Hey guys,I just got a 68'383 bare block with main caps.It is standard bore but will need cleaned up!This is the next motor going in my 83 d150!Want to hear some setups with hyd cam and eddy heads.I am excited as this is my first big block which its gonna be awhile but slowly gonna start buying parts!My wife surprised me buy getting it for me!Gotta have some input.Thanks

I think i just came up with one so let me know what you think!My 318 is getting xe268 cam so i am sticking with Comp Cams.383 bored .030 over,kb400 pistons,84cc eddy heads with 10.1 comp,performer rpm intake,mighty demon 750,stock crank and eagle rods.Now for cam,either XE274 with 488/491 lift with stock rockers or XE275HL with 525/525 lift with roller rockers.727 with 3000 stall and 4.10 gears which is getting ready to go in truck!But still open to suggestions.

Its worth trying the search function. Over the past 6 months or so there have been several long 383 build threads.

The "trick" with a 383 seems to be getting the compression dialed in. The advertised "10 compression ratio" pistons rarely actually achieve that due to deck height and other considerations. For your engine, a truck engine with torque cam and aluminum heads, I'd shoot for 9.5-10.0 compression.

Lots of ways to "crack this nut". I'll suggest a few steps to get started on a really nice engine:

- Get the block to your machine shop. Ask them to clean it, check it out and machine the cylinder deck just enough to square it up. Measure deck height. Factory deck height varied quite a bit. The machine shop may want to rough out the bores for OS pistons at this point but that can wait also
- Re-condition and measure the rods. I'd say minimum is new rod bolts and measure bearing bore sizes and length.
- For various possible piston combos, calculate deck height and compression using one of the on line compression calculators. KB has one, Summit has one and others do as well. With aluminum heads on an iron big block the common Felpro PT head gasket seems to work fine. It is .038 - .040 thick. Figure compression accordingly.

If you get at least part way through this and post your results, I bet you will get plenty of suggestions.

Is it a bare block or a short block.

If it's bare buy a stroker kit completer and eddy heads Ported a bit if possible!

You use the heads, but not the cam? It works together with the cam. Do not believe some magazine saying Comp/lunati/crane has a new grind that makes more hp with fast ramps and such. Build the RPM package you will be pleased. Drop the hype. Mopar has the biggest lobes that provide fastest ramping already. It has been there all along.

My rpm cam was on the .904 if i remember right. Lunati also retains the .904 lobe size for a number of the MPselections.

Could be wrong, you could be right. Could be not even a .904 lobe that is just a number that is my head.

yeah it is a bare block.Which one 383/431 or muscle motors 383/450!Definately need it for torque!But Ive got 383 crank,just nothing else.

I just wanna keep it stock stroke 383.I believe bigger aint always better in my case.But how good would voodoo 60303 cam be with 10.1 comp and eddy heads?

On the cam, what "character" do you want the engine to have and what do you plan to do with the truck?

Do you want it fairly smooth and stronger than stock and (comparativly) thrifty as a truck engine? I think that's the 301 based on specs. Its 220 degree @.050 duration is still quite a bit more than the 200-205 or so stock. It should also live well with stock style rockers/pushrods. No expensive special parts needed. Just get the valve springs matched up. Heavy enough but not too heavy.

Do you want a max effort truck towing engine. Maybe a bit rough idle, a little soft at low RPM but wakes up in the mid range say around 3000 RPM? I think that's the 302 based on specs.

Do you want a somwwhat racey engine. Soft bottom end, needs stall convertor, may not be practical as a working truck engine but really goes when you spin it up? I think that's the 303 based on specs.

Of the 3, I would pick the 301 for a 383 truck engine but your preferences and needs may vary. Key with any of them is getting the compression dialed in and matched up.

This is a street/strip truck that gonna have 4.10 gear and set of caltracs

OK... the 303 sounds like a good choice with real 10:1 compression or even a touch more.

It will take some effort, I think, to get the real 10:1 CR.