Stroker motors how long have they lasted

mi2fast · May 6, 2004

I'm not sure if I want to stroke my motor or just rebuild a solid 306/308. How long have your stokers lasted and how is the drivability? My stang is a daily driver and I still want a comfortable ride.

wildstanggt · May 7, 2004

The great thing about a stroker is the driveability because of all the low end torque. I opted for some more RPM on my combo and occasionally below 2 grand it bucks and hessitates alittle but nothing major. Otherwise it runs like a dream. keep the compression below 11:1 and you will be fine in the street. Godd luck

thompsonsd · May 7, 2004

Ok, this isn't personal experience but that of a good friend. He got a 347 long block and within 4 months it was a total POS. Thing screamed like all hell at first, then started losing compression on a couple of cylinders, then quit firing. We took off the heads and the gaskets were blown, heads had damage, two cylinder walls were scored and one piston had a chunk that was just plain missing! Obviously he must have gotten the limon of the lot, because down at the Track I see 347's all the time that run like a dream. His is the only whole story I know though...

N8Miller · May 7, 2004

thompsonsd said:
Ok, this isn't personal experience but that of a good friend. He got a 347 long block and within 4 months it was a total POS. Thing screamed like all hell at first, then started losing compression on a couple of cylinders, then quit firing. We took off the heads and the gaskets were blown, heads had damage, two cylinder walls were scored and one piston had a chunk that was just plain missing! Obviously he must have gotten the limon of the lot, because down at the Track I see 347's all the time that run like a dream. His is the only whole story I know though...

That engine builder had to be a c0ck. This is an example of a bad builder. I know plenty of guys with 347s (and my 331) that run great. They have over 10k on each of their motors---prolly more---and im about 3k deep on mine.

SmockDoiley · May 7, 2004

Tell your friend hes an idiot for running lean. That had nothing to do with the engine. Blowing a head gasket and breaking a forged piston has nothing to do with a cars bore and stroke, and a forged pistons is a forged pistons and it doesnt matter if its on a 302 or a 347. Strokers are very reliable and the driveability issue comes from what cam and heads you are running. Obviously if you install AFR 185s and a huge cam its going to buck at low rpm but the same goes for any engine. If you want to be safe then run a 331. They are great engines and far safer than a 347. The 347's stroke creates a great strain on the cylinder walls which causes them to wear quicker, and most 347 kits out there still utilize pistons that have the bottom oil ring intersecting the wrist pin which burns oil. Most 347s will burn oil but when I say they wear quick I dont mean to say they wont last 50k miles. If you are worried about streetability and reliability then get a 331 with either AFR 165s or TrickFlow TW heads.

mcvey90 · May 7, 2004

6 of one half dozen of the other

I hate to say it but people who have 331's are biased towards them and say 347 are dangerous and not reliable and burn oil and blah blah blah.

fact of the matter is most stroker kits out there have FIXED the wrist pin situation and can run for thousands of miles. You need to spend the money on a notable shop who has a outstanding reputation that you can trust will do good work.

I don't burn a pinch of oil on my combo which is 347 based. I went through the same thing when I was deciding between 331 or 347, I know of people who have had bad and good experiences with both.

good luck with whatever you decide

thompsonsd · May 7, 2004

I was fueling up the other day and I saw another Stanger that had done a 351 swap that he said was stroked out to a 393.... I have no idea how difficult a swap that is, he said it wasn't bad but he might have just been bragging. Anyone reading this thread have any info on this? I think it applies in this case as a possibility.

Auto Reverse · May 7, 2004

I love my 331 Stroker motor! Gobs or torque!

Legendary · May 7, 2004

Would a D.S.S 331 block have the same torque as storking a stock block? I want to upgrade the block for future mods but I'm not sure of what displacement I want to go with.

drgn5.0 · May 7, 2004

a standard dss block is just a 302 machined so its not any better than doing it yourself persay.

Legendary · May 7, 2004

It's not stronger than the stock block? I thought it can handle a little more horses?

drgn5.0 · May 7, 2004

unless it is deemed a race block its the same as a regular 302, the internals of a stroker is a little stronger but the block isnt any different.

tim_the_toolman · May 7, 2004

i thionk that dss's claim is based on using a main girdle on the motor

stock50LX · May 7, 2004

thompsonsd said:
I was fueling up the other day and I saw another Stanger that had done a 351 swap that he said was stroked out to a 393.... I have no idea how difficult a swap that is, he said it wasn't bad but he might have just been bragging. Anyone reading this thread have any info on this? I think it applies in this case as a possibility.

I am building a 408 now (it's not mine). It has very short piston skirts and the rings are over the wrist pin as described above (like the 347). It's easier to make a mistake building such a stroker. There are other issues too. We had to spend 350 bucks to get the thing balanced (It required so much work), when the normal cost is about $120. The quality of the pistons and rods looks good to me, though.

Qwk88LX · May 7, 2004

tim_the_toolman said:
i thionk that dss's claim is based on using a main girdle on the motor

So how much HP do you think a stock block could handle after the DSS 331 stroker kit & main support system?

TT91 · May 7, 2004

Qwk88LX said:
So how much HP do you think a stock block could handle after the DSS 331 stroker kit & main support system?

THATS ALL ME!! 524 rwhp, stock block, dss 331 with girdle. THe tune is DE TUNED to save me from grenading the block.

Qwk88LX · May 7, 2004

sirsureshot39 said:
THATS ALL ME!! 524 rwhp, stock block, dss 331 with girdle. THe tune is DE TUNED to save me from grenading the block.

Well $hiiit, if it's handling that much...Its good enough for me!

Legendary · May 7, 2004

So to take full advantage of DSS I should purchase the race block? That would be ok for daily street use right?

TT91 · May 7, 2004

yes the R302 block is fine for street use, it cost 1700 new, and needs about 600-800$ in machining, but its bulletproof.

Qwk88LX · May 7, 2004

yo sirsureshot39 I can understand being cautious but how about those guys you posted a few days ago cranking out over 600rwhp on the stock block? I would do a search for it but I'm leaving work in a few minutes..

edit: these guys..http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=459028

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