I'm trying to decide if I want either:

A) 346 H/C
B) 383 H/C
C) 402, 408, or 6.2 L92 H/C... if I can afford it

I know the 346 is going to be the cheapest. But if I expect nearly the same mods for each setup, how much more money and HP am I looking at going bigger cubes? I'd prefer an aluminum block, but I think the 402 will be too expensive in the end for me. What's the cost difference between a small bore and a large bore 383? Will the extra amount of money I spend on the 383 be worth the extra HP I pick up over the 346?

edit: not wanting to spend over $3000 on a shortblock, whether it be new or used. and if the car will make 440+rwhp through a m6 & 10 bolt that is attracting to me. but I'm looking more for street driving speed than I am horsepower.

 

IMO, if it's out of 346 and 383, i say build a kick *** forged 347 because i don't think the power gain from one to the other for the money spent is worth it. If you can, i say 402 or 408. And i assume you want a aluminum block because you think the iron will be a little heaver...right??? It has been proven that the weight of the iron block over the aluminum one does make that much of a difference, if any, on performance or E.T...i read of this on Ls1tech but i forgot the thread i was reading. So 347 if funds are low and 408/402 if you can squeeze out a little extra cash!!! Goodluck!

 

Iron block is 75# more than the aluminum. People spend $1K on a K-member/A-arm set up to save 35#'s.

That said, I wuod go 383 or ls2 402, Someone in the sponsor section has them for $4050 right now. Not far from the 408 price.

 

yeah ive thought about a 370 or a 383 later, later on down the road

 

383 = 50rwhp/50ft lbs trq over the 346.

 

You can get a brand new iron 6.0 block for I think $500 from SDPC or TSP. Then forge it out and have what I think is a 364 or a 370?!? I am not sure on what the cubic inches is for the 6.0's

 

It's a 366cubic inch

 

416 using a 6.2 alum block.

 

what all parts can I convert from the LS1 on to a 402 or 408 block? I'm going to have all stock stuff from a 346. I know I've seen this question asked many times before on ls1tech but it's just as easy to ask here and keep all the knowledge I've learned in one thread.

50rwhp from a 346 to a 383 is a lot. but is that a small or large bore?

keep ideas coming guys! this is interesting needless to say...

edit: I done a little research and noticed there isn't much cost difference in the 408 & 402. So definitely 402 would be on the list, scratch out the 408.

 

It's plain and simple. Get as many cubes as you can for your $. 402-408 all the way. Even if you have to go iron block the added power will more than offset the extra 85lbs.

 

I believe the 383 is a 4" stroke with the stock 3.9 bore.

 

that sounds interesting...

 

I'm not exactly how tight your budget is, but you may wanna consider a stock crank iron block 370ci. Use the L92 heads/intake, and one of those special L92 cams that either LG or Synergy has been working on.

That is budget power my friend.

 

budget... I'm trying to avoid spending over $3000 on a shortblock, whether it be put together from sponsors, the classified section, new or used.

 

haha, you know I got these forged parts sittin' in this block, i'd sell ALOT cheaper than I bought it for.

that would be a forged 346 for cheap..... that was my plan

 

408 you can find a used iron block for $400 if you look around there have been stock 6.0 sb's in the fs section for $400. Bang for buck on heads would be cnc'd L92's but get a custom cam spec'd or they wont make that good of power. just about everything can be transfered from your ls1 to a 6.0 block.

 

Why not say that upfront then so 15 people don't waste their time telling you what they would do. For that price forged 346 and nice heads is the ticket.

 

job done. thanks for pointing that out!

 

any more opinions out there?

 

Good recomendation. I think on a budget this would be a great choice.