Ok I am in the process of a rebuild, and I have removed EVERYTHING from my block so it is now bare. I have been reading and I am still confused and I now have another decision in mind also. So I will make it clear what I want. I want a 500-550 Hp daily driver (track ready), 150 shot of nitrous, LS1 smoker (have rivals around here in LS1's) of course the Ls1 smoker part is based on "no juice mode". I am really looking to have a powerful car, but not a 3 year long build. I am not balling, but I look to spend about 4-5k max.

383 Stroker (Please do not get too technical)

What do I need to do to accomplish this (step by step). What is the price of this project. Not looking for the most expensive parts either. If I can use stock on some things that is fine with me.

396 stroker-same thing


Which engine mod is better overall performance wise and daily driver wise. Also which one would be able to make 10 hr road trips w/out any problems?

Thanks guys. I just read up on 396 strokers and now I am interested. Let me know what you all would do. Remember I am going for a LS1 smoker without using nitrous. The nitrous is for track times.

 

No way in hell you are doing a stroker for that cheap. A budget 355 with nitrous is more realistic.

 

I don't know if you're going to get to 500-550 rwhp in a car that I would be comfortable DD without boost, and with a stoker, you're talking a lot of money. However, if you are talking 500-550 on spray, then it can be done. Personally, I wouldn't build a car to hit an arbitrary HP number. A well built car putting 400-450 to the wheels, will put a serious hurting on a more powerful car, that can't put it to the ground.

 

I never said it didnt, but realistically for the budget the OP is on a budget 355 is within reach. a 383/396 build is a hell of a lot more expensive than 5 grand. And OP, your idea of having a 500rwhp NA LS1 killer is unrealistic. Dont aim for a certain number, decide what your goal is and go from there. But consider that a cam swap alone usually costs around a grand in parts. When you add on the heads/intake/injectors/forged internals etc... it adds up real quick. Unless you can double your budget stick with a 355

 

+1 for the 355 idea if thats all the more you can spend. My buddy built a 383 LT1 that engine dyno'd at 529hp and he's got almost $10,000 wound up in that motor after labor, granted he had it all professionally done.

You could build a 355 HCI and go 11 seconds in the 1/4 easy with the correct setup, faster with nitrous.

 

would it help that I just got hired at Autozone and get a 20% discount?

 

Not much.
Where did you say 500-550 RWHP?? All I read was 500-550 HP.
Its gonna cost more than $5,000 either way. My 383 should be making right at 500 FWHP now. Its got about $7,000 in it.

 

A properly done h/c 346 ls1 will beat a properly done 383-396 lt1 in a street car so you are fighting a losing battle.

 

^ what he said, the is a very unrealistic goal especially with you budget just go with a 355 and just have a fun street car. You put all that money in your car and get beat with a basic head/cam LS1 and it will make you sick. So just go with a car that will be fun. Quit going after LS1's its a losing battle and just be a mustang eater.

 

 

Did you picture a small, frail, broke, high school kid saying those words too?

 

 

fast reliable cheap, you pick 2


unless you have every part aside from what you ll need for the motor(trans, rear, suspension, chasis, fuel system) you are going to come over budget by a ton. ( double or triple)

A good built 355 is even more than you can afford. Whose doing your labor?


You will not buy many parts at AZ for a good build. Pretty much just gaskets and seals.

 

somtimes the truth hurts

 

Look at it this way... regardless of how badly you beat the LS1 crowd it doesn't matter. They can always fire back to how much you had to do to make it so to their application. People who tend to build **** to try and be faster than this person or that usually end up overwhelmed with a broke car and empty wallet. Just build the **** to what you can afford and enjoy it.

You two are meanies.

 

Op, build your 355 and tell them LS1 owners that you only have a cam. That will make em feel sick

 

lol that is funny

 

This wont be the case with me and I wont lose to a heads/cam LS1. Im gonna stick it to em in every way NA.

 

Yes it will be the case with you. Regardless of your larger displacement engine you'll be hard pressed to beat a well built, stock displacement LS1/2/3/6/7, and if you do they will brag about what little they did to compete. If it's self-gratification you seek then great, but trying to compete and impress the LSx crowd with a fully built LT1, not going to happen.

 

I said LS1 I dont know about LS2, 3, 4, 8, or 12. I dont know anything about them really. My goal is definitely not to beat every
LS1 I come across though. It is rather self gratification.
There definitely not going to be saying how little they had to do because I only have $3,200 in the whole car right now including purchase price. This is going to be the lowest budget street car in the 10's you've ever seen.