Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

[John_S]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

I'd agree. Never heard of two different lengths. Block decking, or head shaving not the same for both sides? While severely mis-adjusted rockers could contribute, sounds like it is further out than that.

Kinda related, was the intake match machined to the block/heads?

Given your clicking issue, time to talk to the machinest again.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Guys,

Its not uncommon for the witness mark to be different from one side of the engine to the other.

There are lots of possible reasons for this.

From your description of the witness marks you could put the next size shorter on both sides. Ideally you want them closer to the intake or almost centered.

I would start taking your rockers off one at a time and give them a very close inspection. Look for rub marks, feel the bearings tips etc. Also make sure you dont have a cracked poly loc. Look directly down from the top, they crack outward from the center like the hands on a clock. Or sometimes around the circumference just under the wrench flats. Are your push rods one piece?

Double check the rocker stud torque. Is the tread repair to the head stud boss on that side?

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Kinda related, was the intake match machined to the block/heads?

Nope - I bought it from Summit Racing. It never saw the machine shop.

Guys,

Its not uncommon for the witness mark to be different from one side of the engine to the other.

There are lots of possible reasons for this.

From your description of the witness marks you could put the next size shorter on both sides. Ideally you want them closer to the intake or almost centered.

I would start taking your rockers off one at a time and give them a very close inspection. Look for rub marks, feel the bearings tips etc. Also make sure you dont have a cracked poly loc. Look directly down from the top, they crack outward from the center like the hands on a clock. Or sometimes around the circumference just under the wrench flats. Are your push rods one piece?

Double check the rocker stud torque. Is the tread repair to the head stud boss on that side?

I actually did almost exactly that yesterday afternoon. I removed and inspected each rocker and couldn't find anything abnormal about any of them. Last night I ordered 7.100 pushrods (next size down from the 7.150 I had in there) and a different set of roller rockers, overnighted them and they came in this morning. I just finished putting everything in the engine and the ticking is almost completely gone - 99% quieter than it was before. There is still a very faint click (I can barely hear it when I put my ear right next to the valve cover, but once I open the thru-hull exhaust there's no way to tell its there) but I would assume that is because roller rockers are loud as has been mentioned many times before? I also bought a rocker adjusting tool and tried the running method (after the engine warmed up) on some of the rockers without much trouble. I'll do the rest tomorrow just to be sure everything is perfect.

It may have been the pushrods, may have been the rockers, who knows. I spent $300 on new rockers/pushrods, but probably would have had to give that much to a mechanic only to have him tell me one of the 2 parts needed replacing. Either way, I'm ready to do some boating tomorrow afternoon. I would go tonight but game 7 of the Celtics is on in a few hours.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

contact the vendor on the roller rockers. let them know what you went thru. they may cover under warranty and get you some of your money back.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Nope - I bought it from Summit Racing. It never saw the machine shop.



I actually did almost exactly that yesterday afternoon. I removed and inspected each rocker and couldn't find anything abnormal about any of them. Last night I ordered 7.100 pushrods (next size down from the 7.150 I had in there) and a different set of roller rockers, overnighted them and they came in this morning. I just finished putting everything in the engine and the ticking is almost completely gone - 99% quieter than it was before. There is still a very faint click (I can barely hear it when I put my ear right next to the valve cover, but once I open the thru-hull exhaust there's no way to tell its there) but I would assume that is because roller rockers are loud as has been mentioned many times before? I also bought a rocker adjusting tool and tried the running method (after the engine warmed up) on some of the rockers without much trouble. I'll do the rest tomorrow just to be sure everything is perfect.

It may have been the pushrods, may have been the rockers, who knows. I spent $300 on new rockers/pushrods, but probably would have had to give that much to a mechanic only to have him tell me one of the 2 parts needed replacing. Either way, I'm ready to do some boating tomorrow afternoon. I would go tonight but game 7 of the Celtics is on in a few hours.

Glad you made some progress. What rockers did you get?

I'm pulling for the Celts now that my Mavs are out.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

As john stated with a exception or add. Apparently someone decked or shaved the heads changing the geometry....Or those summit rocker's were junk...well a tad underpar...I would still try to determine the cause aka shaved heads ...decking or some big gasket change.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

As john stated with a exception or add. Apparently someone decked or shaved the heads changing the geometry....Or those summit rocker's were junk...well a tad underpar...I would still try to determine the cause aka shaved heads ...decking or some big gasket change.

Could be as simple as an unmatched pair of heads... one being surfaced more, cast different, or have sunk valves. Could a cam bore that is shifted off center a bit. Deck higher on one side. Not uncommon for a factory deck cut to be .010 off from front to back.

If you had ever used BHJ tooling you would be shocked how far off blocks are sometimes. Sometimes they are so far off you cant blueprint them to spec.

The Summit rockers look an awful lot like Scorpion, if so they are made in the US and have a good reputation. They are however a budget rocker. Could have just gotten a bad one.

 

[John_S]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Guys, when the block is decked and heads shaved, doesn't the intake need to match the lower positional mounting? Thats what I remeber from back in the day. Maybe with the "fat" vortec style gasket, you can get away with more?

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Guys, when the block is decked and heads shaved, doesn't the intake need to match the lower positional mounting? Thats what I remeber from back in the day. Maybe with the "fat" vortec style gasket, you can get away with more?

