Hi Guys, I have been contemplating replacing the 327 in my Camaro for some time now. Now I’m hearing the tell tale signs of a motor going away. It is a little noisy at about 2500 RPM and it isn’t getting better the more I hammer on it.

This brings me to my question. I have a little money invested in the 2¼” Stainless exhaust, Hooker Aero Chambers and the Borla 1 5/8” Stainless headers. I know it will be somewhat easy to make a lot of torque with a 383 and that is what I’m looking for more that high RPM HP. How much is this exhaust going to hurt performance.

The basics of the 383 combo I was leaning towards were a basic 383 short block, Trick Flow heads, 10-1 compression. Cam has not been picked yet (help) and the tranny is a Muncie M-21 and the Rear is an open 2.78 from my 1st Camaro (this will change but I like the high gears)

Any help would be great.

Timo

Your exhaust will be fine it you build the engine to make the most of it. This will mean low end grunt. I don't make cam recommendations so I will leave that to someone else. I ran in the 11's with 1 5/8" headers and a 383. I did have 3" exhaust and I ran the same mufflers you have. If you go with a dual plane intake and a cam that make power from 1500-6000 you will be more than happy with the performance. The larger exaust comes into play more on the top end. With your gears top end is not where I would try to make power anyway.

AT 10:1 compression I'd opt for aluminum heads or consider bringing the CR down to 9.5:1 for iron. If you take Camaroman7d's advice and build for low end toruqe (as I would do), you won't benefit from headging the compression ratio with dynamic compression ratio you'd get from the cam. So, don't over do it. That exhaust will work fine.

You will be fine. The thing that is going to hurt your performance most is the open differential and freeway gears.

A 383 is gonna pull that gear a whole lot better than the 327 did! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

You can always have cutouts welded into the exhaust. You could even put electric cutouts in so they can be opened with the flip of a switch.

Dump the gears though . . .

Has anyone used the 30-30 z-28 stock cam in a 383? I know there are much better cams but I am trying to keep the outward sound and appearance of the motor to that of the 302. since this will be a street driven car the torque of the 383 at lower RPM really appeals.

I wanted to add a little more info to this. I will eventuall put in 3.36 gears in the rear. That will surely help a little.

I am looking at the TFS cam and lifter kit. Cam/Lifter Kit Hyd. SBC 210/216 Dur. @.050-.440/.454 Lift. It is matched to their heads... I was thinking of using 1.6 Roller rockers though. Any other suggestions for a long large torque curve?

Thanks again!

Hello, I figured I'd post since my combo is similar:

Old-style small block (ie, not an LT-1 or LSx) 383, good bottom end (billet 4-bolt main caps, forged crank, pistons, etc), Trick flow 23 degree alum. heads, with no mods, except HD springs, 9.8:1 CR, currently with (original type, non air gap) Performer RPM manifold and Performer 750 carb. Edelbrock perf. RPM nitrous plate system, which has never been activated. Spintech exhaust, T56/12bolt behind.

Cam is Crane hyd roller, HR-284-2S-12 IG (P/N 119831) as follows:

Cam Timing: TAPPET @.050
Lift: Opens Closes Max Lift Duration
Intake 4.0 BTDC 38.0 ABDC 107 222.0 °
Exhaust 52.0 BBDC (2.0) BTDC 117 230.0 °

Intake @Cam 339 @Valve 509 Exhaust @ Cam 352 @Valve 528
(Rocker Arm Ratio 1.50)

I am running 1.6:1 so lift is really .543 / .563.

Ignition is a GM HEI with MSD6A.

I have had fantastic results with this combo. Have not had it to the track yet, but I'm very pleased with it on the street thusfar.

My plan is to convert to F.A.S.T. EFI in the spring.

Rob