383 sbc cam choice and combo advice?

[mikes]

Hi guys, building a 383 sbc for some street strip fun. This will run e-85 fuel . I have afr 195 eliminator 65cc heads, vic jr or performer rpm intakes, a barry grant 750 carb, wiesco 13:1 pistons (for the e-85 fuel) 6" h beam rods and a internal balanced scat 9000 crank. I think i'd like to run a solid flat tappet cam as the heads/springs are set up for that and I would also like to keep cost in check. This engine will be in a 3400 lb car, 4000-4200 converter, 4.56 gear and a 28" drag radial. Im open to cam suggestions and combo advice. I dont have a hp goal but would like mid tens at the track. Am I close?? Thanks!!

[bigjoe1]

Your golds are WAY to high== Come back when you have a chance to rethink how fast you will be=

JOE SHERMAN RACING

[mikes]

Im Back...LOL My goals are way too high?? Ok Thats what I wanted to hear. Set me straight. What do I need to get there?? OR where will I be with what I have? 525-550? I thought you had insite a while back on a 600 hp 383 from an old car craft magzine that made over 600 hp on pump gas?? They used a 195 eliminator head and you spec'd the cam. I still have the artical. Yes it was a solid roller, so Is that what I need to get to 600 hp?? Will 600 hp get me into the tens? I really dont want to sound like Im some kinda punk kid, at 42 Im still a kid at heart but I just really want to know how to achieve my goals! Thanks!!

[bigjoe1]

The sad news is, just because you have 600 horsepower ( or what ) does not make your car go that fast== I have seen where the setup of the car can be worth a full second== I know it might be hard to believe, but HP alone is not what makes you run fast times==It is true, 600 Hp would make your car PROBABLY run in the tens, but not for sure== = The converter , rear end gears, tires ( real slicks ) and everything else will have a lot to do with it.. little things like brake drag , front end alignment, rolling resistence, all can add up to one second differance in quarter mile times.. When I put a 539 HP engine into a well setup car, it ran a 10.25 ET== In an off the street car, it might turn 11.25=== I hope you see where I am comming from.



JOE SHERMAN RACING ENGINES

[mikes]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I understand 100% about the car and chassis, If I can make some respectable power I can adjust and tweak the rest little by little. What do you feel about my engine? Does it have any potential? Is it mismatched? Im sure it is to some degree, thats why Im here so it can be critiqued. Thanks!!

[bigjoe1]

As far as your present combo, it all depends on how bad you want the quarter mile times== You need move stall speed , more rear end gear ratio, and a big solid cam on the street is almost for sure goping to go flat pretty dam quick=== I wouild never do the gig flatt tappet cam for any street driving at all. You cant even guess how much it will cost to fix if the cam goes flat== With a nice street roller, the cam will never be an issue, and yopu will gain some extra HP be sides== I am not sure about the E 85 gasoline , but you allready have pretty high compression


JOE SHERMAN RACING

[Orr89rocz]

I've done lower 11's in a pure street car that was over 3450 with me in with just 3600 stall/3.42 gear, 700r4 trans, road race style suspension on sticky ET Streets. This was with a 383 with same eliminator 195 heads but with a hydraulic roller. 11 to 1 compression on pump gas. Properly setup with more stall/gear like it needed, that combo could have went high 10's or better, especially in 40-50 deg air instead of 75-80 deg heat that I ran in. My car was so far from a drag car who knows what a real drag setup would have done. It only dyno'd 392whp with heat soaked motor. Probly 400-410 cooled off.

I think mid higher 10's isnt out of the question with your 383 on E85 with that compression. That fuel already has much more potential than 93 oct gas.

But like said, big solid flat tappet on the street may not be as nice as a roller. If you can spend the cash, go with a roller cam setup.

Another local guy has a 383 like my old motor and he's near mid 10's on motor with a 3200lb car. 4.10's with 3200 stall. 10.7's at 126 with a 1.52 60ft. Its nothign special. 10.8 to 1 motor with a XE-284-H cam. Vic Jr and pro systems carb. Street car. Not 100% drag car but its setup abit better than my car was. Still moves well even tho its abit lighter than what you intend to be. That cam aint big either tho.

[mikes]

Thanks for the replies! How about the 70 mile round trip to work once or twice a week? Solid roller lifters up to that? The only thing Im concerned about is the reliability of the lifter. The other issue I was worried about was cam selection with that high of compression but because of e-85 I guess I can stand some pretty high cranking compression but can I have too much?

[AA Performance]

Would you believe that I just got a custom street solid roller for SBC with.400' lobes, 256 , 262 @ .050" & is recommended to have 149lbs on seat with 380lbs open. Thats less than what I run on flat tappet stuff. Should last for a long time, especially with .904" lifters.

[mike walsh]

Like Joe said I'd stay away from a flat tappet solid for street use, adjusting lash is a pita on a hot motor, in the sun, in a parking lot, date is waiting, you get the point!
Go with a fat roller.
A 10 second street car is no joke, driveline parts have to be up to the task or they will break!
I see you running a milder cam and a shot of juice to get there reliably, as much as a 10 car can be!

[greywolf]

If you decide to run a solid roller on the street, be careful what lifter you choose as I have found out the hard way that there are good lifters, and there are better lifters ,

[67RS502]

its only gonna take about a 525hp engine to put a 3400lbs car in the 10s.
Your 383 should make that pretty easy with a mild cam.
looks like you have plenty gear and converter to get there.
as long as the car is set up right it shouldnt be a problem, with some track tuning.

[levisnteeshirt]

i spoke with Engle about a cam ,, i had a friend back in the day with an Engle cam ,, it lasted a long time , got ran a bunch on the street ,never did go flat , we put it in several motors , and it pulled very good ,, 8000 rpm in a 283 , 7500 in a 350 ,, i'm sure it would be down on HP compared to cams today ,, but the Engle rep told me the older cams did wind better , because they weren't so agressive and they were easier on the springs , ,,, he told me he could still make one of those old cams ,, i bet they would be the ticket for a street car with the lifters that have an oil provision in the face of the lifter