Notice: We request that you don't just set up a new account at this time if you are a previous user.
If you used to be one of our moderators, please feel free to reach out to Chris via the facebook Outerlimits4x4 group and he will get you set back up with access should he need you.
Recovery:If you cannot access your old email address and don't remember your password, please click here to log a change of email address so you can do a password reset.

355 stroker reliablilty?

Tech Talk for Cruiser owners.

Moderators: toaddog, Elmo, DUDELUX

Post Reply
Posts: 1908
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: central queensland

355 stroker reliablilty?

Post by known 2 »

hey guys i'm about to get my rooted 308 rebuilt and stroked out to 355ci.
just wana know will the motor still be reliable for long trips and what other components of the motor will i also have to upgrade?
any recomended.
kaylee 2004 hdj78 RV. 33 mickey atz's, winchbar, 3i lift, 3i exhoust, spoties, roofracks and ufh. pimped interior .

86 lwb zook wt soa, 33's, locked, bard up, prety lights. monster tacho:/
Posts: 210
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:21 pm
Location: Bunyip Victoria.

Post by goannaoffroad »

If your getting your 308 rebuilt by a reputable engine reconditioner this would be a very good question to ask them.If your not you've just opened a very big can of worms,I've seen these motors last from ten years to ten minutes,depends on how well they are built and how well they are serviced and driven.Cheap parts give cheap reliability and an experienced hand on the spanners is alway's a good start.
Goanna Off Road, Out the back in the shed.
Posts: 1908
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: central queensland

Post by known 2 »

yes they are a very reputable builder. bin around a long time.
kaylee 2004 hdj78 RV. 33 mickey atz's, winchbar, 3i lift, 3i exhoust, spoties, roofracks and ufh. pimped interior .

86 lwb zook wt soa, 33's, locked, bard up, prety lights. monster tacho:/
Posts: 16934
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2002 6:57 pm

Post by RUFF »

known 2 wrote:yes they are a very reputable builder. bin around a long time.
Who is it?
Posts: 1908
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: central queensland

Post by known 2 »

gold coast engine rebuilders. on lower west burliegh road.

should probly move this to general tech. i posted in the wrong section.

i'm new to v8's and i want a bit more power so any advice on what heads or manifolds, cams i should be using for a good balance. or is it best to leave the top standard?
kaylee 2004 hdj78 RV. 33 mickey atz's, winchbar, 3i lift, 3i exhoust, spoties, roofracks and ufh. pimped interior .

86 lwb zook wt soa, 33's, locked, bard up, prety lights. monster tacho:/
Posts: 2097
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2003 6:50 pm
Location: wollongong

Post by dow50r »

The two ways i know of are Harrop crank and th other is offset grind old crank to smaller journal size....the later is not as reliable as the former...
i would strongly recommend you sell the 08 and buy a 350 or rebuild with lower comp and run a centrifical blower....better result for thesame outlay
Posts: 293
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2006 1:49 pm
Location: Central Coast

Post by mud guts »

The longer the stroke, the more strain you put on little end and big end bearings. There is more inertia at top and bottom of the stroke.
Posts: 2097
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2003 6:50 pm
Location: wollongong

Post by dow50r »

mud guts wrote:The longer the stroke, the more strain you put on little end and big end bearings. There is more inertia at top and bottom of the stroke.
Yep, better to get longer rod and piston with pin higher up, all custon stuff, all big $$ because the piston changes direction faster with a shorter rod, the cam overlap has to be smaller aswell...or a large overlap cam will loose too much fuel out the exhaust....
Posts: 722
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2002 9:31 pm
Location: Berwick, Melbourne

Post by awill4x4 »

I know of 3 Harrop cranks that have broken off at the snout, there appears to be some very strange harmonics happening on the 355 stroker combo.
Regards Andrew.
We are Tig welders, gravity doesn't worry us.
[img]http://www.studmonkeyracing.com/forums/smilies/weld.gif[/img]
Posts: 218
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:28 pm

Post by tuffsahara »

pretty sure you need to get the lifter bore's re aligned with the strokers

we did one at my okld work and it was a common problem kept takin out lifters after a few hundred kays get the bores lined tho and it'll be sweet
Posts: 396
Joined: Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:37 pm

Post by WRXZook »

Can you give me an idea of what the cost is going to be?
Posts: 729
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2004 11:42 pm
Location: Maitland

Post by revin »

defo get a 1 piece crank. had nothing but troubles when I had a offset ground crank.

