im really debating on whether or not to stroke the smallblock to a 383 for next summer. currently im at a 355 running 10:1. i dont know what cam it has in it. i use every bit of 400rpm. doesnt rev anymore than that. previous owner says it has 2.02 heads and they are camelback heads. i want a little more powers and still be able to use pump gas. would i be able to build the motor into a 383 for fairly cheap, and would a 383 be good for a jet?
and would it be fairly reliable?

I assume the 400 RPM was a typo, but FWIW 383's rock, they will make virtually the same HP as a good running 454 with a tad less torque (higher RPM) We had a 383 in a jet and it hauled the mail....

GT

Use long rods, at least the 5.7 350 rods preferably 6.0. Make sure your heads have hardened seats, the humpers didnt come with them. Unleaded fuel will beat the crap out of 'em. Unfortunatly you can get a set of aluminum heads for what people want to put seats in. I've got two sets of the "fueley" heads 1966 and 1969, good for restorations.

oh yeah. the block numbers tell me that its a 68-79 corvette or truck motor. previous owner said it was out of a corvette

5.7 350 rods preferably 6.0. Make
Usehumpers didnt come with long rods, at least the sure heads have hardened seats, the  them. Unleaded fuel will beat the crap out of 'em. Unfortunatly you can get a set of aluminum heads for what people want to put seats in. I've got two sets of the "fueley" heads 1966 and 1969, good for restorations.

False seats for marine

A possible alternative, based on your stated facts might be to purchase a 400 inch sbc, and sell yours to someone for their Vette, if it is truly a Vette engine.  Might be cheaper than buying stroker parts for your block, and give you  a few more cubic inches in the mix.

I have built some 400 ci engines for a dirt modified race car with good success.  The one currently in the car actually has a stock crank and rods since the car owner didn't have the money to replace the damaged Carrillos and forged 4340 crank in the other combination we were running.

Better yet, I have a 410" aluminum Donovan Sprint Car motor I'll sell to you for $15k less intake and injection. Kryptonite Crank, JE pistons (13.5:1 CR) Kicked out 12 quart pan, 4" offset headers (a little bent  )with Supertrapps. It's set up to run 8500 RPM at approx. 850 HP+/- it will blow the fiberglass right off the bottom of that little sucka  ...


Actually waiting to find the perfect "project" for it. 

GT

im really debating on whether or not to stroke the smallblock to a 383 for next summer. currently im at a 355 running 10:1. i dont know what cam it has in it. i use every bit of 400rpm. doesnt rev anymore than that. previous owner says it has 2.02 heads and they are camelback heads. i want a little more powers and still be able to use pump gas. would i be able to build the motor into a 383 for fairly cheap, and would a 383 be good for a jet?
and would it be fairly reliable?

What is your budget? We have a fresh rebuilt 400 sbc sitting in the shop for sale on consignment from a machine shop.

I love jet boat talk n small blocks...I love small blocks...currently I am building a 385 stroker...40 over 010 4 bolt block....forged crank h beam rods and kieth black pistons and that's as far as it has gone...between buying the block and the rotating assembly and having the rotating assembly blue printed and balanced I'm out about 2 grand! The motor is actually being built as a blower application and would love to get a 16 foot jet or v-drive and put that little puppy in there! Show them there big block boys what's up! Anyway I would strongly reccomend going with a 383 hell yeah! Check out enginekits.com they have killer prices on the rotating assemblys that you can't beat! As far as the heads go I like the 2.02 fuely heads great cylinder head if you got em already...if I'm not mistaken you will half to watch your compression ratio closely with them heads for being on pump gas...actually come to think of it I used the 5.7 rod...another thing your block is going to half to be clearanced

Later head seats were induction hardened, early ones were not. Unleaded fuel will beat the shit out of the seats. They have to be cut and hardened seats pressed in

Feel free to install hard seats in heads for Marine.....I won't   

Feel free to install hard seats in heads for Marine.....I won't   

Just out of curiosity, why wouldn't you do hardend seats for a marine engine?

It gets real messy if one comes out!

AND for what you would spend on it you could buy a nice set of heads. How do they keep seats in aluminum heads, cast in?

Hey look at that other people running Small blocks!

Here's mine nothing to get too excited about.

327 .30 over, forged internals, Isky cam, Hump heads, 1.5 Crane rollers, 144 Blower, with duel POS Carbs

Like your boat 

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