Stroker Project

[FreeBeeTony]

I am thinking of starting a 383 Stroker project.........

By project I mean, if I come accross something at a great price I will pick it up........like a late model block from a GMC truck, vortec heads I would have redone, etc.....

This would be like a hobby/project, I like to play with wrenches and this might be something my son and I could do together........he wants to build a car.......I want it for the boat....

I would start with the block, send it out to a machne shop whilewe look for heads to be sent out, then look for a rotating assembly........

Sounds like fun......right?

What do you guys think??

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Stroker Project

project.........




I would start with the block, send it out to a machine shop while we look for heads to be sent out, then look for a rotating assembly........

Sounds like fun......right?

What do you guys think??

Sounds like great fun!! I would get your pistons though to send to the machine shop with the block so they can bore for more accurate clearance. Think and plan everything ahead to eliminate problems later.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stroker Project

I like to play with wrenches and this might be something my son and I could do together........he wants to build a car.......I want it for the boat....

Ayuh,... Sounds like a Cool father son project,... How old is he,..?? Teenage,..??

I agree with Jim,... Atleast lay it out on paper, figuring the compression ratio, which pistons, etc. 1st...
Do you have a Machinist yet,..?? Talk it over with him to devolop a schedule...
Like Jim said, sometimes it's better the guy has the piston, or Whatever in his hand to meassure,+ match, rather than a # in a book...

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Stroker Project

He's 18........not in a rush here.......

Thougtht I could just have the block bored out and install a "stroker kit" at a later time.....not a good idea?

I'd like to find a set of used heads......strip 'em down ourselves and send them out to be redone....bigger valves etc.....

Not looking to build anything crazy........383 cubes/vortec heads w/ bigger valves/decent cam/etc....not looking to destroy my Alpha but would like some extra ponies and I like this stuff.......

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Stroker Project

383 cubes/vortec heads w/ bigger valves/decent cam/etc....not looking to destroy my Alpha but would like some extra ponies and I like this stuff.......

For gods sake don't bring up the cam issue again..

Summit sells brand spanking new Vortec heads for 300 apiece. Probably cheaper that route before paying for cleaning,shaving,valve job,guides, not to mention used ones might be cracked. Just a thought...

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Stroker Project

I know I could buy the heads as cheap (or cheaper) new rather than reworkin them........just wanna do as much as we can in the basement.....will need to buy a stand too. This will be a work in progress project.............that's why I thought I could have the block reworked while I searched for a rotating assembly........

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Stroker Project

He's 18........not in a rush here.......

Thought I could just have the block bored out and install a "stroker kit" at a later time.....not a good idea?
.....

Nope. If my machinist didn't request the pistons prior to doing a bore job I would find a different machinist. Pistons may vary from one manufacturer to another and the different types of pistons require different clearances,forged,cast. It would really suck if your new pistons didn't have the correct clearance with your new bore job. May have to pay to have the bore corrected or even bored to the next oversize.Then you would have to exchange your pistons which may be already balanced to your stroker kit. As far as if they are balanced with the rest of the kit is something you would have to check in to.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Stroker Project

I hate to disagree with the find another machinist but. I have bought two of these blocks from this company:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

for building a 383 and a 406 and never once did they need to "see" my pistons or rods and everything was perfect. All I did was tell them what crank rods pistons I was using and they did the rest. Yes I agree that you should have what your going to use picked out before you go having anything done as far as machining, but as far as finding a 350 block and having it cleaned,magna-fluxed,line bored,new cam bearings and freeze plugs installed before buying your crank,rods,pistons, and cam is acceptable...

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Stroker Project

, but as far as finding a 350 block and having it cleaned,magna-fluxed,line bored,new cam bearings and freeze plugs installed before buying your crank,rods,pistons, and cam is acceptable...

This is what I was thinking of doing.......as long as I know what I am planning on buying....30 overbore pistons and such...........this way I don't have to lay out alot iof money at one time......think I may have a lead on a block for $40..........

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Stroker Project

if I were you, I would be sure to start with a block that's got a roller cam set up in it... you'll be glad you did probably

that being said, you might could do well just buying an already done short block... and then doing the rest from there...

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Stroker Project

I hate to disagree with the find another machinist but. I have bought two of these blocks from this company:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

for building a 383 and a 406 and never once did they need to "see" my pistons or rods and everything was perfect. All I did was tell them what crank rods pistons I was using and they did the rest. Yes I agree that you should have what your going to use picked out before you go having anything done as far as machining, but as far as finding a 350 block and having it cleaned,magnafluxed,line bored,new cam bearings and freeze plugs installed before buying your crank,rods,pistons, and cam is acceptable...

