Project 383

[Jarhead79]

Well I finally decided to do a 383 for my 79 gmc, got an 010 short block from a local pic a part. Took it all apart and just dropped the block off at a local machine shop for cleaning and checking, crossing fingers it is a good block. Everything in it was stock with flat top pistons and a double roller chain, all bearings were in good shape and not spun, but the cam was shot and the crank wasn't worth saving, scrapped everything but the Pistons and rods. Don't need them for my build but thought I'd see if I can get something for them.

 

[87scotty]

Nice what heads you gonna run?

 

[Jarhead79]

Not sure actually, I'm new to this stuff so I'm trying to figure out if I should run new heads or have some built, I don't want to skimp on parts but don't want to waste time either. I'm willing to take suggestions on what I should look at though!

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

What kind of power are you looking to make? Where in the rpm range? What is your budget for this build?

And please dont say as much power for as cheap as you can....

 

[87scotty]

I've been looking at cast vortecs they seem to be best bang for buck aim is 400hp 400tq for 4000$

 

[Jarhead79]

I'm aiming for 400 hp, give or take, I'm wanting to get back the feeling I had when I had my Challenger, I had to give it up a year and a half ago because of bills and my own stupidity of taking off too much work. I'm pretty sure my goals aren't to far fetched, I've been looking at a scat balanced rotating assembly, looking at the afr heads, but those may be a little more than what I want to pay for, as for a carb, I'm not sure if my quadrajet would cut it as is so either have it built it just buy a new one, I'm not a big chrome, polished accessory type person so I'm wanting to keep it looking basically old, the truck is a toy and I'd hate to put a diamond in a turd. Lol pic of my car below.

 

[Jarhead79]

Under the hood! Lol

 

[fussfeld]

I've been looking at cast vortecs they seem to be best bang for buck aim is 400hp 400tq for 4000$

Would iron heads be better for towing than aluminum?

i think the iron vortecs are great, but i figure if you're going to buy new heads you may as well go aluminum.

 

[87scotty]

Iron are cheaper and really to me when your talking 6000 pound truck I don't care if I'd save a lil weight with aluminum I know aluminum disapates heat faster still scares me mixing aluminum with cast iron jmo

 

[87scotty]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...sdVz7qXtRY8h256dA&sig2=BkW462ojNylfs18J69x46g

 

[Jarhead79]

I was looking at those! Lol more in my price range

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

The budget Vortecs are great... for a budget build. You can get new ones for around $700/pair, yes. But they are 170cc intake runners and limited to around .480 lift, and they need a dedicated intake. This may or may not support what you are looking to do, I can not answer that. You can find better flowing heads in the 180-200cc range that can handle around .550 lift for around $1000. I would spend the extra $300 and have better heads that you can slap a standard intake on. It's all in what kind of power you want, where you want it, and how you want to get to the results!

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Vortec's modded for the higher lift cam's would get you there, but with 4,000 in the budget, I'd say you have enough to get a better set of head's, like the Edelbrock Estreet's.

 

[Jarhead79]

With the edelbrock heads I can get a discount through my part time job, just not sure what I need to get. Need to figure out all the specs I guess before anything. Hopefully the block will be done by next week. That's the main thing first to get it bored, decked and line honed.

 

[Jarhead79]

I guess I should state what I'm thinking I'm wanting, right now it isn't a daily driver but it gets drivin a lot, but every so often I want to go to a test and tune night at our local 1/8 mile track, probably never see a 1/4 mile track since the closest is about an hour and a half away. while 400hp is my max goal, I'm also looking at best torque range, is around 400 torque as easy as 400 hp?