i have a fresh 383 stroker i just had built and i need some advice. i'm new to the whole performance aspect of engines and have a few ?'s. my 383 was built for a daily driver but with some performance in mind. the engine builder suggested a setup that would be reliable yet still give me some kick when i wanted it. the engine is made up of a stroked and bored 350 4bolt main. it has a 280/280 adv. dur. cam with .420 lift. my heads are 76cc heads and i have keith black flat top pistons for 9:5 compression. the intake is a performer rpm intake and has a carter 650cfm 4 barrel carb.
my ? is what would yall suggest as far a modifing this setup in the future to really wake it up yet keep it streetable. somewhere i read that a stroker should just be left alone as it is. is this true. how about a supercharger, is it advisable or should i just let it be? the whole ? arises because i made it to our local strip for the first time and i'm hooked. especially when i saw a guy in a beat up farm truck lay down a 11 flat 1/4(this really blew me away because i asked this guy what he had in the truck and it was a 383,but he was spraying) so bottom line give me a 383 buildup that you think would be streetable yet capable on the track.(supercharged/nitrous)?
needing help,
zack 68 :confused:

A supercharger might require a stronger bottom end of the motor, as in the crank, rods and pistons. Cylinder heads are usually the first thing to change to gain significant horsepower increases. A set of 190's or 200 cc heads should wake up your motor real fast. Next would be a cam to take advantage of the new heads. Headers, a new torque converter and some better rear gears. Used as a complete unit, these parts will put you back in the seat. Eric68 has a nice 383. Do a search (upper right of this page) to see what he used.

Zack 68,

Toby is right on target. The first thing I would change performance wise is your heads and cam. At that point a Holley 750 HP double pumper would be on my list also. Of course adding more power is not going to help ET if you can't hook it up. You will need to plan on some slicks and chassis changes as well if you haven't addressed that already. To be honest with you, I would do the chassis stuff first.

Since you are using hypereutectic pistons, supercharging is not likely a real good idea. If you do spray it, I would keep it less than 150 HP. If you use a NX kit make that 100 HP.

For your existing bottom end I would seriously consider the ProTopline 72cc heads (aluminum) with 200cc runners. I would also look at maybe the good old Comp 280H cam. You could go to the solid version of this cam (the Comp 282s) for a couple more HP but you have to deal with setting valve lash every so often. It would idle about the same as your current cam with the same driveability but has a more agressive lobe design.

All said and done I think the heads and cam change alone would net another 100HP and it could still be driven daily. ALSO, stay away from N2O or a supercharger with those KB pistons, they do not handle detonation well so you do not want to push the limits.

ps. Thanks Toby :D

thanks for the info. how does a performer rpm power package which includes the 70cc heads and matching cam compare to the ProTopline heads with the comp cam Eric68 mentioned as far as performance and reliability? also would the change in heads and cam make a diffrence in the fuel consumption from my current setup?
thanks zack 68 :D

See my signature. Seems to run pretty well...

To wake up that 383 I would suggest this combo

Air Flow Research 195cc heads

comp cams 12-432-8 hydrolic roller 230/236 .510in .520ex

750 holley

This set up should be good for about 475 hp and 500lbs of torque. This is the set up I am currently in the process of building. And in a first gen camaro it will be a stout performer.

Originally posted by zack 68:
thanks for the info. how does a performer rpm power package which includes the 70cc heads and matching cam compare to the ProTopline heads with the comp cam Eric68 mentioned as far as performance and reliability?

Not as good IMO. The Edelbrock RPM cam is on the big side and the heads don't flow as good. They both may make comparable peak numbers but IMO the Pro-Topline / 280H cam combo is more streetable. I ran this cam in a car with Dart II Sportsman heads (no longer available) and drove the car across the country a couple times. Got 18 mpg freeway with an overdrive tranny and a 700 DP carb.

also would the change in heads and cam make a diffrence in the fuel consumption from my current setup?

Yes, the bigger the cam the more gas it will suck. BUT in this case I don't think it would make too much of a difference since you are already running a mild cam with the same adv duration as the Comp 280H. Heads have little effect IMO. More compression would actually help mileage.

thanks zack 68 :D You could also go milder on the cam if mileage is a concern. The Comp 270H would be milder and get better mileage than the 280H. Top end would fall off a little though.

hey eric i think i'm going to put some money away for these ProTopline heads and cam combo you suggested. after all by the looks of your 1/4mile times i think you know what your talking about! thanks for the advice and by the way sweet car graemlins/thumbsup.gif
zack 68