So I have a red 89 Camaro RS with a 383 stroker in it, with a .501 lift cam, ported heads, Edelbrock Performer intake/carb. The car came with a fuel injected 305, so it has the stock 700r4 trans and the stock rear. Now ever since I put the 383 stroker in it, it feels slower then when I had the 305 in it. The car barely moves out of its own way, I drove it the other day in the rain and smashed the pedal and the thing didn't spin or anything, it just picked up speed like normal. I'm a ford guy and my 89 Lincoln Mark VII is faster then this supposed 383 stroker beast.

So my question is, does anyone have any ideas why the car is not picking up speed like it should with the 383 in it? I thought maybe changing out the 700r4 trans and rearend gearing would help, but I would really like some more input before I start tearing her apart.

Thanks in advance,
Jim

 

That thing should act like a beast compared to the 305. You're sure everything with the ignition is set right; the timing, and no crossed wires? What did you do for fuel supply? Did you keep the in-tank pump and install a fuel pressure regulator before the carb, or remove the pump from the tank and use a mechanical pump?

 

yep ^^^ should be all over the place on a wet road. good first step after doing what 69 is sayin would be a compression test.

 

Did you purchase and put the 383 in yourself? Not funny, but there is more than one story here about stroker motors with wicked cams that turn out to be 305's.....I'm just saying you should 100% verify what you've got.

 

I kept the in-tank pump and have a regulator before the carb. I didn't build the 383, I just installed it. I'm gunna check the compression, and the fuel delivery. If that comes back good, i'm gunna have to check to make sure it is deff a 383 stroker. I'm hoping it is and I wasn't lied to, I should of checked it before the install, but I had it built by a good friend. I didn't think to check you know.

I'll let you guys know the verdict.

 

what size is the carb? how is the throttle response? the electric pump might not be pumping enough to keep the carb fed. hook up a pressure gauge and make sure. the tbi only ran about 12-15psi. chances are you arent getting enough fuel when its needed, but that would also cause other issues. or like previously stated, you got shafted

 

You need the right powertrain combination; that includes the right tranny (with right torque converter) and rear end before you transmit the motor's power to the rear wheels. I found out the hard way, myself. When I owned my 1969 Camaro, which chirped in second gear and was automatic, I decided to treat myself for Christmas by buying a pair of heads, 1.6 ratio roller rocker arms, Competition Cam (sorry don't remember the specs), and torque converter (same, no specs remembered). I already had an Edelbrock carubretor (600 cfm) and manifold (RPM). The engine was a new crate one, too. Well, after having all those little goodies put in, I took the car for a spin and, like you, found out the car actually lost performance, no more chirps in second. I even added a shift kit with the same sad result. Now, my 1989 Camaro I got over the summer came with, I happily found out, an Edelbrock Total Power package (435 bhp., 435 lb.ft) and believe me, nothing is lost from the motor to the wheels.