383 or 408
383 or 408 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
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.
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.
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.
Like garygnu said: "the more cubes the more power."
Those extra cubic inches will make over for the weight IMO.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo Are they stage 1 or stage 2 TEA heads?
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.
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
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.
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.
