383 Stroker Vs. 454 Big Block

[Project77]

never thought of that i just want something that will be nice to have not only for daily driving but also for toying around something i can play with

[my4by2]

If you are really looking at going these speeds - you're going to have to invest in a good rear suspension to hook up - need a four link or something. Plus you're gonna need to shift some weight off the nose. Look at an all aluminum LS motor to build up. They'll make more power, can be stroked easy & you can even convert them to a carb set-up to keep it simple. Go with an aluminum radiator & fiberglass hood - relocate your battery & install a fuel cell at the rear between the frame rails. Then you'll be making headway!!!

[Project77]

and after thinking about it people are always going to say stuff no matter how fast you go

[85Bowtie]

Well, then to stay on topic with your thread here's my opinion....

What do you have available? Whichever you can get cheaper, buy it.

Get your heads, intake, cam, exhaust, QUENCH, and compression matched to your budget and tell us how you like it. You may be suprised how fun 400hp can be. If you still need more.....get a Mopar...

[my4by2]

And it never fails that you'll ALWAYS find someone faster than you somewhere!!! Build it so it's what you want & so that it makes you happy - forget what everyone else thinks man!!!

[Project77]

haha yea thats always true

[my4by2]

He's right - I said it before too - a 400hp motor on the street feels GREAT!!! Especially if it's stuffed in a regular cab short bed truck!!! You'll already be searching for traction!!!

[Project77]

and 400hp is plenty enough to scare the **** out of a passenger thats not expecting it lol

[my4by2]

Yes it can & you can have that power easily by stroking the 350 you already have & adding a good set of heads. I personally love Air Flow Research, but there are cheaper ones out there that still make good power. And be sure to pick the right cam - bigger is NOT always better - needs to match the flow of the heads & intended RPM range - not just be the largest lift that will clear!!! Also, don't go running the wrong intakes either - a good dual-plane high rise works wonders on the streets!!!

[85Bowtie]

Actually if it was me, I would look at which engine has better aftermarket support.

From my signature you can see what I'm more familiar with..

You should look into availability on heads, cams (roller), pistons etc from various manufacter's. Choosing a combo with around 10:1 CR, using a piston/head combo that gives you good quench, a semi-aggresive cam and healthy breathing exhaust system will make either the 383 or 454 fun to drive.

Another thing to remember, when using aluminum heads you can usually run 1 point higher in CR than with steel heads, yet, use the same grade fuel as the 1 point lower CR steel headed engine. So basically, with a chevy you have near endless choices when it comes to building an engine. Which engine has the best support and choices, I'm not sure.

[BigBlocksRule]

Originally Posted by 85Bowtie

9 sec N/A Trans Ams and Camaros? I've never seen one, but I've heard unicorns exist.

Apparently you don't hang out at the LS1Tech site much.

98 T/A, 7.0L block with ported L92 heads, ported factory intake, 12.5:1 compression, he'd run a 9.58 last year, may be faster now, N/A, drives it on the street.
LS engines are capable of crazy power, 15* and 12* heads make a lot of power!

57NAPCO, great choice of an engine builder, Mark can make more power consistently with factory heads than anyone I've ever seen.

[85Bowtie]

So now we're talking engine swaps? There are alot of fast N/A cars out there with non-original engines.

A 7.0 block is a little different than a 5.7, don't you think? Try getting into the 9's with a N/A 5.7

[83burban]

You sound way to interested in just building something fast to prove a point than actually focusing on what needs to be done to do that safely.

have you given any thought to how to safely stop that faster than anything on the street car, or to how you will keep the truck driving safely at that speed?

Its all fine that you want to build a second truck - but your going to have to do alot more than just throwing a big motor in there. No-one building a car that fast should even consider putting the necessary motor in until they have finished building everything else to suit it first. (Brakes, Suspension, Frame, Roll Cage, Wheels and Tires, Upgraded Fuel System, Steering....The List covers just about everything.)

I am not saying that your goal is unattainable - or that you will have to address everything on that list - but you need to at least think about these things.

[my4by2]

Do you really believe for one second that 12.5:1 compression, 9.58 second is TRULY driven on the street?????? Come on man.... Sure, it may be street legal I'll concede that much & he may actually cruise it around occasionally. What we are talking about here is something that you could drive back & forth to grocery store, in town, in traffic or anywhere!!! Technically speaking you could drive a NHRA Pro Street car out on the town if you wanted to. Be realistic though jeesh!!!!

