355 vs. 383
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,518
Re: 355 vs. 383
Originally Posted by 1racerdude
To do one "right" ya gonna have 1,000-1,200 in machine shop work. I don't want to hear all the" I got mine done for 500". If ya did ya didn't do it right. 355 will cost almost that much if done "right".
$500 jobs are SCARY if you ask me.
FWIW my 355 vs. 383... 95% of the guys who are building a 383 could spend that same money and have a 355 that will be faster than the 383 they are building. I don't care if cubes are cool, but it makes you feel bad when a guy with a 355 smokes your 396... I know someone like that around here ;-)
Bret
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,661
From: LA (lower Alabama)
Re: 355 vs. 383
Originally Posted by 89385formula
Definately not the norm thats for sure, i think you would agree with me on that. For what its worth, from my experiences there are alot of dissappointing times with 383's compared to 355's. I do think thats mostly due
to people just assuming that a 383 is better, and not talking into consideration the extra cost. This leads them to short change the topend IMO. My first personal experience with my 383 was a real eye opener as far as costs go, especially when i thought for so long that the price of a 355 and a 383 were virtually the same...i definately shifted my thoughts about a 383 being a "budget Build". For the 355 build i went with, it was actually the most budget oriented motor i have had built thus far....and personally I wouldn't want anything less.
Like I said before my vote goes for a 355 unless you have some real high goals, and a large pocketbook.
to people just assuming that a 383 is better, and not talking into consideration the extra cost. This leads them to short change the topend IMO. My first personal experience with my 383 was a real eye opener as far as costs go, especially when i thought for so long that the price of a 355 and a 383 were virtually the same...i definately shifted my thoughts about a 383 being a "budget Build". For the 355 build i went with, it was actually the most budget oriented motor i have had built thus far....and personally I wouldn't want anything less.
Like I said before my vote goes for a 355 unless you have some real high goals, and a large pocketbook.
Ditto
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,661
From: LA (lower Alabama)
Re: 355 vs. 383
Originally Posted by SStrokerAce
Ditto... just had a machine shop bill from a CNC block shop of one done right (this is without indexing the lifter bores AND correcting the cam tunnel placement) and it was $1200 including Pro Gram Caps, cam bearings and ARP hardware. Works out well that way.... now when you go all out race well you can get closer to $1600 easy.
$500 jobs are SCARY if you ask me.
FWIW my 355 vs. 383... 95% of the guys who are building a 383 could spend that same money and have a 355 that will be faster than the 383 they are building. I don't care if cubes are cool, but it makes you feel bad when a guy with a 355 smokes your 396... I know someone like that around here ;-)
Bret
$500 jobs are SCARY if you ask me.
FWIW my 355 vs. 383... 95% of the guys who are building a 383 could spend that same money and have a 355 that will be faster than the 383 they are building. I don't care if cubes are cool, but it makes you feel bad when a guy with a 355 smokes your 396... I know someone like that around here ;-)
Bret
Yea it's hard to hide that look on your face,when your 406 just got spanked big time by a 355 and a gear.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,114
From: New York
Re: 355 vs. 383
Originally Posted by SStrokerAce
I don't care if cubes are cool, but it makes you feel bad when a guy with a 355 smokes your 396... I know someone like that around here ;-)
Bret
Bret
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,518
Re: 355 vs. 383
"and a gear" is the key point
You get the same piston speed out of a 355 @ 7000rpm as you get on the 383 or 406 @ 6600rpm, i'll take a free 400rpm. It's comparable to a 4.33 gear vs. a 4.11. That cheaper 355 will make more power up top for the same price, it can be geared higher and the TQ output at the tires will be equal if not more.
Bret
You get the same piston speed out of a 355 @ 7000rpm as you get on the 383 or 406 @ 6600rpm, i'll take a free 400rpm. It's comparable to a 4.33 gear vs. a 4.11. That cheaper 355 will make more power up top for the same price, it can be geared higher and the TQ output at the tires will be equal if not more.
Bret
Last edited by SStrokerAce; Dec 15, 2005 at 10:09 PM.
Banned
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,661
From: LA (lower Alabama)
Re: 355 vs. 383
Originally Posted by SStrokerAce
"and a gear" is the key point
You get the same piston speed out of a 355 @ 7000rpm as you get on the 383 or 406 @ 6600rpm, i'll take a free 400rpm. It's comparable to a 4.33 gear vs. a 4.11. That cheaper 355 will make more power up top for the same price, it can be geared higher and the TQ output at the tires will be equal if not more.
Bret
You get the same piston speed out of a 355 @ 7000rpm as you get on the 383 or 406 @ 6600rpm, i'll take a free 400rpm. It's comparable to a 4.33 gear vs. a 4.11. That cheaper 355 will make more power up top for the same price, it can be geared higher and the TQ output at the tires will be equal if not more.
