383 stocker in c4 vette question

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gibson

gibson

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im pickin up an '89 C4 vette sometime after Christmas. i have a 383 stocker i want to drop in it but keep the fuel injection on it basically stock. i want this swap to be all "bolt in" without any problems. what flywheel, headers, and the like will i need for this swap, and what will have to do to swap over the fuels system.
 
Theoretically, you should be able to drop in the 383 long block (It's a 350, dammit!).

Basically, pull everything you don't have for the 383 off the original 350, including the accessory drive.

Any headers that would work on a 350 in a C4 will work with the 383. Go stock on the flywheel, etc. I don't like the idea of stock '89 350 EFI on a 383. The intake's not going to cut it, we won't be able to get the required fuel in, etc.

Hopefully someone else can shed a bit more light on this.
 
gibson
im pickin up an '89 C4 vette sometime after Christmas. i have a 383 stocker i want to drop in it but keep the fuel injection on it basically stock. i want this swap to be all "bolt in" without any problems. what flywheel, headers, and the like will i need for this swap, and what will have to do to swap over the fuels system.
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You had me until the bold portion. NO engine swap is ever "without problems". EVERY engine swap has issues, even exchanging out the same engine. Its just a fact. And moreover since you are wanting to change the fuel delivery system that in itself is a massive headache. You're better off just grabbing an LT1 or LS1 for the swap. This goes against my personal opinion--but its just the easiest way for you to get power with fuel injection.
 
"EVERY engine swap has issues, even exchanging out the same engine."

Yup. If you don't drop the engine on the fender, you scratch the paint when your ratchet slips while putting the hood back on.
 
i kinda cant afford the LS1 that i want, and i dont have any LT1 parts sittin around(yes i have small block 350and 383 stroker parts sittin around), 383s are a dime a doz., so i can make 500 hp for 4 grand that swaps in, plus i can put the car back to stock and keep the longblock and put it an almost anything else. plus i built the motor already, so im kinda stuck
 
gibson
i kinda cant afford the LS1 that i want, and i dont have any LT1 parts sittin around(yes i have small block 350and 383 stroker parts sittin around), 383s are a dime a doz., so i can make 500 hp for 4 grand that swaps in, plus i can put the car back to stock and keep the longblock and put it an almost anything else. plus i built the motor already, so im kinda stuck
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$4,000? For that money you can get an already rebult LS1 WITH transmission. You need to look around harder. Hell, LT1's are going for dirt cheap right now. Sell off what you have as parts and buy a new engine. I've seen non-ebay LS1's with 4L60E's or T56 tranmision combos go for $3,500 already reman'd.

Those are what I"m going with for my Camaro...eventually.
 
Whats wrong with an LT1 again? They were fairly easy to work on and modify as I recall, so I don't see much of a reason to swap in what I presume to be a carbbed 383 when you've already got a solid base to work with.

My suggestion?

Sell the 383, pocket the cash, and go from there. The LT1 is a great base, and like JCE said, if you want an LS1, its very easy to find those for cheap as well. I'd personally be blowing the $4000 on a decent suspension setup, good tires and brakes, a solid transmission, and a modest power boost... Quite frankly, the Corvette is plenty quick if you focus the mods in the right places...
 
I wonder if he's trying to build a drag car. 383 in a 'Vette sounds more like a drag setup than anything else.
 
Wow, I just realized my post wasn't up to good proper english standards. I must of been brain-dead.

YSSMAN
Whats wrong with an LT1 again? They were fairly easy to work on and modify as I recall, so I don't see much of a reason to swap in what I presume to be a carbbed 383 when you've already got a solid base to work with.

My suggestion?

Sell the 383, pocket the cash, and go from there. The LT1 is a great base, and like JCE said, if you want an LS1, its very easy to find those for cheap as well. I'd personally be blowing the $4000 on a decent suspension setup, good tires and brakes, a solid transmission, and a modest power boost... Quite frankly, the Corvette is plenty quick if you focus the mods in the right places...
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I will agree. Get an LT1 and a good suspension setup and it will be powerful AND fast around corners.

Jim Prower
I wonder if he's trying to build a drag car. 383 in a 'Vette sounds more like a drag setup than anything else.
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I thought that at first, but wy would be want fuel injection? Carbs is the way to go in drag racing.
 
JCE3000GT
Carbs is the way to go in drag racing.
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Not always.

In fact, scratch that. Very rarely.

They're cheaper than EFI, true. But EFI can be more consistent (Bracket racing), make more power, and actually easier to dial in.

Oh, and I see no reason why someone wouldn't run a 383 in a road course car if it was allowed... It's just a stroked 350.
 
True, but It's also most often based on the Gen I (A.K.A, the "True") smallblock, and, being a bit less sophisticated and heavier than an LT1, (I think) I couldn't see it being as good of an engine for road course purposes, especially since an LT1's not hard to find.

The problem with converting an EFI car to a Carb, In my opinion, is that the EFI system's fuel pump operates at a much higher pressure than the pump of a Carb'd engine. That has to be replaced: might as well replace the whole fuel system while we're at it.
 
Yes, but even staying EFI would force a change of fuel pumps.

You won't get away with a stock '89 350 fuel system behind anything much stronger than a stock 350. (383, LT1, LS1, it doesn't matter)

I'd go carb'd for this if cost is a big problem.
 
Hm...I know that they make TBI kits for SBC chevys: even cross-fire injection (like your stock 'vette's) for higher-perfromance models.
 
Odd too, because I said it had an LT1 when it clearly didn't... And I'm normally the Corvette guy!

But anyway, I'd stick to the stock engine and go from there. Unless that one is on its last leg (I'm going to assume that it isn't), there isn't much of a reason to pull it out.
 
Any power you can make with a 383 you can make with a 350. It will just rev-higher and be a whole lot more simple to extract. $4,000 thrown at a pre-LT1 small-block can equal 200 extra horsepower, at least.
If you are set on a 383, though, I would worry about the fuel pump most of all.
 
guys, he already has the 383, why NOT put it in? and an '89 tpi 350 can't be putting out all that much power.

Throw the 383 in there, then start saving for the suspension and brake goodies. Besides, Corvettes aren't exactly slouches in the suspension department to begin with. it's a freakin' CORVETTE!
 
i decided today to dump the whole TPI motor and go for a Holley Comander 950 MPI system, then upgrade the fuel pump and ad an adjustable regulator. plus i can drop the TPI 350 in my dads truck and put the 305 from the truck in my moms blazer. and sell off her 4.3 l for about 2500 bucks.
 
Toronado
Sneeze on an L98 and you've added 30 HP. Throw 4 grand at one and you could easily make 450 horses. More if you opt for forced induction.
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^ That is quite correct. the L98 is quite a good motor to tune with little money. Something as simply as a complete tune-up, ECU tune, catback, and air intake will put you over 300RWHP. And all of that won't cost you more than $600.

gibson
i decided today to dump the whole TPI motor and go for a Holley Comander 950 MPI system, then upgrade the fuel pump and ad an adjustable regulator. plus i can drop the TPI 350 in my dads truck and put the 305 from the truck in my moms blazer. and sell off her 4.3 l for about 2500 bucks.
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You will never sell a 4.3L for more than $1200, and that's if its already remanufactured and it has the tranny with it. But, since you seem determined not to use an LT1 or LS1 good luck with your project. Don't forget to post up some pics and vids of your progress.
 

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