383 and 440 engines

[CB]

I got my 383 cooked up due to the radiator break down.
The stock radiator is now rebuild with a new core.
It is possible that I blew the head gasket.

Thing is: I wanna get good power and a reliable Charger so a rebuild is in order soon.

What should I do, keep the original 383 or find a rebuild 440( or get 'er rebuild).
I don't wanna spending money on tuning parts all the time so I wanna invest now in the right thing.

Please tell me your story!

I think 4-6K for engine work. Needs to be a neck snapper (torque)not a hi-way rocket (speed).

[41husk]

If you arent concerned with originality, keep the 383 incase you ever want to sell and buy a Hemi crate Engine.  That might snap your neck back.

[ChargerRob]

If you arent concerned with originality, keep the 383 incase you ever want to sell and buy a Hemi crate Engine.   That might snap your neck back.

[bull]

Do you have a place to store a 383 indefinitely? If not I would rebuild the 383 because it's foolish in this market to get rid of the original engine that came with any muscle car. You can go stock or tweak it exstinsively to run with many 440s out there. If you want the car to be usable on pump gas for nice easy cruises down to the local DQ you'll have to keep it fairly mild no matter which engine you choose.

I've debated this same issue for some time and came to the conclusion that rebuilding the stock engine with a mild performance upgrade suits me fine. I will not be racing it but I will get on it from time to time and I'm betting I'll get more of a thrill from that than I would my minivan or Dakota V6 on a good day. It all depends on what you want to do, and an engine rebuilt to stock specs, or close to it, will be much more versitile than a fire-breathing monster every time.

[firefighter3931]

Build the 440, the extra 80-100ftlbs of torque will be very noticable for the type of driving you want to do. They both cost the same to rebuild.  A mild 440 with 425hp and 500+ ftlbs of torque is a whole lotta fun on the street. 

Ron

[IBsmokin]

I think a stroked out 400 block would be a much better engine then the two, its all about physics.  But since i can not find a 400 block in my kneck of the woods I am rebuilding a 440.  if i had to choose between the 440 and the 383, I would take the 440 anyday.

[CB]

An HEMI block is cool but not fitting my budget.

A crate 360 on the other hand is affordable but don't think it is the right engine for the 69.

My 383 will be compression checked next Thursday so I know how bad the motor really is.

I want to build the drivetrain over the winter time so it is 100% next spring. Thetrans had a complete rebuild a few months ago. If the compression still OK I want to do the rear axle and drive shaft first.

If the engine is running to weak I look for a replacement powerplant.

The 'Bigger is Better' philosophy  makes me wanting the 440.

And storage won't be a problem.

[Nacho-RT74]

IMHO...

If you go for a 440, I would clone your Charger on to an R/T to get completed the package, since the engine is the expesive part of that

[CB]

IMHO...

If you go for a 440, I would clone your Charger on to an R/T to get completed the package, since the engine is the expesive part of that

so Heavy-Duty springs, shocks and brakes + rallye panel and some badges needed,huh ? 

[Nacho-RT74]

doesn't already have the rallye cluster ?

[Recharger]

Have you thought about stroking the 383?  That way you'd have the original engine in there, looking stock with a lot of added torque.  You'd have to find a good shop though to do it right and build a reliable engine...

[BigBlockSam]

440's the motor, lotsa   power and reliable.   Rene

[Nacho-RT74]

stroke it is a good one...

[Runner]

 if my budget was 4k-6k id be doing a 500 inch  strocker using a 440 source kit, a porter racing heads speced solid lifter cam, and a set of edelbrock heads.       dont know if it would snap your head back but it sure would boil the tires   lol..   and if your numbers block is truely important to you, then the best place to have it is out of the car, especially if you like get on the car sometimes.  stuff happens.  ive lived in some pretty small houses, and ive always had enough room to store a block if i wanted it bad enough.

[cudaken]

 CB, if the 383 is hurt and you can find a 440 do the 440. 383 is a great engine and will make most but the hard core gear heads smile. When I did DFS68 Charger and drove it stock, I had for gotton how much fun a well tooned stock 383 could be.

