Is it worth the extra money to get an Iron block over my current aluminum block. I was planning to get a rotating assembly and since both are the same price, it's had me thinking. Will the extra 80lb on the front end and hp increase net me faster or equal times at the track compared to the 383?

To the best of my knowledge the only price difference will be the cost of the 6.0 block.....With either choice I will be using my TEA 243's and my only concern with the car is 1/4 mile performance. No Forced induction is in my future

 

If you're only interested in drag racing, you can probably overcome the 408's added weight by making a bit more power from the larger bore/added cubes. You'd need to optimize the setup for the 408 with a custom cam, but you'd have more potential there.

Now, if you were interested more in cost and cared at all about the added weight on the front of the car (for road racing or similar), than the 383 would probably work just as well. If you just want to rebuild the car, just do pistons and rods, reuse your crank and block, and save yourself something like $900.

 

I'd go 4" bore. Custom cam isn't needed either. Your engine has no clue whether or not the cam is custom or off the shelf as long as it's correct for your application. That said I have 4" stroke cams now, they just haven't been advertised yet.

 

Yeah, but a 232/230 cam isn't ideal for a 408. Especially if drag racing is the end goal.

 

the more cubes the more power.

 

If you are worried about the weight compared to the iron block you can always go with a RHS aluminum block that will meet your needs. People make real good numbers all motor with 408s. Just gotta make sure you buy a great combination of heads, cam, rotating assembly, etc etc.

Like garygnu said: "the more cubes the more power."

Those extra cubic inches will make over for the weight IMO.

 

I think my biggest concern with going with the 408 is that my 243's wont be enough and I don't have the money to buy another set of heads

 

Just try to save up. Its always worth it at the end. Whats your budget?

 

TEA 243s are plenty for a 408.

 

I agree that a 232/230 isn't ideal. I never said a 232/230 cam was optimal either, just that there is really no need for a 450 dollar custom cam when there are shelf grinds that will work just fine on a more common set up like his.

Are they stage 1 or stage 2 TEA heads?

 

Stage 2's milled to 61cc's 2.04/1.57 valves

 

I wouldn't worry about those on a 408. If they had 2.055" valves, they'd be a tiny bit better, but I have those same heads and wouldn't hesitate running them on a 408.

 

That's good. As far as larger valves go, if you have two cylinder heads...and both flow the same amount of CFM@.600" lift, but one cylinder head uses a smaller valve to do so, the cylinder head with the smaller valve will create more velocity in the throat of the runner which 95% of the time equals more torque. With the right camshaft to capitalize on this, it equals more horsepower as well.

 

There are 2 things in life that are hard to beat: Cubic inches and Cubic dollars.

IMO 25ci is enough difference to justify the swap for the power gained. If its in your budget Id go with it. I also think the 243s would be fine with the 408.

 

I guess I have a decision to make......Thanks everyone for your thoughts and opinions