383 with Mild Cam

[EngineerDoug]

Hey folks,

I finally got a video of my 383 running up on Youtube:



You may recall I did a low budget rebuild on it and got a lot of pointers from the forum along the way (first engine build). I installed the Summit K6400 cam to hold costs down, and used an Edelbrock Performer intake. Static compression is 8.5:1 using the KB hypereutectic pistons at 0.040" over. Carb is a 750 Holley vacuum secondary.

It will be a good long while before the engine gets installed in the car, but I thought I would post the video in case anybody is contemplating this combination. Idle vacuum is good and it should be tame on the street.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[SublimeSixpack]

Good job.

 

[SgtLee511]

Nice

 

[mentor70]

too mellow for me, but awesome job!

 

[bschomske]

What year floor did you install the motor in? No really great job on the floor, I mean your motor........

 

[khryslerkid]

I like your engine stand!

Did you do a break-in initially? I noticed it's just idling in the video.

 

[EngineerDoug]

The engine was originally a "broke down in the butt" 2BBL 383. Sludge for oil, broken cam bearings, and scored mains. I agree the cam is very tame - my intention was to build a temporary no-frills powerplant for my '68 Coronet. Once the car is done and bank account is rebuilt, I will assemble a stroker 440 with six pack and aluminum heads. I will probably hand the 383 down to my son when I am done running it in the car.

I built the engine stand from some steel I had on hand, and it is plenty sturdy enough to run the engine. Threw some paint on it and tacked on some old gauges. Exhaust is just a couple of Thrush Turbo mufflers to keep me in good graces with the neighbors, but they sound good.

Oh yes, I did a thorough break-in once the engine was assembled. I used Gibbs break-in oil and found very little metal residue/sparkle in the filter after the initial run. So it looks like everything went well.

I thought a video of the engine running at idle would be helpful to anybody wondering about this cam. The cam + lifter combo is definitely a cost saver versus a name brand like Comp Cams. I can't say how strong it will run, but so far so good.

The home for this engine will be my '68 Coronet, which is now down to a bare shell.

 

[69a100]

So please tell me, how'd you get that started without a bell housing to hold the starter? Inquiry minds want to know.

 

[EngineerDoug]

I fabbed a bracket using some 1/8" thick steel. Shaped like a "C" with two holes for the starter and two to mount it to the bolt pattern on the back of the block.

 

[BeatersRus]

looks like he just bolted it right to the block.
pause it at ten seconds in.

to the Op,what did the budget come out to be,
after all was said n done?

 

[EngineerDoug]

Here is a rough breakdown of what I spent:

Long block: $2000
Accessories (intake, carb, headers, misc): $570

This includes machine work (bore/hone, recon rods, surface heads). Bare bones expenditures; I didn't even magnaflux or hot tank.

Note I degreased everything with Easy-Off oven cleaner. This stuff is the bomb, but it raises hell with your skin after a while. Compared to Easy-Off, foaming engine cleaner is hand soap.

 

[AMX364]

Funny thing, I think I have the same cam setup sitting on my shelf, but for a 440 so even milder!

 

[moper]

Great job. I just finished a similar budget deal, and yes Easy Off is my HD degreaser of choice.

 

[Doba76]

Any updates Doug? Thinking about the same cam for my 400 build and would love some first hand reviews!

 

[EngineerDoug]

Doba,

Can't add anything yet, as I don't expect to have the engine in the car for another year. I periodically run it on the stand and let it come up to temp for a while. It is a mild cam, and you could probably go one step up (to the Summit 6401) without losing too much idle quality.

Note also that this cam was chosen primarily for two reasons. First, being a Summit brand is was cheaper than something from Comp Cams, etc. Also, I did not want to build too much compression into the motor (running 8.5:1), so the consensus was that it would not respond well to a bigger cam.

Here are some shots of the body under restoration - you can see why I think it will be another year before it is rolling: