355 vs 383
^^What he said. If your going with a budget-minded Friday night special go with a 355 with ported factory heads (I'd personally go for a better rod and piston combo on a factory crank), but if your going for a high effort forged build, I'd go for a 383 with some aftermarket-based heads. A 355 will hold it's own no doubt, but a 383 is basically the next step to squeeze out more available power.
IMO a properly done 355 should be a handful on the street a 383 making torque at a lower rpm should not be of any advantage unless you really set the suspension up to take advantage of that on the strip.
Winning races and having fun on the street is about average horsepower.
With that said, the 383 will ALWAYS make more average torque than a 355, with the average torque comes more average power, It may peak a little sooner than the 355 with the same heads and intake but its still more and its easier on everything.
The 383 can achieve the same as the 355 with less cam. More inches means less cam for a given power goal.
If you are gonna buy a rotating assembly anyway, build a 383.
Cubic Inches are always your friend. The 383 is a proven combo, past a 383 IMO there are diminishing returns with a stock casting head but MANY a 383 on this board have put down some impressive numbers.
With that said, the 383 will ALWAYS make more average torque than a 355, with the average torque comes more average power, It may peak a little sooner than the 355 with the same heads and intake but its still more and its easier on everything.
The 383 can achieve the same as the 355 with less cam. More inches means less cam for a given power goal.
If you are gonna buy a rotating assembly anyway, build a 383.
Cubic Inches are always your friend. The 383 is a proven combo, past a 383 IMO there are diminishing returns with a stock casting head but MANY a 383 on this board have put down some impressive numbers.
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To the OP, if you rip into your motor and the crank and bearings look great, then keep it a 355. If the crank needs to be be turned and the block doesn't look good, then make it a 383.
Well I had the better mph too and he had a LOT more fancy parts but no matter what the details are your mind is made up.
A stroker can indeed be a good thing BUT when the displacement is the focus guys often screw it up.
A stroker can indeed be a good thing BUT when the displacement is the focus guys often screw it up.
It all depends on the budget, I went stroker because by the time I bought good pistons and rods to handle what I was eventually going to do it wasnt that much more to just get the crank.
No matter what if you do the 355, someday you'll have an itch for a 383. My old 355 was a budget build in high school and I dont regret it, however Im a lot happier with more cubes. You can have the same power, be faster and have better street manners.
My car went a best of 11.31 last year with 1900 DA, almost 3700 lbs, the thing had absolutely no weight reduction and I used the air conditioning on the way to the track. This year Im changing a few things and expect to be in the 11.00-11,2 range. I only think this wouldve been possible with a 355 if I sacrificed street manners (mine still drives like stock) with a SR, or a massive HR cam.
No matter what if you do the 355, someday you'll have an itch for a 383. My old 355 was a budget build in high school and I dont regret it, however Im a lot happier with more cubes. You can have the same power, be faster and have better street manners.
My car went a best of 11.31 last year with 1900 DA, almost 3700 lbs, the thing had absolutely no weight reduction and I used the air conditioning on the way to the track. This year Im changing a few things and expect to be in the 11.00-11,2 range. I only think this wouldve been possible with a 355 if I sacrificed street manners (mine still drives like stock) with a SR, or a massive HR cam.
anything a 355 does a 383 can do better except cost less (which isn't even that much when you're already buying new rods, pistons, block prep, balancing, etc.). not saying that anyone needs a 383 or any 383 is better than any 355. if you need a new crank go 383, if not a 355 will fit all of your needs.
all things being equal a 383 can do everything a 355 does but with better street manners, less rpm, less gear, less convertor, etc. in a strip/cruiser car this can make a decent difference.
only thing that sucks about a 383 is many assume that it has to WAAAAY faster than anything with less cubes no matter the rest of the parts used.
all things being equal a 383 can do everything a 355 does but with better street manners, less rpm, less gear, less convertor, etc. in a strip/cruiser car this can make a decent difference.
only thing that sucks about a 383 is many assume that it has to WAAAAY faster than anything with less cubes no matter the rest of the parts used.
Na I disagree with everyone that wants to say 383's are better just because. It is all in how you build it and what you are building it to do. Nothing else matters. If you build a mild street 383 N/A and build a really good street 355 N/A you can still blow the doors off the 383 even if they have the same heads. It is all about the cam in this case and WHAT THE PERSON WANTS. Not everyone takes a 383 to the track. The 355 is GOING to be cheaper to build to a certian point than a 383. You have to figure out what you want it to do before you go off and build it. I have a mild 383 and I will be building a really good 355 with the stock engine that cam out of my car down the road. Stock crank maybe stock rods and a really good piston. Then I will be tring an AI top end.
Na I disagree with everyone that wants to say 383's are better just because. It is all in how you build it and what you are building it to do. Nothing else matters. If you build a mild street 383 N/A and build a really good street 355 N/A you can still blow the doors off the 383 even if they have the same heads. It is all about the cam in this case and WHAT THE PERSON WANTS. Not everyone takes a 383 to the track. The 355 is GOING to be cheaper to build to a certian point than a 383. You have to figure out what you want it to do before you go off and build it. I have a mild 383 and I will be building a really good 355 with the stock engine that cam out of my car down the road. Stock crank maybe stock rods and a really good piston. Then I will be tring an AI top end.
most are making the point that all things being equal a 383 > 355 which is true no matter how you try to look at it. whether it be performance or streetability the 383 will perform better at the track and be friendlier on the street ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL. I don't know if this guy needs/wants a 383 but it's a point worth considering.
