Got a new engine from a yard last week - thanks Jason for the help! Started tearing it down last night. It's very clean inside and was freshly done with new gaskets. Found water in cylinders 2, 3 and 8 - probably from being open in the yard (intake was off when we got there). Have one stubborn bolt on the flex plate to get off then i can get the rear main seal out of it and get the crank out. So far everything is looking good. Glad I found this one. It's a 4 bolt main with 1 piece rear main seal. Perfect for what I'm doing.

Plans:

Bore it 0.030 over (not sure of compression yet - possible 9.3 or 9.7)
Hypereutectic Pistons
Crane Roller Cam (sitting in my 305 for now)
Screw-in Rocker Studs
Possibly 2.02/1.60 valves
Possible porting job (depends on cost)
Staying with roller rockers that are in the car already
Staying with TPI. Will need tuning when done (already have a chip)
Keeping LT1 injectors I have in the TPI now

Any suggestions are welcome. Was going to do 383 but the TPI I have won't give it enough air flow and don't have the money right now to do that.

 

If you can find a set of slp runners, we could siamese them and port the base and plenum... That would allow you to go to 383... Anybody have a 400 crank for this man? Whats with the bolt? Did you try heating it with a propane torch?

 

I cut it off. Just have to replace 1 bolt now, but it's good enough for now.

 

had the same problem with my bolt to. i just cut it as well lol.

 

I used to have the stock TPI on my 388(60 over) and then I later put the miniram on it. I am by no means a cam expert, but I do believe the cam is very important here because I really didn't notice much difference between the stock TPI and miniram with my 388. I'm sure if I got a cam that was better suited for the mini ram then it would start to shine. Same with the heads.

So if you want a 383, you could put the TPI on it, that's my opinion. You definetly won't be short in the torque department.

 

Thats what I keep telling him. (Although, in his defense, I am using a holley singleplane for my 383 SFI turbo build) I guess it just depends on who you ask.