Personally I`d never have a stroker again,you`d be best off getting a 350 and go a mild bore.
2001 100 series stock as a rock
Posts: 592
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:19 pm
Location: ipswich

Post by rover1 »

make sure you get the block x-rayed before you spend any money on it. even think about using a 304 block
cheers Pete.

its the skinny pedal
Posts: 1908
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: central queensland

Post by known 2 »

yeh sounds like i'm going to run into more problems than gains here. might just replace the curent motor with a stocker. this is the 2nd motor it's gone through since it was converted to v8 in 2000.
over $30,000 spent since then just to keep it on the road so it looks like it's just a demon spawned from hell to drian it's owners pockets.
kaylee 2004 hdj78 RV. 33 mickey atz's, winchbar, 3i lift, 3i exhoust, spoties, roofracks and ufh. pimped interior .

86 lwb zook wt soa, 33's, locked, bard up, prety lights. monster tacho:/
Posts: 193
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2004 6:11 pm
Location: Sunshine coast Queensland

Post by SLOGQ »

awill4x4 wrote:I know of 3 Harrop cranks that have broken off at the snout, there appears to be some very strange harmonics happening on the 355 stroker combo.
Regards Andrew.
Were they on supercharged cars? What RPM were they doin when they broke? Also, were they cast or forged cranks?

Sorry for all the questions, im going down this path and trying to deside on what brand combo to buy......
Posts: 173
Joined: Sun Mar 26, 2006 9:58 pm
Location: Pakenham, VIC

Post by guerd87 »

if you decide to go with it i would suggest vn 304 heads

even better, complete vn 304 motor swap,fuel injected, fair amount of power (especially bundled with a cam or even supercharged)
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:46 pm
Location: LOGAN

Re: 355 stroker reliablilty?

Post by DAV029 »

known 2 wrote:hey guys i'm about to get my rooted 308 rebuilt and stroked out to 355ci.
just wana know will the motor still be reliable for long trips and what other components of the motor will i also have to upgrade?
any recomended.
v8 overrated they dont do water and they love adrink you need to own a sevo ,no sevos in the bush!!!!!!!!
go a turbo diesel cheap to run love mud and water you just cant kill em
the hole you got stuck in diesels go though like a hot knife though butter
Posts: 2404
Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:00 pm
Location: Ipswich

Post by Sic Lux »

:armsup: Turbo V8 chev diesel :armsup:
Bosses mate has on in 45? i think and it's choice can't see why it'd be to hard to do in a 80 and what a machine
plenty of parts on the bench
Posts: 1908
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: central queensland

Post by known 2 »

a different engine isn't realy an option for me. lucky there are plenty of 308's around still. fuel injection is to hard and expensive i like to keep it simple with this pos 75.
kaylee 2004 hdj78 RV. 33 mickey atz's, winchbar, 3i lift, 3i exhoust, spoties, roofracks and ufh. pimped interior .

86 lwb zook wt soa, 33's, locked, bard up, prety lights. monster tacho:/
User avatar
HG
Posts: 450
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 10:11 pm
Location: Mexico where the hills are big

Post by HG »

Set it up properly and the V8 4by will plow through anything. Again set it up properly and the V8 will last a long long time , be very economical and blow away diesels everytime ! bang for your buck a V8 wins hands down in my book.
For the cost of a diesel pump rebuild & tweak in my old set up (Turbo diesel) I did some head work fitted triple valve springs, new valves, a set of rollers & a custom cam to my 308.
Guess which mod gave the best result ? and that was over 2 years ago.
Car is used daily as well as weekend duties offroad and returns 14.5-15.5 ltrs per 100kms on LPG (and when aggrivated goes like a cut cat) .
Yep I like the V8
:armsup:
Cheers
Andrew
----------------------
Just a few mods, nothing over the top.:)
Posts: 722
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2002 9:31 pm
Location: Berwick, Melbourne

Post by awill4x4 »

SLOGQ wrote:
awill4x4 wrote:I know of 3 Harrop cranks that have broken off at the snout, there appears to be some very strange harmonics happening on the 355 stroker combo.
Regards Andrew.
Were they on supercharged cars? What RPM were they doin when they broke? Also, were they cast or forged cranks?
Sorry for all the questions, im going down this path and trying to deside on what brand combo to buy......
Neither vehicle was supercharged.
One was in a VS Clubsport that did occasional trackwork and the other vehicle had it happen twice on their work delivery ute. The one that it happened twice to was owned and built by a reputable engine reconditioner here in Melbourne who is a stickler for detail.
Harrop replaced the delivery ute cranks without a question.
Regards Andrew.
We are Tig welders, gravity doesn't worry us.
[img]http://www.studmonkeyracing.com/forums/smilies/weld.gif[/img]
Posts: 193
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2004 6:11 pm
Location: Sunshine coast Queensland

