383 stroker kits...2 good 2 b true

[newonad]

Looking at the Powerhouse add on pg 91 of May 2002 issue and see an ad for a kit for $469.00. Add $199.00 for balancing, harmonic balancer, and flexplate and you you have an inexpensive set-up. $668.00 and 50.00 to upgrade the pistons to hypereuctic seems cheap. Is it? Am I gonna purchase a low quality collection of parts that have me wondering " What the heck did I do that for?" Is there any real world experience with these kits? Does the addage "You get what you pay for" apply?

QUICK...SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!

 

[sscam69]

Well it depends on what you are doing with the engine. If its going to be a mild stroker 300-400 Hp the cast parts will hold. A cast crank is good for about 500HP. Actually its the torque that it needs to hack not the power. IN that case I would say 500ftlbs of torque. Cast pistons are good for about 350 hp or so.

Whats my experience with this. I raced an El Camino a few nights ago and I asked him what he had.

He said "A 383"

I told him that I wanted to do the same thing and he said

"Dude look up Powerhouse they sell a kit for 600 bucks man, they give you everything exept the block and ujpper half"

He had no complaints about it.

just my .02 cents.

Frank

 

[Uerik]

You didn't mention whether you won or lost
From the sound of it he had a heads up on you? :s

 

[sscam69]

Yeah he won of the line and pulled away slowly. Read my other post "cam or supercharger"

sscam69ad

 

[Jack]

Newonad:
You can do better on price & still have quality. Kit w/cast stroker crank, resized & cam-clearanced rods with hyper pistons can be had for about $470 including shipping. Keep in mind that just about any sbc stroker crank install WILL require some clearancing/grinding on your block! And may require further grinding on rods also! I strongly suggest the balancing be completed AFTER the motor has been assembled, rolled-through and all clearances double-checked ... then take apart and have it balanced. If you pay for a pre-balanced rotating assembly, and then have to grind on part(s) of it to get clearance ... then you'll NEED to have it balanced once more.
JACKSON:gap

 

[Jack]

Simmons shop in Charleston SC area

Newonad:
I seem to recall that Ladson SC is in Charleston area. Long ago I used an auto machine shop/speed shop in Charleston called " ? Simmons ? " for balancing. Lotta fellows (Chevy, Ford, Harley) recommended them ... Simmons'd been doing it a long time. I was pleased with their work too. I worked for local H-D shop at the time & built a few stroker H-D's ... we used Simmons exclusively for balancing. That was twenty years ago ... I don't know if they're still there ... give em a look see.
JACK:gap

 

[newonad]

Thanks Jach. I'll do the yellow pages thing and give them a call. They may have a few suggestions.
Bty, Ladson is near Summerville which is largest town w of N. Charleston.

 

[Jack]

Newonad:
I can also point you to reputable shops at Conway SC and Hartsville SC that do balancing.
JACK:gap