What SBC Should I Build?

[Shaun]

Alright, I now have a 4-bolt, 2 piece seal, 350 sitting in my garage.

But, I'm not sure what exactly I want to build.


The options I'm looking at is

350

355

383

 

[microgoat]

Just freshen it up, unless you're made of money. If it needs an overbore, bring it out to 355, and build for torque.

 

[Brainstain]

Well, unless you're lucky enough to find a 383 crank I'd stick with the 355. I have a machine shop in town that will sell stuff people didn't come back to get, or wouldn't pay for. So, you pay for the machine work and it's yours. Nothing like a $100 crank to build a 383.....

 

[CSR]

I'm with microgoat.... freshen it up, bore if you have to. If you've got the extra money to throw into it, stroke it.

I wish I'd chose a freshened up 350 for my old Nova that I had. Instead I decided to drop a big block in it (because I'd never built a BB car and wanted to do it). Building the 454 almost cleaned me out. The torque was incredible and a lot of fun, but way too much. Wished I had just went with a moderately built SBC.

 

[JasonInAugusta]

:lol:

350, 355 if it needs it.

CSR, try working on a 440. :lol: You'll appreciate how cheap it is to build a Chevy when you've rebuilt a Mopar.

 

[joesbruiser]

In my opinion call Ohio Crankshaft you can find there site here
http://www.ohiocrank.com/chevsb_rotate.html
They have several inexpensive 383 kits. More cubes= more torque

They have a 383 kit that has every thing you need Crank,Rods,Pistons,Bearings,and Rings for less than 600.00

 

[microgoat]

Just remember if you stroke it, you'll have to trim the rods down, or you'll whack the cam.

 

[hellbentrodder]

Stroke it. I had a '69 camaro with a 383 and a 4 speed, worked great. There is no replacement for displacement

 

[Hellbilly]

If your crank is bad I'd say go for the 383.You can buy a stroker crank for alittle more money than a standard stroke aftermarket crank.Also be sure to MATCH YOUR CAMSHAFT TO THE HEADS YOU ARE USING! I see people all the time stabbing .500 lift or bigger big duration cams in motors with stock heads.If your heads wont flow you are just pissing your money away with a big cam.

 

[PEDEcrawlerguy]

bore it .060" and you'll get a 358ci...

 

[Cam213]

Id stick with a 350. There cheap to build and can make good numbers. If ya wanna drop in a little more money, bore it our .040 or .060 over. Awesome part is again parts are pretty reasonable and there everywhere..

 

[Usmc8541]

In my opinion call Ohio Crankshaft you can find there site here
http://www.ohiocrank.com/chevsb_rotate.html
They have several inexpensive 383 kits. More cubes= more torque

They have a 383 kit that has every thing you need Crank,Rods,Pistons,Bearings,and Rings for less than 600.00

Go with the 383 and don't look back. Ohio Crank makes quality products, and you have already spent as much as you have why not just splurg a wee bit more. Spoil yourself.

 

[tuber53]

i might have missed it but is this by any chance gonna be going into your monte carlo or no?

 

[Shaun]

Yes, it will be going in the Monte Carlo.

It also might actually get a T-5 or T-56 behind it too. It will cost me just as much to build the 200, as it would for the trans, and conversion kit from Dixie Monte Carlo.

Think about how much fun a 5 speed or 6 speed would be combined with a 383.:shock:

Thank you very much for all the input guys!

 

[jc052685]

Stroke it. I had a '69 camaro with a 383 and a 4 speed, worked great. There is no replacement for displacement

yeah... its called boost!!!"thumbsup"

 

[thatguy]

383 mild cam,fast burn heads,700r4 with corvette valve body and gov.the t5 is junk,t56 almost as bad. they both tend to come apart when pushed hard. not many of that body with man trans so a pedal box could be hard to find and pricey.

 

[Shaun]

383 mild cam,fast burn heads,700r4 with corvette valve body and gov.the t5 is junk,t56 almost as bad. they both tend to come apart when pushed hard. not many of that body with man trans so a pedal box could be hard to find and pricey.

If I was going to go with a auto trans, I would stick with my 200, its good stock up to 335-350HP and can be built to take 450-500HP. Right now, I'm looking at the t-56 trans, a little more pricey, but a 6 speed mated with a 383, would be a hell of a alot of fun, and it would be more than I could ever dream of.

 

[thatguy]

:lol:

CSR, try working on a 440. :lol: You'll appreciate how cheap it is to build a Chevy when you've rebuilt a Mopar.

aint that the truth.mopar rebuild kits over 383 cubes should come with a tube of eazy in booty lube.learned about that with my dooba.

 

[WheelChair]

Where is the poll option for small block 400?!
:lol:

I know they are more rare, but I have seen some MEAN ass 406ci's...


WC

 

[RydeFab]

Where is the poll option for small block 400?!
:lol:

I know they are more rare, but I have seen some MEAN ass 406ci's...


WC

i'm with wheelchair, 406...................if the pockets are deep ;-). just freshen up the 350. a good set of heads, manifold, mild cam, carb and you're set to go. wanna make a street sleeper, get a higher stall convertor with some gearing..............wake that baby up!