350 to 383 conversion

[Eastwood]

I have a Chevy 362 right now and would like to stroke it to a 383 but I have never done this before. I know I need a 400 crank, but is that all I need to do is change the crank?...or do I need new rods and pistons too? What else would I need to change?

Thanks for all help and replies.....

[FryZss]

I made mine with the 400 crank, 350 rods and offset pin Kieth Black pistons.
The offset in the piston pin produced a small amount of piston slap when cold. It runs great and still is tons of torque. You may have to clearance the block depending on the style you choose. I found with my stroker that as I kept advancing the timing it kept building h.p.. But at some point I ran out octane and had to back it off. On my 78 4X4 I broke the left rear main leaf. That posi really locked up!

http://www.prestage.com/Projects/Bui...Chevy/742.aspx

http://www.dallasexportsales.com/SM383.htm

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/7610/dyno.htm

[Eastwood]

Thank you for the good info.....I guess what I want to know is, since I already have the rods and pistons in the block from the 362, could I just simply drop a 400 crank in and everything work out without a full teardown and rebuild?....could it be that easy?

[danny]

wishfull thinking-it would be nice if it were that easy

[FryZss]

What is your 362? Is it already stroked, bored, or a special truck block?
When you put a 400 crank in you now have to use the right harmonic balancer and flywheel. I had a specially built 350 turbo and since I wanted max low end grunt, I bought an Allison torque converter so my guys balance the flywheel I had. Boy the Allison locked up right now was strong as heck.. If your going to race your rig you want your stall curve going the other way. You guys with 4Xs, when my truck was stock and I would go down hills the truck picked up so much speed it often got unsafe. After the stroker and the trany got dealt with I could go down hill just like a compound low 4 speed.

Jeff

[Eastwood]

It's not stroked now, just a mild 350 bored over to ride on the street with some 140 dome pistons.....I want more torque at the line.....I see now, after some studying that I will need new stuff to go with the crank like the balancer and fly wheel.....I was hoping all I had to do was drop in a 400 crank and that would be it.......

Anybody got a suggestion for the best stroker kit for your money?

[rj57]

A guy I met last spring at a car show said he had a 400 SB with a 350 crank in it in his Camaro.

He was telling how good the 400 ran with the 350 crank, the bearing spacers he used to install the 350 crank and some other things about the engine.

I own a '73 400 SB and I see Summit and Jeg's offer these bearing spacers to install a '350 crank in a 400 SB.

Is this better for the 400 than the stock 400 crank?

[justen]

I'm suprised that I haven't heard any of these ford boys make a 351 into a 393 or a 426 stroker. Whats up with that lol

[KA9MOT]

They do it all the time. Not for me though. Too dang cashy. I drive trucks though. Who would put a stroker motor in a truck?

[danny]

[raises hand] trucks have to have power too, strokers make lots of torque and that is what you need to start pulling the load.