[Nanders]

Many of the guys on here are building strokers for 90% street use. I want to know why, other than race class limits, would a guy ever want to run a 3.75" crank as opposed to the 3.85" crank, or the even a 4" crank.

As I see it, a 3.85" stroke crank will cost as much as a 4" stroke crank, as well as entire 393 and 408 stroker kits. It seems to me that most street/strip applications wont see much past 6500 rpm, which a 4" cast crank for a windsor is more than capable of achieving. I just don't understand why you would pay the same money for a kit with less cubes than a 408.

I would like your insight.

 

[chipmechanic]

The rest of the 393 stuff is a lot cheaper. Uses cheaper than dirt 302 pistons and stock 351 rods. With a 408 you have to buy more expensive pistons and custom rods.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: chipmechanic on 4/14/06 10:42am ]</font>

 

[qtrhors]

Nanders

Your make valid points. I will even take it further. Most goals for hot street performance in a light car can be met with a plain old 351. It is possible to build a 393 cheaper then a 408 as chip says...but the lines will meet eventually. It becomes a personal thing really. Looking at it more seriously... it does take more to "feed" the bigger engine so cyl head costs could be more for the larger cube engine combo's. If starting from scratch and max hp and torque are the goal for say an engine with an rpm limit as you mentioned the big engine is the better choice imho. Now lets say you have some "parts" already that your are going to have to use. You may get into diminishing returns. Example the stock tw heads one might have would not work as well on the larger engine as they become more and more of a "bottleneck"
Just my .02

 

[Nanders]

qtrhors, I understand what you mean by needing more cylinder head to feed a larger mill, yet we are only talking about 15 cubes. So I would have to assume that even a middle of the pack set of heads will still allow you to see some of the benefits from our additional cubes.

Chip, That is very interesting about the stock windsor rods and stock 302 compression height pistons working in a 393. I did not know that. But honestly, what percentage of guys stick with stock rods and cheap 302 pistons when spending the scratch for a stroker build? From what I have heard from the individuals that I have seen or read about is that they end up buying aftermarket stuff for their 393's as well. If indeed most of the guys choose to run the 393 because of the reusable stock parts advantage, then I can understand. I

 

[scottford351]

I have run the stock rods before and regret it. I had one come apart at 6400 in a 398 and wasted almost everything in the shortblock except the crank.

Eagle SIRs are a couple hundred bucks- by the time you have the pistons removed , recondition them and add aftermarket bolts -- you have as much in them as the Eagles


As for the smallish heads --- I run a set of ported early RPMs and the midrange is pretty substantual.

 

[Nanders]

Yeah, I have my reservations about reconditioning stock rods. Not necessarily becasue they are bad, but because you can buy aftermarket rods for only a little more than it costs to set up your old ones.

 

[chipmechanic]

Not saying it was a great idea. It was just asked why anyone would do it. A big part of it is that Ford sells a 393 engine based on the 351 using a Scat crank. They use a lot of Ford stock parts in them. I guess it would be a public relations problem to use chevrolet bearings as they would have to with the longer stroke cranks. Who knows.

 

[qtrhors]

The stock stuff is fine for "mild". Running 30 year old rods might be pushing it.

I like the long rod/small rod bearing stuff myself...even if I would go with the 393 I would run the 6.2 aftermarket rod...just like the idea of a lighter piston with the slower piston and bearing speed.

 

[coolfalcon]

On 2006-04-14 03:05, qtrhors wrote:
The stock stuff is fine for "mild". Running 30 year old rods might be pushing it.

I like the long rod/small rod bearing stuff myself...even if I would go with the 393 I would run the 6.2 aftermarket rod...just like the idea of a lighter piston with the slower piston and bearing speed.

What he said. I just dont like the stock rod deal. Many run it just fine but i dont like it. I run a 6.2 on a 2.1 chevy big end and it works good. Hope to crack some 10.00s this year. And you talk about saving money. I bought my 6.2 carrillos for 300 off of ebay along with 9 chevy style pistons. 5 where the right valve con fig. And they where oly 250 also. Milled the topps and draged out the die grinder and made it all work.

 

[mavman]

A little research and some planning can get you a big stroker for the same price as a 393 with stock rods.

Besides, if you've ever broken a stock 351w rod and destroyed a $3000 motor, you'll never run stock rods again. Again, speaking from experience.......