331 vs 347 strokerr.. which is the better choice?

**ScottHalliday** · 04-30-2004

I am trying to decide between a 331 or 347 stroker engine.

I know in the past there were a number of issues with the 347. One being the connecting rod pin position and the other being side load placed on the cyliner walls. All this adding up to increased oil consumption and short engine life. Are these issues still the same or has the latest 347 stroker kits from say Coast High Performance and DSS adequately address these issues.

Would appreciate hearing your opinions on the 347 and how it stacks up to a 331 stroker.

crazycarnut · 04-30-2004

alot of it comes down to how you build your 347. how you have it balenced has alot to do with it. Since mine is still sitting around waiting to be sold since i cant get ahold of 410 couger its still up for sale. also what are you wanting to do with it?

jruppert · 05-01-2004

I have a 342 from Coast Performance. When I purchased it from them it was suppose to of been balanced but was way off. I had it rebalanced from a local machine shop. Ive put around 10,000 miles since install and havent had any trouble and no oil usage.

**ScottHalliday** · 05-02-2004

Not in a position to buy yet but still doing the research. Plan would be that it would be mostly used on the street with some racing from time to time.

NoSlow5oh · 05-02-2004

I think the reputable companies have made great headway with the 347 stroker kits. I believe they have eliminated the piston pin contacting the oil control ring and I'm sure they have helped the rod/piston angle. If it was up to me I would just buy the 331 and not have to worry about it though. There would not be that much of a difference in power between the two. Most of your power will come from whats on top of the short block being able to get that air in and out.

Fordgazm · 05-02-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by NoSlow5oh
If it was up to me I would just buy the 331 and not have to worry about it though. There would not be that much of a difference in power between the two. Most of your power will come from whats on top of the short block being able to get that air in and out.

My thoughts as well

**ScottHalliday** · 05-04-2004

From what I have been hearing it seems the 347 delivers alot more horsepower that the 331. I was also looking at the hp writeups on coast high website and they seem to confirm that as well. My engine guy has done alot of coast high 347 engines. He is telling me 347 is the way to go and that there are no more problems with the 347. I appreciate the advise because I am still considering going with a 331 over the 347.

crazycarnut · 05-04-2004

there is a guy in town that has a 347 stroker and it has a little over 100k miles on it and its never been rebuilt just had the oil changed and small stuff like that.

**countymounty** · 05-04-2004

When I was having my 331 built they had parts for a 347 in there and I got too look at the pistons and on this peculiar brand the oil ring / wrist pin problem had been solved and I here a lot of manufactures have corrected the problem. I am still glad I went with the 331 as I have heard other problems with the 347 so I basically don’t have to worry. And yes there are some good gains over the 331 but I also wanted dependability, I only wish I went with a bigger cam.

crazycarnut · 05-04-2004

you can always swap cams

Monkey Boy · 05-05-2004

If it were me, I would just get a 351W.

FoxChassis · 05-05-2004

I'll second that, Monkey Boy. For the cost of stroking a 302, you can do a 351W swap and have more displacement, a longer stroke, and altogether stronger engine (most especially, the block), and one that can make the same power at a lower RPM and can last longer. At 347 cubic inches, the 302 is just about tapped out, whereas a 351W can go as high as about 435 CI (factory blocks).

83GT · 05-08-2004

Yeah, get a 351. You can always punch it out later and you're not dealing with the problems associated with 347's. More power with less spin, stronger block, faster car.