Is a SBC 383 stroker more than a LS swap? Im asking bc I figured a LS would be more because your making something work with the truck that it was never meant to go in. When I had my current 383 built i didnt even consider a Ls bc i thought it would be way more. I could have done my 383 cheaper but I went all out with Holley EFI and all the works.
Truth be told, an LS swap would typically be more than a SBC 383, but how much more depends on where you source.
If you did everything new-for-new, LS would cost a lot more. If you're talking junkyard or parts truck, there's lots of savings to be had for sure. I'm not sure when you built your 383, but the aftermarket has broadened a bit. Still a bit spendy though, especially if you're not keeping it stock.
I built a 383 for the same reasons you did. Where I live, people thought and still think LS's are gold. It would've costed me over $1,500 for a high-mile LS with some of the sensors and a cut-up wiring harness. So I'd have to make or find my own intact harness, computer or EFI system, accessory drive on the front of the motor, motor mount adapters, air intake, a new way to make all my gauges work, headers that would fit (Schoenfeld was the only choice back then, 2WD/automatic transmission fit only). All things that can be done, but it depends on how far someone wants to go. Especially if you're going all out. Just a cam and bigger throttle body can chew up some dough in LS world, which brings me to my next thing...
Programmable EFI systems are finally coming down a bit with cost. OE computers had a few limitations for performance. Kind of unrelated - I had lots of issues in the past with "tuners," promising they could tune your custom build, only for it to not run right. Only way to find out? Some dude on the internet or in a dyno shop tells you bring money, spends an hour or two tweaking some things, then calls it good enough. No one cares more about your truck and your build than
you. At least now there are several DIY tuning options. A must if it's your daily driver! I didn't mind paying $50 for a retune, but the hassle and time involved was difficult.
I did my 383 back in 2013, the aftermarket is even better now than it was back then. If I had known better, I might have been better off going LS. Even for the cost difference, it would've been a slow work in progress as newer, better things became available.
Just a personal opinion. There's no wrong answer.
