Mtxz453

Looks like I might be keepin my car, rather keep it then give it away for the offers I'm getting. Spun a bearing at the track back in october. I'm thinking about just buying a brand new bottom end.

Since the motor is gonna be out I was thinking of doing some head work while I'm in there, whether its porting or picking up a set of decent flowing heads somewhere. I have the AI cam package, which I absolutely love and wanna keep to go into the new bottom end I get.

I wanted to stay under the $2500 range. I can get a new stock bottom end assembly for 900 shipped with a 10% coupon on ebay. Then that leaves another 1500 for whatever I wanted to do with heads. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/93-94...3145QQtcZphoto

But then there are 383's on there that are built with performance parts for between 2,000-2,500 like this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/93-94...3145QQtcZphoto

Is it worth putting in a 383 without doing head work besides the valvetrain package already in there from AI? Anybody have any other ideas for a budget rebuild?

slomarao

a few guys have put down big numbers with 383's and light headwork. Most have bigger cams tho.

What are you plans for the car? If it will one day be a racecar you may want to spend most of the money on the bottom end. Than once funds allow you to go wild with the top end your good to go.

If you do a budget build now and than want to spin it to 7k, and hit it with a 150 shot your going to be rebuilding it again. So you really need to figure out what your going to want in 1-3 yrs from now.

I would at least put forged pistons in and put arp bolts in the rods. Or you go a little stronger, forged pistons and rods, add some support to the mains. The stock crank is a very strong piece, many people have taken it to 9's and/or 750 flywheel hp. So that would be another route.

Stroking it would be nice but than you need to do some headwork and the bottom end will cost more. I really dont see it happening with your budget, but than again there are some killer deals in the FS section.

I would really go with some headwork tho, after all thats where the power is made. Goodluck

mdacton

a $2500 motor is a pc. of junk
its going to have all the cheapest stuff in it you can get, chinese, indonesia, taiwan

Prorac1

I agree, im in the process of rebuilding mine right now. I have a race car so my camaro is just a fun street car. With that being said im just sticking to the basics as slo said. Remember, it makes no sence to build a hardcore fully forged motor that makes 480 rwhp if you never plan on spraying it or putting sticky tires on it. If you cant put it down whats the point. I dont hood now with just my little bolt ons so whats the point in going further till i upgrade the trans and rearend, which i dont intend to do anyways. Hope this helps, Prorac1

mdacton

I would pull it down...if the crank and everything pistons etc. is good, I would hone it, new bearing and new rings, put it back together, if you don't plan on doing alot with it I would waste a bunch of money...

Prorac1

Thats what I would do. Theyres no such thing as CHEAP HP parts. The stockers will take you quite a ways. After that its Lunati, JE, and Dart. Prorac1

MachinistOne

Stock rebuild with good parts is $2800 - once you add a performance cam that's $250, springs to match - $100+, upgraded rod bolts $50, the costs add up and you really have to wonder what you are getting for a "performance" motor at that cheap cost. I would say that 50% of the crate motors that are brought into us for dyno work have oil consumption or other problems that need to be fixed.

bombebomb

+1, there is alot of hidden costs that people do not think about.


I also agree that if he does not plan on beating the crap out of it, no reason to build a forged race engine.