383 rebuild

[73moparman]

I'm going too be rebuilding my 383 for my 73 charger, I'm thinking about buying 440 sources 438 strokes kit and a pair of stealth heads, not sure on cam. I'm open to opinions on this set up or if some one has a pair of stealth heads for sale.

 

[Garys1969RR]

Isn't the stroker kit the same price for a 383 block as a 400 block? If you can pick one up, you will have more cubic inches when done. And hopefully more horse power.

- - - Updated - - -

I picked up a used set of Performer RPM heads on here for 1175.00. And they came with Crane Gold roller rockers. Just keep an eye out if your on a budget. There are sometimes some good deals out there.

 

[73moparman]

Yhea I thought about a 400 or 440 but I like my 383 and want to stick with it. I don't want to go to crazy where I will break tranny or rear end first time I hammer it. I would like around 550 hp and able to run 91 octane gas, budget it around 4000.

 

[69roadr]

not sure on cam.

go roller if you can afford it. got one in my 383
btw, welcome to the wonderful world of b-bodies
oh, i just noticed your budget and projected h.p. i don't think 4 G's is going to get you that 550

 

[73moparman]

Alright forget hp it's only a number, ideally I would like a mid 11 to 12 sec 1/4 mile 383 for my 73 charger. I understand tires will play a big part I currently have 255s eventually like to get some 295s street drags. Also is 727 slap stick auto.

 

[5.7 hemi]

3k-ish for heads and stroker kit from 440source......so a 4k budget is doable.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Building a 383 into a stroker is not a bad idea at all and might be necessary for your performance goal. I might consider boring to only .030" to preserve cylinder wall and align bore the block rather than run a cut down crank.

 

[5.7 hemi]

With the 440source stroker kit, it drops right in, no machining anything, and the bearings are chamfered. Seems good to me.

 

[mikeyfrano]

I'm going too be rebuilding my 383 for my 73 charger, I'm thinking about buying 440 sources 438 strokes kit and a pair of stealth heads, not sure on cam. I'm open to opinions on this set up or if some one has a pair of stealth heads for sale.

call comp and tell them what n how your going to use the car and they will custom grind you a cam for what you want. not really any more money than one off the shelf

 

[Challenger340]

With the 440source stroker kit, it drops right in, no machining anything, and the bearings are chamfered. Seems good to me.

Personally, having Seen/Checked literally DOZENS of 440 Source Stroker Kits, IMO, nothing could be further from the truth than the above.
IMO,
The Source Kits should be checked over very thoroughly by a competent Machinist prior to contemplating ANY assembly, wherein, a high percentage of times at least, most if not all require some re-work. Some are better than others... but NONE should be taken as "drop-in" as delivered.
Quality ranges for STREET useage only.... from mid-acceptable with just Pin-Fit.... right down to disaster, and is evidenced by some that get lucky and things seem to run OK.... with just minor "unknowns" later like High Oil temps experienced from too tight clearances ....
to those that fail upon fire-up.
You GET, what you PAY for... these are inexpensive Kits designed for "Street" useage, that offer good value, but DO NOT think you can order and assemble as "delivered"...pure FOLLY !

FORGET the Stealth Heads above 500hp as delivered O.O.T.B., They require Port re-work for above 500hp, not the least of which is a poor longside Bowl transition and seat re-configuration.

 

[IQ52]

Personally, having Seen/Checked literally DOZENS of 440 Source Stroker Kits, IMO, nothing could be further from the truth than the above.
IMO,
The Source Kits should be checked over very thoroughly by a competent Machinist prior to contemplating ANY assembly, wherein, a high percentage of times at least, most if not all require some re-work. Some are better than others... but NONE should be taken as "drop-in" as delivered.
Quality ranges for STREET useage only.... from mid-acceptable with just Pin-Fit.... right down to disaster, and is evidenced by some that get lucky and things seem to run OK.... with just minor "unknowns" later like High Oil temps experienced from too tight clearances ....
to those that fail upon fire-up.
You GET, what you PAY for... these are inexpensive Kits designed for "Street" useage, that offer good value, but DO NOT think you can order and assemble as "delivered"...pure FOLLY !

FORGET the Stealth Heads above 500hp as delivered O.O.T.B., They require Port re-work for above 500hp, not the least of which is a poor longside Bowl transition and seat re-configuration.

Hmm, lesse, what can I add..............

ummm........

nothing.

 

[Challenger340]

Hmm, lesse, what can I add..............

ummm........

nothing.

LOL !
OK, you chimed in Jim... so I get to pick on 'YA !
Speaking of "additions"

I mean it here...
What would it take for You and Cody to start offering a decent prepped, YOUR ported version of the Stealth, that guys could then "seriously" consider between 550-600hp builds ?
Drop Ship... YOU port & prep... then off to the Customer ?

Sorry for the rant here....
but IMO, it's getting ridiculous the "HOLE" in the marketplace between the Eddy/Stealths.... and the next step up to INDY EZ etc., etc ?
equaled only...
by the amount of Guys even THINKING that Eddy's/Stealths are good to go O.O.T.B. for 500+ hp... little-lown 493 Strokers etc., ??

I mean I know you guys are busy enough already...
but,
Would you guys consider starting doing it ? What Volumes would you need to see to make it worthwhile ?

 

[Banzaiii67]

If you going to stroke it, why not use the Muscle Motors 450ci or the 496ci Kit ?

