I am having a delima at this point in time. I am building a new motor on a very tight budget and I have reached a point where some outside help might be worth while. What I am trying to figure out is 355 or 383. I have the block and heads along with the rods, etc. I am looking into cranks and I keep looking at the 383 crank going, hmm that would be nice, but I look at the pistons needed to do the 383 and I cannot keep the compression down to a managable number. It is reaching the 10.5-11:1 range and this would be a mainly street driven car with a few (maybe 2 a year) trips to the track. The heads I have are the 083's and for now I have to keep them, besides I got a great deal on them. Then I look at the 355 and I would be able to get away with a forged piston and keep the compression down and maybe run nitrous at a later date. I am looking to only spend $200 for the pistons maybe $250 if I have to, I know the TRW forged are $230 and the hypers for the 383 would be $250. I have a friend with a set of the TRW he would sell cheap but I dont know what I want to do. What you guys do? I am going to be running a heavily ported TPI until I can pick up another intake. Also I will not be running roller since I have the cam as well. Thanks

 

Budget and 383 don't often work well together. You will probably need to clearance the block. This usually means paying a machine shop to do so. Followed by balancing the rotating assembly (which you chould do anyway), but 350's usually get away without adding weight (many 383's do as well, but you can't be sure). The Mallory (metal) slugs they add if weight is needed are not cheap (again, not saying you will need it, just something to be aware of). Again, I doubt you'd need weight added, but if you manage to get an oddball combination that does need it, it will add greatly to the cost. I'd build the 350 for now and plan on something bigger/more expensive as your time and budget allow.

My thoughts.

 

For a budget buildup, the extra money for the 383 setup could be better spent elsewhere. I'd stick with the 355 and the forged pistons, that way you can charge/squirt it at a later date and far surpass the potential that the 383 would have had.

 

yea,i agree w/ them as well. go w/ a 350,or 355 and the forged pistons and when u get the money,spray that mother. then after nitrous,u can save some money for another intake. after that,u can save money and then when it blows up....then its 383 time.

just my thoughts

 

Thanks guys. After doing some more reading last night it looks like the 355 would be a better idea. I might even be able to run a fully forged set-up for the same price as what a 383 would cost me. I already have the rods and have found a really cheap 350 forged crank so I am thinking that I might just do that instead of going to 383.