Hi to all , I am currently running a 406 in my car & am looking into getting some bits & pieces together for when it is time to do an engine reco. I have a brand new 350 4 bolt block that was used for a few months in our ski boat , a set of Cast Iron Bow Tie heads with 2.02 & 1.06 S/S valves , 100 thou longer push rods , 5.7 Eagle rods , Victor Junior & Victor 4x4 , 830 Holley. What I am asking is do you guys reckon that if I was to get a 383 steel crank & a set of forged pistons I would be able to make around the 500 HP mark running about 10:1 comp or would I be better off to get say an Eagle block & stroke it up to 427 or 454. For the cost of a new block ( $3500 ) would there be any real huge gains or just go with the 383 ?

The bigger cubes would last longer at the 500hp mark but you can get it out of the 383--just a little more radical. The 383 will have to make 1.3 hp per cube and the 427 will have to make only 1.17 hp per cube. As for cost, you have most of the 500hp 383 already. If it were me, I would build the 383 with hydraulic roller and have the Bowties ported. On the other hand, the 427 has 600+hp potential.

Big difference in cost between a 383 and a 427 small block. You can build a healthy big block for less money than the latter.

The 383 will have to make 1.3 hp per cube and the 427 will have to make only 1.17 hp per cube.


Man how do you guys figure the hp per cube?

Man how do you guys figure the hp per cube?
=
About as simple as it gets, you just need to stop I think about it,,,
Hp/ci
600HP, 300inches = 2HP /cu in

This is a test,, :D
2*300=????

600! What did i win? =\

Nevermind I get it now

yea i say screw the 383 or 427 if you have the money to build a 427 then you have the money to build a big block so go with a big block.

Shawn

It is not that I have the money to build the 427 Small block from scratch , I have the top half of the engine but it would still be a lot cheaper for me to do the 383 as all I need is a crank & pistons. To go to a big block would also mean replacing my extractors & front springs which is all extra cost. As I said previously I am currently running a 406 & I would just reco that engine when the time comes but I have been told by a few people that the 400 is not much good once it is bored more than 30 over & my next bore would have to be 40 over !

I'm guessing extraxtors is what ya'll call headers over there? I'd go with a BB if I were looking for that power level.

I have been told by a few people that the 400 is not much good once it is bored more than 30 over & my next bore would have to be 40 over !

.040 over isn't so bad. Not optimum, mind you, but do-able if everything cleans up and the cylinders aren't abnormally thin.

That'd be my choice, anyway. 427 small block is expensive, and a 383 is so...small.

If I decided to rebuild the 400 that I have I would look into filling the bottom of the block & I am not sure if they are available or not but do they make a 400 crank with a bigger stroke than 3.75 ? If so has anybody had any experience with them or is it wise to just stick with the 3.75 crank ? If there are other strokes available who makes them & is it something that a specialised piston would have to be made up for & would it be okay in a street car ?

Get with wolfplace on the 3.8 stroke for the 400 block. A few have used it and love it.

do they make a 400 crank with a bigger stroke than 3.75 ? If so has anybody had any experience with them or is it wise to just stick with the 3.75 crank ?

3.85 would be the most common "400 stroker" size. Still not that common.


If there are other strokes available who makes them & is it something that a specialised piston would have to be made up for & would it be okay in a street car ?

Any crank specialist should be able to make one. Crower, Lunati, etc. No doubt even the junk Chinese importers can do that stroke. Another option is to offset grind a 3.75 stroke crank to take a small-journal rod. You will either have to play with pin height or rod length to make it fit the deck height. It's not that this can't be done, it just not worth the trouble and expense, in my estimation.

lol, where else can a guy come and ask "which SB should I build" and half the people reply with "screw the SB and get a BB" aside from TC. :D

We just want him to make some real power and not waste his money :) we are looking out for him.

Shawn