450/383. This is a version of the tried and true 474/400 combo we pioneered back in the 80’s. Back then we would offset grind cranks to a 3.9 stroke with a 2.200 rod journal. We would then use a 6.535 long GM style rod and those kits worked AWESOME! Today we just have the cranks made new out of 4340 heat treated steel and use a similar, but slightly longer 6.700 long rod. This combination is ideal for someone looking for a little more out of their 383. The 383 kits come with forged Ross dished pistons, chamfered bearings (we have chamfered 383 & 400 main bearings), file to fit plasma moly rings and competition balancing for a truly ready to go kit when you receive it.
Only: $2199

496/383. This combination actually makes 489” in a +.030 bore and “496” in a +.060 bore. We just call it 496” because our original welded stroker kits that were the first on the market back in the 80’s were called “496 Stroker Kits”. This combination is a TORQUE MONSTER. 4.25 stroke, 6.535 and a 1.307 compression height dished piston (for pump gas compression) and is ideal for someone building the ultimate sleeper. Our 1.307 piston also stops well below an unmachined stock block deck surface. These Ross pistons along with chamfered rod and main bearings and competiton balancing
Only: $2199

 

[5.7 hemi]

Those are smoking hot deals!!! Now if more people knew about those kits, they would sell. I myself did not know and when I get ready to stroke my 383, you can bet I'll be getting one of those kits.

 

[Meep-Meep]

LOL !
OK, you chimed in Jim... so I get to pick on 'YA !
Speaking of "additions"

I mean it here...
What would it take for You and Cody to start offering a decent prepped, YOUR ported version of the Stealth, that guys could then "seriously" consider between 550-600hp builds ?
Drop Ship... YOU port & prep... then off to the Customer ?

Sorry for the rant here....
but IMO, it's getting ridiculous the "HOLE" in the marketplace between the Eddy/Stealths.... and the next step up to INDY EZ etc., etc ?
equaled only...
by the amount of Guys even THINKING that Eddy's/Stealths are good to go O.O.T.B. for 500+ hp... little-lown 493 Strokers etc., ??

I mean I know you guys are busy enough already...
but,
Would you guys consider starting doing it ? What Volumes would you need to see to make it worthwhile ?

I had Jim do a set of 906 heads for a 451 build I'm doing and the quality of work was great. I pulled an intake and exhaust valve to check guide clearance and they were spot on. These heads I have here are truly bolt on pieces built by someone who's goal is to provide quality machine work. Not production machine work. The end cost including the core cost is more than the stealth heads and probably about what Eddy's would cost. But no special gaskets or tricks to install, and for a mild street motor I bet they will work great.

For a long time I heard the argument that Chinese aluminum heads are ready to bolt on but more and more I hear about what has to be done to fix them before they are bolted on. I guess it's like Harbor freight tools. You buy it. Then you fix it. And only then will you have something that works. I'm planning a BBC build for a buddy and one guy suggested using Pro Comp aluminum heads for $850.00 pr assembled. For me to buy them for $850.00 someone had to make money on them and I'm sure someone before the ebay guy made money too, not to mention transportation from China. What we have here are a set of heads that probably cost some stupid low dollar amount to produce ($200.00?). I've never looked at a set but I can't help wondering how good they can possibly be.

So I will encourage you folks wanting a budget mild street car engine to take another look at those good iron head cores and have Jim do a very basic bowl clean up and good machine work.

 

[IQ52]

LOL !
OK, you chimed in Jim... so I get to pick on 'YA !
Speaking of "additions"

I mean it here...
What would it take for You and Cody to start offering a decent prepped, YOUR ported version of the Stealth, that guys could then "seriously" consider between 550-600hp builds ?
Drop Ship... YOU port & prep... then off to the Customer ?

Sorry for the rant here....
but IMO, it's getting ridiculous the "HOLE" in the marketplace between the Eddy/Stealths.... and the next step up to INDY EZ etc., etc ?
equaled only...
by the amount of Guys even THINKING that Eddy's/Stealths are good to go O.O.T.B. for 500+ hp... little-lown 493 Strokers etc., ??

I mean I know you guys are busy enough already...
but,
Would you guys consider starting doing it ? What Volumes would you need to see to make it worthwhile ?

Everything needs a little qualification and depending upon the circumstances (engine build), no two sets of heads would be the same.

So, what if someone drop shipped a pair of bare Stealth heads and we prepped them so the heads (not the engine) were capable of 720+ HP, but we set them up for a flat tappet cam of .550" lift with valves, springs, retainers, locks, seals and spring locators? What would that cost? $2,235 plus shipping.

Good to 640 HP or so? 'bout $1,835 + shipping

Good to 550+ HP or so...........$1,315 + shpng

These costs are associated with customer supplied (the way I like it) bare heads and we supply all new hardware, valves and blah, blah, blah.

Can it be done cheaper? Sure! I get people who balk. So I tell 'um, 440 Source will sell you a pair of CNC ported Stealth heads for $2,200 including shipping. How many pair do you want?

We've done clean up and changed the locks and retainers on Stealth heads supplied to us with all Stealth parts, for $500 and they go right at 550HP dyno'd on a 493 with a flat tappet.

What has been the difference in dyno contests between our 451 engine with RPM/Stealth and others? About 130 HP.

You choose.

 

[IQ52]

The "you choose" was not for you Bob, you know better that I what is going on with these heads.