flowfx

Ugh sorry do ask this question as I'm sure its been asked plenty of times, but I searched, and I couldnt find anything worth while.

I have a 135k mile LT1, and am really looking to do a turbo or tt setup. Figuring that I'm going turbo, I really dont need/want the extra torque of a 383.

Will I save a huge amount of money on simply doing a forged 350? I dont believe the crank needs to be forged, so I'm not including that in the price.. I'd like 500-550hp.

I'm assuming a forged 350 rebuild would only be around $1k.. then another $1500 or so for heads. Then about 4-5k for a PTK setup. Im not including cheap items such as cam, fuel pump, injectors, pumps, timing chains, etc..

I can afford a 383, but I really don't want one, and I doubt I could afford the 383 + TT. I'd prefer the car to be driveable, and my dream car is a TT'd TA. Am I completely off on the $1k estimate to forge my 350?

Im sure someone will go "Just do a 355.." and then someone else will go "if youre doing a 355 just do a 383!" like I said, unless I simply cant afford to do a f350+tt for some odd reason, I'll just do an NA 383.

Cliffnotes; Will a forged 350 be a MUCH, MUCH (2-4k) cheaper alternative to a 355/383? Or is the difference very minimal, as in $500.. $1500..

Please post your opinion and not just "youll go so much faster with a 383!!!111!" because I'm not looking for 800hp, just a killer fun car, and my dream car.

flowfx

no suggestions :\

oldBones

Here in Mo it's $15 a hole ($120) and the .030 pistons will cost the same and rod cost will also be the same as a 350. A scat crank 9000 can be had for $220 dollars and is rated at 600hp 6500rpm. A forged crank will cost about $550. Too answer your question, there isn't a big difference in price for a good rebuild, regardless the CI. Plus 160,000mi on the clock you'll need to go larger then 4.00. cameron

Red_94Formula

Well it would have to be a 355 at aleast because you cant just put in new standard rings in a 132k mile block. The bores are not a perfect circle anymore and will be required to be bored .030 oner by the machine shop. Putting standard rings in there may cause blow by.

Other wise if it is going to be turbo 355 will rev higher then a turbo 383. I think one would want a higher reving motor for turbo.

flowfx

Damn I was expecting machine work to be far more expensive. People seem to charge an arm and a leg for a crate 383

oldBones

For all of the machine work using torque plate and going with a two bolt mains it's going to cost me about $530 to machine for a 383.

DrewHMS97SS

there is a huge amount of work that has to be done for the 383. one of which is block releif. with most crank/rod combos metal has to be removed from the side of the block so that the rods will clear. Then there is the cylinder bore, possibly a line bore, and some other small stuff. the relief is what costs, the machinist has to assemble and disassemble until it all fits. That basically takes shop time.

flowfx

Drew; how much of a difference? Huge as in $1500-2k+, or huge as in an extra couple hundred bucks?

GetaZforgetGT

I'm in the same boat flowfx. I have block to rebuild.

I'm taking my to a shop and having them check it out.
I still have cross hatch in my cylinders and i have about 90K on the clock
so I'm hoping that I don't need to go 30 over. I wasn't planning on going to a
355 but if I have to I will.

I'm just not going to built a 383 right now. I want to build an all engine in the next few years but my prioritize don't allow it. D@mn resposibility getting in the way.

I would say take it to a shop and have them give you some ideas...they may even be able to get you discounts on parts.

DrewHMS97SS

i paid about 1800 for my pistons, crank and rods, after all the maching, 4 bolt splayed mains and a good p&p for my lt4 heads and intake i was sitting right at about 5k. I had the machine shop assemble my short block as well so thats added cost. also i got my oil pump, all the new seals and gaskets included in that price. not to mention my entire rotating mass was lightened and balenced.

flowfx

a 355 doesnt need a different crank from the 350 correct? Which is why everyone does the 355?

oldBones

No you can use the stock crank. 3.480 and the piston will be .030 over = 355ci

GetaZforgetGT

Right 355 is the same components except it requires a piston that is 30 over.
No other changes are needed.

Bow94z

Yea FlowFx, im in the same situation as u. Wanting to build a nice350-355 motor with some decent power. money is tight for me also. but i have been looking in summit mag forparts, but im thinking machine work and assembly will kill me???

flowfx

Well, I've got about 9k to spend TOTAL until I get out of college in a year.

So I'm not really looking to cut corners, but I really think it'd be pointless to stroke a motor that's going to be turboed. I'd rather completely forge the stock motor, and spend the rest of the money on fuel/turbo to make it far surpass what I'd be able to afford with a 383+turbo. I'm figuring the PTK will be around 5k including injectors, and fuel pump and other misc items..

I'm really hoping I can find a way to forge my bottom end (probably not crank) + heads and only spend about 2-2500

That would leave me 2-3k for suspension work and anything else, maybe an LS1 front end, paintjob..etc