I'm building my first 383 stroker motor and was wondering if all stroker motor builds require a small base circle cam. Also would like to know the Pro's and Con's of the a small base circle cam?.....thx for the help

I'm building my first 383 stroker motor and was wondering if all stroker motor builds require a small base circle cam. Also would like to know the Pro's and Con's of the a small base circle cam?.....thx for the helpIt depends on the rods that you use. I know if you use stock 5.7 rods you need a small base cam. The only thing that I've heard bad about a small base cam is they are supposed to be weaker. How much hp you shootin for?

I'm going to run a scat rotating assy. with 3/8" cap screw 6" rods and am shooting for 450hp..thx for the reply

I have heard of guys running large base circle cams with cap screw rods. I think lift is limited to about .600. I am running a small base cam and compstar capscrew type rods. I have seen guy grind the stock type rod bolt heads , down at an angle and get away with it. When in doubt, you just have to do some checking . I later learned that I could have gotten away with the large base but I did not want to take the chance to if I went above .600. I used a Udharold design , small base cam with the Everware® dist gear. I have heard of the cam being weaker as its about .900 id but considering I am not running huge spring pressures, I ain't skeered.
These were cut from 8660 billet steel and Harold said they were tough and I took his word for it. Another advantage of using some cap screw rods is you dont have to do and great deal of block clearancing.

In addition to the flex factor from the smaller diameter a small base circle cam causes higher lifter acceleration rates on a same grind comparison to a large base circle. Small base circle cams do fine though and the designers take the acceleration rates into consideration.

They weigh less too :D

I've talked with some that are running 3.80 stroke and 6 inch rods without a small base circle cam. But again it all depends on your rods and cam specs.