[grizzly30]

I have a 350c.i.,30 over and a 400 crank to put in it.I would like to know what the best rod and piston combo to go with it to keep compression in pump gas range.

 

[rreruption]

If you use the 5.565" rods that came with the 400.You could use a 350 piston.Or you could get a stroker kit.From Powerhouse.I got the recessed ones.My last 383 was 9.5:1,268XE comp cam,Vortec L31 heads1.94/1.50(Screw in studs,Comp springs),Performer rpm intake,Performer 1406 carb 600cfm.It ran real good on 91.But I could get away with 89.I dynoed it on the machine and got 407hp @5200,and 460ft/lbs torque @4000.Not sure what it made at the wheels.But it went in a 72'Blazer with a TH700-R4 and 2400 stall converter.
383 stroker kit
http://shop.enginekits.com/osb/itemdetails.cfm?ID=81

 

[xxllmm4]

I used scat 5.7" forged I beam rods made for a 383 with cap screws and ran into no clearance issues. For pistons I used Probe forged 383 dished pistons, 9.4 compression with 64cc geads. Check out their sight its pretty helpful.
http://www.probeindustries.com/Pistons/Pistons_SRS/Chevrolet/Chev_350.htm

I think the 5.7" or longer rods are better and reduce side loading but i'm not really sure how important it is.

Jordon

 

[CNC BLOCKS NE]

We alway use 6 inch rods in our 383 engines we have built and using a 400 crank and turning down the mains to 350 mains you may run into problems as the oil holes may end up in the radius of the journal.

Here is a link to a 383 we built with AFR's and we have seen the same results using the 906 Vortec heads with some good work some to them.
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106715&highlight=DYNO