Finishing My 383 Sbc Stroker,cam And Intake???

HI GROUP! IM READY TO FINISH MY ENGINE BUILD AND I REALLY NEED SOMEONE TO SUGGEST THE BEST CAM AND INTAKE TO USE TO MAKE THIS THING HAUL AZZ! HERE IS WHAT IVE GOT SO FAR,78 NOVA,TURBO 350,3500 STALL,4.10,28 INCH TALL TIRES.THE ENGINE HAS K BLACK #134SILVOLITE HYPERS,5.7 RODS,CAST CRANK.THE HEADS ARE ALUMINUM,200c INTAKE RUNNERS,2.02IN,1.60EX.,FULL ROLLER ROCKERS1.5,AND A HOLLEY 750VAC SEC CARB.I WANT TO GET THE BEST QUARTER MILE TIMES I CAN.I DONT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT VACUUM BECAUSE ITS GOT MANUAL BRAKES.THE CAR WILL SEE SOME PLAY ON THE STREET,BUT THE STRIP IS GONNA BE HOME.I DONT THINK I CAN GO WITH A ROLLER CAM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF FUNDING.I HAVE BEEN TOLD SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO GO THAT IM LOST NOW.HELLLLLP!!!!! THANKS!!!!!

you went and did all that with a cast crank? wow man. use a holley strip dominator edelbrock copied the design years ago and strip dominator is cheaper and IMHO better. cam i am not a cam guy id say something in the .560 range

I think with that 4.10 gear and 3500 stall . The biggest camshaft I would run is the Comp CamsXE284H . That cam is 240/246 dur at .050 with 507/510 lift and a 110 L/S . Do remember this is a 383 not a 406 and make sure the rods have enough clearance to the camshaft . Many 383s have broke cams from not being set up right . For your intake I do think an air-gap Dual-plane Like the Weiand Stealth Air-Strike will add to the HP and low-end Torque . But I would sell that Holley 750 V/S and add the money to buy a 750-800 Holley D/P COOL

Thanks! I Clearanced The Rod Bolts To Make Sure Hitting The Cam Was Not An Issue.would The Rpm Airgap Work Well On The Strip?? Do You Think That Cam Is Big Enough To Be A Good Quarter Miler?? Thanks!!!

Should base your selection on the designed rpm range for the engine. Match the components to match REAL WORLD rpm, not what you wish it could run. With the cast crank and hypereutectics, you may want to limit your projected rpm and pick a cam, intake, and carb that will work well together. With the vacuum secondary Holley, getting the correct secondary spring and power valve will also become important. IMO I would use a cam, carb, and intake that will perform well to about 6500 rpm.

Super Sound Advice! Nothing Worse Than Someone Trying To Turn 9 Grand With An Engine That Wasnt Built To Turn 6!keeps The Shop Busy.thanks!!!

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Originally Posted by tango

I think with that 4.10 gear and 3500 stall . The biggest camshaft I would run is the Comp CamsXE284H . That cam is 240/246 dur at .050 with 507/510 lift and a 110 L/S . Do remember this is a 383 not a 406 and make sure the rods have enough clearance to the camshaft . Many 383s have broke cams from not being set up right . For your intake I do think an air-gap Dual-plane Like the Weiand Stealth Air-Strike will add to the HP and low-end Torque . But I would sell that Holley 750 V/S and add the money to buy a 750-800 Holley D/P COOL

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Yes,this cam will work fine I.M.O.

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Originally Posted by SMOKEDOG7142000

HI GROUP! IM READY TO FINISH MY ENGINE BUILD AND I REALLY NEED SOMEONE TO SUGGEST THE BEST CAM AND INTAKE TO USE TO MAKE THIS THING HAUL AZZ! HERE IS WHAT IVE GOT SO FAR,78 NOVA,TURBO 350,3500 STALL,4.10,28 INCH TALL TIRES.THE ENGINE HAS K BLACK #134SILVOLITE HYPERS,5.7 RODS,CAST CRANK.THE HEADS ARE ALUMINUM,200c INTAKE RUNNERS,2.02IN,1.60EX.,FULL ROLLER ROCKERS1.5,AND A HOLLEY 750VAC SEC CARB.I WANT TO GET THE BEST QUARTER MILE TIMES I CAN.I DONT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT VACUUM BECAUSE ITS GOT MANUAL BRAKES.THE CAR WILL SEE SOME PLAY ON THE STREET,BUT THE STRIP IS GONNA BE HOME.I DONT THINK I CAN GO WITH A ROLLER CAM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF FUNDING.I HAVE BEEN TOLD SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO GO THAT IM LOST NOW.HELLLLLP!!!!! THANKS!!!!!

