Chevy Fullsize Pickup - Big Repower

One of the final 'removal' acts was to remove the torque converter bolts. The torque converter needed to be held in place by a pry bar or a 'torque converter tool' (shown in tool icon) while we loosened the bolts.	The last removal step was to slide the engine mount through bolts (see arrow B) out and inspect for any other still connected wires, hoses, or brackets (arrow A points to where a bracket needed to be removed).
Now we were ready to remove the engine. After bolting a lift chain to the opposing ends of the cylinder heads, we hooked an engine hoist to the chain. We lifted the engine 1/8 inch, inspected to see if we had missed removing anything, and went up from there. There you have it, one old and worn-out engine. Now, all we needed to do was replace it with the new 383ci torque monster.	Next month, we'll show you the install of the impressive HT383E crate engine and the chassis dyno results of this powerhouse engine combination.

From The Driver SeatWe were surprised how straightforward it was to upgrade to the 383ci engine and have enjoyed the new power levels. This is one of those swaps that is definitely worth the effort for the 'seat-of-the-pants' difference. While all of these stats sounds great, we can say from real-world experience that the HT383E lives up to the billing. Whether unloaded or loaded (with a 9000 lb, 28-ft enclosed trailer tied on), this engine pulls like a hopped up big block-but without the heavy weight and horrible fuel mileage. The engine does sound a little like a hot-rod engine at startup, which is OK with us. We're told the noise is attributed to the long stroke and big bore. Once up to temperature, the engine quieted down and performed without a hitch.