs. I too used a scat bottom end but with AFR 195 heads and a flat tappet cam. With a little more cam (mine is a .490 lift) or even a roller, it would easily go over 500hp.

The other route would be an LS or LQ motor. With their heads, they can do 550-600 hp as easy as a BBC, if not easier. Of course there are other costs associated with swapping in one of those.

What Cam do you have in that 383 ?