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If you don't mind running the valves every now and then, go for a solid lift cam. A solid lift cam will get you down the 1/4 a little quicker. The flat top KB's are around 11:1 compression with a 64cc combustion chamber. That can support a pretty decent cam.

I suggest a Comp 285B-6 If you had a little more converter, the Comp 290B-6 would be a good choice.

Comp 285B-6 = advertised duration 285in/295ex, duration @.050" 250in/260ex, lift .532in/.555ex, 106 lobe separation angle. RPM Range 3500-6500

A Victor Jr intake would work well and scrap the vacuum secondary for a 750 double pumper.

THANKS RAY! I THINK YOUR PARTS LIST WILL BRING THIS ENGINE TO LIFE,IN A BIG WAY! THE CHAMBERS ON MY HEADS ARE 64cc,SO THE COMPRESSION WILL BE THERE.ALSO,IMM GOING TO TAKE THE GROUPS ADVICE AND GO TO A DOUBLE PUMPER.THIS LOOKS GREAT ON PAPER,CANT WAIT TO SEE HOW IT DOES AT THE STRIP! THANKS!!

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Originally Posted by camaro_fever68

If you don't mind running the valves every now and then, go for a solid lift cam. A solid lift cam will get you down the 1/4 a little quicker. The flat top KB's are around 11:1 compression with a 64cc combustion chamber. That can support a pretty decent cam.

I suggest a Comp 285B-6 If you had a little more converter, the Comp 290B-6 would be a good choice.

Comp 285B-6 = advertised duration 285in/295ex, duration @.050" 250in/260ex, lift .532in/.555ex, 106 lobe separation angle. RPM Range 3500-6500

A Victor Jr intake would work well and scrap the vacuum secondary for a 750 double pumper.

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I agree. A Victor jr. and a 750 double pumper coupled with the Comp 285B would be a good choice with your heads.

I'm not a chebbie guy, but the Victor Jr. is rated for max power from 3500 to 8000 rpm.... IMO there might be a better choice that will start making peak power at a lower rpm, maybe something that makes max power in the 2500-6500 rpm range?????

Also have to differ a bit on carbs. With the automatic transmission I've always been able to "dial the car in" and maintain better consistency with a vacuum secondary carb. I've always found it preferable to have a very consistent car then a fast car that may or may not be able to duplicate it's ET within a few hundredths all day long..... If you're going to run flat out, heads up type of racing it might be fine. By the description you have given of your car sounds like more of a bracket racer...I think I'd be looking at components that would give me consistency vs. peaky power that can come and go from round to round.....

I might get some heat for this, but I'd take a long look at an Offenhauser 360* intake with no more than a 700 DP with a standard tranny. If you're running an auto tranny and mostly on the street I'd stick with vacuum secondaries.

Well, a Nova is a heavy (by race standards) car..... I don't think I'd give up on the vacuum secondary carb... Too much cam and too much carb in a heavy car can lead to one big low end bog....and with the hypereutectic pistons and a cast crank, don't think I'd be wanting to zing it 7,500-8,000 rpm on a consistent basis....and to be consistent, you have to be able to do the same thing round after round after round......

Tango sent me this....


STICK TO BODY WORK . YOUR NOT AN ENGINE MAN . AND THAT'S OK

Maybe I don't suggest things that will max out the horsepower.... Nor do I intend to.... I've been drag racing a couple years now, and by far the single most important thing to do in a drag car is to be consistent. This is best done by running the engine at 85% to 90% of it's capability......Only the pro classes need to go flat out every run.

And Tango, I'm not just a body man. I can build every part of the car other then the upholstery. If I had a sewing machine I'd try that.... There's a whole lot more to going fast and surviving round after round at the dragstrip, or running wfo down the highway then just the engine.....

So anyway Tango.... Post us some pictures of the builds going on in your shop this winter.... Some of us are very interested!!!!!!

Well guys, I'm running these combos and have been for years. I know the Victor Jr is rated 3500-8000 but I will tell you it is one of the most versatile intakes ever made for the small block chevy. It'll dang near work on anything. I've run it on 283's to 406's.