[BigBlocksRule]

85Bowtie, you indicated that a 9 second Camaro or TA didn't exist. Or maybe that unicorns do
In '70, everyone was sure that the 426 Hemi was the baddest of the bad. Mopar proved that wrong themselves with the advent of the 440 which you have a few of. Great engines, too bad the muscle engine wars were quashed by the advent of smogger engines in the early 70's.

A built 7.0 will hand a built 454 it's butt every time as well as most 496/502's. LS engines have rendered anything less than about N/A 540 cubes obsolete at the strip. With the new tall deck LSX and RHS blocks, 500 cubes is now possible, so the bar is being raised again.
You're making the same point about a 5.7 that I did - you ain't getting into the 9's with a N/A engine.

83Burban, you bet your butt he drives this car on the street. His car was featured in Hi-Tech Performance a couple of years ago. 12.5 with a big cam and aluminum heads requires mixing gas, but it can be done. And no, a ProStock can't be driven on the street. Nobody said this had to be a grocery getter, just the fasted thing on the street. There are plenty of 9-second cars that make the Hot Rod Power Tour every year, they have to drive at least 50 miles each day between races. Shoot, a turbo'd 5.7LS is in the 9's in a 5600lbs 4WD '02 shortwide. I knot it's not N/A, but it is 5600lbs!!! Your 6.0 is only 366 cubes, I'll guarantee it's more docile sounding than a 497hp old-school 383 with the same horsepower. That's damned raspy for a 383 but your LS hasn't come anywhere near it's full potential.
Point is, LS engines make great power but on any kind of reasonable budget, they're not going to be the fastest ride on the street in a heavy-ass truck. Fast street cars require suspension mods, weight reduction and a well thought-out combo.

[TexasJimmy]

Originally Posted by 57NAPCO

I have one of Marks motors, the only big block I would own, in fact I do own one.

http://www.vortecproperformance.com/...binations.html


a goofy little clip of my 5,500 lb truck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHx8l-wSvdg

I think your my brother.....?

[red rumbler]

Originally Posted by 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

second that

[MWood]

Me just thinking of durability would rather have a 454 than 383. JMO though. Plus the sound of a BBC is killer. Gotta keep it simple man. Who cares about having the fastest car on the streets if you wrap it around a pole and die or kill someone. Just cruise.

[red rumbler]

Originally Posted by MWood

Me just thinking of durability would rather have a 454 than 383. JMO though. Plus the sound of a BBC is killer. Gotta keep it simple man. Who cares about having the fastest car on the streets if you wrap it around a pole and die or kill someone. Just cruise.

this makes sence too. if your just cruzing no need to spend alot of money on a mighty mouse small block. just get a 454, big hyd roller cam for a grand and throw a nice exhaust on it youll get everyones attention and trust me you'll never get sick of hearing your rig

[pockets]

Originally Posted by MWood

Me just thinking of durability would rather have a 454 than 383. JMO though. Plus the sound of a BBC is killer. Gotta keep it simple man. Who cares about having the fastest car on the streets if you wrap it around a pole and die or kill someone. Just cruise.

I don't quite understand this statement. you aren't getting any more durability from a bbc than a sbc just because it is a big block. A quality built 383 will be more than durable for any street vehicle, even without a bunch of forged internals. Oh, I don't think that pole cares if you are doing 60mph in a 800hp vehicle or 60mph in a 400hp vehicle. It's still gonna hurt you. Build what you want to have fun with, and be safe with that.

Originally Posted by red rumbler

this makes sence too. if your just cruzing no need to spend alot of money on a mighty mouse small block. just get a 454, big hyd roller cam for a grand and throw a nice exhaust on it youll get everyones attention and trust me you'll never get sick of hearing your rig

so instead spend more money on a comparable big block? a grand for a big roller cam? that "big roller cam" isn't going to add to that durability factor.

Don't get me wrong, I love the sound of a nice big block. I grew up listening to my dad's SS chevelle so I know how wonderful that is, but have you heard a nice sounding big inch SBC? if not, try these:

YouTube - 1971 Camaro Z28 383 Stroker...

(note, also has a gear drive)

YouTube - 1969 Camaro Start up 383 Stroker

YouTube - 383 STROKER BURN OUT

Just saying....

