Joined: Sun Feb 22 2009, 11:59AM
Location: Hungary
Posts: 25
Decided to rebuilding my '68 monaco 4dr 383 original engine. Do you know any good source for the set instead of ebay,rock,summit? Summit shipping,handling is expensive to Hungary,rock and ebay nearly same but there is cast pistons only. Are they usable? No need a race car everything stock original,i want a little faster car than stock,which cam do you prefer? Thank you!
Joined: Wed Aug 11 2010, 10:15AM
Location: E WA
Posts: 1230
spitfire wrote ...
Decided to rebuilding my '68 monaco 4dr 383 original engine. Do you know any good source for the set instead of ebay,rock,summit? Summit shipping,handling is expensive to Hungary,rock and ebay nearly same but there is cast pistons only. Are they usable? No need a race car everything stock original,i want a little faster car than stock,which cam do you prefer? Thank you!
What is the condition or your engine?
If you are lucky you may be able to simply replace the rings and bearings, especially if you do not want higher performance.
Also, if you do not want/need higher performance then the cast pistons should work just fine.
You can get a fair performance improvement from a better carb and intake manifold and a good dual exhaust. I would also go to an electronic ignition if you have not.
Summit Racing is good for performance stuff and Rockauto is good for factory stuff and ebay can be hit and miss.
Joined: Sun Feb 22 2009, 11:59AM
Location: Hungary
Posts: 25
It will need boring,it's a 50 years old engine,i've got 4bbl intake,ignitor2 but single exhaust. Thanx for the link. And what cam? Comp,voodoo or something else?
Joined: Wed Aug 11 2010, 10:15AM
Location: E WA
Posts: 1230
spitfire wrote ...
It will need boring,it's a 50 years old engine,i've got 4bbl intake,ignitor2 but single exhaust. Thanx for the link. And what cam? Comp,voodoo or something else?
A dual exhaust does make a big difference. If you contact Comp cams and give them the specs of your engine and planned use they will be happy to recommend their best cam for your application.
Stay on the small side for a camshaft.Easy to over cam a 383.Especially in a heavy car with low(ish) compression and tall gearing. Concentrate on the details.Good ring seal,valve job,etc.Basic blueprinting of the engine. If no head upgrades are planned I would say 9.0-1 or 9.5-1 max compression depending on available octane. There is no magic cam either but something like a comp 262 or Lunati 262 grind will work well and give a nice power increase while retaining good driving manners. Dual exhaust would be a must unless you want to do a mandrel bent 3" single exhaust with a free flowing Y pipe such as the one Flowmaster sells.
I am sure many will say it isn't needed (and they are correct),however the hedman shortie headers are a good power increase over log manifolds.Only requirement is switching to a later model starter (smaller).It isn't a must by any means but little gains taken where they can be found add up to a quicker car that is more fun to drive.
Joined: Sat Apr 29 2006, 05:11PM
Location: Cincy
Posts: 269
Be careful building a 383. Getting reasonable compression with off the shelf pistons in a 383 is very difficult. I ended up with KB pistons and after heavy shaving of my heads I ended up with 8.9:1 compression. Wanted 9.0 - 9.2:1. Its an almost stock street car.
Whatever piston you buy make sure you know what the compression will be with your combination. I can send you an excel spreadsheet that can help you calculate the compression. It calculates the actual compression based on advertised piston compression height (that's how piston manufacturers identify what compression will be with their pistons).
Joined: Sun Feb 22 2009, 11:59AM
Location: Hungary
Posts: 25
BODE wrote ...
Be careful building a 383. Getting reasonable compression with off the shelf pistons in a 383 is very difficult. I ended up with KB pistons and after heavy shaving of my heads I ended up with 8.9:1 compression. Wanted 9.0 - 9.2:1. Its an almost stock street car.
Whatever piston you buy make sure you know what the compression will be with your combination. I can send you an excel spreadsheet that can help you calculate the compression. It calculates the actual compression based on advertised piston compression height (that's how piston manufacturers identify what compression will be with their pistons).
Great,thank you! I hope my mechanic knows everything..