I have a 383 stroker....and I was wondering if I should buy a regular (LT1 350) flex plate to replace the one that is cracked currently on my car or is there a different flex plate for the 383 stroker motor?

Also is replacing the flexplate a simple bolt on procedure? Does it have to be pressed onto the crank? Does it have to be rebalanced?

Thanks...

 

When I built my 383, I took the flexplate in also and there was a lot done to it. The weights were removed and holes were drilled on the other side. I'm sure you'll have to balance it but I don't know how you'd do it when the motor is all together. I sure would like to know though.

 

It depends entirely how the new rotating assy was balanced. It should be either balanced against a standard externally balanced small block flexplate (like the stocker) or be completely internally balanced, which would necessitate using a neutral balance flexplate.

Rich Krause

 

I realize this thread is over 2 years old but I am running down this path now too....

When I started my project, I travelled for work a lot. The shop that did my machine work (to make a 383) put my bottom end together. I did not have a flex plate yet so now am curious. They must have balanced everything internally since I didn't have a flex plate, right? Just a crank, rods and pistons.

So in a nutshell, I have a 383 LT1 and need to figure out which flexplate to get. An internal or externally balanced one. The motor is all closed up in my garage on a stand at this point. Do I need to take a few steps back and take the bottom end out, send it to a different shop and ask about the balancing?

 

If you are replacing your flexplate, just look at the one you have and see if it has a counteweight or not. And then simply replace like with like.

Rich