Shorten /shrink rods or new shorter length?

[73c34me]

383 SBC 3.75 stroke, 6.0” scat rods. If I went to a 3.875” stroke, can the current rods be heated and compressed 0.050”, with a “good” outcome. or is a new shorter rod required? This is to keep the piston at 0 deck for the stroke increase. Thanks

[DaveMcLain]

I think a better plan might be to get some thicker head gaskets and jack up the heads by .050.

[pamotorman]

383 SBC 3.75 stroke, 6.0” scat rods. If I went to a 3.875” stroke, can the current rods be heated and compressed 0.050”, with a “good” outcome. or is a new shorter rod required? This is to keep the piston at 0 deck for the stroke increase. Thanks

this has done when putting longer stroke crank in 2 stroke motorcycle engines

[Krooser]

Buy new pistons...

[73c34me]

New pistons would be good. But, my current JEs don’t have enough use on them to justify replacing them. A thicker head gasket may be a solution, if a 0.085- 0.090ish gasket is reliable.

[fdicrasto]

Back in the day we would offset bush the rods but in the opposite direction. it would be .030" at most and the pin end of rod had to be substantial enough to not "thin it out" and weaken it too much. Then adding .020" to your present head gasket thickness and your in good shape. Call your rod manufacturer and see if that would be something they would do.

[stealth]

Stroke Doesn’t seem to be worth the effort...

[user-23911]

Cut the top off the piston in the lathe.
.050 isn't much.

Been there, done that.

[Tuner]

$266.42

Titan Head Gaskets for Chevrolet 283-400 Small Block
Bore Opening: 4.060″ Gasket Thickness: .093″

http://scegaskets.com/store/chevrolet/c ... er-t11069/

They have other thicknesses and other bore diameters.

You should be able to find someone local to you who can cut a copper shim with a water jet or laser. Maybe these guys. http://www.championgasket.com/

[Keith Morganstein]

Cometic has the head gaskets. Many thicknesses, they just add layers. Mock it up and order what you need.

[mag2555]

The last time I heated and compressed some Rods by .050" I was 17 years old. ( now 62 ) and unintentionally sent 2 Rods out the side of the block at 7200 rpm!

[SupStk]

Yup if there is going to be enough material left after milling the pistons, thats the route I'd go.
$260 bucks for the Titan head gaskets should be close to covering the machine work for pistons or offsetting the rod small ends.

Also agree on leaving it 3.750 stroke.

[MadBill]

Thick gaskets are likely to require longer pushrods.

[turdwilly]

Thick gaskets are likely to require longer pushrods.

As well as thicker intake gaskets, although those are much cheaper than your new pushrods lol

[rustbucket79]

Use up the Pistons then replace them with the correct ones with the new crank. I would be surprised if the change in stroke would make a significant improvement.