Quote: ok for cheap then, just get the solid .528 cam for the 383 & e85 quickfuel carb have the heads milled to get you to 12:1 or so (iron heads, alum could go to 13:1) run a 180 deg thermostat
Do you have any idea hom much would have to come off a set of heads to get his low compression 383 , he's lucky if it's 8:1 on its RATED 9.2 compression.
I just ran some numbers , the pistons in his engine are probably .080 in the hole , if this is the case he would have to have a head with a 46cc chamber to get 12.0 in a 383.
If his heads are 84cc he would have to cut .190 off them to get the chamber down to 46 cc.
It's a nice thought but not something doable with his low budget build with parts he has laying around .
there were different 383's some 10:1 some 9.5:1 some 8.5:1 etc.
you're talking advertised numbers I take it? what 383 was ACTUALLY a 10:1 compression?
the magnum will be about 9.0 compression with the stock heads and stock head gaskets. a .030 cut on the heads and a felpro 1008 gasket gets you 9.5 compression with the dished factory pistons. I actually measured mine while I had it open and I'm at 9.5 compression, assuming things like a 58cc head was actually 62 before being cut, and as accurately as I could measure the edge of the dished piston in relation to the deck at TDC.
anyway, budget minded, I still give the nod to the 383. a good intake, carb, cam, headers, and you have a 400-425hp motor on 89 octane gas. the magnum will cost a bit more money to get over 400 hp out of it.
