RATROD 383 385 CHEVY STROKER FIRST START UP cam break in

Since 1978 I've been building old cars and V8 engines.I always have several laying around that I'm building.It takes time,I find peices here and there and assemble them. The last several years I've slowly been building 4 engines.A 454(done n sold),a retro roller 307,a 385 and the 350 thats in this 48'Chevy. I sell some,trade some,use some,etc. It's one of my hobbies. This one is now done,,it's a "385 Stroker". It's a Small Block Chevy engine(sbc). The newly completed assembled engine must be started and rev'd up and held there to properly break in the camshaft and lifters(this is part of Old School flat tappet engines). If you don't do this the cam and lifters will experience premature failures. I run all new engines at 2000rpm to 2500rpm. I do this for 20 to 30 minutes.This particular engine block is stamped 1969 Impala 350. The heads are late 1969 #186 casting numbers,(desirable for increased Horse Power). They match the block as far as date,they're known as "double humps" or "375 horse heads". They'll make quite a bit more horsepower than that if properly worked.This engine should make 385 to 400 horse power. The valves are new stainless 2.02's/1.60's.The heads are seriously ported and have a history to them,,these heads have circulated around a local dragstrip for decades. When I bought them,I redid everything. The cylinder bores were bored over .40 thousandths. Then I added a 400 crankshaft to this 350 motor to "Stroke" it. This combination results in longer piston travel and makes the engine bigger internally and increases it's breathing characteristics (hence the benefit of the ported heads). The resulting displacement is 385 cubic inches. This will probably end up in my '85 chopped top swb S-10. The reason being this is a street type, low rpm engine.I have a little over $2000.oo in the whole thing because I wait on good deals and do the work myself,except the spin balancing of the reciprocating assembly.I'll post more vids as I can.Thanks for looking.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

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• Cigar
• Box
• Gauges
• rat
• rod
• hotrod
• sled
• old
• school
• drag
• dragster
• small
• block
• chevy
• 1948
• tudor
• stylemaster
• rock
• billy

[danielwetpaint]

Yes,, it can take a 1000 miles or more to seat in the rings. The moly faced rings should seat in quickly though.

[danielwetpaint]

Radio,,,

[drek509]

would you be able to give advise on what to do on a 383 stroker? i don't know what kind of cam it has,previous buyer and the builder can't find out.I'm looking at hopefully hitting around 400 horse,this is my first build and don't have much knowledge on engines.sounds like you might be able to help point me in the right direction

[danielwetpaint]

Thanks,, I'm learning something everyday,,but what I do know is that when you go with a street cam with more than 230 degrees of duration @ .050 the brakes will fade due to a reduction of vacuum.There are several ways around this,,manual brakes,a vacuum pump,etc.More than 230 dur will also "push" you through a stoplighta.I usually run a dual pattern cam,,nowdays I'm switching to rollers because the oils don't have enough Zinc or Phosphorus and you end up with a dead miss where the cam sheared.

[killerbe1]

i love the first start!! that thing sounds mean. is this going into an s10?

[danielwetpaint]

YES!!!! assembly is nearing completion. The ported aluminum heads are on the engine. I need the bolt washers and they're on.

[Roesch03WRX]

@GarrettJDB yes

[GarrettJDB]

Is it normal for an engine to smoke for around 5 minutes after the first start?

[ministate]

Any advise you can give on your 307 retro build? I just bought a 283 from a 65 chevelle and a small journal 327 crank. And so far that's all I've done.

[geraldlee33]

sucky music in the background. Motor sounds good.

[hancock64]

Nice job, mister. Wait'll you feel it.  I put a 383 in my deuce and it's really a torquer. Nice intake you've got there.

[danielwetpaint]

Around here you can do both for about $2500.oo