A Few 383 buid-up questions????

[HVAC Cruiser]

So I got in the new cam kit,,rod & main bearings, gaskets, GLM exhaust manifolds and 4" risers etc....

The Glypal and ceramic paint is on its way .

OK now for the problems, 2 that have me questioning to be exact. I can't find a 153 tooth external balanced flywheel at a desent price (that's what the 305 had) and is there a difference in marine vs automotive rear mains ?

I asked my balancer if he could balance the rotating assembly with a internally balanced flywheel and he said he would check my crank and get back to me.

Now this is a stock 400 crank with the journals turned to fit the 350 mains, seeing I am not building a $20,000 race car engine I didn't go for a callies crank etc. so I am in uncharted waters here.

Question is this , if I get a168 tooth 400 flywheel (and of course the 11 tooth staggered bolt pattern starter) will it fit under the Mercruiser bell. and if there is really a difference in the rear mains and oil pan gaskets for use in salt waster?

 

[Bondo]

Re: A Few 383 buid-up questions????

Question is this , if I get a168 tooth 400 flywheel (and of course the 11 tooth staggered bolt pattern starter) will it fit under the Mercruiser bell. and if there is really a difference in the rear mains and oil pan gaskets for use in salt waster?

Ayuh,... I've never encountered a Merc flywheel cover that wouldn't accommodate the 168T flywheel...
Is the block drilled for the starter,..??
What vintage,..??
Depending the vintage, a 400 truck flywheel, or a 454 flywheel will be Great for your balancer guy...

Rear mains,+ base gaskets are just motor parts,... Nothing special...

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: A Few 383 buid-up questions????

Ayuh,... I've never encountered a Merc flywheel cover that wouldn't accommodate the 168T flywheel...
Is the block drilled for the starter,..??
What vintage,..??
Depending the vintage, a 400 truck flywheel, or a 454 flywheel will be Great for your balancer guy...

Rear mains,+ base gaskets are just motor parts,... Nothing special...

Hey Bond-o
Thanks for the reply
its a 350 4 bolt 2pc rear main, I forget the year but it is drilled for both. Not knowing Mercruiser I wasn't sure if there would be any interference. I know the 454 vets used a 10.5 clutch on the 454 but try finding one . knowing this now I will just pick up a 168 tooth, new starter and call it a day .

I didn't think there was a difference in the gaskets and seals I already picked up my fel-pro set but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. The one thing I did do is buy a 1 peace oil pan gasket for good measure

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: A Few 383 buid-up questions????

Just make sure you have that flywheel balanced with the rest of the engine, and if you are building a 383 from scratch, you will need to have it balanced. 'nutcase

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: A Few 383 buid-up questions????

HVAC........I have been toying with the idea of building a 383 for a while.

Who is your machinist? I am also on LI.......

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: A Few 383 buid-up questions????

Hey Nutcase, its not from scratch, when I got the engine the crank counterweights were already ground down to clear the block and the mains turned for a 350 block and re-balanced. BUT I am still going to give the rotating assembly to my balancer , harmonic balancer, crank, pistons,rods, flywheel to have it balanced before assembling her. It will give me time for my Gliptal to cure

HVAC........I have been toying with the idea of building a 383 for a while.

Who is your machinist? I am also on LI.......

These days I use John Sandaval in brooklyn I had a real bad experiance with Jack Merkel he tried to BS me on a 14 deg angle mill (that he supposedly did (NOT) for one of my Dirt Engines so don't use him. John is a real good guy good pricing, excellent work, and hey he used to beat Ol Grumpy (Bill) Jenkins all the time . For balancing I use J & S in Bohemia, he used to be my balancer for the WTC back in the day. J & S will do a static balance and if you want come out when you fire her up and do a dynamic real incredible work. They even go as far as grinding the counterweights for me insted of drilling to reduce windage

I will PM you later with their info if you want

Bill

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: A Few 383 buid-up questions????

Thanks.....I had heard Merkle was good...........thanks for the info.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: A Few 383 buid-up questions????

Thanks.....I had heard Merkle was good...........thanks for the info.

I sent you a P.M.

He is to a point, nice guy I don't know if it was him or his son that either tried playing games, or just and honest mistake. But about 10 years ago he did some work for me I was confined to a wheel chair and had no use of my left arm at the time and had to farm out work. I liked the block work BUT he was supposed to do a 14 deg mill on a set of phase II heads, some chamber work in the bowl area and a pocket porting, just shy of the go-no-go gauge I gave him and cc the heads. Well, he charged me for it all but when I got them back All he had done is a standard 3 angle with the 2.08 SS valves I gave him and nothing else. when the engine went on the dyno it came up 100hp shy he then blamed the cam sold me another one and only got another 10 out of it . I took it back, tore it down and found the reasons.