377 or 350??!!

[Cristián]

Hello guys,

I don´t write very often in this forums but I read almost everyday.

The reason why I´m writing in this moment is because I´m on a big doubt; it´s about building my next engine. Current engine is a sbc 355 with flat top pistons, 3000-7000 crane cam, 64cc Camel Hump heads and some other goodies.

The original idea for the next engine was build a destroker sbc 377. I bought a forged 4340 Eagle crankshaft ready for this engine, 3.48 stroke and 2.65 main journal. Besides already have forged rods and pistons overbored to 4.155. The "little" problem is the block; the one a had bought was really bad, broke everywhere and impossible to fix (which would be a bad idea too). Found a new block seems to be the easiest way out, but here in my country (Chile) is really hard to find this kind of block, specially in good condition.

I´m so dissapointed for this issue that an idea came to my mind which is to buy new pistons, send the crank to take it to 2.45 main journal and build a killer 355 with this parts. Cylinder heads are going to be 58cc Aluminum wathever the engine be; the´re already on the way home.

Hope you can help me to decide what engine should I use. If one of yours has some experience with destroker 377 I´ll be glad to read your opinion, I´m kind of obsessed with that engine. But if it is not much superior to the 350, thats gonna have to be my decision.

Thanks a lot for your answer, this site rules!!

Cheers :cheers: !!

[GregWeld]

Christian ==

I can't help you with the parts selection -- but have you looked at the DART MACHINE short block?? They are building a 372 short block... and maybe that would be "cheaper" in the long run to just buy the short block all done from them. They're claiming 525 HP I think. Here's a link:

http://www.dartheads.com/products/shp-small-block-chevy-short-blocks.html

[tgvettes]

Greg
One thing is that I believe that import tax to Chile is tremendous, At least when I have shipped computer hardware to Chile they pay a ton. So anything he buys from over seas is much more money then for us here in the US.
My suggestion Cristian is that you just get a new block from the US that can use your components that you already have
I think a big bore 400 style Dart block would be about $2000
That way you will have a very solid bottom end that can take pretty much anything. I think that would be a lot less for you then getting a complete shortblock. Taking down the crank from 2.65 mains to 2.45 mains I would call up the manufacturer to check if that is ok to do if you decide to build the 355 I think that very much depends on how the crank is manufactured in the first place.

Tonny

[Cristián]

Thanks for the answers guys. Bring things to Chile is pretty expensive, but that´s not the real issue here, my big problem is to decide the engine. I´ve been told that the 377 tends to overheat because the water jackets problem within the 400 block, but theres good solutions to this problem, and also I won´t be using the car everyday.

Well, the idea of buying a Dart block is just a dream for me right now, my remaining budget is lower than US$1000, so I have to wait or keep looking for a good block.

Cheers!!

[GregWeld]

Cristian --

A "400 block overheating" is a common misconception. Many times the real issue is using the wrong head gasket -- or not drilling the steam hole in the heads. If the steam hole that is part of the 400 block - is not "resolved" in the gasket and or heads - you will THEN have an overheating issue.

[tgvettes]

Cristian,
Totally agree with Greg here. Overheating of 377 are usually wrong head gaskets or no steam holes in the heads.

Tonny

[rocketman]

just my opinion, if going thru the expense to stroke it, go to a 383 or 393, the price is slightly more, but the power is well worth it

[Cristián]

The "problem" of do a 383 is that I´ve spend a lot of money in the forged crank, and i don´t wanna waste it, besides the bigger motivation of making the 377 are the revs, this engine is able to rev around 7000 rpm (or more) without too many problems, and that´s something i love.

Still don´t decide what to do, wether tryn to buy another block or prepare a kick ass 355; ebay is not helping me very much about the blocks, they´re too expensive yet for me, think i´ll have to wait a few more days.

Thanks for the answers guys, :lateral: ROCKS!!

[thedude327]

The "problem" of do a 383 is that I´ve spend a lot of money in the forged crank, and i don´t wanna waste it, besides the bigger motivation of making the 377 are the revs, this engine is able to rev around 7000 rpm (or more) without too many problems, and that´s something i love.

Still don´t decide what to do, wether tryn to buy another block or prepare a kick ass 355; ebay is not helping me very much about the blocks, they´re too expensive yet for me, think i´ll have to wait a few more days.

Thanks for the answers guys, :lateral: ROCKS!!

Try www.craigslist.org to search for a used block at reasonable(not ebay) prices.....

Paul