[stevens03]

Hi everyone , im new to the forum and have a couple questions regarding a 383.
I want to have a 383 built for my corvette. I want to have 400hp. I also want to avoid such a lumpy lope at idle for more of the typical corvette sound.
What do you suggest parts wise to build this engine.
my budget is 4,000.00 i have no core

This engine will be all street. Thanks in advance for the advise.
Heads?
Crank?
Cam?
Pistons? etc.

[zildjian4life218]

I think a 383 with a set of GMPP vortec or RHS vortec heads would be a sweet little street machine. Should make gobs of torque and definitely hit your 400hp goal. Shoot for 9.5-9.8:1 and you will have no problems with pump gas. What is the drivetrain in it? stick? auto? converter stall? rear gear?

[stevens03]

My transmission is a 4 speed muncie
gears are 307 i believe maybe 373

I want this engine to resemble my old 63 327
i will be using exhaust manifolds, i will get a intake with a oil fill tube, air cleaner, etc.
Would i have any problems with vortec heads, what other heads if i dont use Vortec?
Aluminum heads? Can you paint these to match block? Does it hold? Thanks

[zildjian4life218]

Originally Posted by stevens03

My transmission is a 4 speed muncie
gears are 307 i believe maybe 373

I want this engine to resemble my old 63 327
i will be using exhaust manifolds, i will get a intake with a oil fill tube, air cleaner, etc.
Would i have any problems with vortec heads, what other heads if i dont use Vortec?
Aluminum heads? Can you paint these to match block? Does it hold? Thanks

if your talking about the factory intake then no it won't bolt up to the vortec heads. You will have to look into something else. Are you using the factory ram horn manifolds?

[ap72]

Originally Posted by stevens03

Hi everyone , im new to the forum and have a couple questions regarding a 383.
I want to have a 383 built for my corvette. I want to have 400hp. I also want to avoid such a lumpy lope at idle for more of the typical corvette sound.
What do you suggest parts wise to build this engine.
my budget is 4,000.00 i have no core

This engine will be all street. Thanks in advance for the advise.
Heads?
Crank?
Cam?
Pistons? etc.

why 383? You can do an LS swap with a cam upgrade for less than your budget and end up with more power, better mileage, and less maintenance...

Nothing wrong with a 383, but there are a lot better options out there if you're just wanting good torque and power.

[stevens03]

Originally Posted by zildjian4life218

if your talking about the factory intake then no it won't bolt up to the vortec heads. You will have to look into something else. Are you using the factory ram horn manifolds?

I am going to use my ram horn manifolds for sure.

[zildjian4life218]

Originally Posted by ap72

why 383? You can do an LS swap with a cam upgrade for less than your budget and end up with more power, better mileage, and less maintenance...

Nothing wrong with a 383, but there are a lot better options out there if you're just wanting good torque and power.

I guess he wants it to be more period correct or resemble a certain period

[ap72]

Originally Posted by stevens03

My transmission is a 4 speed muncie
gears are 307 i believe maybe 373

I want this engine to resemble my old 63 327
i will be using exhaust manifolds, i will get a intake with a oil fill tube, air cleaner, etc.
Would i have any problems with vortec heads, what other heads if i dont use Vortec?
Aluminum heads? Can you paint these to match block? Does it hold? Thanks

400hp with those manifolds will be damn hard to do. You need a set of non-vortec heads, your choices comes down largely to budget. There's a lot of good offshore 200-210 castings that will work fine and be cheaper, then there's some good Brodix, AFR, Dart, Profiler, etc stuff that works well but costs more. Your head selection will NOT be the limiting factor, those exhaust manifolds will be. Since you're basically cutting your leg off before the race I'd just go with a good mild build. You will need a custom cam if you want that engine to be worth anything as those manifolds will change your needs from what s normally seen.

FWIW, exhaust manifolds are usually the FIRST thing to get rid of, and they are used as a RESTRICTION in many budget classes of racing.

[stevens03]

would I be correct in saying that to reach 400 hp, it would be easier to get their from a 383 rather than a 327 or 350?

[ap72]

Originally Posted by stevens03

would I be correct in saying that to reach 400 hp, it would be easier to get their from a 383 rather than a 327 or 350?

Yea, it will be easier with more displacement. But those manifolds are going to make your power curve hit a brick wall. Build for a low rpm power peak. Performer manifold, AFR 180 heads, and a really good roller cam from a cam grinder that can work magic. all the "little things" will count sice your placing such a handicap on yourself.

[stevens03]

Im in Los Angeles. Any good engine builders that you guys think would be good for this project. Im looking at a couple guys. But could always use a recommend.
Thanks for all the help.

[stevens03]

Will paint hold on aluminum heads? I want to paint them to match the block?

[F-BIRD'88]

Originally Posted by stevens03

Im in Los Angeles. Any good engine builders that you guys think would be good for this project. Im looking at a couple guys. But could always use a recommend.
Thanks for all the help.

Do a google search for Joe Sherman Racing.

I would:

Build a 400 SBC based motor (406 cid). If you want to use corvette exhaust manifolds be sure you have the good hi perf corvette ones with the large 2.5" exhaust outlets. 64 to 67 corvette. Not all the corvette manifolds are the same.
You can still buy these new. You can hand port them to improve them, some.

A moderate hyd roller cam 218 to 224@.050 on a wider 112-114 LSA will get it done. (easy mild idle, max street performance thru corvette ex manifolds)
He (Joe Sherman) will probabily want to use a AFR 180 or AFR195 cylinder head on your build.
Dual plane hi rise intake manifold 10:1 c r 750cfm carb.

A 383 cid SBC will get it done but cubic inches is king, especially when a milder idling motor and moderate gearing is wanted.
The total exhaust system must be free flowing to let the engine make power.

Joe will work out all the engine details for you,

Joe Sherman Racing
2302 W. Second Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703

[stevens03]

Originally Posted by ap72

Yea, it will be easier with more displacement. But those manifolds are going to make your power curve hit a brick wall. Build for a low rpm power peak. Performer manifold, AFR 180 heads, and a really good roller cam from a cam grinder that can work magic. all the "little things" will count sice your placing such a handicap on yourself.

What size roller cam would be good for this?
Flat top or dome pistons recommended?

[F-BIRD'88]

Originally Posted by stevens03

What size roller cam would be good for this?
Flat top or dome pistons recommended?

You would want to use a dished piston (64cc heads) or a flat top piston (70+cc heads) to get a street pump gas compatable compression ratio, on a 383 or 406 based SBC build.

Roller cam: To make your corvette more "period correct" consider a mild mechanical street rollercam. More power and rpm potential.
Has the period correct solid lifter sound.
These street rollers are very easy to maintain and are very low noise at idle.
All the most powerfull high perf SBC and BBC's use a factory mechanical lifter cam.

Something relatively mild like 236@.050" on a 112LSA gets it done.
lift can be as high as .580" .600" lift using 1.6 rockers to get max performance on hi flow heads like AFR's

example: comp cams 12-770-8 XR274R-10 (can be custom ground on a wider 112-113° LSA and/or single pattern design to tame the idle a bit more.)
This is just an example but something in this duration group in a solid street roller cam will get 'er done.