383 Stroker Questions

[par4tom]

Hi Guys,
I had hoped it would not come to this, but when I hung a valve down into the #5 cylinder, there was a drop in compression and I knew the engine was going to be coming out.

Question - Some of you here have done the 383 stroker setup, and that's what I'm doing with the help of this really cool engine kits place down in Bakersfield California.

First, the block will be .040 over, 400 crank, externally balanced front and rear, aluminum heads with 2.02 and 1.6's. Edelbrock intake and a nice cam with hydraulic flat tappet lifters with about 268 and 290 duration. Looking to make about 400 hp of good streetable power.

I have an Edelbrock RPM intake and MSD ignition. The brand new Holley 670 Street Avenger carb I bought for the 350...will that be enough for the 383 with a little bit more lift on the cam?

Looking for answers from guys who have actually gone this route and ran this setup, or seen someone who has.

Am I going to have to get a bigger carb?

[gofastnut]

I like to run a little over-carb'd. No science to it, just the way I've always done it. I don't think you'll have a problem with that one once you get it tuned in.
Looks like a good combo!

[tincan1966]

Sounds like you've got a good plan and parts list. Im a firm believer in spending a few $$ on a good balancing, tho. All depends on your target RPM range.

[gofastnut]

x2

[par4tom]

Thank you...I hope I got this right. The company is www.enginekits.com. They were in Hot Rod magazine, etc, along with several others. I found them indirectly through someone else here on this forum.

Anyway, Bakersfield is about an hour and a half south of me, so I went down there this week. Let me say, these guys know about Stokers. They had more options than I could comprehend.

Anyway, they are going to do the clearance work, get all the parts, balance the kit, do everything except put it back together.

Oh, if someone is looking for the high flow aluminum heads, they have their own heads and do their own valve grindings, fit and final assembly right there in Bakersfield. The flow numbers for the heads are on the website. The machine shop was impressive and the guy that runs the CNC for the heads, does all the work himself. I really liked the fact that the guys there do the machining, use only top quality parts and do the assembly themselves...by hand! Wasn't even going to buy heads but use my old double humpers. However, the cost of their Powerhouse heads was about the same as completely redoing the double humps. Hope I like the results...

I don't know much about heads, or flow numbers so other members will have to make their own judgements on these heads. He just said they've been doing these heads for many, many years and that they will be MORE than adequate for what I'm looking to do. I think they ran me about $850 with the 1.6 roller tip rockers.

I also liked the fact that they do all the work in Bakersfield...not some other country (not that other stuff from other countries is bad!) If i have a problem, they said they can take care of it right in house. Maybe I'll post some pictures of these heads after I get them and if some guys are interested.

I'll let you know how it all comes out. Wasn't planning on a new engine when I started this project...but...it is an old chevy truck after all!

[bj383ss]

Sounds like you have a good plan. I have a 383 stroker in my 79' Caprice. Here is what I have. I put 360hp to the wheels which is right under 500 at the crank.

bored .60 over so mine is actually a 388
forged Eagle crank and rods
Speed Pro Forged pistons
10.82 CR with Edelbrock RPM Heads 64cc(a little high for pump gas but my cam helps with that
Comp Cams 268XE Flat tappet. It is very noise. Valve springs that match it
Edelbrock Perfomer RPM Intake
Holley 750 vacumun secondary
MSD Pro Billet distributor with 6AL
Milodon deep sump pan 7qt, with windage tray.
Melling High vol oil pump
ARP main studs and ARP bolts used everywhere
Edelbrock Water pump
Fluidampner harmonic balancer.
Hooker 1 5/8 Headers with 2.5" duals Flowmaster 40's
I have a built TH350 behind it with a 2200 stall converter. I had a 3,000 stall and it launched a lot harder but gas mileage was real bad.
3.42 gears

I can't stress enough to use ZDDP oil additive if you run a hyd flat tappet. Ask me how I know.

Engine has a ton of torque. It moves the Caprice very well.

[Snowbound]

I'd be careful with cheap offshore heads. I've read about lots of issues with quality.

You should reach 400 pretty easy with good heads and a streetable cam.

