'94 truck with a surpise 383 in it. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

knightfire83 · 07-10-2011, 06:10 AM

I bought a '94 sport step side 2wd. The body is excellent, so this truck is going to be a toy for summer and wont see any more winters. I bought it very cheaply from a friend because the front steel brake line busted (previous owners welded a hole closed, yeah I couldn't believe it either.)

The rear brake lines were very close to being rusted out. I replaced all the lines and now I'm repairing the engine which smoked like crazy upon reving. The truck had a 700R4 instead of the correct 4l60E which was probably giving the computer fits. I imagine it was constantly in limp home mode. I have never driven this vehicle but have been around it before. It was quick but also kept mosquitoes away with the smoky exhaust.

I was just going to replace the fuel injected engine with another "350." However a compression test revealed no cylinders under 210 psi and crazy good oil psi, which peaked my interest.

Disassembly revealed a crate engine, flat top pistons .030 overbore, Scat 383 crank, Comp. computer cam, factory nothing special heads with very badly worn valve guides. There was barely any ridge at the top of the cylinders.

It was completely torn down and cleaned. When ever the machine shop gets around to finishing up the newer heads, I will be putting the thing back together. It will have all new rod / main bearings with no other block work than new cam bearings.

I am adding refurbished Vortec 64cc heads with the appropriate machine work for a Comp cam high energy 268H cam / springs. It has 10:1 compression.

All the fuel injection and related wiring is removed minus the fuel pump and sending unit / tach wires. It is replaced with a bypass regulator, Edelbrock performer intake and a 600 cfm Edel. carb. An aftermarket non-computer HEI is going to fire the thing off. I will be installing headers with likely 2.5" pipe and perhaps Magnaflow or Flowmaster mufflers.

So here's the specs:

- 383
- Vortec 64cc heads
- 10:1 compression
- Comp high energy 268H cam.
- Edelbrock performer.
- Edelbrock 600cfm carb.
- Summit quiet gear drive.
- Headers.
- HEI ignition.

I would welcome comment on:

- I believe I am pretty close to having to use premium gas. The previous owner never did though. I believe the computer may have retarded the timing to avoid detonation / pinging??

- Your guess to HP rating, I hear 383's have loads of torque. I've seen similar combo's claiming 350-400 HP. I'd be happy with around 300.

- If I assemble this engine would it be ok to not fire it for up to 6-8 months? (Fundage problems for the final parts: exhaust, chrome items, carb.) I worry about the Comp. break in cam lube dripping off the cam or the like.

- What's the idle going to sound like? It should have a bit of a lope to it.

- Any other comments or ideas.

Thank You,
--Drew

Restrorob · 07-10-2011, 08:54 AM

Welcome Aboard Drew !

IMO, If the engine is going to sit a while I wouldn't assemble until everything is in hand for fire-up. Proper cam break-in is critical to it's life span, It would be a bummer to have to tear it back down shortly after install.

Also, I wouldn't go into a engine without de-glazing the cylinders and installing new rings just for piece of mind.

Sounds like it ought to thump pretty well......

Meatman · 07-10-2011, 10:51 AM

Ya definitely need to have machine shop hone it and put rings in it. Costs very little and would be dumb to put it back together without doing that. Like was said above I would wait to assemble closer to when you have all the parts. Just keep block bagged up and keep a good coat of oil on the cylinder walls.

Heres a van with similar setup to give you an idea.

YouTube - ‪chevy van with XE268...

Found this while I was searching too. Omg car sounds amazing.

YouTube - ‪1971 GTO 400 4spd...

jb1016 · 07-10-2011, 08:22 PM

Wow, always nice to get more than you bargained for! Sounds like somebody took the heads off the stroker and slapped the stockers back on. And I know all about the valve guides; I can send smoke signals to the next county when I've been idling a while.

Sounds like a good combo with the vortecs. What are you gonna do with the computer? And there's no way I would get it all assembled until I was ready to fire it, but that's just me.

Also, welcome to the board!

Hoods69BadBowTie · 07-11-2011, 12:58 AM

Hey welcome to the best boards around from MT. Sounds like a sweet project for sure. I would also highly recommend that you wait for tearing it down until your ready to put it back together and fire it up. Like stated above "Ya definitely need to have machine shop hone it and put rings in it. Costs very little and would be dumb to put it back together without doing that." That is something else I would do cause your already that far into the motor makes sense to do it now

knightfire83 · 07-12-2011, 07:20 AM

Thanks for the replies everyone. Those videos sound great, cant wait to get it up and running. As far as the computer and everything related to it, it's in a box next to the trash can. I may throw those parts up on Craigslist and see what happens. Theres a hypertech street runner chip in the computer, so maybe thats worth a few bucks...?

