Ok we went over to talk to the local machine shop for pricing on a 383 shortblock. He quoted me at $1200 for an eagle stroker kit that would make 9.7:1 compression with my 76cc heads, and than $900 for the machine work.

Is the kit overpriced? I've been looking online and came across the car craft article "too good to be true" about this kit: http://shop.enginekits.com/osb/itemdetails.cfm?ID=81

And apprently its not too good to be true, its a hell of a deal. Are they quality parts though? The guy at the shop said he has no problem using another kit, but the eagle kit always fits good and requires minimal clearancing while sometimes other kits are poorly made and require much more machine work to get everything to fit and work right.

So which way would you go, is that Powerhouse kit the better buy, or is eagle really great quality like he said.

I hate to spend $2200 (including tax) when i can spending $1600, assuming that the Powerhouse kit is as quality as the eagle kit he was looking at.

I'm shopping for the same set-up right now, Hammy's@602-413-9354 quoted me 1700 for a eagle equipted short block w/ freight NV-VA, Rob, still looking though

Have you talked to one of our board regulars, Wolfplace (Mike) yet? I bet he could give you a good idea on prices.

Nope, but id sure like to hear what he has to say. Is the eagle kit worth that much? It would be awesome to find a fully assembled/balanced shortblock for less, i just have enought to afford that price, but it would put me up the river and id still need a different cam, gaskets, etc. which would empty my account. I dont trust just anyone, the last thing i need is to have the engine go in my daily driver, that would screw me royally because there is no backup car for me to drive.

If wolfplace has a better price and i can see some comments on the work he has done i would by all means go that route, all id like is what i would get from the shop, 9.7 compression, fully assembled, balanced, ready to bolt together and go.

i bought my 383 short block, all forged goodied from Wheeler Motorsports in jacksonville Fl, for 1850 delivered.. machined, balanced, fresh coat of chevy orange.. runs snappy too.

got a link to the exact one you bought, ive noticed they have many "versions" with varrying prices..

im wondering if hte machine shop is hte way to go for quality job though.

just to recap because the questions got lost in the above posts:

1. is the eagle kit for 9.7:1 compression worth $1200.00

2. is there a better alternative for less?

1. price sounds rights..for someone close by offering this price, i don't think you'd find anything less.
2. Alternatives for less, usually means poor quality.
I'm assuming this is going to be externally balanced?

well I spent a lot of time researching my motor too..( bout 6 months.) and found them to be pretty reputable.. they have an on-site machine shop that goes right through every block...align honed, 0 decked, bored .040, etc. not trying to sell ya anything, just happy with what I got..:)

can you please give me a link to what you bought though?

Originally posted by Chirp08:
Nope, but id sure like to hear what he has to say. Is the eagle kit worth that much? It would be awesome to find a fully assembled/balanced shortblock for less, i just have enought to afford that price, but it would put me up the river and id still need a different cam, gaskets, etc. which would empty my account. I dont trust just anyone, the last thing i need is to have the engine go in my daily driver, that would screw me royally because there is no backup car for me to drive.

If wolfplace has a better price and i can see some comments on the work he has done i would by all means go that route, all id like is what i would get from the shop, 9.7 compression, fully assembled, balanced, ready to bolt together and go. =
Between the kits you are looking at I'd opt for the Eagle.
For the complete short block I have heard good things about Wheeler but have no first hand knowledge.

I highly doubt I can beat the prices you are looking at.
I do not sell or use anything but Scat for the "budget" priced parts.
I feel they are the best of the import stuff & their quality control is outstanding.
They do all the finish grinding & profiling in house except for the 9000 series cast cranks & these are all checked before shipment.

