Advice Needed

Hey I'm Kevin and I've got a '78 Firebird Formula that I've finally finished restoring and I am looking to put a beefier motor into it. Now, a lot of the guys that I talk to over at 78ta.com, where I'm a member, always push everyone towards getting a Pontiac 400 or 455, but honestly, I don't want to. I've heard it's more expensive to build these, and honestly I've heard that Chevy is more cheaply built and just as good, obviously. So basically I've found  a guy in Texas selling his 383 Stroker, and of course I'm very interested. My dad and I both contacted the seller and asked him questions as to the integrity of the motor and if it had been evaluated by a machine shop, and he said that all we would have to do is replace the pistons since two of them had already been cracked because he ran it too 'lean'. He claims there are no cracks in the motor, but I want to see what you guys think about it.

















 

its hard to judge the integrity of a block on a forum. Looks like a high tin and nickel block(the 010, and 020 marks under the timing cover indicates this) which is stronger than a normal block. Also the interweb design is stronger on a two bolt block than it is on a four bolt block. Plus you can just buy new main caps with splayed outer bolts. You have to have the block line honed if you change the main caps though.
 chevy and pontiac blocks are not the same. The bell housings are different between the two. That means the need for a chevy engine and trans.
I would just stay with a Pontiac block. Unless you want to purchase a matching transmission too.  

I agree stick with the Pontiac engine they do cost more to build but worth it they are stump pullers and chevy small blocks just can't compete with a Pontiac 400 or 455 I would build a Pontiac 400.
If you deside  to go this route then www.highperformancepontiac.com is a great place to ask q's about Pontiac's.  
Horsepower sells Engines and torque wins races.

Things that will have to be done to this engine are honed[cylinder walls are scuffed]replace cam brgs[nicked],cleaned[grit showing] and thats just what I can see from the pics. Add the new pistons and balance job to the price of the engine and figure out if you will be saving any money or not.  

So what about in the last picture on the cylinder on the right at the top left corner it looks like it's been broken off. Is this normal?  

Need  a better pic. The glare from the light is blurring the pic.  

Cant see. post a new angle of the cylinder in question  

+1  

Now I dont know much about motors but that does NOT look right to me at all...  

That wont caause problems. Theres no water there and being on the side theres no load from the piston either.  

I agree, that is no area to worry about.

Have the rest of the block magnafluxed though if you're concerned.  

I would have it pressure tested myself. its a more accurate method and an area is less likely to be missed.