Mark Barnes
Well-Known Member
Apologies for the long post, but...
I have been reading intently any threads containing info about stock stroke 383 builds, especially ones like this (383 build?) that contain info pretty close to where I'm currently at.
'66 383 block cleaned, sonic tested, bored .030, mains align honed, deck cut to zero with SpeedPro 2315's and stock rods.
Stock forged crank cut .010/.010.
Crower 294FDP SFT cam installed @ 108* C/L. I 240*, E 244* @ .050. Lift w/1.5 rockers- I .519, E .529
Comp 2901 oil thru solid lifters
Manton 3/8" oil thru pushrods
ARP rod, main and head bolts
1-7/8 Trick Flow headers
Holley 80531 850 cfm carb, vacuum secondaries
Edelbrock Performer RPM intake
HEADS
Home ported 516 castings with 2.14, 1.81 stainless valves. Measured 76CC chambers. Single .005 cleanup cut on head surface.
Crower 68340 double springs with damper, Crower retainers and locks.
PRW 440 1.5 roller rockers
Trans-
Fresh BB 727 with PTC 9 1/2" 3K stall torque convertor and TF2 shift kit.
8-3/4 rear w/3.91 Suregrip, 28" drag radials under 3800lb.? Belvedere ll.
So there's my setup, should be completed/installed end of July. Going forward, I plan to replace the iron heads with TF 240's, but right now I'm getting tired of pissing away money.
My questions for the brilliant minds of FBBO-
1. When I dreamed up this mess, I was sure I would run into valve to piston clearance issues. Using a Fel Pro blue head gasket (.039 compressed), I clayed the pistons and got +/- .110 I, .125 E clearance. Did it three times because I couldn't believe it. Came out the same every time. I know there are better ways to measure, and I intend to try it later today, but I thought the clearances would be much tighter. I was all ready to take the Isky tool to it. Could it be I might actually get away without eyebrowing the pistons?
One other issue that I found was when I installed the pistons and rotated them up to deck height, they seem slightly cocked in the bore....by my measurements with a dial indicator...the side of the piston closest to the front of the motor is level with deck height. The side towards the back of the motor is .005 over deck height.
Considering I only have .039 clearance with the Felpro gasket, am I going to run into piston/head clearance problems when the motor heats up? Should I maybe go with Cometics at .050 to make sure, yet still keep the quench I was looking for?
I would appreciate any and all comments, positive, negative or otherwise, including on my combo. You can call me an asshole if you want...but you gotta get in line like everyone else. At least you'll get to meet my wife and kids there, so there's that...
I have been reading intently any threads containing info about stock stroke 383 builds, especially ones like this (383 build?) that contain info pretty close to where I'm currently at.
'66 383 block cleaned, sonic tested, bored .030, mains align honed, deck cut to zero with SpeedPro 2315's and stock rods.
Stock forged crank cut .010/.010.
Crower 294FDP SFT cam installed @ 108* C/L. I 240*, E 244* @ .050. Lift w/1.5 rockers- I .519, E .529
Comp 2901 oil thru solid lifters
Manton 3/8" oil thru pushrods
ARP rod, main and head bolts
1-7/8 Trick Flow headers
Holley 80531 850 cfm carb, vacuum secondaries
Edelbrock Performer RPM intake
HEADS
Home ported 516 castings with 2.14, 1.81 stainless valves. Measured 76CC chambers. Single .005 cleanup cut on head surface.
Crower 68340 double springs with damper, Crower retainers and locks.
PRW 440 1.5 roller rockers
Trans-
Fresh BB 727 with PTC 9 1/2" 3K stall torque convertor and TF2 shift kit.
8-3/4 rear w/3.91 Suregrip, 28" drag radials under 3800lb.? Belvedere ll.
So there's my setup, should be completed/installed end of July. Going forward, I plan to replace the iron heads with TF 240's, but right now I'm getting tired of pissing away money.
My questions for the brilliant minds of FBBO-
1. When I dreamed up this mess, I was sure I would run into valve to piston clearance issues. Using a Fel Pro blue head gasket (.039 compressed), I clayed the pistons and got +/- .110 I, .125 E clearance. Did it three times because I couldn't believe it. Came out the same every time. I know there are better ways to measure, and I intend to try it later today, but I thought the clearances would be much tighter. I was all ready to take the Isky tool to it. Could it be I might actually get away without eyebrowing the pistons?
One other issue that I found was when I installed the pistons and rotated them up to deck height, they seem slightly cocked in the bore....by my measurements with a dial indicator...the side of the piston closest to the front of the motor is level with deck height. The side towards the back of the motor is .005 over deck height.
Considering I only have .039 clearance with the Felpro gasket, am I going to run into piston/head clearance problems when the motor heats up? Should I maybe go with Cometics at .050 to make sure, yet still keep the quench I was looking for?
I would appreciate any and all comments, positive, negative or otherwise, including on my combo. You can call me an asshole if you want...but you gotta get in line like everyone else. At least you'll get to meet my wife and kids there, so there's that...