IRONFIST

Ok so there's a kid who bought my old LS1 yesterday; hard working kid, he comes by every two weeks with money and buys what he can from my garage. I don't want to steer him in the wrong direction. I've agreed to sell him my old LS1 short block; What would be the most economical route; ordering a Texas speed 383 assembly and bolting on stock 317 heads or sticking with a 347 and putting the money into AFR heads?
Let's say he's got $2500 total budget and let's put $500 of that aside for shipping, gaskets, fluids, and other misc like sensors.
That gives him $2000 to play with; does he have better options that I may have over looked?

2000PewterT/A

The 383 will cost more when you factor in the machining cost for the clearance at the bottom of the cylinders etc. Plus putting the stock heads on a 383 would kill the power down so much it wouldn’t be worth it imo. I would have him spend his money on some good heads that would be the best for his budget.

godlyxdan

iTrader: (1)

Agreed, 2 grand is enough play room to fully take advantage of a 383

cory32690

For 2000 I would get a set of ai 862 heads or if u can get a nice set of afr or trick flows..for
His budget if he does not have cam yet I would go the ai roughy and have them spec him a cam also and be done

sukebe

iTrader: (9)

I'd suggest a decent set of heads and a LS6 intake.

Adam123

iTrader: (1)

Cam, Heads, push rods, intake, oil pump, timing chain and injectors. If he shops right he may be able to get all of that! Have him search Craigslist for intakes; search in Houston and Atlanta (North Ga.) as I have found more ls parts in those cities.
Gaskets and bolts add up too.
I've seen some ported and assembled heads go for 600 on Ebay; note, they're rarely name brand and factory castings that's been ported.