383 TBI buildup, lots of pics!

[ImpalaGuy]

(Ron's note -- I edited this post to contain the pics from my first post so that the whole build-up is in one thread)

Well guys, after 2 years of ownership I've finally got my 383 underway. The plan is a bang-for-the-buck street 383 to liven-up the truck. Right now my tired 350 is probably putting out 150-160HP, and I'm hoping for 350-400 HP out of the 383. Here's the plan:

• 383cid short block ($1300)
• Ported vortec heads (ebay: $700)
• 50mm TBI w/80lb injectors, injector spacer and AFPR ($400)
• Edelbrock Performer RPM vortec intake w/adapter ($200)
• Roller cam from a ZZ4 crate motor (208/221@0.050") ($100)
• Roller lifters, pushrods, retainers ($0, had 'em from an LT1 buildup)
• Afterburner headers ($285)
• 8mm plug wires and Procomp distributor ($125)
• Gaskets: $100

That totals $3200. If history is any indication it will probably be ~$3500 by the time it's done. Here's some pics of what's happening so far...

Here's the freshly assembled 383 short block. I had the block but the pistons and crank are new..




Check out the 4 bolt mains on the bottom. The rods are LT1 ones that I already had...




Vortec heads. Fresh valve job and new springs...




Nice big 2.02" intake and 1.60" exhaust valves. Hard to stuff any bigger ones in there :)




There's power in a good port job. Check out the smooth intake ports in the vortec heads...




And a quick shot of the 50mm throttle body. Overpriced, IMHO, but I need to fuel this beast...




Update on 10-02-2006...
I finally got some time back in the garage and made some progress on the 383 buildup. The weather has been great for garage work here in Kentucky, and I was able to work (play?) at a nice pace and take some pics as I went along.


Here's a new shot of the 383 block with the heads installed. They are ported vortecs with 2.02" and 1.60" valves.



This is always a cool pic. The cam is 1/2 way installed here. I did decide that my original budget ZZ4 cam was to small, and sprung another $250 for the Comp Cams 502 grind. It's 218/224@0.050". The red stuff going on the lobes is cam lube (prevents wear on the first startup). You can also see my fancy cam installer in the end of the cam (also known as a bolt I had lying around :)



You can see the Cloyes double roller timing chain installed in this one.



I've got the valve train installed here. I converted it to a roller cam/lifter design from some lifters/pushrods that I left over from an LT1 buildup, and you can see the lifter retainer in the intake valley. I wish I had the cash for some sexy roller rockers, but stock ones will have to do for now.



Here I've got the intake installed. I went with an Edelbrock Performer RPM manifold. I'm going to use an adapter made by TRD to let me mount a TBI on a carb intake. I had to spend a LOT of time on the intake ports getting it to match the ported vortec cylinder heads, but forgot to take a pic of the ports when I finished



I also had to grind at the carb mount on the intake -- I test mounted the adapter and TBI, and the 50mm throttle blades were so big they wouldn't clear the intake mount to open! Some clearancing of the intake (and adapter) and everything fits smoothly.



And here's how she sits in the garage now with the balancer and valve covers installed. The only hickup I've run into is that these were some LT1 valve covers I had, and I've realized that the breather and filler holes are opposite of what I need for the '95 Silverado. Anybody out there have a cheap set of valves covers they want to sell?


Updates to follow!

[1989K1500]

Lookin sweet. Keep us updated.

[Nickleahy23]

should be a great motor...i want to build one this winter. You think you could give me a list of all the parts you used and where you got them from that would help a ton.. thanks

[chevyz71man]

Your not sposed to get that lube on the cam bearings... Although it is a synthetic lube it is still to gritty for them. Also being a roller cam, theres really no break in for the lifters. your going to chew those bearings up man..get the red crap for flat tappet cams off that roller cam.

[oldred95]

I put cam lube all over mine when I stabbed it. Its still running.


Looks good so far. I like your cam guide tool. I used the old timing gear to install mine.

[DownandDirty]

Looking good man.

[vortec stroker]

Good move on the bigger cam....its still not that big for a 383, and I bet it will run great!!!

[Zero260]

Man, that looks like its going to be a nice setup. Im real interested to see what kind of power it puts out. I've been thinking about giving up on TBI and going to a L31, so maybe I could make up my damn mind.

[ImpalaGuy]

Originally Posted by chevyz71man

Your not sposed to get that lube on the cam bearings... Although it is a synthetic lube it is still to gritty for them. Also being a roller cam, theres really no break in for the lifters. your going to chew those bearings up man..get the red crap for flat tappet cams off that roller cam.

The prelube is FOR the bearings. They're dry on startup and the cam would grind on them until oil got there. You're getting prelube confused with cam break-in period. Flat tappets need to be broke-in on the first startup and the prelube protects them until the lifters mate with the cam lobes. Roller cams don't need a break-in, but the prelube is still good protection.

