For all you doubters out there, a 383 can make decent #'s with bone stock LT1 heads. My 383 shortblock w/ a custom cam, stock top end (heads, intake, TB, injectors, etc.), CAI, LT's, and catback just put down 330 rwhp and 365 rwtq. Everyone told me I was crazy for keeping the stock heads on there, "it won't make any power", "it'll run like sh**", etc. Well, the #'s speak for themselves and the car runs awesome! I'm into lightly modded LS1 territory and I haven't even touched the heads yet. In fact, my old 99 T/A put down 328/338 w/ pullies, lid, and catback so I'm already beyond that. So for anyone who can't afford to do it all at once (edit: and needs to do a rebuild anyway), go with the 383 and do the heads later.

 

Ummmm I put down 370rwhp with a 350 and just found out my heads were BARELY touched. I'd be pissed if I only put down 330. Hate to be a dick but those are the facts.

 

Those aren't good #'s.

Cam only cars make the same amount of power with a little less torque..

"build a 383 now and get heads later" is silly advice..

 

You probably spent more in the 383 than if you simply bought a good heads/cam package. Not to mention a good set of heads and a strong cam in a 350 would yeild higher hp #'s.

 

Those are not good numbers at all, my buddy put down 348rwhp and 365rwtq with nothing more than the LT4 Hot Cam and full exhaust.

 

Yea and then you throw away the money you spent on your 350 when you build the 383 later. Makes more sense to me to invest in the 383 now and enjoy it while you save up to do the top end. Sure it makes more sense to do it all at once, but if you can't afford to do that then this is the way to go IMO. How's your 350 doing btw? Didn't you blow it up or something?

Btw, I didn't say the #'s were outstanding or anything, but they're pretty good for stock heads. And the car is a hell of a lot of fun on the street. I'd rather be driving my car while I save up for heads instead of having it collect dust in my driveway.

 

Actually I've got less than $7k invested in the car and motor. And yea, I realize I could've put h/c on my 350 but then it would still be a 350. This isn't where it ends folks, the stock heads are just temporary. I plan on making a lot of power out of this motor, but I've still got other stuff to worry about first (rearend, trans, fuel system, etc.). I'm just getting started.

 

It sounds to me like you are trying to sell the idea that you are better off to spend money on a 383 and leave the top end stock, rather than spending the money on a good H/C package. Your numbers just don't support that theory.

Now, if you are saying that if you one day want a 383, with all the top end parts like aftermarket ported heads and a powerfull cam, and just having the 383 with no decent top end or big dyno #'s, right now is fun to drive and runs with lightly modded LS1 cars, then okay, I can understand.

It just sounds to me like you were boasting that a 383 with stock heads and cam is a good choice, and will make great power. Again, the money spent on upgrading to a 383 alone could have got you much faster with a good H/C combo.

 

Valve slapped a piston due to a rocker coming loose, had nothing to do with the 350 giving up.. could have happened to anything. Teardown revealed it was probably OK for reuse, but I decided to go 355 for spray later on down the road.

 

You know what, I just realized that I completely left out something in my original post that might explain my theory better. My motor was trashed and needed a rebuild anyway, so you'll need to factor that into the equation as well. I didn't mean to go out and dump your 350 for a 383, what I meant to say is that if you need to do a rebuild anyway and are trying to decide between 350 or 383, the 383 will run fine w/ a stock top end until you can afford to do it right.

 

I thought you bought the car from a buddy, who already had the motor in it.

 

Nope, the motor was out at the shop when I bought it.

 

for bone stock heads its not too bad honestly. It could be better but dyno numbers dont always tell the whole story.

My old motor (cam only) put down 330/380 on stock heads. But in good air it ran 11's @ 112-113 all day long.

You have room for improvement if you decide to do something with the heads or put a set of aftermarket heads on later.

 

So to sumerize; instead of saying that you are happy with your numbers for your 383, and that people were crazy telling you that your stock heads wouldn't give you good numbers, and that it is better to build a 383 with a stock LT1 top end, than to build a good top end in a LT1... now you are saying " if you need to do a rebuild anyway and are trying to decide between 350 or 383, the 383 will run fine w/ a stock top end until you can afford to do it right".

Thanks for clarifying.

 

Yea that's what I meant, it came out wrong. Sorry bout the confusion, I edited my original post too.