Post by SLOGQ »

known 2 wrote:a different engine isn't realy an option for me. lucky there are plenty of 308's around still. fuel injection is to hard and expensive i like to keep it simple with this pos 75.
A VN/VP EFI is simple as to set up, most of the hard work is done for you if it had a turbo pattern motor in the first place.......

All i think you would have to do is a high pressure fuel pump, EFI exhuast manifoilds and hook up about 4 wires..... and driving an EFI v8 over a carbi one is a massive diffrence.....
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:46 pm
Location: LOGAN

Post by DAV029 »

known 2 wrote:a different engine isn't realy an option for me. lucky there are plenty of 308's around still. fuel injection is to hard and expensive i like to keep it simple with this pos 75.
$3000 ypu can have this vn 5lts use the motor and piss the rest off 220 kw
but as i said when you are up to your tits in mud v8 allways stop
Image
Posts: 442
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2004 12:14 pm
Location: Boomba boys drive bodied rigs

Post by batcho101 »

i got a 350 chev for sale believd to be good condition only needs a carby got set of standard exhaust manifolds and extractors to with it pm me if interested
84lux-project. A-frame, 350 chev, turbo 350 auto, duals, rears up front, crossover, twin locked and a 118" wheelbase
Posts: 16934
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2002 6:57 pm

Post by RUFF »

known 2 wrote:a different engine isn't realy an option for me. lucky there are plenty of 308's around still. fuel injection is to hard and expensive i like to keep it simple with this pos 75.
Fuel Injection too hard and too expensive :?: :?: Yet your wanting to build a 355 stroker :?: :?: Your not making much sence. By the Time you finish a 355 with all the ancilleries it is going to need you could have bought 3 VN EFI 5ltrs. Your not going to build a reliable 355 for under 6K.

And the first time you drown it its going to be the same POS you started with but this time its going to be an expensive POS.

As long as your adapter is a chev pattern then buy a stock injected 5ltr. You wont find a more reliable engine for the money. And parts are everywhere. Every Auto parts shop carries spares for these. There no monster but its going to have more power and more drivability then what you currently have(assuming a stock 308) And they are simple to wire up. Really simple.
Posts: 193
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2004 6:11 pm
Location: Sunshine coast Queensland

Post by SLOGQ »

RUFF wrote:
known 2 wrote:a different engine isn't realy an option for me. lucky there are plenty of 308's around still. fuel injection is to hard and expensive i like to keep it simple with this pos 75.
Fuel Injection too hard and too expensive :?: :?: Yet your wanting to build a 355 stroker :?: :?: Your not making much sence. By the Time you finish a 355 with all the ancilleries it is going to need you could have bought 3 VN EFI 5ltrs. Your not going to build a reliable 355 for under 6K.

And the first time you drown it its going to be the same POS you started with but this time its going to be an expensive POS.

As long as your adapter is a chev pattern then buy a stock injected 5ltr. You wont find a more reliable engine for the money. And parts are everywhere. Every Auto parts shop carries spares for these. There no monster but its going to have more power and more drivability then what you currently have(assuming a stock 308) And they are simple to wire up. Really simple.
X 100 ;)
Posts: 1908
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: central queensland

Post by known 2 »

well hey for all u guys saying use a efi vn motor thats out the window now as i've learnt my motor is trimatic pattern. so i'm shit out of luck there.
after studying my chasy closly this morning i've noticed alot more rust then i thought was in it so it's realy not worth spending much more cash on. strocker idea is gone i'm just replacing the 308 with another 308 rebuilt. i don't want efi as i don't want all the wireing as this car gets put through hell so i want as little electrics as posible.
thank you for ur opinions.
kaylee 2004 hdj78 RV. 33 mickey atz's, winchbar, 3i lift, 3i exhoust, spoties, roofracks and ufh. pimped interior .

86 lwb zook wt soa, 33's, locked, bard up, prety lights. monster tacho:/
Posts: 148
Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:22 pm
Location: Melbourne

Post by juls »

Use the trimatic bottom end with EFI heads if you must have tri.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest