Small Block & Big Block Chevy Specific - 383 stroker or 400

What should i go with....a 383 stroker or a 400 sbc....i want to make more then 450HP...

What's your budget like? Original 400 blocks are getting harder to find....around here anyhow. You can easily get 450+hp out of either choice depending on how much money you want to spend.

What's your budget like? Original 400 blocks are getting harder to find....around here anyhow. You can easily get 450+hp out of either choice depending on how much money you want to spend.
i have a small budget...i have a 350 block that was grinded down for the 3.75 crank...it had a crank but now i need a new one...and the owner of the shop told me that hes friend has a 400 sbc block and crank and pistions i think...for like $700...i think i wouold save alot more money if i just buy the a new crank for my 383....but iam not sure how much would a shop charge to balance it...can i still use the same rods that i had before with the old crank?

You can get an eagle or scat cast 383 crank for less than $200 that's good to 500hp. You can use a 5.7" or 6" rod as long as you have the matching pistons. Just to give you an idea on machine shop costs, I was quoted just over $500 from a reputable machine shop for the following work:
-hot tank block
-magnaflux & check for cracks
-.030" overbore & hone w/torque plate
-install cam bearings/freeze plugs
-clearance everything for stroker crank
-balance entire rotating assembly
-assemble shortblock

I didn't write down what each individual job costed, but IIRC balancing the entire rotating assembly was ~$150. What does "small" budget mean to you? To get 450hp you're going to have to dish out a little cash. I'm actually building a 383 right now & shooting for about the same power as you. I've got my parts list finished and after every last nut bolt & gasket I'm at $3407. There's probably a little money to be saved by scoring some slightly used stuff on ebay, and I'll probably do a little bit of that.

Well i dont know lot about engines...but my friend was taking a look at my pistions and he said that i have pop up pistions .60 over....are does good? i have some heads that came out of a 400sbc and and XE284H cam...iam planning to go with a 100-150 Shot.

A 400S bigger bore will have better breathing characteristics than a 383s would but 400 blocks are known to be weaker than there small bore brothers but with a good set of heads and that 284 cam either engine should make what you want especially with the giggle gas

just remember to have your ring gaps set up for the no2 better safe than sorry

A 400S bigger bore will have better breathing characteristics than a 383s would but 400 blocks are known to be weaker than there small bore brothers but with a good set of heads and that 284 cam either engine should make what you want especially with the giggle gas

just remember to have your ring gaps set up for the no2 better safe than sorry
My personal experience has been that the siamesed cylinder walls of the 400 make it an incredibally strong block. I have built several Hyper output 406 and 412's using seasoned 400 blocks and those things are still going strong. The reputation they have for cracking heads I must say is well founded, only because of the builder not taking into account the steam hole locations.

Vote for 383". Blocks are easier to get, and 400's are very rare.

Another vote for a 383, 350 blocks are easier to find, 400 blocks are getting expensive and no steam holes to drill in the heads.

Also, if you have pop-up pistons, chances are unless you go with a 70-something cc head you'll be way over 11:1 compression. I'm running a 383 with flat tops and a 65 cc head for 10.6:1 compression.

Derek