I recently bought an 80 camaro z28. Overall the car is in good shape. Body has very little rust and the T-tops dont leak. I want to make this my weekend fun car cuz I drive a pickup everyday to work. Anyways, I've been debating which motor to buy, a 383 or a 454. The motor will be a crate engine cuz I dont have the time or knowledge to build one myself. What do you guys suggest? "Right now" total budget for car is 12-15k. Car will be a streetsweeper. Occasional track. Thanks.

If you have 12-15 thousand for the car, I vote for the pigblock! :)

A big block certainly has its own mystique, but then shifting a well-built small block at 7200+ rpm has its appeal as well. Either way you go, find a reputable builder and have fun. Be aware, with serious power on tap, you will need to reserve some of your budget to harden the transmission and rear to handle the abuse they will take. Good luck.

but then shifting a well-built small block at 7200+ rpm has its appeal as well.

Sounds alittle so much for me... 7200RPM:confused: I wonder how much the engine can last...???
I have never reved the stock 350 above 4700RPM....
Sounds furious;)

Besides power and weight, any other advantages from one motor to the other?

Sounds alittle so much for me... 7200RPM:confused: I wonder how much the engine can last...???
I have never reved the stock 350 above 4700RPM....
Sounds furious;)


4700 rpm's is just getting into the power range on a good balanced motor.

What about GMs zz383 motor? It looks to be able to put up big block numbers with the value of a small block. 425hp@5400 and 465lbs@4500rpm. Would the 454 still be a better choice 4 my app?

http://www.badasscars.com/techtips.html#383stroker

if the car has a small block in it right now then I would say go with the zz383 that way all of your bracketry will switch over, if theres no motor or bracketry go with the pig block cause you have to buy all brackets anyways.

The motor that is has right now is a 305 out of a 92 camaro. The previous owner swapped it and put a carb in it. Not in very good condition.

I say go w/ this motor,its a 502 BBC and only $1,000 more than the ZZ383 your talking about and has a ton more potential in it.

http://www.crateenginedepot.com/502HO-Off-Road-Crate-Engine-with-Iron-Head-and-Roller-Cam-12568778-P11C2.aspx

Or this one

http://www.crateenginedepot.com/ZZ-502-Crate-Engine-BaseAssembled-Off-Road-with-Aluminum-Heads-12496963-P19C2.aspx

I would get the second one,buy an intake,carb,distributor and a set of 2" headers 'n rock out.

Have a good trans,rearend and some cal-trac bars and some 10" slicks, that sucker should run DEEP 11's no problem. Thats what my car ran and this motor has alot better heads on it.

Gotrat, how will this setup behave on the street? I want my ride to be a driver too.

"With their 118cc combustion chambers yielding a streetable 8.75 to 1 compression ratio, this engine is ready to rock on readily available pump premium. The 502 HO requires an electric fuel pump because the 502 Gen VI block has no mechanical fuel pump boss."

This engine is completely streetable! Only reason it says "off-road" is because
"should only be used in 1975 and earlier pre-emissions street vehicles or any year off road vehicles."

You'd have no problems at all running it on the street. To keep temps cool, I'd go with a big radiator, and a good elec fan(s). A good intake, carb, ignition system would be necessary. Don't forget all the pulley's and brackets, headers, exhaust and other misc parts you'd need. Drive train wise, I'd go with TH400 and a small stall. Get some 3.42's (to keep revs down and help hook up 550ftlbs of torque). New 30 spline axles, a new posi unit to go with the bigger splines, & have the axle tubes welded while your at it. A nice paint job, some 17" TT2's (15" rim w/ drag radials/slicks for the strip), and any other little add-ons you'd want (ie autometer gauges, Corbeau seats, etc).

Am I north of 15K yet???

Even tho i like tha Darkside, id go with tha 454 SBC from world, or tha all aluminum 427 not sure of BB or SB.