Planning on building a 383 with ported stock heads 52mm t.b.,LT4 hot cam
kit,SLP shorty headers,pullies,cat back exh.,cai.I can`t help but think i am going to be disappointed in this combo.I was hoping to make an extra 75
horsepower at the flywheel.Obviously bringing me from 275 to about 350.
Now everytime I do a search on 383`s it seems if your not making 350hp
at the wheels your car is a lemon.My car being an A4 should put out about
230-240rwhp stock.I really can`t see gaining over 100rwhp with what I
am planning.I just wanted to know what I really should expect?

 

Why a 383?....when a stock bottom with your proposed mods and a tune should get you around 350+- RWHP.

Just curious.

 

The motor already has 173,000km. on it and it has some issues,possible
opti spark, possisble head gasket.I already bought an opti spark,and a hot
cam kit for it.I would like more power and torque anyway so I figured I would
just start from scratch.

 

Aren't people getting those kind of numbers out of 355's with a good set of LE heads and a matching cam?

 

A hot cam is way too small for a 383 IMO

 

Unless it was a project car which I was doing by myself, I would opt for a short block (4-bolt if I could find one) have my stock heads CNC'd, add 3.73 gears, a 2800 Converter, mild cam, add some LTs, get a tune and be good to go.)

Building a 383 is going to take mucho dinaro and lots of work, especially if you are doing it yourself...and if you are just looking for around 350-370 RWHP, a stock shortblock with a mild cam (210-220)/226-229_ on 112 going 383 is probably overkill.

Just my opinion, of course, but if I was going with a 383, I would do it up right and be looking for around 450 RWHP.

 

werd x1000

go custom grind, tell them your mods and specs and what u wanna achieve.

 

Putting the additional cost into a 383 buildup is pointless if you are just going to hinder it with a Hotcam kit. Either go with a better cam/head setup or just stick with a 355.

 

I haven't dynod my setup but i expect to hit near 350 rwhp with stock heads, 340-350 is the norm with a well tuned stock headed car and a good sized cam.... sell the hotcam kit man, way to small to do anything on a 383, its even a bit small for a 350...IMO

 

Yep, there are people getting those numbers with cam only cars and all the supporting mods.

 

If i was building a 383 i would spend the money and go with some big heads.

 

A properly thought out and built 383 can be a blast to drive on the street or at the track...You don't need big heads and a huge cam to make power and have fun..Imho the hotcam is a bit on the small side (and I love small cams)...A set of properly ported stock castings with bigger valves (2.00/1.56s) and a matched cam will make great power at a usable rpm range...

I make around 400rwhp depending on what dyno I'm using with stock ported heads and a 22X/23X cam and only have to rev to 6300 to do it...Its matched to a Vig 3600, to 3.73s, etc...Other of the shelf cams that work great in 383s that everyone says are too small are the LPE 211/219 .530/.560 (which I ran in my 383 for years) and the 219/219 .560/.560...relatively high lifts with shorter duration make for some great street/strip cams...

Don't get me wrong I like the 350/355 set ups, too...I just like the added cubes and not having to rev it to the moon to make power...

--Alan

 

Sorry don`t want to start another 350 vs. 383 debate.It is going to be a 99%
street driven car so peak numbers don`t really matter to me.I want great torque and throttle response.I was just wondering if it would really pull the
numbers thet people are claiming.Like I said a 100hp increase seems pretty
optomistic to me.

 

the real power to be had is in the heads, a 383 will just shift the powerband lower with a given cam. yes you could see a 100 hp increse with a bigger cam and all of the supporting mods, even on the stock heads. I'm traping 114 in the 1/4 and i would say it drives pretty damn close to stock as far as driveability goes. The low end seams about the same as stock but when she gets past 3-4k it really wakes up. A 383 and ported heads matched to a custom cam would be the way to go to make the most out of the package.

 

I have a LT4 hotcam in my 383 and am perfectly happy with it....it makes GREAT power (about 375 at the wheels) and any more cam than that would probably be too much for my 120mi daily round-trip to work.
Unless you want a mid-11's or faster car, the hotcam will get you there.