i got a 383 with a TCI TH350 tranny on a trade the other day.. The 383 had a broken crank twords the back of motor. looked like it was cracked before and finally broke. i was told it was pry from bumping the tranny and went into a lower gear and snapped it. Anyway its got stock heads and nothing fancy inside. Its got 1-5 roller rockers and not to sure about the cam.Im looking to get some power out of this. Any good suggestions on heads and crank? Money is somewhat of any option but i want this bitch to scream but still run pump gas.
383
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Vortec heads, or aftermarket performance versions. Need to know compression & cam specs to give you more.
What the hell does that mean?
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I imagine they downshifted and took it up into a high RPM range and killed it
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Can't tell you anything about the castings on the cam.
CWC makes the raw castings for the various cam core companies, such as Camshaft Machine Company or Engine Power Components. Then they sell the cores to Comp Cams, Lunati, Isky, Crower, etc. So CWC could be anyone's cam with any specs from a factory replacment to a performance grind.
You could just measure the cam lobes with a micrometer, multiply by 1.5 and subtract .050. That would at least give you the lift figures.
CWC makes the raw castings for the various cam core companies, such as Camshaft Machine Company or Engine Power Components. Then they sell the cores to Comp Cams, Lunati, Isky, Crower, etc. So CWC could be anyone's cam with any specs from a factory replacment to a performance grind.
You could just measure the cam lobes with a micrometer, multiply by 1.5 and subtract .050. That would at least give you the lift figures.
Finally got ahold of the Guy that built the motor. He said the cam is nothing special and compression is either 10 or 11. He sold it over 3 yrs ago to the kid I bought the motor from and can't remember to much about it. If compression is 10 I shouldn't have to do to much to it to make it scream . Unless someone else has a 383 and can give me a list of what the have in it. But he mentioned the crank was a 350 stroker crank. And that's where I'm lost. I figured it would be a 400 crank.
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Depends on how much the heads flow
Compression isn't going to do much if the heads flow like shit
350 stroker crank = 383 crank
Compression isn't going to do much if the heads flow like shit
350 stroker crank = 383 crank
What in the hell does "make it scream" mean?
Either way, sounds like it could be a money pit considering you basically need to completely rebuild the engine. What are the casting numbers on the heads? Stock can mean smog-era TBI heads or later Vortec heads. Huge difference.
Either way, sounds like it could be a money pit considering you basically need to completely rebuild the engine. What are the casting numbers on the heads? Stock can mean smog-era TBI heads or later Vortec heads. Huge difference.
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lol or even camel humps or the POS heads used in the 80s
:word:
What is your budget dude? Makes a BIG difference :imo
Tight budget: Trade that possible monstrosity of a drivetrain (assuming it's in less than prime shape) for a 96+ vortec longblock, or at least the heads. The stock vortec crank is fine for street use. Find a decent cam, carb>vortec intake and dig a stamped timing cover out of a junkpile.
Money to play with: Throw TH350 into the nearest dumpster and drop engine off at machine shop, buy new crank/cam/etc and enjoy.
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