07-10-2011, 06:10 AM	#1
knightfire83 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lincoln Posts: 7	'94 truck with a surpise 383 in it. I bought a '94 sport step side 2wd. The body is excellent, so this truck is going to be a toy for summer and wont see any more winters. I bought it very cheaply from a friend because the front steel brake line busted (previous owners welded a hole closed, yeah I couldn't believe it either.) The rear brake lines were very close to being rusted out. I replaced all the lines and now I'm repairing the engine which smoked like crazy upon reving. The truck had a 700R4 instead of the correct 4l60E which was probably giving the computer fits. I imagine it was constantly in limp home mode. I have never driven this vehicle but have been around it before. It was quick but also kept mosquitoes away with the smoky exhaust. I was just going to replace the fuel injected engine with another "350." However a compression test revealed no cylinders under 210 psi and crazy good oil psi, which peaked my interest. Disassembly revealed a crate engine, flat top pistons .030 overbore, Scat 383 crank, Comp. computer cam, factory nothing special heads with very badly worn valve guides. There was barely any ridge at the top of the cylinders. It was completely torn down and cleaned. When ever the machine shop gets around to finishing up the newer heads, I will be putting the thing back together. It will have all new rod / main bearings with no other block work than new cam bearings. I am adding refurbished Vortec 64cc heads with the appropriate machine work for a Comp cam high energy 268H cam / springs. It has 10:1 compression. All the fuel injection and related wiring is removed minus the fuel pump and sending unit / tach wires. It is replaced with a bypass regulator, Edelbrock performer intake and a 600 cfm Edel. carb. An aftermarket non-computer HEI is going to fire the thing off. I will be installing headers with likely 2.5" pipe and perhaps Magnaflow or Flowmaster mufflers. So here's the specs: - 383 - Vortec 64cc heads - 10:1 compression - Comp high energy 268H cam. - Edelbrock performer. - Edelbrock 600cfm carb. - Summit quiet gear drive. - Headers. - HEI ignition. I would welcome comment on: - I believe I am pretty close to having to use premium gas. The previous owner never did though. I believe the computer may have retarded the timing to avoid detonation / pinging?? - Your guess to HP rating, I hear 383's have loads of torque. I've seen similar combo's claiming 350-400 HP. I'd be happy with around 300. - If I assemble this engine would it be ok to not fire it for up to 6-8 months? (Fundage problems for the final parts: exhaust, chrome items, carb.) I worry about the Comp. break in cam lube dripping off the cam or the like. - What's the idle going to sound like? It should have a bit of a lope to it. - Any other comments or ideas. Thank You, --Drew

07-10-2011, 08:54 AM	#2
Restrorob The One And Only !!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hole in the woods Florida Posts: 4,567	Re: '94 truck with a surpise 383 in it. Welcome Aboard Drew ! IMO, If the engine is going to sit a while I wouldn't assemble until everything is in hand for fire-up. Proper cam break-in is critical to it's life span, It would be a bummer to have to tear it back down shortly after install. Also, I wouldn't go into a engine without de-glazing the cylinders and installing new rings just for piece of mind. Sounds like it ought to thump pretty well...... __________________ 93 Jeep XJ 88 Buick La Sabra Toys; 88 TA-GTA in the works.... 97 GMC Ext. Cab 502 Crate 5 Spd......Sucks Gas But Haulz Azz ! The primary function of an Engineer is to make it difficult for the Fabricator and impossible for the Mechanic. *"Why go out preserved when you can go out beat up, worn out, sliding in sideways screaming, Holy Sh!t What A Ride" !!!*

07-11-2011, 12:58 AM	#5
Hoods69BadBowTie Chevys Kick A$$ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zootown, MT Posts: 12,699	Re: '94 truck with a surpise 383 in it. Hey welcome to the best boards around from MT. Sounds like a sweet project for sure. I would also highly recommend that you wait for tearing it down until your ready to put it back together and fire it up. Like stated above "Ya definitely need to have machine shop hone it and put rings in it. Costs very little and would be dumb to put it back together without doing that." That is something else I would do cause your already that far into the motor makes sense to do it now __________________ HOODS is what I answer too -'79, '77, '88 Pickup Sold, '85 Camaro, '83 T/A, '81,'83,'90 K5 Blazer All Sold -'79 3/4 ton "Big Yellow Bananna" Lifted 4spd. 39.5 TSL Swampers, The money Pit -'86 K5 Blazer Silverado 6.2 4" lift 35"s -'95 Ext. Cab Shorty 4" Tuff Country rolling 35" M/T's -'83 Monte Carlo T-Tops. 126,500 Original Miles -LATER I would rather push a Chevy then drive a ford!!

07-12-2011, 07:20 AM	#6
knightfire83 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lincoln Posts: 7	Re: '94 truck with a surpise 383 in it. Thanks for the replies everyone. Those videos sound great, cant wait to get it up and running. As far as the computer and everything related to it, it's in a box next to the trash can. I may throw those parts up on Craigslist and see what happens. Theres a hypertech street runner chip in the computer, so maybe thats worth a few bucks...?



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