How cool would it be to build not just this powerful 383 stroker, but a complete classic C-10 Chevy truck for your senior project?

Words and Photos By: Richard Holdener

We all remember our school days, parties, football games, and prom night, but one thing we usually don’t look back fondly on is homework, especially major projects like building that working volcano or those book reports on Of Mice and Men. As much as we dreaded the discussion about Lenny and George, these projects actually helped prepare us for our real jobs later in life. Beneficial as they may be, none of them hold a candle to Austin Rode’s “Project Clean Sweep.”

Humble beginnings. Before the resurrection, “Project Clean Sweep” served as a parking lot sweeper.

This is the high-school project every car guy wishes he had in school, as Project Clean Sweep involved the design and buildup of a classis 1973 C-10 square body truck. The project name came from the fact the truck in question actually spent time in use as a parking lot sweeper. More than just a popular classic C-10, this was a REAL truck that also logged endless miles in the forestry service. Any vehicle with such a productive history deserved a new lease on life, and “Project Clean Sweep” involved the resurrection of the C10 with a full rebuild on everything, including the engine, drivetrain, suspension, and brakes. The I Poly senior project took a year and half to complete and answered the essential questions about how to properly modify a performance vehicle.

A major part of resurrecting the classic, Chevy pick up was the proper motivational force, better known as the engine. While a stock rebuild might suffice for some, this classic received a powerful stroker combination. The 383 displacement was achieved by combining a 4.030-inch bore with a 3.75-inch stroke. Adding cubic inches improves not only peak power (and torque), but the all-important average power production. Compared to your run-of-the-mill 350, a 383 offers more power everywhere, from off-idle all the way through to redline.

The additional displacement also allows you to run a wilder cam. The displacement effectively tames the cam timing, meaning the same cam in a 383 will offer much better idle quality and drivability than when run in a smaller 350. Combine healthy cam timing with the right set of cylinder heads and intake manifold and you have the makings of a serious street/strip motor.

Using a recipe and machine work from Paul Grichar Racing Engines, the small-block started out with a late-model, 4-bolt block. “Project Clean Sweep” then utilized a Scat stroker kit that included a 3.75-inch stroker crank, 6.0-inch, forged I-beam rods, and .030-over forged pistons. The pistons featured small domes to work with the 65cc combustion chambers to produce a streetable, but powerful static compression ratio of 10.2:1. The stroker short-block then received a custom COMP hydraulic roller cam, lifters, and timing chain. The custom-grind cam featured a .543/.538 lift split, a 232/238-degree duration split, and 12-degree lsa.

Assembly of the motor was a three-generation, family affair, as Austin, his dad (Jeff), and grandpa (Joe) all worked together to finish the build up. According to Austin, grandpa Joe raced Jr. Fuelers for Felix Chevrolet back in the ’60s and is credited with Enderle using his car to design their first big-block intake (cool stuff).

Topping the 383 was a set of AFR 195 Eliminator heads and cast-aluminum valve covers. Feeding the long block was an induction system that consisted of an Edelbrock Performer RPM Air Gap intake and Holley 950 XP carburetor.

Nearly complete and ready for dyno testing, the 383 also received a Milodon oiling system (pan, pick up, and windage tray), an Eddie Motorsports 8-rib (billet) accessory drive system, and Pertronix billet distributor. Exhaust chores on the car were handled by a set of Doug’s long-tube headers. After assembly, the motor was finally ready for the pump, and the results were impressive.

After a series of dedicated, computer-controlled break-in cycles and a tuning session with the jets and timing, the “Project Clean Sweep” stroker thumped out 508 hp at 6,200 rpm and 490 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. As a testament to the components chosen, torque production from the stroker exceeded 450 lb-ft from 3,400 rpm to 5,800 rpm, meaning there was always plenty of grunt to get things going.

Clean Sweep 383
When you go to assemble a 383 stroker small-block, it’s tough to go wrong with components from companies like COMP Cams, Airflow Research, Edelbrock, and Holley. Of course combining the right components from these companies will produce a stroker motor that offers exceptional performance. The “Project Clean Sweep” 383 followed this recipe by fitting the 383 stroker short-block with a COMP hydraulic roller cam, AFR 195 heads, and an Edelbrock Performer RPM Air Gap intake. Bottomed off with a Milodon oiling system then topped off with a Holley carburetor, the 383 produced impressive power. After a few break-in cycles and a little tuning, “Project Clean Sweep” eventually belted out 508 hp at 6,200 rpm and 490 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. Torque from the stroker exceeded 450 lb-ft from 3,400 rpm to 5,800 rpm, meaning lack of traction will be more of an issue than passing power.

To further modernize the project, the Rodes replaced the Holley carburetor with FiTech fuel injection. Just think how clean the parking lots would be with this stroker powering the ole street sweeper! After installation of the engine and power train, Austin was able to provide the big reveal to his class mates. Not surprisingly, the truck was a huge hit and “Project Clean Sweeps” gets an A in our book.

Sources: AFR, Airflowresearch.com; COMP Cams, compcams.com; Holley/Hooker/NOS, holley.com; Milodon, milodon.com; Eddie Motorsports, Eddiemotorsports.com.