I put prelube on all cam, crank and rod bearings, valve stem tips, rocker arm pivots, pushrod ends, etc. Basically anywhere there's metal-to-metal contact that the oil normally lubes. There's no "grit" in prelube. It's really just heavy weight oil. It washes out once the hot oil goes through there.

[ImpalaGuy]

Originally Posted by oldred95

I like your cam guide tool. I used the old timing gear to install mine.

That's a good idea! My bolt gets hard to hang onto with lube on it. A gear would be better.

(Okay I just re-read the "My bolt..." statement. I could go back and take away the beating-the-meat reference, but I kind of like it. It's original.)

[ImpalaGuy]

Originally Posted by Zero260

Man, that looks like its going to be a nice setup. Im real interested to see what kind of power it puts out. I've been thinking about giving up on TBI and going to a L31, so maybe I could make up my damn mind.

This is my first time playing around with TBI. From what I can see, the big challenge is getting enough air and fuel through the 2 injector throttle body. I went with an Xtreme-FI 50mm TB and 80lb/hr injectors. I still don't know if that will be enough, but it's the best I can do.

After everything is installed I can take some Datamaster readings to see if I have any vaccum at WOT or if it's lean. If so then I'll have to get fancier. I've got some ideas of making my own port injection using a Holley stealth ram intake. But for now I just want to get the motor in the truck.

Originally Posted by vortec stroker

Good move on the bigger cam....its still not that big for a 383, and I bet it will run great!!!

Yah I think you're right. The biggest reason I was holding onto the ZZ4 cam was because I got it so cheap ($100). But I figured it would suck to be unhappy with it, then have to spend the extra cash anyway AND have to tear the whole front of the engine down after it's in the truck. Once I decided to spring the dough I narrowed it down to two cams:
Comp 08-502-8 218/224@0.050", 112 separation, .495/.503 lift
Comp 08-503-8 224/230@0.050", 112 separation, .503/.510 lift

I figured that either would probably be fine, but when picking camshafts it's better to error on the small side. Add that to the fact that this is a freakin' 5000lb truck and I went with the 502. We'll see how she runs.

[ImpalaGuy]

(man it's embarrassing when the last 3 replies to your own thread are your own stupid posts...)

[1989K1500]

Originally Posted by ImpalaGuy

(man it's embarrassing when the last 3 replies to your own thread are your own stupid posts...)

The last 4.





Now go get it finished up.

[ChassisPro]

Looking good. What kind of flow numbers are on the heads?

[ImpalaGuy]

Originally Posted by ChassisPro

Looking good. What kind of flow numbers are on the heads?

I don't know. I scored them cheap off of ebay and didn't pay to have them flowbenched. They look really good. Here's a pic of the intake ports, the exhaust are just as nice:

[SuperChevy17]

Where did you get your block? Will any year 350 block work? I'm looking at doing a 383 TBI w/vortec heads in my 95 as well and have decided on pretty much everything except the block. I can get an 82 350 (complete) for $75, but if thats not what I need I will put that $75 toward what I DO need.

[RnuovZ71]

ImpalaGuy, I could have sworn that they (GMPP) made an intake (TBI) for you aplication. Am I wrong, or am I confused???

BTW SWEET 383

[ImpalaGuy]

Originally Posted by SuperChevy17

Where did you get your block? Will any year 350 block work? I'm looking at doing a 383 TBI w/vortec heads in my 95 as well and have decided on pretty much everything except the block. I can get an 82 350 (complete) for $75, but if thats not what I need I will put that $75 toward what I DO need.

My block originally came from a '92 2500 I think. Some (most? all?) of the 2500's came with 4-bolt main blocks.

One from '82 could work, but you would be making at least two sacrafices since it's pre-'87: it's a two-piece rear main seal and it's not ready for a roller cam. If I were you I'd wait, especially there's a fair amount of 4-bolt blocks for our trucks out there.

I'm also not sure if an '82 will have all the acccessories holes in all the right places for our trucks, somebody else might know.

[ImpalaGuy]

Originally Posted by RnuovZ71

ImpalaGuy, I could have sworn that they (GMPP) made an intake (TBI) for you aplication. Am I wrong, or am I confused???

BTW SWEET 383

Thanks. You're right that GMPP has a TBI intake, P/N 12496821. I looked at it but decided against it for two reasons: (1) The dang thing is $400. I like GMPP stuff, but they must think it's cast out of gold for that price. I paid $170 for an Edelbrock Performer RPM plus $35 for a TBI adapter plate. (2) The ports are small. The larger ports on the Performer RPM are better for a 383. And even then I ported them out more to match the intake ports in the heads.

My challange will be getting all the hoses/connections hooked up since all the tapped holes are in different places. If I was only building a 350 and had the extra cash I'd go with the GMPP one simply because it's plug-and-play.

I worked on her last night. I've got the rear main seal, flexplate, oil pan and water pump installed. Here's what she looks like right now:

[tahoen]

Great work!