363ci Stroker kit for L33
The 4 inch stroke 3.80 small bore 363 is possibly the most poorly optimized of all LS engine builds. All of the cost of a stroker with almost none of the benefit. It's hard to imagine a worse bore and stroke set up for NA from what I've seen in the LS world.
In NA bore is far more important than stroke to make good hp. Big bore allows bigger valves, less shrouding and more flow to make mire power. The 4 inch stroke crank is less ideal for forced induction. You better make absolutely sure the correct design piston package is used otherwise that 4 inch crank mini stroker will be an oil guzzling detonation prone pig with ring seal issues.
A good 4 inch bore 3.62 stroke LS2 have more potential and less cost. It will also take boost and rpm better than a 4 inch crank set up.
Punching the L33 out to 3.903 or 3.905 and building a 383 stroker could make for a sweetheart of an engine for that C5. Otherwise sell the L33 and get another motor.
Of course it's your money and project so it's your decision.
Last edited by 99 Black Bird T/A; May 25, 2019 at 02:46 PM.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
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From: Texas
Wow, so I must be naive or ignorant. Lol
Texas speed and Cnc Motorsports is selling Pogie bait ? Just doesn't make sense. Obviously the 4.00" bore with 4.00" stroke will hava a better ratio than a 3.80" bore and 4.00" stroke.
Texas speed and Cnc Motorsports is selling Pogie bait ? Just doesn't make sense. Obviously the 4.00" bore with 4.00" stroke will hava a better ratio than a 3.80" bore and 4.00" stroke.
Its your money and your car. Build whatever you want. The irony here however is that many folks have been giving you GREAT advice for several threads now, and it seems you continue to want to do your own thing. My advice sir...stop asking questions and just buy something. At least you’ll have the car running and driving.
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On The Tree
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Yes, 1 very good reason. I don't want to take all the life span away from the block all in one rebuild.
If I go 3.800" now, then later on I can go 3.898" then after that I can go to a 3.905" bore. It's called conserving the block for a later use. Taking all the material out of the bore of the block all in one go is like you saying you wanna be a strong *** man
but live a short *** life.
Lol Yes I know 100% a 383ci would perform better, the 363ci would have a smaller bore by 0.105"
So that little difference in size will cause it to use more oil ?
If I go 3.800" now, then later on I can go 3.898" then after that I can go to a 3.905" bore. It's called conserving the block for a later use. Taking all the material out of the bore of the block all in one go is like you saying you wanna be a strong *** man
but live a short *** life.
Lol Yes I know 100% a 383ci would perform better, the 363ci would have a smaller bore by 0.105"So that little difference in size will cause it to use more oil ?
Last edited by C5SixSpeedZ51; May 25, 2019 at 07:22 PM.
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OK, BUT you have been told that a 4"stroke with the smaller bore is NOT a good combo. If you want to keep that block AND have a good running combo, stick with the stock stroke. The engine will be a better "balanced" combo. Go back and read thru the thread again and PAY ATTENTION to the parts that say the 4" stroke setup is NOT good. Quit asking stupid questions about WHY it's no good. The guys who gave this advice know what they are talking about thru a lot of personal experience. If they say it's no good, TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT. I sure would.
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Senior Member
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You keep mentioning boring it in steps. LS engines go 200k miles on their original bores ALL THE TIME. Do you really plan on having this engine for 600k miles? I really doubt it. A big "what if" that likely won't happen. You are not being realistic.
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Questions are great! Ignoring good advice in the answers is foolhardy.
I bet if you ask TSP or CNC Motorsports which is better that small 3.8 bore 363 or a 3.903 bore 383 for NA hp & torque the and isn't going to be the 363. I wouldn't be surprised if a 4 inch + bore 402 or 408 is suggested as a better overall set up than any 3.8 or 3.9 bore engine. Of course if you really want a 363 I'm sure either will happily sell you a 363 set up
The name of the game is help find something that makes the customer happy and sell it to them...I have two strokers a 383 and a 416 up and running and a 408 slow coming together just speaking from experience. I'd honestly hesitant to do a 383 because it cost nearly the same as a 402/408. I have researched LS engines since 1998 and a 363 is a horrible set up for the cost involved. Buy a stock bottom end LS2 short block for like $4,000 from Thompson Motorsports or TSP. It will have more potential or the same with upgraded pistons.
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On The Tree
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I am not new to LS builds, Ive had 325,346,347,370 cubic inch engines. However ive never owned a stroker. Ive ridden in cars that had strokers and helped my friends with theirs, but ive only owned head and cam setups. Not my first rodeo though.
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Originally I had talked about doing a 327ish build using Dome pistons and either h beams or stock gen 4 rods that are already in the L33. Plan was to bump up the compression to run N/A around 11.1 give or take. Have it all balanced using the stock crank and let her rip. I sent the 799s to Katech to have them cnc ported, I still have to get new valve guides installed and get a valve job with whatever valves I decide to go with. I am waiting to do the valvetrain once I get my bottom end all Specd out. Cam Motion will spec everything as far as valvetrain goes. But once again I got to thinking about going ahead and stroking it while I have the funds available. So I'm guessing you guys are more in favor of me getting the stock L33 crank balanced with either aftermarket rods or Stock Gen 4 rods using the dome pistons?
Basically what I and others have been trying to tell you is that a 4" stroke and a stock block are not ideal and that a 4" stroke crank with a smaller bore not a good combination when a larger bore and smaller stroke will accomplish the same thing and has the potential to be a much longer lasting combination. Even a higher compression stock stroke and bore is a better idea as long as it's not timing limited because of the fuel grade you intend to run.
If you look at the bigger picture it would be worth it to save a little longer and go with a larger stock bore aluminum piece. You can get a new LS2 block for $1600 shipped to your door, I'm not sure what condition your 5.3 is in now but if it's good running engine it should be worth a several hundred dollars making the new block much cheaper and it will probably need less prep at the machine shop than your current block so you'll save some there also.
If you look at the bigger picture it would be worth it to save a little longer and go with a larger stock bore aluminum piece. You can get a new LS2 block for $1600 shipped to your door, I'm not sure what condition your 5.3 is in now but if it's good running engine it should be worth a several hundred dollars making the new block much cheaper and it will probably need less prep at the machine shop than your current block so you'll save some there also.
Last edited by LLLosingit; May 25, 2019 at 11:48 PM.
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l33's Really? How many L33s do you think GM made?
As far as I know they were only offered in a select few 4x4 trucks for only a few years. The rarity Of the L33 will continue to go up, Racers want them because they make Awesome Turbo Builds, Country Boys want the whole Truck so they can go stick it in the mud and tear it up, or flood it out. In 20 years you'll be finding engines from 2019 in the junkyard. You wont be finding any LS1's or L33's and if you do it will be a miracle and a blessing. Lol
As far as I know they were only offered in a select few 4x4 trucks for only a few years. The rarity Of the L33 will continue to go up, Racers want them because they make Awesome Turbo Builds, Country Boys want the whole Truck so they can go stick it in the mud and tear it up, or flood it out. In 20 years you'll be finding engines from 2019 in the junkyard. You wont be finding any LS1's or L33's and if you do it will be a miracle and a blessing. Lol