Bret
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 282
Re: 355 vs. 383
I've got a 9" and 4.11's in my car. I could def use the RPM range. Thats why I was looking at shifting at about 6800rpms to maximize the gear. What is the 'streetability' of the 355 with LE3 heads and cam? I'm kinda liking what I hear about the 355 though... Keep in mind, I want to be full weight and mid 11's. Since I have a 9", I'm not worried about breaking the rear and I'll put in a new DS so I will be launching the car hard. I figure I'll need somewhere in the range of 430rwhp. (that way when I'm rolling along at 60mph I can stomp on it and fly as well).
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,518
Re: 355 vs. 383
ponykillr75 has the LE3 setup.... he's running 11.7's with no suspension yet at 122 and he drives it on the street. It's probably not that bad to drive, not a everyday kinda thing but it's doable.
Bret
Bret
Last edited by SStrokerAce; Dec 16, 2005 at 12:03 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 134
From: Roy, Utah
Re: 355 vs. 383
Originally Posted by SStrokerAce
Ditto... just had a machine shop bill from a CNC block shop of one done right (this is without indexing the lifter bores AND correcting the cam tunnel placement) and it was $1200 including Pro Gram Caps, cam bearings and ARP hardware. Works out well that way.... now when you go all out race well you can get closer to $1600 easy.
$500 jobs are SCARY if you ask me.
FWIW my 355 vs. 383... 95% of the guys who are building a 383 could spend that same money and have a 355 that will be faster than the 383 they are building. I don't care if cubes are cool, but it makes you feel bad when a guy with a 355 smokes your 396... I know someone like that around here ;-)
Bret
$500 jobs are SCARY if you ask me.
FWIW my 355 vs. 383... 95% of the guys who are building a 383 could spend that same money and have a 355 that will be faster than the 383 they are building. I don't care if cubes are cool, but it makes you feel bad when a guy with a 355 smokes your 396... I know someone like that around here ;-)
Bret
-Clean, mag, tap block: $75
Rebore: $135
Hone w/ torque plates: $60
Crank Polish: $0.00
Balance: $250
Race Cam Bearings: $18.55
Install Cam Bearings: $35
Oil galley plugs (threaded): $15
Freeze Plugs: $20
Freeze plug Kit: $12.50
Crank Grind: $100
Align Hone Mains: $135
Check piston pin fit/ rods/ de-burr edges/ clean/ mount and install spiro-locks: $36
Water Pump bearing$9.48
CC Heads: $0.00
Tax: $69.16
Grand Total: $973.19
The point is, it gets expensive quick. And I still may need to have the block decked if the pistons are too far in the hole.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 79
From: Ohio
Re: 355 vs. 383
Exactly what I'am doing now. 355 with LE2 heads/cam. Forged crank,pistons,H-beam rods. Full work up on the block decked,etc. Another member from the Impala board is running low 12s full weight with the same set up. Some of the 383 on the ET page still are not close. http://dan.esteban.com/impalass/Retu...electedClass=6
Handyman
http://dan.esteban.com/impalass/Retu...electedClass=6Handyman
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,764
From: North Canton, OH
Re: 355 vs. 383
The fastest LT1's out there are "strokers".
My previous stroker engine required no clearancing at all when I used Lunati Pro Mod rods and crank.
The problem I have always seen is guys that build their stroker combos like a higher reving combo. They use to much stall & converter.
They simply do not utilize the benefits of a strokers longer "stroke".
All this talk about 355's whooping up on strokers ends when the stroker guys show up with the right parts.
My previous stroker engine required no clearancing at all when I used Lunati Pro Mod rods and crank.
The problem I have always seen is guys that build their stroker combos like a higher reving combo. They use to much stall & converter.
They simply do not utilize the benefits of a strokers longer "stroke".
All this talk about 355's whooping up on strokers ends when the stroker guys show up with the right parts.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,784
From: Jacksonville
Re: 355 vs. 383
Still nothing more fun than pointing to your 434 and saying "yep, it's just a 350". 
Seriously though, displacement rocks.
And yes, a well built 383 will cost more than a 355 in most cases. I know I easily have $1200 in block work on my motor right now. Add to that another $1600 for a rotating assembly, $300-400 for balancing, resizing, etc... it adds up really quick. Now if it were only finished so I could put it in the car and bolt the T trim to it.
Hopefully 600+ rwhp on pump gas will be worth it.
Seriously though, displacement rocks.
And yes, a well built 383 will cost more than a 355 in most cases. I know I easily have $1200 in block work on my motor right now. Add to that another $1600 for a rotating assembly, $300-400 for balancing, resizing, etc... it adds up really quick. Now if it were only finished so I could put it in the car and bolt the T trim to it.
Hopefully 600+ rwhp on pump gas will be worth it.
