STROKER POWER

THIS 383CI CHEVY MAKES 610 LB-FT ON THE DYNO!

-  STEVEN RUPP

We love sexy, big-power engines as much as anyone, but many of us need to work with real-world budgets that preclude building 1,000hp mills. Still, if you shop right and realize how much fun 500 hp can be, you can end up with a killer engine at a reasonable price. Such is the case with this 383ci small-block Chevy that Engine Masters' Steve Brule recently tested.

01 John Gore built this 383 for his wife's 1968 Camaro, and according to him, it's going to be driven hard. Starting with a two-piece rear-main seal GM block, the bores were taken out to 4.030 inches and prepped for the new rotating kit from Summit Racing. The Eagle stroker kit (PN ESP-B15405E030) is an amazing value at only $875. For that stack of cash, you get a new cast-steel 3.750-inch crank, Eagle forged SIR I-beam rods, Keith Black hypereutectic pistons, Perfect Circle plasma-moly rings, and all the bearings. On top of that you even get a flexplate and a harmonic balancer. The +5.00cc pistons combined with the AFR head's combustion chamber gave a pump-gas-happy 11.0:1 compression ratio.

02 The short-block was topped with a pair of fully CNC-machined, high-flowing AFR 195cc Eliminator heads that utilize L98 geometry. These affordable aluminum heads (PN AFR-1038, $1,857/pair) feature 64cc runners, 2.050-inch intake valves, 1.600-inch exhaust valves, dual valvesprings, and chromoly steel retainers.