Originally posted by Timxxwatson:
you need to use 400 rods as well
IMHO, if you want to do a 383 right, don't waste your time with SBC 400 rods. They're too short and place too much pressure against the outside of the cylinder bore. Spend the extra dollars to install a set of 5.7 inch rods or 6 inch rods. The 383 that is planned for my 55 has 6 inch rods with 10:1 flats, comp 284 extreme energy cam and a Victor manifold. The machining process to run 5.7 or 6.0 rods is to grind a little off each of the even poitioned rod (just below the rod bolt) to allow the rod to clear the cam lobe. When you degree your cam in, you'll find that the difference between the 5.7 and 6.0 rod is that the piston will stay at TDC for 3-4 degrees longer on the degree wheel, compressing the mixture for a longer duration. I imagine that that duration increase by 5-7 degrees over the stock length SBC 400 rod. IMHO, do yourself a favor and don't cheap out when buliding a 383I