But botton line is there is no replacment for distplacment. If all is the same a 440 will make more power and cost of either to rebulid is the same.

If you like to beat on a engine hard, a stock 383 will take more abuse than a stock 440. But if you are beating hard on any stock B or RB Mopar, time for some up grades. Stock 383 will take 6000 RPM's for a while, stock 440 about 5800 RPM's for way shorter time.

Both have but a Chevy looking grin on my faces. But time for a rebuild, make mine a 440 with a Blower stapped to it's happy ass. (can I spell ass)

                     Cuda Ken

[Skyview69]

Build the 383.  I have two chargers...one with a 383 and one with a 440.  I am equally impressed with both....My friend has a 70 Superbee with a 383 4 speed and that engine is bad ass It will take my 440 in a minute    MAybe it's the way he drives...speed shifting through fourth gear....smoking them the whole way and the car sideways....I don't know...that engine rocks!

[Chargerguy74]

Easy, store the matching numbers block and build a 440

[440 Fanatic]

Keep the 383 if it's original,,but find a 440 that needs building but don't go radical with it,,build it to about 400-425 hp and you'll never regret it,,it can stand that easy even with a cast crank. And you'll be amazed at the torque that 440 offers up ,,I am with mine

[Runner]

my 484 camed 383 ran pretty decent it ran a best of 12.49 at 109 mph in my roadrunner. my 452 has run a best of 11.80 @113.5. the 452 has had no tuning at all. the 383 was pretty dialed in.   

   heres the differeance between the 2 motors in the same car with everything else being the same.   if i was rolling down the road at 20 mph with the 383 i had to drop it into first gear to get the tires spining, with the 452 in second gear at 25 mph it will blast the tires no problem.    the 452 idles better has more vaccum (12 vs. 5.5), acually sounds tamer and the throttle responce is very crisp.
  
   now throw another 48 cubic inches at that and   and some better heads (than my stock 906s) and see what you can do to the tires at 35 mph


              now im real happy with the 383 in my satellite. it has just a hint of a cam ( split pattern 272 crane cam on a 112 lsa)   bone stock 516 heads with the 1.60 exhaust heads, 3310 holley and cheapo headman headers, 3.23 gears. it has ran a best of 13.80@ 102 mph. the thing im happest about is, the satellite was a 318 car. i bought a old pile of crap wagon and gutted the drive train 383,727,3.23 suregrip and did a real cheapo rebiuld on the engine and rebiult the tranny.   i had a total of 1300 dollars in the drive train including the 550 dollar purchase of the parts car. it was a cheapo rering job.         while i love this car to death, and it runs pretty decent for what it is, ( i drive the car ot work probably 70 percent of the time in the winter and 90 percent of the time in the summer) it still wont spin the tires unless your all but at a stop ( then it spins them ok).       the bottom end is a little soft because of the short stroke.   im sure there are plenty of 440's this car will beat, but id bet if you were to ride in both cars you would bet money on the 440 beating it because the 440 will give you more grunt and my little 383 just kinda winds it self up   lol.         

   i still say with your budget 500 inches is the way to go. at the least 470, but youll have the same money in both so might as well have the extra 30 inches.

[MTPOCKET]

440   then you can really spin your 275.

[Dodge]

A 383 will rev higher than a 440, you can pick up a Strocker kit for about $2500 and get the Dude up to 430!  Getting the Machining done is the killer...

Otherwsie I'd re-build the original block, slap some 440 heads on there, trick inlet manifold or even make a 2x4BBl etc. get it all painted up stock looking!

Don't clone it, keep it real man!

[Ghoste]

Save the original 383 and build a strong but simple 440.  Going overboard with strokers and so forth at this point will only mean more money put into other driveline components (which you should do anyway).  If you're doing it on a budget, a good 440 will provide plenty of automotive joy and do it reliably and let you update the rest as money allows (or as you break them whichever comes first).

