383 on ebay?

[TexasRed]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY-GM-383-Stroker-030-040-bore_W0QQitemZ150326410559QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item150326410559&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A64%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Has anybody tried them? I may email them and see if they can build it with pistons with less compression since I plan to run Vortec heads.

[VileZambonie]

I would just build it myself and save some $$.

[Russ130]

Sounds like a good deal to me assuming you are getting a short block for that money and it is assembled including degreeing the cam in. I paid $700 for a 383 kit and another $1000 in machine work for mine. The kit didn't include new rods which I ended up buying anyhow but that was another $250 for forged steel rods. Harmonic balancer and flywheel where extra and are needed in order to balance the rotating assembly. It's like they are giving the machine work away for free and charging you for the parts basically.

[joesgarage71]

...and the satisfaction of doing it myself. not to mention I know what parts are in it and there quality.
Russ nothing is free.

[DnStClr]

For a guy like me, who isn't as talented as a lot of you in building motors, it looks like an awesome deal. What kind of heads could be used to go with a tbi setup?   

[VileZambonie]

Any heads could be used and any intake. You can also run a TBI adapter on a carb type manifold.

[Russ130]

Joe - I never said anything was free and I firmly believe you get what you pay for in most instances. I said it was like getting it for free. Look at it this way for that cost you can take it apart and blueprint and inspect everything and reassemble and you would still be ahead of the game. I think you would have a hard time collecting all the parts and getting the machine work done for anywhere near that price. I'm sure they would substitute higher quality price parts for a price if you asked them too.

Texasred - I noticed it said available with dished pistons for lower compression at no extra cost. It says that right under where it gives the compression ratios with 64 and 76cc heads.

[Lt.Del]

I hooked up with an Arizona engine builder on eBay.  I called him directly and ordered a 383 stroker.  I told him what I wanted  and he customized it for pulling (4 bolt main, RV cam) and free shipping. 

This is the guy here....

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/enginebuilder1_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ

this is my project..
www.delbridge.net/install

[TexasRed]

And then there's this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/L31-CHEVY-SBC-PARTIAL-CRATE-MOTOR-350-100-BRAND-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742Q2em153Q2el1262QQcategoryZ33615QQihZ015QQitemZ250372411112

[TexasRed]

I got an answer that 9.7 was about the lowest compression ratio they could go on that price. Is that too much for pump gas with iron vortec heads and a pretty mild cam?

[hilton850]

If it was mine and I was going to do a bunch of towing with it I would keep it close to 9:1.  Without getting into a bunch of engine theory, a mild cam will work better with 9:1.  Some people say you can go 9.5:1....I guess it depends on who you listen to.  I tend to think the guys that run more compression are driving cars and not doing any kind of towing.  My 383 with aluminum heads and 9.7:1 compression would run on 93 octane pump gas....but it was happier when I put 100 octane airplane gas in it....but I think with a different combination of parts it would run just fine on 93....fwiw

From personal experience, I've built a couple of motors, and so far my favorite for towing has been a 355 with 1.94/1.50 heads, a mild cam and 9:1 compression.  That one just worked...it started every time I hit the key and ran great without any issues no matter how hot or cold it was outside or how hard I worked it.  The 383 with 9.7:1 compression and aluminum heads on the other hand, was a disappointment to me.  It had a TON of power but I never did get it to run good at part throttle and throttle response was non existant.  The only time it was ever happy was when it was wide open, even after I changed to a milder cam (that was because the rest of the combo didn't support the cam swap).  Anyway, moral of the story is don't get over excited about making lots of horsepower because you'll wiund up with a bad combination of parts for your application and be disappointed like I was.  I think the higher compression ratio is much more finiky when it comes to tuning...but I suppose it could also just be me.  I believe you have a good plan with the 383 and vortec heads and a mild cam, so stick to that.  I'd spend the extra money and get the compression down closer to 9:1.  I bet it isn't even that much more. 

Just my $.02

[TexasRed]

Thanks for the reply. I was pretty much leaning to 9:1. I think I found me some pistons that should work. Just means I gotta put the kit together myself but shouldn't be much of a problem.

http://kb-silvolite.com/performance.php?action=details&P_id=91

That seems like alot of dish though?