Engine Opinions

[JMF]

Is the 440 definitely the engine to have? Is a 318 or 383 worth considering?

[41husk]

426 hemi is the engine to have!  What are you looking for?  If the car was a 318 car and you want original thats fine.  If your looking for performance and want to stay small block 340 or 360 would be your best bet 340 is getting harder to find 360 are readly available and reasonably priced.  If you want to go big block there is nothing wrong with a 383 but if your going to rebuild it might as well go with the 440.  It all depends on what your looking for.  If price is no object and you want the engine everyone will flock to see get a Hemi,  331 and 392 are out there and more after market parts are becoming available but if price is not an issue get a 426 Hemi.

[KMPX2]

What do you plan to do with the car?

[Brock Samson]

interesting question,..
If   i   were you?, I'd want a British Racing Green '68 with a 383 and a four speed,.. I'd put a white stripe on it, but that's just me.. 

Now THAT engine is alot more fun then the lesser 318 and less expensive to run and rarer by far then the R/T road and tracks. It's more euriopien, More "G.T."
But if ya' don't know,.. they also make an automatic (727) version with a 2 barrell Carb. and if ya don't know what that means,.. THAT is the one you'll want...
There were many combos to chose from.
the 6:  which is too rare to find.
the 318:  of which they made many. (many cloned into R/Ts or 440 Cars).
383 cubic inch:  had the two versions. my recomendation as above.
the 440  "Magnum" and 440 SIX_PACK.  (My fav.engine, what I drive).
and then the HEMI at 426 CI... If your King.

http://web.info.com/infocom.us2/search/web/1969%2BDodge%2BCharger

[JMF]

Thanks, I don't think I would be able to afford a Hemi but I was just wondering if there is a big change in performance between say a 383 and 440

[BigBlockSam]

if your starting from scratch, might as well go with a 440. it'll cost you the same to build as the 383. Rene

[Crazy Larry]

Yeah, if you are going to do all the work of building - go with the 440 - because the satisfaction of having one under the hood makes all the sweat and stress of getting it in there worth it. You'll know after the first time someone walks up to your Charger and says "Nice car....383?" and you reply "no, 440" and they smile and nodd with approval.

Good times, can't wait for this damn snow to melt!

[JMF]

Yeah i'll be buying one that needs little to no work so i'm willing to maybe pay the little bit extra for a 440 RT

[BigBlockSam]

Good times

[Big Lebowski]

  For killer burnouts, and without the Hemi budget, I'd say take a 440 and Stroke into a 500 ci. motor with mucho horse power. It's ALOT cheaper than the Hemi version. If you go with a 383, again stroke it to the 451...the 318 can be built into a 402 or a 412? Something like that, Chargers are heavy and 318 cars weren't tire fryers.

[41husk]

were are you located? I have a complete 440 disassembled and ready for build lying in the garage, just waiting for you to buy it

[JMF]

London, England, I will want a Dodge Charger that is ready to drive though

[y3chargerrt]

I would get a 360 and have it rebuilt. If you go big block you will have to change the transmission, motor mounts etc.Stay with a small block and it will be much easier and cheaper on you.

[BigBlockSam]

resale is higher with a 440

[ipstrategies]

My car still has the original 383 Magnum so it is staying that way. If my car did not have the original engine I would go 440 or stroke one of the 2 400's i have since I have them already. My car will smoke the tires pretty good 8.75 and 3.23 gears

[41husk]

I think He is looking to buy a car with a 440 in it

[JMF]

Yeah 41husk is right, my point is that is it worth spending the extra money on buying a 440 RT as opposed to a 318 or 383, I know that an RT is more collectible etc but as far as performance goes, is the 440 worth the extra money? Knowing me I will probably get a 440 anyway but I just wanted opinions

[41husk]

Yes! if you can afford a Original 440 car the value is higher as will the future resale in theory.

[Troy]

The R/T will definitley cost you more now but it's also the more collectable car and should hold its value better than a non-R/T car. If you want one to drive (instead of storing away in a climate controlled warehouse) then just buy a non-R/T car that someone has transplanted a 440 into. There are lots of them out there. A 318 car that has been converted to a 440 is still worth more than a stock 318 car and is loads more fun to drive - although my first two cars were 318s and they were a blast too. The 318 car will be so much different than anything you have in England now that you may not even miss the power of the 383 or 440. Don't discount a 383 though, they are usually less expensive than an R/T and very strong in their own right. If you're buying a car that needs work then you'll need to save all the money you can for shipping costs on parts. You can sometimes find finished 383 cars for what a mid-level R/T would go for. Projects are $$$ to finish but the time you replace all the little $20 parts so if you're that far away then I'd get one as complete as possible.

Troy

[JMF]

Thanks guys

[Mike DC]

Troy had some good advice there. 
I've got a few thoughts too:

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The 426 Hemi is legendary, but that engine is usually about 200% of the price of a 440 and only about 125% of a 440's power output.  Don't pay for a Hemi unless you absolutely have to be able to say, "Yeah, it's got a Hemi."

The 440 is the best power/price deal in the hobby.  It's got real-world power no matter what gear or what speed the car is at.  Almost 500 pounds of torque at 3000 RPM, and the horsepower amount stays well into the 300s at any RPM higher than that. 
The popular setup right now is the 440 stroker (A rebuilt 440 engine, with some decent aftermarket aluminum cylinder heads, and the displacement pushed up to about 493-496 inches with a bigger crankshaft).  It'll just about rip the tires off the rims, and it isn't any more trouble to live with than a factory-stock 440.  The worst problem it will cause you is the gas mileage.

The 383 is basically a 440 with less displacement.  A lot of the parts in the two engines are virtually identical, and the 383's horsepower & torque numbers are very respectable for its size.  (The stunt-car Dodge Chargers seen in television & movies like "Dukes of Hazzard" and "Fast & Furious" are often actually powered by 383 engines, not the huge Hemis they show onscreen.)  The only thing keeping the 383 from being a highly-sought-after engine is the fact that a 440 can be built for the same money & effort.

.

[TylerCharger69]

Engines?....Hmmmmm...Well...I've built  the small blocks  and the B/RB blocks  countless times.    Truth is.....the most common for the '69  is the 383.   Providing you have the money to sink into one of these.....you can get the same amount of torque and HP from a 383  as well as the others...including the 426 Hemi  and Commando.   You'll be decking blocks, changing rod sizes,  just about every component will need altering and upgrading, but  I've built a few 383  530-550 horse engines.  Some preferences are this because of the numbers matching issue some people may have.   Heads will be  extremely modified  and the 906 heads have plenty of metal  to safely carve out.  It all depends on the money you have and want to spend, or take out a second home mortgage.   I have seen this massive build cause one or two divorces too...so  keep this in mind.....lol.    (Yes....the ex-wife was awarded the car)           TylerCharger69      drummer1@stx.rr.com

[TylerCharger69]

In my post I was oblivious to the original question....Sorry...Anyway...If you are on a budget...the 440 would be, in my opinion, the way to go.   The 383  is fine.  as is the 400, and 413,  but a basic rebuild package is pretty much the same cost between them.   Depending on, of course if it is an HP block or not.   Oh...and 41husk!!!    You still have that 440?    I live in South Texas  and I am interested in it!!!  Can never have too many Mopar engines lying about!!!...lol