I'm running a Quickfuel 750 vacuum secondary carb, factory Bowtie heads and Comp XE274 cam, and I'm right at 400 HP and 440 TQ
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[Trsmotrhed]

Originally Posted by tincan1966

Sounds like you've got a good plan and parts list. Im a firm believer in spending a few $$ on a good balancing, tho. All depends on your target RPM range.

Going the way he's going with the 400 crank this set up will be externally balanced, he'll need to balance with the harmonic balancer and his flex plate. Choose good stuff . I built one very similar to this and ran low 14's with a 3.08 open rear end @ 4,800 ft peddling the throttle most of the way. Was a kick to drive. Didn't lose many races. Had it in a 66 C10 SWB. Sold because of divorce
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[par4tom]

Motorhead...I don't know which is more expensive...the truck or the divorce! At least the truck is fun! Can't say the same for divorce!

Thanks for the comments.

I did some follow up with the engine shop...turns out my L48 block is not going to work with the Stroker kit due to the main bearing journals not being bored out straight enough...by the time I'm done on this project, the only thing left on this truck that is original will be ME!

I also checked into the "Chinese Heads" issues...turns out the blank heads do come from overseas, but all the final grinding, fit and assembly are done in Bakersfield. Owner says he has sold and installed these heads for years and for the buck, there is no bigger bang out there. He swears the quality is really, really good and serious overkill for someone who is just going to be using it for the street!

I chose the 2.02 valve configuration with the 1.6 roller tipped rockers. Cam is from Lunati and has 465 and 488 lift, with 290 and 300 duration. Going with hydraulic flat tappet lifters. Looking for good streetable power from the stop light and a lot of low end torque. Not going to go racing...I have a 4 speed manual (NP440/MY6) with Captain Fab's brake booster bracket and hydraulic clutch set up! 3.73 rear end with posi. I'll probably have to do some work on this too!


Anybody else use this Lunati cam set up? I understand the 1.6 rocker arms will pickup the lift and duration a bit. I am WAY out of my element when it comes to stuff like this. Will the 670 Street Avenger from Holley still work?

[DURG]

I have the 670 Avenger on a 383 in my 62 Impala SS Lunati cam with around 480 lift. Runs fine. All the carb cfm calculators came out around 700 cfm figuring on only turning 5500 RPM and many articles recommended stepping down instead of up on carb size. I just bought a GM Performance fast burn 385 383 stroker for my truck and it has a 750 cfm carb so I think anything from 650 to 750 would be useable with a tune unless you plan on wringing it out to redline then step up to the 700 something cfm carb.

[Captainfab]

If the block is otherwise good, why not have it line honed? Finding another block that is perfectly straight is going to be hit and miss.

If you're set on finding another block, try and get a '96-'02 Vortec block. That way you can run the factory style roller cam, which is a bit cheaper than a retrofit roller cam.

Originally Posted by par4tom

I did some follow up with the engine shop...turns out my L48 block is not going to work with the Stroker kit due to the main bearing journals not being bored out straight enough.

[scottofksu]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

If you're set on finding another block, try and get a '96-'02 Vortec block. That way you can run the factory style roller cam, which is a bit cheaper than a retrofit roller cam.

X2

Some light reading for you, though, it is in a different direction than you're currently going:

http://www.classictrucks.com/tech/10...d/viewall.html

[par4tom]

Cap,
He gave me that option. He also said he'd have to bore it 60 over. The owner said he had another block that had already been decked, bored 20 over and was pretty much ready to go. Charged me 200 bucks for the block. I ll put the original L48 back together as I have all the parts and either keep it as a backup or sell it on Craigslist.
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[BigDan3131]

I'm sure I will hear about this but, is this 383 being built with 5.7 rods or the stock 400 rods? I would do the 5.7 rods and if possible find out how much to have it internally balanced as well.

[par4tom]

They are the 5.7"...

the website is www.enginekits.com

they've been very good to work with thus far. I'll let you know how it goes once I get everything back.

[par4tom]

Scott,
Thanks for the article. Nice to see some practical stuff for guys like me who don't need a full race engine for the strip. And, over 400 hp for less than $1100 bucks...who could go wrong with that...

T