[red rumbler]

well what you say is true a big sbc does sound good but in my eperience they cost alot more then a minor built big block. i run a built 383 in my rig and love it! light 410 hp and surprises people for sure but if i was to try and get anymore out of it i would need alot more $$$ splayed main caps which would include re line honing the whole block and if i was to do that i might aswell go over the whole block and make sure everythings tight then add in new 4340 crank, rods, arp 2000+ bolts, carb, heads or whatever i choose to do to pull 600plus out of the small block ( and be reliable ) now a bbc would deffinately be more reliable for over 600 hp . but with a big block you gain weight and with weight slows you down and you need more power to compinsate for that, just a massive balancing act. as for the cruising idea that MWood had i agreed because i know of cruisers that go for sound and power is a after thought and it isnt that expensive. find a good big block $1500 or so then buy a kit like this one

http://cgi.ebay.ca/COMP-454-502-BBC-...item2eb2861fdd
( sorry i dont mean to advertise anything just an example ) and then bolt up a nice exhaust & headers to it and you have a nice sounding toy. is it efficient? depends if you set it up properly and do more then just add the kit but if your just cruising your going to look cool not beat people down the quarter mile. either case both setups would be killer and you would enjoy both. you just have to pick your poison and figure out what you really are going to use the motor for

[Shawn5488]

I love my LQ4 6.0, drive it every day, on a nice sunny Sunday though I want to hear my big block grunt.

I would love to have a DD LS square body!

[pockets]

Originally Posted by red rumbler

well what you say is true a big sbc does sound good but in my eperience they cost alot more then a minor built big block. i run a built 383 in my rig and love it! light 410 hp and surprises people for sure but if i was to try and get anymore out of it i would need alot more $$$ splayed main caps which would include re line honing the whole block and if i was to do that i might aswell go over the whole block and make sure everythings tight then add in new 4340 crank, rods, arp 2000+ bolts, carb, heads or whatever i choose to do to pull 600plus out of the small block ( and be reliable ) now a bbc would deffinately be more reliable for over 600 hp . but with a big block you gain weight and with weight slows you down and you need more power to compinsate for that, just a massive balancing act. as for the cruising idea that MWood had i agreed because i know of cruisers that go for sound and power is a after thought and it isnt that expensive. find a good big block $1500 or so then buy a kit like this one

http://cgi.ebay.ca/COMP-454-502-BBC-...item2eb2861fdd
( sorry i dont mean to advertise anything just an example ) and then bolt up a nice exhaust & headers to it and you have a nice sounding toy. is it efficient? depends if you set it up properly and do more then just add the kit but if your just cruising your going to look cool not beat people down the quarter mile. either case both setups would be killer and you would enjoy both. you just have to pick your poison and figure out what you really are going to use the motor for

Over 600hp, yes a bbc is the way to go. But splayed mains and arp200 bolts for under that? overkill. regular arp rod bolts are good to like 800hp.

But, like you said, in the end it is all about intended purpose.

[57NAPCO]

Originally Posted by TexasJimmy

I think your my brother.....?

Hey bro
Posted via Mobile Device

[cr34t3d_by_d4rkd3n]

Originally Posted by 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

just remember the rule of thumb, more power from a small displacement motor means more stress, sure a 383 can run 400hp....at its peak constantly having to perform 100% perfect, with everything in ture combined as one, efficent.....

a 454 can run crazy numbers, 1.9of lift..... a roller 454 can throw tons and tons of lift with crazy clearences, and sound like a stock motor... it dont have to work all the time..... u wan 400 hp to the ground, BAM! its there.

THE TRADE OFF:

454 is heavy and no matter what gets horrible gas milage... 454's are hungry. fuel injected or not, they consume huge amounts of fuel and can expect a mpg of aprox 7. 4-5 with your foot in it/115F summer day in traffic.)

383 good on gas, light weight, tons of parts.. usually cheaper, however a high performance 383 is = to a mild 454. Thus less reliable.

I suggest you ponder forced induction on a low compression 454. And go tbi, tpi if u can get lucky and find a cheap setup.

as for transmisson, most peoppe dont know but a 480LE is a TH400 /w/ an exra gear (minus other things here and there duh) however it is computer controlled, so most people shy away, if u can get a doner 90's big bloock with everything, just swap swap lol....

google it, it will help