Mike94ZLT1

iTrader: (3)

Don't waste your time with a 383. Go for a 402 or larger. And I have a 383, I did it thinking I could save a few bucks. I now regret being a cheapass, for another $500 I could have had a nice forged 402 with a 4" bore and so much more potential. Hell, I would take a stock cube LS2, LS3, or 370 over a 383. Thats why I intend to do this over come springtime. Always go for bore over stroke. I knew that, and wish I listened to my own advice.

davered00ss

iTrader: (4)

You can buy a 383 stroker from a sponsor for less than you can build one. There are sponsors on here who sell LS2 402's for $3,999.

*98TransAm*

what sponsor?

The Alchemist

iTrader: (19)

Very interesting. I'm putting money away to do a larger cube setup in the future. I wonder what options there will be in the coming months with the new setups GM is starting to offer.

Scoggin Dickey

iTrader: (34)

Me.

novaflash2002

iTrader: (51)

Honestly what would you call a premium part? sometimes you pay for name, there are plenty of less known name parts out there that are just as great. I work with two gentel men that have been buildin and racing, since the late 1950's, (they are old trying to train a young hot rod pete).

If you want to build for more cubes, you can find a 4" stroke crank used, or new if you want to go that route for 450-1000. Good set of rods 250-1000, and if it comes down to it a set of custon pistons anymore are aroud 500 bucks. If you re-use you alum block i would get slighly longer sleeves (to support the piston from rocking). you can find a good set of sleeves if you talk to to your machinist to support a 4" bore for about $35 each installed.

Just research you machine shops. Usually if you get to talking to people a shop that has a good word of mouth is the best. machining is macining, you dont need to ask if they know about lsx engines. they can do it if they are good.

novaflash2002

iTrader: (51)

o and i foregot balancing is 200-on up depending if they have to add mallory to the crank. torque-plate hone 25 dollars a hole. and if needs be a line hone is 150. those are usually the going rates these days

Gh0st

iTrader: (3)

Where would I find these short blocks on your site? All I can find is the 383.

99blancoSS

iTrader: (115)

Wow your range of cost is pretty big..LOL 250-1000 for rods?
Sleeves installed for $35 each?!?!?!?

We use Callies crank and rods and Wiseco pistons, ACL and ARP and Morel's. Also a custom Wiseco is more than $500. We will build them using Eagle if a person desires but my signature series of engines uses Callies for a reason.


As far a machining being machining, we don't see that being the case. My builder fixes those blocks prepped by a machine shop is a machine shop all day long. There are plenty of incompetant builders passing themselves off on ebay as well and you can get one of their engines real cheap. A person comes to this site or me for an engine built by an expert on the platform. I use only HKE to build my engines. A recognized expert/master builder.
Sometimes paying for a name guaranty's you quality.

Redlinez

iTrader: (5)

ANd I wouldn't recommend getting something as important as a shortblock from someone who's not proven. SDPC, that's the deal for the LS2 402!! That would be my choice for N/A budget build as well.

novaflash2002

iTrader: (51)

so your saying you dont build them, you just sell them right? 250-1000 on rods, depending if you use used ones.

408z28

iTrader: (44)

unless you can build one for $2999.00

ItsNotStock

iTrader: (24)

I wouldn't waste your time arguing with 99blanco. I've tried that before. He's more of a salesman than an engine builder so he doesn't appreciate innovation and getting your hands dirty. He would rather make a profit.

But to tie everything together so it's back on topic: If you have the know how, and the patience to build your own engine. Yes you will save alot of money. And you will have the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself. "Built, not bought." On the other hand if you don't have the patience, and loads of money-Then go with a sponsor.

novaflash2002

iTrader: (51)

you cant put that any better. you say i built that, and not i bought that.

16floz470ml

iTrader: (2)

I built my 408 at home. It was a great experience for me but it is not for everyone. I took the block to a machine shop and got a lunati stroker kit. With the lunati you do not have to get it balanced. It comes that way and the weight of each component is written on the part.

WSsick

iTrader: (13)

TSP 370ci= $2,999

WSsick

iTrader: (13)

and actually get this deal @ TSP on their 408s. now thats an iron block, but that is suited better for boost or a big n2o shot. thats pretty cheap if you ask me.

novaflash2002

iTrader: (51)

so how much does it cost to balance that? WSsick

Scoggin Dickey

iTrader: (34)

Most are there under the Gen III/IV preformace and then crate engines. if you can't find anything or the price isn't as low as I quote here just give me a call or shoot me a pm. I have special prices just for you guys on alot of these, and the $3999 engines are a special we have printed in a few magazines this month.

We also have a great budget line of setups, like the budget forged rod/piston 347 and the iron block 370ci


Thanks!

The Alchemist

iTrader: (19)

I understand the satisfaction that comes from doing something yourself rather than paying for it. But from reading the thread from Weber racing engines about all the details and machining involved in putting a shortblock together, and all of the critical measurements that's involved like bearing clearances, I'd rather pay someone to do it right, than to build it myself, save $1000, but then have issues with performance and reliability. Look at that thread and the issues they encountered with a fresh GM crate engine. The engine straight from GM was out of specs on some of the critical measurements.

It's like building a house. Do I have the ability to build a house, yes, but would I do it myself, probably not. And even the guy who you pay to build your house is going to subcontract out stuff that he can have an expert do.

Sorry, having someone build a shortblock for you doesn't make you less of a man or not have the ability to say, I built this. Hell, Nascar teams buy complete engines from other teams, does that make them less of a raceteam? No, it just means they are smart enough to go to someone who can do it better than them.

Now, would I buy a fully machined, balanced rotating assembly and then do the final build and install myself, hell yes because that is less technical and doesn't require a room full of equipment to do.

Hell, GM doesn't even build everything themselves, it's called subcontracting.