[MoparYoungGun]

I would store the original 383 and build up a 440. You wouldn't have to do anything to radical to get good power. Just a cam, intake/carb, exhaust, and some ported iron heads or Edelbrocks if your budget allows along with a rebuild. That should be an excellent recipe for a great street motor.

But, if you can rake together some more cash you can't beat a 493-500ci stroker. 550-575hp, 600ft lbs of tq, there just ain't nothing else like it. Thats just my . Good luck CB !

[1968 Charger B5]

screw originality have fun with car, get the 440...........i hate people who all they care about si what the car is worth with original parts and other crap......i dont know about anyone here but i waited my whole life to get a charger and im doing what I want with mine i could care less what other people think and im puttin a 440 in mine, yes im saving the original 383 but its getting a 440 definately.

[Silver R/T]

keep 383 and swap in 440

[Steve P.]

440  nuff said....

[bull]

There is another option (well, several actually) but a guy I knew was trying to sell a '69 Charger with a built 340 it in and that thing was a monster too. I went for a ride with him in it and I was surprised how fast it was. There are a lot of 340s out there that can take most 440s.

[Ghoste]

I had a 340 in a Charger once and I hated it myself.  It was great once it got moving but it had no torque.  That of course, was a thing with that engine and by no means labels all 340's that way.  Not to mention, they are lighter and can be stroked huge and it was 25 years ago when I did that etc.

[MoparYoungGun]

There is another option (well, several actually) but a guy I knew was trying to sell a '69 Charger with a built 340 it in and that thing was a monster too. I went for a ride with him in it and I was surprised how fast it was. There are a lot of 340s out there that can take most 440s.

That would have to be one built 340 to take a even a mild 440. My uncle has a MP 360/380 crate that has had some work done to it. I will be the first to admit it, his car is fast. His friend has a '68 Road Runner with a mild 440. My uncle got spanked by that 440, not that he cares he cruises in it not races it. Obviously, my point is a mild 440 can take a well built 340/360 from my experiences. That's just my . Good luck CB !

[AzraelsCharger]

I would keep the 383 myself. I just see no reason to let a good motor rot under a tarp; regardless of power capabilities. If it's shot; then go for the 440. 440 is about the best big block you can buy in a muscle car that isn't a Hemi.

[BigBlockSam]

,,build it to about 400-425 hp   

   a 440

[bull]

And storage won't be a problem.

Maybe not now but can you predict the future? It does depend on your situation of course but I'd say if you're under 50 years of age you'll probably be moving a few more times before you die. And storing something like that at someone else's house can be as much or more of a hassle. I would consider something like this very carefully before making a long-term decision. It's not like a TV or a couch, it's more like a piano or freezer. You don't just pick a 383 up off the floor and move it around if it gets in the way.

[Doc74]

I agree with keep the 383, clean it up over time and store it, you never know if you want to sell the charger (to get a better one of course  ) and get a nice, little beyond stock 440. (where would you get that actually ? Holland? )
Now for the fuel specialists here, for me it doesn't matter anymore but it might help CB and everyone else from the lowlands here and maybe other parts of the globe (do we still have a members map ??)
When i was in the states I saw what i heard was true, low octane fuel ranging from 81? to like 90.
All we have here is 95 and 98, some places still have 93.What change, if any, would it give to an engine?I'm still amazed a car like a charger can run on anyting below 90 really.My 2 liter, 20 year old Euro ford scorpio drives oddly enough like a dream but I wouldn't dare to fill it with anything but 98 octane and only from reputable stations, if I don't it'll 'diesel'.
What do you guys use?Especially in moderate to daily use?Will 95 or 98 do something negative to the valve seats under stress?Should be the other way round but again, I don't know enough about it.
Curious on your thoughts on this.

Help CB out here fellas, with current prices being 1.41 euros or $1.72 PER LITER, it helps to know if you really need the expensive stuff 

[Runner]

And storage won't be a problem.

You don't just pick a 383 up off the floor and move it around if it gets in the way.

  a bare block is nothing like a freezer,  more like a end table. easily stored in the corner of most any closet. there is no way id let that issue influance my choice.     

