388 build

[Boxchevrolet]

hey y'all i have a 80's 350 thats been punched .040 over already that needs a rebuild, so I'm thinking .060 over, 3.75 crank, 5.7 rods, vortec 906 heads port and polished stock valve lift limit, with the block zero decked and a .043 head gasket, and a howards cam a 277/277 223@.050, .450 lift on a 108 lsa and 104 icl, after three different static and dynamic compression ratios the average is 9.72:1 static and 7.72:1 dynamic compression ratio, what are yalls opinions? i know its not a power monster with the cam specs but i want to it to last a good while, anything y'all would change?

[Boxchevrolet]

anyone?

[SkinnyG]

That looks like a fine setup.

May I ask why you want a stroker?  If the engine ~needs~ a crank, totally: stroke it.  But if the bottom end is sound, why throw the money at it?

I'd strongly encourage you to run a roller cam. 

I'm a big fan of tight (108°) lobe centers. 

You might want to consider a slightly higher stall converter, but try it first and see. A stroker might make up for it.  Make sure your cam is going to be making power at the cruising rpm.  A 700R4 might need better rear gears if you're cruising at 1800 and the cam isn't working until 2200.

Then again, you could swap an LS for the same price as all your machine work.  I ~should~have~ swapped an LS, but I like building engines, and the rebuild started getting away on me.

Lots of options, but only you can make the decision.

Good luck!  And be sure to post the build on here!

[Boxchevrolet]

the 350 was burning oil and had a slight knock in it so i pulled it, and I'm only 20 and I'm not up to swapping a ls just yet, and the 388 will go into a 83 k10 sm465, the cam is rated at 2000-6000rpm which should be good, and i believe with the right break in it should last, as i have rebuilt 2 sbc's previously with them, thank you for your help!, I'm just trying to see if i was on the right path, but if you think it would really be beneficial to go roller i can splurge and convert if i find the right cam

[SkinnyG]

With a roller cam, you can have faster opening and closing, more lift, less friction, no worries at break-in, and no worries about having enough zinc in your oil.

I don't do 4-wheeling, but I would caution about going too large in the cam and compromising the low speed & rock crawling.  Give Howard's a call and see what they recommend for your K.  Then again, their recommendation for my 2WD was more rowdy than what I already have (I have 231°@050/.470"/108LSA, they recommended 233°/241°@.050/.530".545"/110LSA).

[Boxchevrolet]

well i have got a guy wanting to buy my .040 350 to build the 388 i was thinking about, so now i am thinking of picking up a 96-98 vortec 350- stock crank,pistons,and heads with springs that allow up to .550 lift with a comp roller cam at 280/280 224/224 at .050 on a 108 lsa with .525 lift, with a performer intake with a quadrajet and headers. less power? yeah. less money? oh yeah, squish will still be at .040, does this setup sound pretty good? thanks

[Boxchevrolet]

any opinions? I'm actually rethinking the cam to the xr270hr roller cam at advised 276,282 duration, 224,230 @ .050 and .507 intake lift and .516 exhaust lift using 1.52 lifters

[SkinnyG]

I think it will probably be fine.  It's a bit rowdy (in my opinion) for a four wheeler, but with the right stall and gears and spend time tuning it, you should be good.

[Boxchevrolet]

it'll be going into a k10 with a sm465 4 speed manual with 4.11s and 36's. mainly street/mud and partial trail riding