Recently I changed from an RPM Air Gap to a Victor Jr on my 385cid. I lost a couple hundreths in 60ft but gained a couple MPH and my E.T. dropped. This is on a 6500 rpm engine.

I've tried the vacuum secondary carbs. They worked good for me with a tight stall. Once I started with higher stalls I found that on a dead hook they'll bog the engine. Stiffer springs kills the 60ft.

On the engine he's building, he'll never be satisfied with a vacuum secondary. If he had a tighter stall or a smaller engine, then maybe so.

His biggest problem with consistency is going to be traction. It took me a while to get my '77 Nova to pull consistent 1.46 60's.

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Originally Posted by camaro_fever68

Well guys, I'm running these combos and have been for years. I know the Victor Jr is rated 3500-8000 but I will tell you it is one of the most versatile intakes ever made for the small block chevy. It'll dang near work on anything. I've run it on 283's to 406's.

Recently I changed from an RPM Air Gap to a Victor Jr on my 385cid. I lost a couple hundreths in 60ft but gained a couple MPH and my E.T. dropped. This is on a 6500 rpm engine.

I've tried the vacuum secondary carbs. They worked good for me with a tight stall. Once I started with higher stalls I found that on a dead hook they'll bog the engine. Stiffer springs kills the 60ft.

On the engine he's building, he'll never be satisfied with a vacuum secondary. If he had a tighter stall or a smaller engine, then maybe so.

His biggest problem with consistency is going to be traction. It took me a while to get my '77 Nova to pull consistent 1.46 60's.

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The thing that concerned me was the weight of the car..... Is it going to be able to launch hard enough to use all that airflow?????? As I said, I'm certainly no chebbie expert, just didn't want to see him end up with a peaky engine that may or may not be able to hold it's consistency......

To be honest, it'll probably never use 750cfm's. Remember though, carbs are rated at 1.5" vacuum. You never want to actually see 1.5" of manifold vacuum at WOT for performance. I try to keep mine around 1" at redline.

The 3500 stall is why he wants/needs a double pumper. With the combo he's building, it will come out the hole pretty hard.

Yup, I see your point. Guess I was still launching with a stock converter!!!! On the rare occasions I ever ran a heavy car with an automatic it was primarily for street use. Must be the dinosaur in me, but I still like to sidestep the clutch at about 5500 and just start pullin' that handle!!!!!! Seems everything I enjoy is terribly expensive!!!!!:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

I love to side step a clutch myself but talk about inconsistent and that's on a good night when I didn't tear up anything. :mad:

I still got an old 4-speed under the table I'm going to throw in something light one day with a high strung small block :3dSMILE:

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Originally Posted by camaro_fever68

I love to side step a clutch myself but talk about inconsistent and that's on a good night when I didn't tear up anything. :mad:

I still got an old 4-speed under the table I'm going to throw in something light one day with a high strung small block :3dSMILE:

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Yup, way big fun!!!! I've got one good comp type (no sychros) old Doug Nash 5 speed with a Long V-Gate shifter...(and a couple boxes of spare parts). Everybody sez they're inconsistent, but the Pro Stock boys seem to do alright with them!!!! Should sell the old Doug Nash to Scooter for his sbc gasser and get me one of them Pro Stock trannies with the pull handle shifter.... Having the five gears vs 2 or 3 with an automatic just allows you to do so many other things with the engine, and keep it in it's peak power range all the way through the quarter.... I actually ran the thing one summer on the 1/8 mile with 6.50 gears in a Windsor powered light weight (2100 lb) Maverick!!!! Absolutely the most fun you can have with your clothes on!!!!!!:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

yes dave i think you should sell it to me also :D inconsitent? i dont think thats entierly true theres a guy out here has a light granted <1850 lbs> little ford p/u bascially a cab on a frame with a small woodbed, has a 302 ford in it single 4 t-ram. pops the clutch at 7200 pops 2 foot wheelies and will run within a 10'th of his times all day. watched him come out one day run 10.42 10.45 10.46 and a 10.43 not bad id say????

