Stroker or Not

spinman1949 said
Brian,

Machining is less here is CA. So that will help a bit. I really do not want to spend 7K. So I may have to pass on the stroker. I will let my builder help me decide based on what he finds re the existing engine. Like if the heads are shot, I will likely have to spend for new heads which will likely take the stroker option off the table. He is very good at porting stock heads so if they are good he can port to get respectable flow that can support an modest stroker. My other option is to go for a hotter 340 build and live with a higher stall converter. No I will not have a tire smoker, but quite frankly that is not my goal anyway. Plus fines for exhibition of speed here in CA are extreme. LOL !! Right now this car can break the tires loose, even with all the engine issues it has.

Those $7K figures are with a lot of new stuff external to the short long block.

If you are going to full rebuild with bore, you are going to need pistons anyway. The labor in resizing you old rods is close to new rods in a kit. So the difference in cost is really the crank. Stroker crank is cheaper than a good high stall converter.

Do you have J or X heads now? What intake valve size? You don't have to have ported heads. If you heads need rebuilding, rebuild them. Don't have to buy new ones.

IIRC, Rob Robinson here built a 4" stroker with untouched heads, carter carb, stock exhaust manifolds, comp XE268.