383 Build thread

[chaingun427]

The title says it all folks. I've priced the difference between the HT383e, Blueprint engines 383 short block, and building my own, and doing it myself just makes more financial sense so I'm going to document my process, progress, and see if anyone has tips or advice on this build.

I'm putting together a spreadsheet of parts for this build that i'll be glad to share if requested. The basics are as follows

1. Cleaning of block, intake, throttlebody, and heads, clearancing & boring .030 over, valve job, and port&polish $500ish (not sure about having it made into a 4bolt probably more expensive than it's worth for a sub 400hp motor

2. Eagle balanced Rotating assembly B13405L03068
3.750 stroke, forged rods, perfect circle rings
$799 at summitracing.com

3. GM cam 14097395
lift 196 int./206 exh. duration 288 int./308 exh.
Same as the HT383e, should work with factory lifters and (new) factory springs. Mild cam, but should work well for a DD, occasional towing.
$168

4. Pace Setter 72C1320 short tube headers
good for low end torque, and a factory like exhaust system
(not sure if i'm going to do a magnaflow headerback system, or complete custom system I want a nice throaty sound when I get on it, but quieter at highway speeds)
$399 for chrome

with additional parts including all ARP head and main bolts, new timing set, and a master gasket kit i'm looking at roughly 2280 (+incidental costs like oil, filters, assembly lube etc etc)

Today I'll be cleaning up my garage/workshed so that i'm able to have a place to rebuild the motor and transmission.

One thing I was told was possible, is to put a 7.4l 80mm throttle body on the 350 intake, has anyone done that?

 

[ezdaar]

If your buying eagle rotating assembly, Please don't skimp out on the 4 bolt! that would be absolutly silly..
Instead of having one drilled and tapped, then buying mains, just get a 4 bolt block core...

Don't waste a penny on short headers.. they are Not headers, they are tubular manifolds and are shit.

Any cam that works with factory springs is not worth the time to install it. Call Texas speed and talk to those guys. Get the biggest cam your OEM converter can handle.

Yes the BB TB will work.
Your not going to reuse the OEM intake are you? Think "air gap" intake from edelbrock or holley.

Please for the love of things, Do not waste time on those Legacy heads. Atleast start with a Vortec top end. In stock form they Flow more than your legacy heads will ported.. If you dont want to swap topends for what ever reason, look into world products heads from summit, they will include springs than can handle most any cam you want with in reason and have better port design than legacy heads, for less than the cost of working over your oem heads.

I really think you should research more, you have a great start into this. but some parts choices with your end goal make no sense.

If you must stay with a legacy engine and not go LS, your going to spend a lot of money to hit a decent power level that's reliable. there's no way around it.
A bone stock (installed and running) 5.3 swap with a tune will reach your expected power lvl and cost a fraction of what your willing to spen on the 383.. Just sayin..

 

[chaingun427]

I have a 98 vortec motor as a core, which has spun a bearing. I'm not looking to make ridiculous hp or torque with it, just something on the level of the ht383e from GM, 320hp 400ftlb. That cam is the same as the ht383, and mild enough that it won't be too choppy while idling. I thought about doing long tubes, but from what I understand, they can hurt the low end where ill be doing most of my driving? With an ls swap im looking at a new computer, custom wiring solutions, etc. Not sure what you mean by a legacy engine?

 

[jerryjoe28]

Don’t really have any info for you but im intersected to see what other people say. When I bought mine I just assumed it would get a LS as I have 1 just sitting in the back of the garage. But I think I have other ideas for it now and i have no interest in making the hoe in to some street racer anyway ( that’s what the TA is for). Looking to upgrade the old 5.7 and get more torque out of her.

 

[livingez_123]

the 383 with a good torque cam would be perfect in the Tahoe. nice smooth idle with a bunch of low end tq.

 

[chaingun427]

My thoughts exactly, with the build I'm planning I should be able to retain the stock fuel system as well. Question on the exhaust, what size is the stock exhaust, and if I remove the cats, or replace them with higher flow ones, and upgrade the mufflers to dual flowmaster 50 series with dual out woyld it work, or are the stock pipes too small? My body has an almost new exhaust system so if I can reuse it that would be awesome

 

[chaingun427]

Finally almost done getting my workshop redone so I can tear down the engine. I'm about to order my new rotating assembly and i'm stuck between one from Eagle http://www.summitracing.com/parts/esp-b13504l03068/overview/ and one from **** http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sca-1-91100bie/overview/ being that there is a $200 difference in them, and they are otherwise identical in specs, and that i'm only looking for 300 to 350hp what would you guys recommend and why