You have to cut a whole lot... and then the first thing that will need cutting will actually be the bottom of the intake where it hits the block at the front and rear. Most of the time the cutting of the two intake surface's is needed because of angle milling the heads to raise compression.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

The Celtics got it done..... now we have got to beat the Heat

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Agreed.. time to beat the Heat.

I put the boat in the water today and drove around for a while. For the most part I stayed between 3-4000 rpm but I gave it some gas a few times and got to about 55-57 mph (not GPS, speedometer) @4800 rpm. I'm pretty sure there was still some extra throttle that I wasn't using but I didn't want to push it just yet. The 21" prop is definitely too small. I'm going to try out the 25" laser II and also get a 23" to try out. Here are a few pics of the finished engine and launch. I have a few more that I'll put up later.

 

[250Gimp]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Congrats on splashing the boat!!

I hope the engine ran well for you and the ticking noise is gone!

I have been watching this thread from start to finish, purely out of interest and have enjoyed the story.

Cheers
CP

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Good to hear...You may want to start with the 23...Lasers are thin bladed props usally best suited on light weight hulls..Yours is a v hull 20 degress i would imagine heavy boat high horse power. Not saying the laser wont work but id bet high slip would occur.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Good to hear...You may want to start with the 23...Lasers are thin bladed props usally best suited on light weight hulls..Yours is a v hull 20 degress i would imagine heavy boat high horse power. Not saying the laser wont work but id bet high slip would occur.

I've been doing some research and I think you're probably right, but the 25" laser was a free prop I got to borrow from my uncle, so it couldn't hurt to try it out. I'm pretty sure I'll end up with a 23" Mirage or something similar when I have everything sorted out.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

GREAT! glad you're in business and enjoying the final stages of getting things the way you want them.

not taking issue with TG's post, but blade thickness shouldn't make any difference (I've never seen anyone sling a blade on a laser prop...), unless you're referring to the width and thus surface area. that being said, you might blow a laser 2 out - especially the 25 (It's smaller in diameter than a 23). If you can hold with a laser 23, it'll be a bit faster than a mirage... mirage is a lot of prop for a smaller boat.

Also, how's your ride? any issues with poroising when trimmed out a little, etc...?

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Great to see ya on the water!!!

Nothing like the smell of a fresh engine, gaskets, paint, sealer all baking in good!

Looking forward to you getting the props sorted out. Thanks for keeping the post updated. Keep the pictures coming.


Well after watching game one, I'm not sure about beating the Heat. Can't imagine how bad it might be if Chris B were playing. Maybe they will have better luck at home.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

GREAT! glad you're in business and enjoying the final stages of getting things the way you want them.

not taking issue with TG's post, but blade thickness shouldn't make any difference (I've never seen anyone sling a blade on a laser prop...), unless you're referring to the width and thus surface area. that being said, you might blow a laser 2 out - especially the 25 (It's smaller in diameter than a 23). If you can hold with a laser 23, it'll be a bit faster than a mirage... mirage is a lot of prop for a smaller boat.

Also, how's your ride? any issues with poroising when trimmed out a little, etc...?

The ride is great - no issues with anything so far, except that I managed to hit a rock while docking in shallow water and destroy the 21" Mirage I have... The drive is fine but there are some decent size gouges in 2 of the blades. Even with the damaged prop I am still noticeably much faster than I was last year, although I haven't brought out the GPS yet. I'm going to try the Laser II and probably end up buying a 23" something. Any suggestions on the type of prop to run? I know this isn't the prop forum but oh well.

Great to see ya on the water!!!

Nothing like the smell of a fresh engine, gaskets, paint, sealer all baking in good!

Looking forward to you getting the props sorted out. Thanks for keeping the post updated. Keep the pictures coming.


Well after watching game one, I'm not sure about beating the Heat. Can't imagine how bad it might be if Chris B were playing. Maybe they will have better luck at home.

Yea I'm not so sure either, Miami looked really good.

The engine looks and runs great so far, although as I was driving around today someone blew by me at about 75 in a Checkmate Enchanter. The owner built a 383 with a blower and says he gets 82 out of it. I wish I had built a forged lower end now so I can do the same! Oh well.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

The ride is great - no issues with anything so far, except that I managed to hit a rock while docking in shallow water and destroy the 21" Mirage I have... The drive is fine but there are some decent size gouges in 2 of the blades. Even with the damaged prop I am still noticeably much faster than I was last year, although I haven't brought out the GPS yet. I'm going to try the Laser II and probably end up buying a 23" something. Any suggestions on the type of prop to run? I know this isn't the prop forum but oh well.



Yea I'm not so sure either, Miami looked really good.

The engine looks and runs great so far, although as I was driving around today someone blew by me at about 75 in a Checkmate Enchanter. The owner built a 383 with a blower and says he gets 82 out of it. I wish I had built a forged lower end now so I can do the same! Oh well.

It doesn't matter how much money you spend... there will always be somebody faster. LOL

 

[USNChief]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

It doesn't matter how much money you spend... there will always be somebody faster. LOL

Couldn't agree with you more!

Greg, glad to hear you got it running. I knew you would like the engine. If you can, maybe a video?

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Couldn't agree with you more!

Greg, glad to hear you got it running. I knew you would like the engine. If you can, maybe a video?

Lol I agree too. I'll definitely try to take a video while I'm out on the lake. I'll see if I can get someone to stand on the dock and record while I drive by. Now comes the challenge of finding a new prop - my local prop shop didn't have anything I was looking for.