Well... today I went to my local Machine shop to get my 383 build machine worked priced. The conversation went pretty much like this...

Me: Hello, I have a 350 LT1 Block that I need to be bored and fitted for a 383 build.

Him: You don't need to bore the block over.

Me (as a walk towards the exit): Good day Sir.

 

While I agree that he should have been a little more open about the conversation if the block is in good shape and the bores are within tolerance (.004" or less) there really isn't a need to overbore.

I would have at least let him explain himself.

 

RamAir is right. 350 to 383 is really just a stroke, not a bore. My engine tear down at 110k showed virtually no wear on the cross hatchings, and would not have required a bore.

Good Luck

 

what they said. unless youve already bought your pistons or something and just want .030 for the true 383 number.

 

One of the reasons to bore it is to blueprint the bores, which are at production tolerances and probably egg shaped by now. When you go through all the trouble to build a 383, might as well bore it and deck it unless you are just on a tiny budget, and in that case, just overhaul your 350. You got to change pistons anyway for a 383 (or 381), so why try to save a couple bucks on the cheapest machine work. The guy is just going to bottle brush hone the cylinders no matter what shape they are and woe will be you when your new rings don't break in like they should. Maybe the guy was just trying to say that a 383 is a stroker engine and the crank makes it a 383,not the bore, but you can't get 383 from a 1/4" stroke on a stock bore, so technically, he was still wrong.

 

No, he really had no clue. I had to explain why you bore it to him. Just thought you'd get a good laugh. It got funnier when I asked him about clearancing and he asked me if I had a dremmel.

I think they either messed up someone block really bad in the past or the guy just didn't feel like doing the work and played stupid so I would do what I did (leave).

 

Using a 3.75" stoker crank, you MUST overbore the cylinders to 4.030" to get to 383ci (actually 382.667ci).

Now......if you were to use a 3.80 stroker crank with the stock bore, you'd also come out to about 383ci (actually, about 382.018ci).

Jus' sayin'....

KW