We have very good pricing on Scat balanced assemblies & parts but I cannot & do not compete with the real cheap stuff.
I do all my balancing in house as I am not a big fan of some of the mail order "balance" jobs I have seen
As I said, I have excellent pricing on Scat but the K-Mart of stroker kits I ain't :D
Almost all the Eagle rods I have seen have been very good & I have no problem using them if brought in, I just don't use them as I have Scat for about the same price.
When it comes to cranks, I prefer a supplier that is actually in the business of grinding & finishing them rather than someone who justs imports them & sells them.
Scat does everything from an excellent cast crank clear through $3000 billets.
You might also be surprised at where some of the cranks in some of GM's performance deals are done along with Mopar Performance among others ;)

If you email me I will be happy to give you a price on a rotating assembly balanced in house, not some generic mail order "balance" job.
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Hey Ben,
Thanks for the post graemlins/beers.gif

Kinda confused here, are you looking for a complete kit? Or a complete short block that's been balanced, assembled, and shipped to your door? Is the eagle kit cast? nodular? forged? I've been very happy buying my parts from Hye Tech Performance in El Monte, CA. I don't remember how much I paid for my stroker kit there, but I had him quote me for the parts for my Camaro. It's coming out to just over $500 which includes, crank, Clevite 77 rod and main bearings, complete Felpro engine gasket kit, one piece oil pan gasket, timing chain, ( I had everthing written down but can't find the paper graemlins/angry.gif ) and everything balanced. All parts are for a 350, but I'd imagine that it shouldn't be too much more for a 383. If you're interested, you can call Hye Tech Performance at (626) 575-0053, ask for Sod.

sorry Chirp, I don't have the link right handy, but what I can tell you is that I got the "sportsman" series short block in a 383. this was about ohhh 6 months ago.

k.. think I found the link..
http://www.wheelermotorsports.com/383Sportsb.htm

hope this helps

hmm thats a nice price for what your getting, what compression is that one at?

Wolfplace you seem like you deffinantly use high quality parts and a high quality job, but $2200 is a stretch as is, and that doesn't include a cam or other various nuts/bolts/gaskets, anything more is out of the question lol.

mine with the 64cc eddy perf rpms and the 4 valve relief flat-tops is just a whisker under 11-1..it runs fine on 93 pump. not sure where you are, but it was like 80 bucks freight to get it to NH from Fl.

im in NJ.

Is there anything other than a cam needed to complete the shortblock? Or does it need things like a new oil pump, and pan?

I'll be running 76cc heads at first, eventually upgrading to something around a 68cc head hopefully.

mine didn't come with a oil pump, pan, timing gears anything like that. basically a rotating assembly in a machined block

hmm, that sucks, that kills the price advantage it seems.

Do they ask you what you want when you order it, like what type of pistons and such, or is it just a simple "i would like hte performance series 383 shortblock"?

http://www.wheelermotorsports.com/383perfcsb.htm

That one has my eye, same price with all the fixens, but im not really sure what disadvantage it has over the one you showed me. I'd hate to spend money on something not worth it.

If it weren't for the fact that i can't picture when i would have the time to pull the chevelles engine and send it to the shop, plus trying to clean it up a bit, reassemble, and reinstall is a paint when i have work and school.

yeah it does hurt it a bit, but IMO its worth it. the performance series shortblocks aren't a bad deal either..I am not sure if you can opt for what type of piston, rod etc you want when you order. least it wasn't that way a few months ago..

What makes it worth it though, im just not seeing hte benefit other than getting a new block in the deal, but it seems like im saving 400 or so bucks, assuming I reuse everything from the old shortblock, which i really doubt i would do if i just paid $1900 for a new shortblock lol.

Would you possibly be interested in a excellent used 383 motor short block, long block or turn key. Its an easy bolt in and go low 12's in your car on 93. The price will be right. I am stepping way up and I need $$ to finish new combo. Can easily be crated and shipped right to you. PM if interested

99% Sure that you probably want more than $2000 dollars for it, which even if its close once u add shipping is out of my league, but thanks for the offer.

Can you post the specs though, im interested in 383 combos.

Originally posted by Chirp08:
99% Sure that you probably want more than $2000 dollars for it, which even if its close once u add shipping is out of my league, but thanks for the offer.

Can you post the specs though, im interested in 383 combos. PM sent