Im about to order a new short block and im trying to decide between a 355 or 383. I will be using a CC305 cam, 1.6 RR, SLP ST (dam NJ ) and the heads will be ported. Is it really worth the few 100 extra for the 383?? any idea how much more power the 383 will make??

 

Tough question. I went with the 355 because it's still modest and you can make tons of power. I would hate to disappoint with a 383 that doesn't run as well as it should. I like impressing people with my lil' ol' 355. It's hard to explain.

 

If your not going to do it right, stick with the 355. If your willing to spend the $ on the right supporting mods (Higher flowing heads/intake) then IMO 383 all the way

 

383 all the way.

 

I say go with a chevy 302. Twist that thing to the moon.

 

I say you might as well go 383, I just built mine and everything seems to be fine but that cam is going to hurt you and make sure you have LT's. Also if you go 383 get some bigger injectors, I'm going to 50# but 36 should do fine. It's going to cost you more for the 383 to run right, the 355 will run off of basic 350 stuff, I had a 360 and ran great on cc306 but moved to cc468 for my 383 .584/.579 w/ stock ratio rockers so I'm alittle over .600 w/ the 1.6's.

 

I wouldn't build a 383 w/o some bigtime flowing heads and a big *** solid roller I could rev to the moon...

 

Or you can do a 355 right and put down some 383's.

 

Save the $, go with the 355. A 383 shouldn't make any extra HP with the same parts as in a 355, just more torque.

 

The 383 will not be any faster unless you spend more $$ on the heads/intake, ported stock heads are too small for a 383...

 

True, ported stock heads are better suited for the 355, I'd go with 6" rods. Also 355 will have more RPM than the 383. 383's have more tq. I'd like to see them both with nitrous and see what the out come is since the tq will build up in the 355.

 

for a given cam the bigger motor will be more driveable and pull more vacuum. even with a ****ty set of heads you can usually make an extra hp for every cubic inch. bigger motors are easier on the valvetrain as well.

 

i had a buddy with an MTI heads cam combo on his stock shortblock m6 95 z28 back in 96-97. it made 390rwhp, ran low 12s@116. the ported stock heads heads flowed 255 and the cam was about 240* @ .050". when the stock shortblock was worn out mti built a 396 shortblock for it and used the same cam and heads. it made 435rwhp, and ran 11.30s@123. it makes a difference.

 

Id go with the 383 solely because it will be more streetable like was mentioned earlier. You wont need larger injectors or anything crazy b/c its a 383 vs a 355.

 

i'M in nj also, and I did a 383 for my TA, so obviously you should also :-) spend the few extra bucks and build it ONCE for gods sakes, motor swaps suck in these cars.