388 C.I. shortblock from Schwanke
388 C.I. shortblock from Schwanke I wanted to know if anyone is currently or has previously had experience with the 388ci that Schwanke offers. I'm undecided between a 370 and now this motor. I understand the 370 is based of the 6.0 LQ4/9 and the 388 is based of the 5.3 L. I am looking for feedback on the 388, how much power is your 388 holding up? Is the 388 a more N/A friendly motor, or a good forced induction motor?
Trying to weigh out my options on all of the available shortblocks our vendors offer. Thanks
Trying to weigh out my options on all of the available shortblocks our vendors offer. Thanks
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,524
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From: Western Burbs of Detroit
Why don't you just go straight to the vendor, they have a number don't they ?
I post this because I've seen several people ask about Schwanke built motors and no one ever responds. The few that did respond I remember to be very positive.
I post this because I've seen several people ask about Schwanke built motors and no one ever responds. The few that did respond I remember to be very positive.
388 CI guys, please post, thanks
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,524
Likes: 1
From: Western Burbs of Detroit
Sorry the vendor and search can't be more helpful. As I stated before several of these threads about this vendor have already been started without much input. Search sucks too !!
The prices are great, so it would seem more people would be giving them a shot. I guess people just prefer going to the big names with more posted success. HKE, and others like them.
The prices are great, so it would seem more people would be giving them a shot. I guess people just prefer going to the big names with more posted success. HKE, and others like them.
allngn c5, thanks for the kind words, I'm going to scratch the 388 off my list if no one on the forums can give me some good feedback on this shortblock. I find it hard to believe that no one has tried a 388 with as good of a price as Schwanke offers on them. Tried and true 370 must be the way to go since that is all I read about here.
That is the biggest problem we have had breaking into this marketplace. Everybody wants info, but most of our customers are racers. And they aren't on these boards. I can assure you that we stand behind our products. If there is something obvious that was a failure on our part, we will be fair about replacements or taking care of the situation.
Are prices are so low because we buy stuff in great quantities and we can always find a deal somewhere. We choose to pass on the savings to the customer, but I guess maybe we should just start charging more, trust me, we have had the conversation about that. But it comes down to doing what is right.
Thanks for the input Allgn C5.
Are prices are so low because we buy stuff in great quantities and we can always find a deal somewhere. We choose to pass on the savings to the customer, but I guess maybe we should just start charging more, trust me, we have had the conversation about that. But it comes down to doing what is right.
Thanks for the input Allgn C5.
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TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,524
Likes: 1
From: Western Burbs of Detroit
That is the biggest problem we have had breaking into this marketplace. Everybody wants info, but most of our customers are racers. And they aren't on these boards. I can assure you that we stand behind our products. If there is something obvious that was a failure on our part, we will be fair about replacements or taking care of the situation.
Are prices are so low because we buy stuff in great quantities and we can always find a deal somewhere. We choose to pass on the savings to the customer, but I guess maybe we should just start charging more, trust me, we have had the conversation about that. But it comes down to doing what is right.
Thanks for the input Allgn C5.
Are prices are so low because we buy stuff in great quantities and we can always find a deal somewhere. We choose to pass on the savings to the customer, but I guess maybe we should just start charging more, trust me, we have had the conversation about that. But it comes down to doing what is right.
Thanks for the input Allgn C5.
Doug aka allngn_c5
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I can't comment on a Schwanke 388, but we did race a Schwanke 346 LS1 in the V8 StockCar road racing series in a 2800# with driver, tube frame stock car. This was a forged stock compression 346 long block with unported 853 heads with the GMPP 4 barrel manifold and Holley 650 carb and small racing cam. Despite the relatively mild set up this motor made 495 hp with outstanding torque and power from 3500-6800. Believe when I say they were 495 very healthy horses. The car won multiple races, always ran up front, ran a 2:15.768 at Sebring long (V8 StockCar track record), 2:02 at Daytona on a 95 degree day with a slipping clutch. The car was right at 180 mph in the tri oval with this motor.
I have been road racing for 18 years and this was the BEST all round road racing motor I have ever had.
This motor ran flawlessly right up until the time it swallowed one of the squirter screws out of the holley subsequently cracking the block. We switched carbs in a hurry at VIR trying to make qualifying and failed to check it.
We were so impressed with Tim's motor that we are having him build an LS6 for our
Grand Am Rolex GT Corvette. Many of the Guys running the GTA class in SCCA/V8 StockCar class use Tim's motors and I have never heard a complaint.
"Bosco" Logsdon
www.v8stockcar.com
I have been road racing for 18 years and this was the BEST all round road racing motor I have ever had.
This motor ran flawlessly right up until the time it swallowed one of the squirter screws out of the holley subsequently cracking the block. We switched carbs in a hurry at VIR trying to make qualifying and failed to check it.
