I know I'm not one of the Chevy "gurus" around here, but having built hundreds of 383s over the years, I do have some pertinent input.
First, when refering to the small block Chevy "383", the word "stroker" is redundant. That is, no need to say it since there were no "factory" 383s. If it's a small block Chevy, and 383 CID, it IS a "stroker". And the 3.8" stroke being used with "standard" blocks has been around a long time, as well, making a "412" at a .030" over bore.
GREAT combination. When properly executed, IMO, the BEST small block "street performance" engine using "stock" parts. We started doing it when the 400 blocks wre dropping "out" (not the best block Chevy ever came up with... Just stretched TOO far, IMO), it seemed like a waste throwing those nice nodular cranks away. Since we'd (engine builders) been been using 4" stroke cranks in 389s since the early '60s, and 283 cranks in 327 blocks ("301", the "original" Chevy 302, along with the .125" over 283), etc., making cranks "fit" where they weren't intended, it seemed like the logical thing to do., I believe the first one I had my "fingers" in was in summer of '71. It went in a '66 'vette and really made an impression! Dick Latona (RIP) in San Bernardino ground the mains.
We shipped a 383 to Holland for a Cobra "kit car". The man said he wanted 500 HP. I tried to explain the issues with driving a 500 HP car, but he wanted what he wanted... So, he got a 500 HP 383. It took he and his brother a couple years of "light" practice before they were really comfortable driving the car "in traffic". Now they LOVE it. At the old "Dutch Grand Prix" track, they open it for street cars and ammetuers. They had a BALL! And the car "cracked" 180 on the long straight (3.23 gears, OD). Later that day, it "broke" the brake in a Mustang 500 HP dyno. Argh! Argh! Humor... Those Dutch boys are getting a real "taste" for American V8s!
We've also learned, if building a real performance version, it's best to use either a Chevy nodular crank or an aftermarket forging. The circle track crowd had us use the "cast steel" versions when they first arrived (CHEAP). They failed quick and often. Beat #2 and 4 mains out (flexing like crazy). We keep the imported castings ONLY for 'pickup" and show car stuff (5,000 RPM "limit"), not for anything remotely serious.
The "flip side" is the 377. After we started building all these torquey street motors, we had parts "left over". Like a 400 block, a 350 crank... HHHHMMM... My first 377 build was in '75. Talk about a rev MONSTER! The big bore really woke up those 2.055" valved heads! We started using the 2.08" valves because they just kept flowing more. Amazing what boire size can "do" for a cylinder head...
Okay, I've rambled about the past enough. Just know, even though I'm a "Pontiac guy", I have some really good "war stories" involving some of my small blocks, especially the 383s and 400s. You'll never hear ME "bad mouth" the small block... except that MAYBE, there's just too damn many of them "out there"... Wonder why...
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Jim