Chevy Fullsize Pickup - Big Repower

The previous generation '96-'99 GM fullsize trucks and SUVs are excellent workhorses that put tons of miles under their bumpers without a whimper. However, the 305ci and 350ci small-block V-8 powerplants can definitely use a little help in the power department. For that reason, we're showing you how to swap an emissions-legal 383ci GM Performance Parts V-8 crate engine into your '96-'99 GM truck or SUV for a healthy increase in torque and horsepower.

383 PowerTo get started, a GM Performance Parts HT383E V-8 engine, part number 1249910, was ordered from Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center, an Authorized GM Performance Parts dealer in Lubbock, Texas. The pros at Scoggin-Dickey recommended this engine because it was designed to provide 'truck-usable' power-low rpm grunt with excellent efficiency-and will bolt into the truck just as a 350ci replacement engine.

The HT383E engine uses a cast-iron engine block and heads and a forged-steel 3.800-inch-stroke crankshaft, in place of the 3.480-inch crankshaft usually found in 350ci engines. The longer stroke crank combines with aluminum pistons in the traditional 4.000-inch small-block V-8 cylinder bores, to attain the 33-ci increase to 383 ci.

The dyno results make it clear this is a truck engine-with ratings of 435 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm and 340 hp at 4,500 rpm. That kind of down-low power makes this engine ready for stump-pulling or hill-flattening, when needed. In fact, this grunt-daddy makes more than 400 lb-ft of torque from 2,500 to 4,000 rpm.