Small Block & Big Block Chevy Specific - 383 or 406 turbo for my iroc-z

I have a 1988 Iroc-z Camaro it currently has a 355 with 125 shot of nitrous. It ran the best of 11.62 @117. I was going to put a LS1 in it but that is a little to much work for me so I want to put a 383 or a 406 in it with a single turbo and a 50 or 75 shot of nitrous and still keep it a street car not my daily driver but if I want to I could drive it ever day. I have a 350 block I can make a 383 out of and I have a 400 block I can make a 406 out of. What would be better a 383 or a 406?? What would be a cheap single turbo?? I will be runner a forged bottom end. What should the car run in the 1/4 with a 383or 406 turbo and a 50 or 75 shot. Any suggestion would be appreciated.

Well, a 350 block are known for taking more abuse since the walls are thicker. A twin setup can yield 1000 HP out of 400 cubes on 93 octane, but a 383 should be able to make 750 FWHP with a single turbo, good for 9s if you can put it to the ground and make it stick.

i say go with the 350 block also.

you could destroke the 400 to a 377 i hear they make killer power..

At higher RPM, yea. But valvetrain cost more to keep it stable and in one piece.

350 block dumdumdum. and there is no such thing as a cheap turbo anything.

I have a 1988 Iroc-z Camaro it currently has a 355 with 125 shot of nitrous. It ran the best of 11.62 @117. I was going to put a LS1 in it but that is a little to much work for me so I want to put a 383 or a 406 in it with a single turbo and a 50 or 75 shot of nitrous and still keep it a street car not my daily driver but if I want to I could drive it ever day. I have a 350 block I can make a 383 out of and I have a 400 block I can make a 406 out of. What would be better a 383 or a 406?? What would be a cheap single turbo?? I will be runner a forged bottom end. What should the car run in the 1/4 with a 383or 406 turbo and a 50 or 75 shot. Any suggestion would be appreciated.

If you didn't have the 350 and the 400 sitting there, I would go with the LS1. But since you have the blocks, I would go with the 400. And since you are going to be buying a forged rotating assembly, I would set it up to be 420'ish ci. Then I would carefully piece together a complete setup. Since you have mentioned "cheap" setup ... I would buy the parts that are part of the completely determined combo and try to get the motor together and running and in the car. Then piece together a turbo setup if still desired. But it will not be cheap and it will not be easy. Is anything?

As far as times go, man its a crapshoot. With a 3000 lb car and a 406 with Iron eagles, solid roller, 10:1 compression, 3800 stahl, 4.10 gear on a 10" tire I went 10's .

If you didn't have the 350 and the 400 sitting there, I would go with the LS1. But since you have the blocks, I would go with the 400. And since you are going to be buying a forged rotating assembly, I would set it up to be 420'ish ci. Then I would carefully piece together a complete setup. Since you have mentioned "cheap" setup ... I would buy the parts that are part of the completely determined combo and try to get the motor together and running and in the car. Then piece together a turbo setup if still desired. But it will not be cheap and it will not be easy. Is anything?

As far as times go, man its a crapshoot. With a 3000 lb car and a 406 with Iron eagles, solid roller, 10:1 compression, 3800 stahl, 4.10 gear on a 10" tire I went 10's .

Well I have a 350 block 355ci which is in my car now, I have a 400 bored 0.030 over and I have a LS1 block I was thinking about putting the LS1 in my IROC but it is alot of work to do that. I thought about just rebuilding the 355 but I am going to do a 400ci motor I have thought about a 421 or 434 but I have heard bad thing about stroking a stock 400 block.

Well I have a 350 block 355ci which is in my car now, I have a 400 bored 0.030 over and I have a LS1 block I was thinking about putting the LS1 in my IROC but it is alot of work to do that. I thought about just rebuilding the 355 but I am going to do a 400ci motor I have thought about a 421 or 434 but I have heard bad thing about stroking a stock 400 block.

If you build it right you should be fine. I know of 434's running around on the street reliably and flyin.

That said, if you have an ls1 block I would seriously consider it. If apples to apples combo wise with the 355 / 400, at least you'd be saving weight if nothing more. I would go with the carb setup, because that's what I know - but guys will tell you to go EFI with it (they make all the stuff you would need for an install in that third gen) and you can get some killer heads for the money. From what I've heard, the install is not that bad. Haven't personally done it - but if you're pulling the drivetrane anyway, I'd be looking into it.