school me on 383, or some budget 383 stuff

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Swims350

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Posts
4,351
Reaction score
812
Location
Logan WV
First Name
Chris
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
none
Ok never built one, pretty familar with engines. I had questions though... mostly on doing one on the cheap.

Do you have to get machine work done? other then making clearance for the rods near the oil pan rails?

Do you have to clearance them?
Do you have to have an oil pan that's clearanced too?
Can you use stock 350 rods?
If so then how? bearings spacers or something I thought I heard of?
If you buy a stroker crank like eagle or scat, do they use stock 350 rods or 400 ones?

I know you have to get a flywheel/flexplate and balancer from a 400 and have it all balanced.

Also you must get special pistons right? no stockers?
 

mtnmankev

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2014
Posts
1,623
Reaction score
3,292
Location
Ash Fork, Arizona
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1984, 1983
Truck Model
K10, C20
Engine Size
383 Stroker, 350
When I built mine, I used a small base circle cam, hypereutectic pistons to control expansion, 400 crank machined to fit the 350 main journals, 350 rods, 350 flywheel, ground the block along the oil pan rails for clearance for the crank, HVHP oil pump, had a shop bore the block .030 and balance everything, then I brought the parts home and assembled it.
Lots of work.
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
29,127
Reaction score
24,038
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
These days, the stroker "kits" are probably the cheapest way to go. Still expensive though. The rods/pistons/flywheel/etc all depend on what kit you are using or what crank you are starting with.
 

mtnmankev

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2014
Posts
1,623
Reaction score
3,292
Location
Ash Fork, Arizona
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1984, 1983
Truck Model
K10, C20
Engine Size
383 Stroker, 350
I was wondering why they are so cheap now, your mentioning the kits explained it.
I built mine 14 years ago and spent 3 grand on it.
And I did the assembly, they charge extra for that plus I don't trust an engine I didn't put together.
 

Chuck

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2013
Posts
156
Reaction score
0
Location
Grande prairie
First Name
Chuck
Truck Year
81
Truck Model
K30 crew cab
Engine Size
6.2
I would just use a 383 crank with 350 bore. I think it's a 377.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Swims350

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Posts
4,351
Reaction score
812
Location
Logan WV
First Name
Chris
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
none
I was looking into the scat or eagle crank ONLY, that's for 383 has the 3.750 stroke. I then wondered if my stock 350 rods and pistons would work or have to buy new pistons only? machine the block for clearance and get an oil that has the kickouts for the rod clearance at the rails or not?
 

Green79Scottsdale

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Posts
2,834
Reaction score
7,483
Location
G.R. - MI
First Name
Bob
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
400
Your stock 350 rods are good, but not the pistons. You are going from a 3.48" stroke to a 3.75" stroke, that means TDC of your pistons would be 0.270" ABOVE the deck of the block (assuming a zero decked block to begin with). Basically, you need special pistons with an adjusted wrist pin location.

bucket's advice on going with a kit is actually very good advice. They come completely balanced and matched, taking most if not all of the guess work out of the situation.

Cool data I ran into: http://www.gearheadgeek.com/ghgj/index.php/49-54-data/general-chevy-data/chevy-bore-and-stroke-data
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
42,185
Posts
910,889
Members
33,677
Latest member
tnahaus
Top