FROM THE ADD:
The author of this add is not a machinist, and only conveying to the best of his knowledge these procedures, so pardon if the terminology is not accurate. Rest assured, the machine work is being performed by two very experienced race engine builders, using state of the art equipment. There are many subtle variances as to how these procedures can be performed, and we will gladly perform them to your liking. The final finish honing,(RA)finish, and final bore size can vary from one builder to the next, but only in very finite amounts, we will do these procedures to your exacting specs, otherwise we will perform them to so called industry standards for street/strip buildups.

Before assembly did you mic your pistons and cylinders? If not how would you know "everything was perfect". You could have 3 times too much clearance and the motor would still run fine. It might burn some oil and have some blow by but would still run alright. All I'm saying is you can't assume every one's micrometers are calibrated exactly the same and when your talking piston clearances of .0015"-.002" it wouldn't be hard to miss when your having a bore measured at one place and the pistons measured at another.Temperature alone between where the block was bored and pistons are made could create a size problem when the two come together in the same room. Ask any precision machinist. Any performance engine building book will tell you to never bore a block with out the pistons in hand. His exact words state in his add "final finish and bore size can vary from one builder to the next" and "we will do these procedures to YOUR EXACTING SPECS, otherwise we will perform them to so called INDUSTRY STANDARDS". If you don't know enough to give him your pistons so he can bore to EXACTING SPECS than you get it bored to INDUSTRY STANDARDS. If your pistons don't end up with the correct clearance it's your problem. He also states how he had a author write his add. Very fine written add. A good add can convince anyone into buying anything. It looks like he has a fine quality piece there which I'm sure it is. As far as them not asking to see your pistons that's fine to them. Their making a sale and only have to worry about meeting INDUSTRY STANDARDS and not EXACTING SPECS. I'm sure his machinist would never bore a block of their own by just assuming their pistons are a certain size and not measuring them. I agree everything else could be done to the block but I would never let someone bore it with out them having the pistons.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Stroker Project

Im not going to get into a p****ing match here. We could debate all day about who has a better method for putting together an SBC. There is no reason he cant have the engine cleaned and checked out by a machinist to know he is starting out with a good block before he dumps the money in the "inerds". Hes putting together a basic stroker for a boat. I dont think hes planning on running a 7 second car at Pinks All Out...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stroker Project

Im not going to get into a p****ing match here.

Ayuh,... Which is Why, I keep saying that Tony should have a discussion with the Machinist of his choice....

The Machinist will no doubt tell Tony what he's comfortable with,+ what he's Not comfortable with...
Building this project will be a Team Effort, between Tony, his Son,+ the Machinist of Tony's choosing.....

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Stroker Project

This is supposed to be fun and reduce stress.......not add to it.....

I spoke with a friend of mine who is a motor head, he has a 9 sec 1/4 mi car and knows his way around engines. He seems to agree with Alpheus, he made a comment like "your not building a tremendous amount of HP or spinning it @ 7K RPM". He is going to give me a few numbers to machine shops I can call and get their input also.

Now I am wrestling with the fact that after I am done I will have an engine sitting in my basement........

Oh well........now I need to decide if I really should do it........

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Stroker Project

If you have the means,do it. IMHO nothing makes me happier than when you hit the starter and an engine that you 100% put together yourself fires up for the first time. For that brief moment, all the troubles in the world seem to fade away...

Until the oil pump gives out and you spin a bearing... Just kidding.

Small block Chevys are very fun to play with. The parts are abundant and cheap, compared to some other motors. Have fun...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stroker Project

This is supposed to be fun and reduce stress.......not add to it.....

He, He,... Ayuh,...

Now I am wrestling with the fact that after I am done I will have an engine sitting in my basement........

Just assemble it to the Short block, then move it into the hull for final assembley....
A Short block can be Muscled by a couple of stout fellas,+ some ingenuity...

You can still "Dry Fit" it together with the kid for learnin' purposes in the basement though....

Glad to hear you found somebody with ties to a Machinist,...

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Stroker Project

Not worrying about getting the engine out of the basement........been there / done that.....it's now a question of $$$$......this will probably run me around $2-3K.

The machine shops are coming in at $600-$800 to prep and clearance the block.
They are telling me they only need to know what brand the rotating asembly is, they don't need to have it in hand.

 

[mkast]

Re: Stroker Project

Enroll in a night engine class with your son.
With the equipment in the shop, you can save a ton of money.