I was referring to myself as being inconsistent with a clutch. I never could get it perfect everytime. Some nights I guess the track was stickier than others. Sometimes I'd bog and other times I'd over power the tires/suspension. I don't think I ever made it to finals when I was running a stick. Sure was fun grabbing gears though :3dSMILE:

I got a friend putting a lenco in his LSX based camaro. Maybe I'll get to drive that!!

ywith a stick, its all about repition if you go up there and drop it at say 6grand and it launches perfect do the same thing again. same length of burnout same staging time dry hop <if you do those> same thing over n over n over again. course not many people these days know how to powershift, shifting without lifting off the gas:D

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Originally Posted by camaro_fever68

I was referring to myself as being inconsistent with a clutch. I never could get it perfect everytime. Some nights I guess the track was stickier than others. Sometimes I'd bog and other times I'd over power the tires/suspension. I don't think I ever made it to finals when I was running a stick. Sure was fun grabbing gears though :3dSMILE:

I got a friend putting a lenco in his LSX based camaro. Maybe I'll get to drive that!!

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I cheat and use a two step rev limiter.... Launch RPM is always the same. At my age the lights require all my attention, no time to look at a tach!!!!!:LOL: Reading the track was critical, and making the appropriate adjustments to the 4 bar was the key to consistency. It took better then half the summer to get the setups all dialed in for weather and track temperature changes.... Sure never had to worry about getting bored between rounds!!!! Though I did have one of my most enjoyable ever summer of drag racing, got to admit I only had one win, two runner-ups, and the rest were mostly one round and out nights....... But given half a chance I'd do it all again in a heartbeat!!!!!:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

Have fun with the Lenco, heck buy your way into a couple passes if you have too!!!! They are a blast to run!!!!

Oh yeah, if you want to save on parts breakage with a stick, plunk down the big $$$$ and run the McLeod Soft Lock clutch....Love em!!!!!

or snatch a stock big block pressure plate with a good disc or vice versa good brand name pressure plate with a stock disc. lots of guys out here do this lets it slip enough without killing the drive train and hey, whats a 39 dollar disc once an awhile? :D,,,,,,,,


so dave what are you wanting for your trans :D

The more I read it the more it bothers me that the crank is a stock cast piece.
He has great flowing heads and to take advantage of the heads you will have to turn it well over 6,000 rpm's.
This is where the cast crank would make me lose sleep at night.
Even the stock rods would bother me a little un-less someone has fully-preped them.

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Originally Posted by erik erikson

The more I read it the more it bothers me that the crank is a stock cast piece.
He has great flowing heads and to take advantage of the heads you will have to turn it well over 6,000 rpm's.
This is where the cast crank would make me lose sleep at night.
Even the stock rods would bother me a little un-less someone has fully-preped them.

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I wouldn't sweat the cast crank too much. I bounce mine off the 7000 rpm pill pretty often.:eek:

The 285 cam (if he uses that one) should make peak power around 5800-6000. That would put him shifting ~6300rpm. Put a 6800 rpm pill in the rev limiter and let 'er rip.

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Originally Posted by camaro_fever68

I wouldn't sweat the cast crank too much. I bounce mine off the 7000 rpm pill pretty often.:eek:

The 285 cam (if he uses that one) should make peak power around 5800-6000. That would put him shifting ~6300rpm. Put a 6800 rpm pill in the rev limiter and let 'er rip.

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It would still bother me.
Does this crank have 100,000+ miles on it or is it new??
Even a new "cast-steel" crank would be better.
I have seen people break stock cast cranks in the 1/8 mile only running 7.20s.
The other question is this a "full-on" bracket car?
Meaning does it have a 10 inch slick under it?? or is it running street tires?
The "shock-load" on the drag-strip is enough to scare me toward a 4340 crank.

I guess I'm assuming it's new. No one in there right mind would pay for a stock 400 crank to be turned down these days when you can buy a new Eagle or Scat cheaper.

I have run a stock 400 crank with stock 400 5.565 rods in a 383cid for quite some time. I shifted that engine at 6200rpm and ran 11.40's. I had 30X13.5 slicks.

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Originally Posted by camaro_fever68

I guess I'm assuming it's new. No one in there right mind would pay for a stock 400 crank to be turned down these days when you can buy a new Eagle or Scat cheaper.

I have run a stock 400 crank with stock 400 5.565 rods in a 383cid for quite some time. I shifted that engine at 6200rpm and ran 11.40's. I had 30X13.5 slicks.