We were so impressed with Tim's motor that we are having him build an LS6 for our
Grand Am Rolex GT Corvette. Many of the Guys running the GTA class in SCCA/V8 StockCar class use Tim's motors and I have never heard a complaint.
"Bosco" Logsdon
www.v8stockcar.com
I can't comment on a Schwanke 388, but we did race a Schwanke 346 LS1 in the V8 StockCar road racing series in a 2800# with driver, tube frame stock car. This was a forged stock compression 346 long block with unported 853 heads with the GMPP 4 barrel manifold and Holley 650 carb and small racing cam. Despite the relatively mild set up this motor made 495 hp with outstanding torque and power from 3500-6800. Believe when I say they were 495 very healthy horses. The car won multiple races, always ran up front, ran a 2:15.768 at Sebring long (V8 StockCar track record), 2:02 at Daytona on a 95 degree day with a slipping clutch. The car was right at 180 mph in the tri oval with this motor.
I have been road racing for 18 years and this was the BEST all round road racing motor I have ever had.
This motor ran flawlessly right up until the time it swallowed one of the squirter screws out of the holley subsequently cracking the block. We switched carbs in a hurry at VIR trying to make qualifying and failed to check it.
We were so impressed with Tim's motor that we are having him build an LS6 for our
Grand Am Rolex GT Corvette. Many of the Guys running the GTA class in SCCA/V8 StockCar class use Tim's motors and I have never heard a complaint.
"Bosco" Logsdon
www.v8stockcar.com
I have been road racing for 18 years and this was the BEST all round road racing motor I have ever had.
This motor ran flawlessly right up until the time it swallowed one of the squirter screws out of the holley subsequently cracking the block. We switched carbs in a hurry at VIR trying to make qualifying and failed to check it.
We were so impressed with Tim's motor that we are having him build an LS6 for our
Grand Am Rolex GT Corvette. Many of the Guys running the GTA class in SCCA/V8 StockCar class use Tim's motors and I have never heard a complaint.
"Bosco" Logsdon
www.v8stockcar.com
Thanks for the input Bosco. I really don't think this crowd understands how many LS engines we have done and are in the process of doing. I think we are one of a few race shops in the world that don't have a complete Gen 1 small block chevrolet complete in the shop. All we have is LS motors sitting waiting to go into race cars.
Tony Hunt is running our 6.2L LS3 in his USAC Western Series Sprint car. So far, through 2 races he has set quick time each race and last week he actually took the track record!!!
Anyways, thanks again.
Thanks to everyone for replying, I am simply asking around for reliable comentary on built short blocks from different vendors. garcr4, thank you for input. Schwanke, thank you also for replying, I had already spoken to you, just wanted to know if anyone else had tried the 388, thanks again.
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,524
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From: Western Burbs of Detroit
Thanks for the input Bosco. I really don't think this crowd understands how many LS engines we have done and are in the process of doing. I think we are one of a few race shops in the world that don't have a complete Gen 1 small block chevrolet complete in the shop. All we have is LS motors sitting waiting to go into race cars.
Tony Hunt is running our 6.2L LS3 in his USAC Western Series Sprint car. So far, through 2 races he has set quick time each race and last week he actually took the track record!!!
Anyways, thanks again.
Tony Hunt is running our 6.2L LS3 in his USAC Western Series Sprint car. So far, through 2 races he has set quick time each race and last week he actually took the track record!!!
Anyways, thanks again.
Thes are the testimonials that the lstech crowd wants. We like pictures and dyno graphs. Details on the build so we can decide if what you did is for us.
Good luck breaking into this crowd Schwanke !! It will happen with pics, graphs and details on builds. Again best of luck.
Im in the same spot as OP. Iv been looking at there
5.3L/5.7L 348 Truck Short Block. $1,699.99 and +200 for forged rods.
$1,900 for a forged shortblock is crazy cheap (iron weightr doesnt bother me)
I cant find alot of review in the lsx crowed, but a simple search on google brings up quite a bit of info from them in the circle track crowd (nothing negative)
5.3L/5.7L 348 Truck Short Block. $1,699.99 and +200 for forged rods.
$1,900 for a forged shortblock is crazy cheap (iron weightr doesnt bother me)
I cant find alot of review in the lsx crowed, but a simple search on google brings up quite a bit of info from them in the circle track crowd (nothing negative)
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
I have been thinking about building up a motor to replace my LS1, the 415 iron forged short block from you guys for like 3200 looks to be a hell of a deal.
I agree with the other posters, if you have some race vehicles post some updates from them if they win or something of the sort.
I agree with the other posters, if you have some race vehicles post some updates from them if they win or something of the sort.
I have been thinking about building up a motor to replace my LS1, the 415 iron forged short block from you guys for like 3200 looks to be a hell of a deal.
I agree with the other posters, if you have some race vehicles post some updates from them if they win or something of the sort.
I agree with the other posters, if you have some race vehicles post some updates from them if they win or something of the sort.
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