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355 stroker, torque power / come heads and manifold?

Started by _308fry_ , Jun 06 2013 08:34 AM

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10 replies to this topic

#1 _308fry_

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Posted 06 June 2013 - 08:34 AM

Hi Guys,

looking at building a stroker for my LH, I'm sure the questions have all been answered before but I thought I would get some of your oppinions and experience.

the car is a weekend toy and i would like to be able to run it down the strip.

I want to use my aussie pattern block as i have had a tuff trimatic built and not yet fitted.

a few Questions-

brand of 355 stroker kit to purchace?

Heads-

I am looking at a torque power head and manifold combo, they use alloy yella terra heads and a single plane manifold complete and port matched, heads claim 550hp flow. about 5k

also looking at come heads and manifold, 590hp flow not sure if the heads are complete. about 4.5k.

they are vn alloy heads so i would need to buy a new set of extractors and rocker covers.

are eather head combo worth the money or should i be looking at a cast set of vn heads and working them?

I am sure you can build a great engine eather way but a few peoples oppinions would be great, i dont wont to half build an engine on the cheap and regret it down the track.

last thing solid cam, what are others running and could recommend.

thanks in advance.

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#2 Lima31

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Posted 06 June 2013 - 10:42 AM

There are a lot of threads on here on what route people have gone having been in a similar situation to you. Least you're not thinking the chev route :stirpot:

Personally running early pattern heads carries a little more prestige in an LH and to me sounds much better done right.

You can get a fully prepped 383 short for around the $8k mark, far broader and fatter torque over the 355, some food for thought. Lazy 450hp+ and 470ftlbs+ is easy 10s in an LH

Anyway you first need to decide if you are building a mostly street car or drag car, this affects cam selection, sp or dp manifold, stall, gears etc.

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#3 _walkinshaw_

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Posted 06 June 2013 - 10:49 AM

308fry,

I have a Brock VK SS with a 355 stroker in it.

Harrop crank.

VN Heads.

Perkins pistons.

Harrop Hi rise manifold.

Block is o'ringed.

Barry Grant Gold Claw Carby.

Custom made extractors to a 2 1/2" system with Hooker mufflers.

Has a TKO 5 speed gear box.

Engine Dyno at 540 hp.

Im no engine builder but to get 540hp out of this motor it is a fairly mean bit of gear and not a daily driver.

Craig Brewer from Melbourne built this ( done by a previous owner ). Don’t know if he is still in the game but he by all accounts knows his stuff and if he chose this combination of parts then there pretty strong.

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#4 _308fry_

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Posted 06 June 2013 - 06:38 PM

I have thought about the 383 stroker option just a little spooked about going to big for the old girl, cant really afford to build another if it goes bang.

probably more street then drag.

There are a lot of threads on here on what route people have gone having been in a similar situation to you. Least you're not thinking the chev route

Personally running early pattern heads carries a little more prestige in an LH and to me sounds much better done right.

You can get a fully prepped 383 short for around the $8k mark, far broader and fatter torque over the 355, some food for thought. Lazy 450hp+ and 470ftlbs+ is easy 10s in an LH

Anyway you first need to decide if you are building a mostly street car or drag car, this affects cam selection, sp or dp manifold, stall, gears etc.

can anyone recomend an engine builder in queensland

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#5 Uncle Chop Chop

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Posted 06 June 2013 - 09:40 PM

Isn't there a thread about recommended engine builders in each state?

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#6 _308fry_

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Posted 07 June 2013 - 01:27 PM

Isn't there a thread about recommended engine builders in each state?

sorry mate i will have a look, this is my 6th post so i probably dont have as much experence or know how on this site as yourself.

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#7 SmacT

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Car:LX 4dr 383, TKX, BW
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Posted 07 June 2013 - 01:36 PM

Here you go Sam: http://www.gmh-toran...-in-each-state/

Pretty sure Vick wasn't having a go, just asking the question, this site is pretty friendly.

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#8 _ryan350_

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Posted 07 June 2013 - 05:08 PM

I have thought about the 383 stroker option just a little spooked about going to big for the old girl, cant really afford to build another if it goes bang.

probably more street then drag.

can anyone recomend an engine builder in queensland

Horse power engineering in brisbane my355 for my lh, Pete is very good to talk to and wont try to sell you stuff you don't need and will build a engine to your power expectations. I bought my stroker kit of him but have since upgraded it, im using a scat crank, callies compstar rods and cp pistons. I have only upgraded my rods and pistons as i want the thing to rev to 7500rpm+ , cam wise we have decided to run a solid roller, Power estimates are around 560hp hopefully and will be street driven but really more of a drag car. Im hoping for a low 10 second pass.

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#9 Uncle Chop Chop

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Posted 07 June 2013 - 08:57 PM

Here you go Sam: http://www.gmh-toran...-in-each-state/

Pretty sure Vick wasn't having a go, just asking the question, this site is pretty friendly.

Yeah, just asking. There are lots of threads with most answers already in them.

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#10 Struggler

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Posted 08 June 2013 - 10:02 AM

I would stick to the 355.

I just finished an engine with COME 600 heads the other day. Pretty impressed with the results. I would use them over the YT Dash 9.

The COME stroker kit is good value, some of the others are a bit hit-n-miss lately.

I have done plenty of engines with iron heads but by the time you have them ported, machined, springs etc the alloys start to look good and leave you a lot of room to move if you decide to upgrade later.

Solid flat tappet cams are still cool despite the roller hype. Spend a few extra bucks on EDM lifters and sleep soundly. The cam is one of the last things you should buy, finalize the other variables first.

Are you putting this together yourself ?

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#11 rexy

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Name:Rexy
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Joined: 03-November 09

Posted 09 June 2013 - 08:57 PM

I have a street engine in the LX sedan. Idles nicely, good in traffic and goes very well. It's a 383 Holden with the bottom end now12 years old. VT block, COME crank and rods, KB pistons. Added their alloy heads six years years ago.
It's been reliable and with a 234 at 50 thou duration hyd roller cam and redline hi winder low profile manifold made 485 hp at 5500 rpm and 480 ft lb at 4500 rpm. Torque was 430 ftlb at 3000 rpm.
As a street engine it's much nicer than the 355 it replaced. A lot more torque everywhere.
I wish I had built the 383 first up and saved some money.

About 2years ago I replaced the 308 in the hatch with an early headed 383 Holden. Bought second hand out of a blokes toy it has been well flogged on the strip. Still goes well with about 440 hp and torque despite its early head handicap. Torker intake and solid cam of about 245 at 50 thou duration. Much crankier than the other 383 and again a much nicer drive than the smaller engine it replaced.

I would worry more about who you chose to build your engine than wether to go 355 or 383.