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383 Stroker

S

Stroker1

Member
Hey Guys i am building a 18'x8' with 30" sides all aluminum with a 2'grass rake powered by a 383 stroker 475hp and a belt reduction just wandering what yall thought about that setup whether it will be underpowered or not i will be running a three blade composite prop. I was also wandering if any one has run these 383 and how well do they hold up.
 
A 383 is a great choice for an airboat motor the 350 block is stronger then the 400 and it holds head gaskets better. Just remeber you need to gring the side of the rod and rod bolt to clear the cam and the number 7 and 8 rods will hit the oil pan rail near the oil filter boss. You just need to grind the oil pan rail area there so the rods don't hit the block. P.S. if you use a standard pan you will have to dent it out or just buy a stroker pan!
 
Is it a kit boat? Is it one your building from the ground up? I was looking for more details? Stainless Riging? Carbon Steel? Aluminum?

Weight is an issue when building a 18ft boat with a small block. The lighter you keep the boat the better it will perform.

Some brands of boats run awesome with a small block some don't.

I have always been told that anytime you take a small block and push it to the max, and work it very hard with the strain of a big heavy boat you are cutting the engine life in half.

If it's a Thunder motor, then I would have no worries! He knows how to build it for an airboat
 
I am having the boat built by Red River Airboats and as far as i know everything is aluminum the motor is built by a company that builds engines for offshore race boats.I would have to check to find out that company's name
 
There ia a guy on this forum who has one of those boats. You should ask him how it is.
Hack3

I dont think there is too many guys on here who have that model. I know a couple people who have one but you might check with them.


I have several 18ft AirRanger boats with 330 H.P. that are many years old that run awesome.

Run dry no problem.
 
i also have an 18x8 panther hull with steel rigging that I'm going to try a small block on. I'm in the process of removing anything not needed but still not sure if will perform like I want. It will be a bowfishing boat and I'm definitely going with a 2.38 and trying to decide if the 2.68 will be too fast at idle for bowfishing. I currently have 6.0 03 model that will be carbureted that i plan on using.
 
18X8 Panther I would suggest a BBC with a 2.38 if you run a small block I would suggest a 2.68 that is a lot of boat it should realy have a BBC on it.
 
i just put a stroker 383 all roller world heads etc. in my sons 87 z28 thinking i screwed up it pulls the left front tire, wish id of put in my ride boat it will idle at 400 rpm in drive i believ 268 box is the one you need that a big a$$ boat must be shooten sharks 8)
 
I think anything that's 18ft should have a BBC when your doing that much work you need the inches to keep it reliable.
 
Big Block Chevy the badest normally aspirated V8 ever built! You can build all the way up 565 cubic inches with a short deck and 632 cubic inches with a tall deck. The 706, 738 and 800 inch stuff is way custom but you can build a 632 with off the shelf parts!
 
I agree with thunder there no substitute for cubic inchs when you have alot of mass/ weight in aboat that why a small block comes alive with the 268 reduction free up what torqe you have an lets you use it, big motor with big torqe dont need as much gear to compesate
 
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