ARe there any major differences in the blocks design over these years because for some of the parts ie opti and some other stuff they are listed for the different years and and also have different prices associated with them. Im just wondering because im gonna have a good deal on a 96 383 bare block that were are going to be assembling and am wanting to know if I can mismatch parts that are labled for diffferent years or not..

thanks,
-john

 

The blocks are pretty much the same.

The rods changed somewhere in the '94 model year to the PM ones from the forged, so they'll look different and weigh different.

And the crank key from the '95 and earlier motors doesn't support the reluctor ring from the OBD-II motors.

The damper flange from the OBD-II motors is slightly shorter (about the width of a reluctor ring, imagine that!) than the '95 and previous. So if you use a '96 flange on a crank with no reluctor ring (and vice-versa), the crank pulley won't line up with the accessories.

-Dave C. '97 Z28

 

Bare blocks are the same AFAIK.

 

Thats what i was thinking