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I would never assume anything.
We use to run all that "stocker -stuff" about 10 or more years ago.
It also looks like he has stock rods.
But why gamble???
A new cast-steel crank is only $175.
New 5140 con. rods with ARP bolts are only $150
If something breaks and comes up and smacks his brand new alu. heads he will be a very un-happy camper.
Sometimes you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.:whacked:

Taken from another thread:

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Originally Posted by SMOKEDOG7142000

HI ALL. IM JUST ABOUT READY TO TOP OFF MY ENGINE IN MY 78 NOVA.STILL NEED A CAM AND INTAKE.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS BUGGY IN THE 12s,OR PRETTY CLOSE. HERE IS WHAT IVE GOT SO FAR....78 NOVA,383.SCAT CRANK AND RODS.BLACK HYPERS,FLAT TOPS GIVING ME 10.75:1 WITH MY HEADS AND HEAD GASKETS.THE HEADS ARE BRODIX 200cc INTAKE RUNNERS,2.02&1.60 VALVES,WHICH ARE UNDERCUT AND SWIRLED BUT THERE IS NO CNC WORK.I HAVE 2 SETS OF VALVE SPRINGS,JUST HAVE TO CHOOSE THE CAM SO I CAN USE THE SET THAT MATCHES.THE CARB IS A HOLLEY 750 VAC SEC DUAL FEED,AND ITS LIT BY AN AFTERMARKET HEI BILLET DISTRIBUTOR THROUGH TAYLOR WIRES INTO AUTOLITE PLUGS.IM ALSO USING ROLLER ROCKERS WITH A 1.50:1 RATIO ON BOTH SIDES.MY TRANS IS A REBUILT TH-350 WITH A 3500 STALL SPEED CONVERTER,B&M FLOOR SHIFTER AND OF COURSE A TRANS COOLER.THE REAR END IS THE GM 8.5 WITH 4.10 GEARS TURNING 28 INCH TALL TIRES.DO I HAVE ENOUGH TO GET WHERE I WANT TO BE?WHAT CAM WOULD BE THE BEST CHOICE AND AS FOR INTAKES SHOULD I GO DUAL PLANE ORHIGH RPM SINGLE? IF ANYBODY CAN ANSWER THIS,I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL! THANKS FOR YOUR TIME READING THIS!!! P.S. I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS WITHOUT SPRAYING IT.

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He's got Scat crank and rods. I think he'll achieve his 12sec goal. This combo is close but better than what I'm running in my Chevelle and I've gone 11's.

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Originally Posted by camaro_fever68

Taken from another thread:





He's got Scat crank and rods. I think he'll achieve his 12sec goal. This combo is close but better than what I'm running in my Chevelle and I've gone 11's.

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Yes,now it sounds much better.:)

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Originally Posted by camaro_fever68

I wouldn't sweat the cast crank too much. I bounce mine off the 7000 rpm pill pretty often.:eek:

The 285 cam (if he uses that one) should make peak power around 5800-6000. That would put him shifting ~6300rpm. Put a 6800 rpm pill in the rev limiter and let 'er rip.

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:LOL: :LOL: You must have a lot better luck then me, if I look at a cast crank crosseyed it breaks in two!!!! But at the same time, I've seen some circle burners run an entire season with a cast crank in a 3400 pound car. A guy here in town finished his second season drag racing a 3200 pound car using a cast crank and resized rods!!! If I tried it, probably wouldn't make it in the trailer first time out without breaking it!!!!!:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

Obviously it can be done, but you Never know when it will EXPLODE! It gives me 1 thing less to worry about if I go with a forged/steel crank.

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

:LOL: :LOL: You must have a lot better luck then me, if I look at a cast crank crosseyed it breaks in two!!!! But at the same time, I've seen some circle burners run an entire season with a cast crank in a 3400 pound car. A guy here in town finished his second season drag racing a 3200 pound car using a cast crank and resized rods!!! If I tried it, probably wouldn't make it in the trailer first time out without breaking it!!!!!:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

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I haven't broke a cast crank yet (*knocking on wood*) I did break the snout off a 4340 crank.

I do believe he would be safer with a forged crank. He is pushing the limits of the cast crank. I believe it's rated at 500 HP and 7200 RPM's.

I do have a friend that has the Eagle street/strip rotating assembly kit with the KB pistons, SIR rods, and cast crank that has run 10.90's bouncing off the 7200 rpm pill 40ft before the stripe.:eek: :eek: He finally put a throttle stop on it and backed it down to 11.20's at 6800 rpm.