is it worth it to just get a 383 street strip short block for $2599 and you can option for a set of SRP forged piston for an extra $300... is this worth it or just get the parts and assemble it myself?
thanks

 

RPM, a board sponsor has 383 short blocks with forged pistons and cast cranks for $2100. I've heard good things about them. I'd look at one of their motors. That price is hard to pass up.

 

if you're going to spend that, just go to SLP and get the 380 ls1 engine. it's only about 4k, but you'll need an ecm and accessories.

but if you want to stick with the lt1, i'd suggest getting a bare block from ebay/junkyard and doing a complete rebuild. with the cheap cost for parts now that the lsx engines are out, it's well worth it.

btw, those engines may come with forged pistons, but that's the strong point. they come with a mild cam and crappy crank/rods. may as well put in stock replacement parts for that.

 

There is a lot more parts that are gonna add up and cost a lot of money. You need an LS1 K-member, motor mounts, radiator, accessories, pcm, wiring harness, fuel system, headers. A lot of damn stuff. The only thing that makes it cost effective is to have a wrecked LS1 car to strip.

 

ya i agree, and i want to stick with lt1/4 engines... and i can do the job for assembling for free, since im in a vocational mechanics class ill have an instructor help me since im 16... but all the crankshafts and pistons together are about the same price as these fully built engines, so i dont know if its worth assembling it for nothing...?

p.s. are cast steel cranks from rpm basically forged cranks or no?

 

NO! CAST steel is NOT forged steel.

Go here to learn more in depth.

http://victorylibrary.com/mopar/billet-c.htm