OK Same deal as the big block thread but for smallblocks now! Heres the deal. For all those who dont know about engines i thought maybe we can put together the ultimate combo, or atleast some sort of base line for first timers looking to get some power out of there boats.
Now i'm not talking about spending thousands upon thousands for billet stuff and "one off" custom jobbers.
The name of this game is more or less factory available or easy to get at. So lets say we combine all our thoughts and see if we can put together a combo that makes.....oh lets say about 400-500 reliable HP and doesnt need to be tinkered with every single weekend! Hows that sound?

*Base engine i think should be the ole-reliable 350 SBC
*Lets go with a off the shelf factory available Forged crank
*Forged pistons ofcourse but what is the general consensus of brand? and what compression do we want? 10:1 and run on premeum? or should we lower it and go with a blower???
*Heads?? Any porting work? Oval or square?
*Cam?? Lift?? Durration??
*Valve train?? Solid or Hyd? roller or tappet?
*oiling system?
*Blower or Modified EFI system???


Lets get some suggestions going and ill keep updating the list so all the info will be at the top. I think this should help alot of people out there wanting/thinking about doing some engine work to theirs.

Chevy High Performance magazine has been running a multi-issue article on a 383" GM crate motor. The've modified it a little but this was one of their test sessions.

GM 383 crate engine
Compression...9.1:1
Heads...Stock Vortec iron with 1.94/1.50 valves
Rockers...GM roller 1.6
Cam...GM Hot Cam P/N 24502586
Duration 218/228
Lift .525/.525 w/1.6 rocker
Lobe separation 112
Intake...Edelbrock Performer RPM Air Gap
Carb...750 Holley
Ignition...stock HEI

Cost of engine package as tested:
Engine 3699.00
Cam 210.00
Rockers 301.00
Intake 193.00
Carb 430.00

Total 4832.00 +/-


Dyno test
RPM TQ HP
2500 412 196
2600 419 207
2700 425 218
2800 434 231
2900 442 244
3000 448 256
3100 425 266
3200 455 277
3300 460 289
3400 464 300
3500 466 310
3600 466 319
3700 465 327
3800 464 336
3900 462 343
4000 462 352
4100 463 362
4200 462 369
4300 459 376
4400 456 382
4500 453 388
4600 449 394
4700 446 399
4800 441 403
4900 436 406
5000 429 409
5100 423 411
5200 417 413
5300 410 414
5400 402 413
5500 396 415
5600 390 416
5700 376 409

They then switched to a Comp Cams XE282 HR cam.
The HP jumped to 449@5300 and torque was 486@4200.

I was thinking that if you bolted Vortech's new carb blower you could have a killer engine.
Hot Rod magazine built a similar engine (w/XE282HR cam) then bolted on Vortech's blower and got 643hp@6000 and 606lb-ft@4900 on 7 pounds of boost.
On 3 Lbs of boost they got just about 100 extra HP.
Bumped the boost up to 8 pounds and got 677hp and 627lb-ft of torque.
Is that enough out of a SBC for ya?

Iggy, that sounds like the perfect combo right there!!
Any idea if the 383 crate engine has brass plugs, and is marine friendly? That cam on a 112* centerline sounds like it would work nicely in a boat.

Not 100% sure but i think some marine engines use different head gaskets due to steam issues in an open cooling system. Where as in a car with the cooling system being closed they wouldnt be that big an issue...

I think it does come with brass plugs. At least the pic in GM's Performance Parts catalog shows it to be that way.
No info on head gaskests. Maybe composition type? Wouldn't be hard to change them since the engine would be opend up to swap cams.
The GM Hot cam is mentioned in Dennis Moore's book as a replacement cam for the 350" engine, not sure about the XE282HR which has a 110 deg LSA.

I'd love to scrape the bucks together to drop this engine in and a Bravo behind it. It would sure beat the 270HP 350MAG/Alpha I have now.

One thing to note on the HT 383 crate engine:

It is not a traditional 350 block with a 400 (3.75 stroke) crank. The HT 383 uses a standard 4.00" bore block with a 3.80 stroke and 5.7 PM rods. The numbers are not going to be the same if using a 3.75 stroke crank and the 4.03" bore setup (though they should be close).

I'm a big fan of the 383 in either configuration (having on myself), but I must say that Hot Rod Magazine has made a monster out of that little motor with the Vortech (I can hear all the little Alpha's out there shrieking in terror right now).

Later,

You got that right!