[firefighter3931]

And storage won't be a problem.

You don't just pick a 383 up off the floor and move it around if it gets in the way.

  a bare block is nothing like a freezer,   more like a end table. easily stored in the corner of most any closet. there is no way id let that issue influance my choice.        

I've moved many 383/440 bare blocks by myself. Just tear it down and box up the parts....then it's easy to move.   Do the 440 and get it over with !  

Ron

[Steve P.]

I bought 4 casters at Home Depot for about $8.00 and screwed them to a small rectangle of 5/8ths plywood. Not only is it easy to move the block I put on it around, but I can slide it under my shelving unit completely out of the way...      

I will be buying more wheels.........

[Chargerguy74]

make one of those glass coffee tables out of your matching numbers 383 block. This way you'll not only have a place to store the block, but it'll double as a table.....and look sweet.

[bull]

And storage won't be a problem.

You don't just pick a 383 up off the floor and move it around if it gets in the way.

  a bare block is nothing like a freezer,   more like a end table. easily stored in the corner of most any closet. there is no way id let that issue influance my choice.        

In the closet? Are you a bachelor by any chance? I guess it's just personal preference of course but I'm not fond of clutter. The most annoying thing to me is something that just sits around collecting dust. If I see something in my house or garage that hasn't been used in two or three years I usually find a way to toss it. Especially if it's something big.

[CB]

And storage won't be a problem.

You don't just pick a 383 up off the floor and move it around if it gets in the way.

  a bare block is nothing like a freezer,  more like a end table. easily stored in the corner of most any closet. there is no way id let that issue influance my choice.     

In the closet? Are you a bachelor by any chance? I guess it's just personal preference of course but I'm not fond of clutter. The most annoying thing to me is something that just sits around collecting dust. If I see something in my house or garage that hasn't been used in two or three years I usually find a way to toss it. Especially if it's something big.

like you're wife? 

Sorry, bad joke....

[Ghoste]

I laughed.

[MoparYoungGun]

Me too!

[Runner]

And storage won't be a problem.

You don't just pick a 383 up off the floor and move it around if it gets in the way.

  a bare block is nothing like a freezer,   more like a end table. easily stored in the corner of most any closet. there is no way id let that issue influance my choice.        

In the closet? Are you a bachelor by any chance? I guess it's just personal preference of course but I'm not fond of clutter. The most annoying thing to me is something that just sits around collecting dust. If I see something in my house or garage that hasn't been used in two or three years I usually find a way to toss it. Especially if it's something big.

   ive been married for 19 years,  been with the same woman for for 22.  if the closet was the only place to store our numbers matching engine, then she would be the first to want it there. i guess im lucky in that my wife loves the mopars as much, if not more than me.  infact she no longer will let me sell any parts to fund other things, and while that my be an issue with some people it was the very reason i was able to convert my 68 satellite from a 318 2 barrel car over to a 13 second 383 3.23 suregrip car for 1200 dollars, including the price of the doner motor and trans and suregrip. motor is a fresh rering with all new parts minus pistons machinework.  tranny is all new as well.   

   i have spare rearends, trannies, fenders, doors, engines, ect none in my closet though, just a nice tidy out of the way place.  shoes can sit nicly on it.

[bull]

    ive been married for 19 years,   been with the same woman for for 22.   if the closet was the only place to store our numbers matching engine, then she would be the first to want it there. i guess im lucky in that my wife loves the mopars as much, if not more than me.   infact she no longer will let me sell any parts to fund other things, and while that my be an issue with some people it was the very reason i was able to convert my 68 satellite from a 318 2 barrel car over to a 13 second 383 3.23 suregrip car for 1200 dollars, including the price of the doner motor and trans and suregrip. motor is a fresh rering with all new parts minus pistons machinework.   tranny is all new as well.     

    i have spare rearends, trannies, fenders, doors, engines, ect none in my closet though, just a nice tidy out of the way place.   shoes can sit nicly on it.

Well, be sure to clean the car parts real good before you put them in the closet, if it ever comes to that. If I ever get that desperate for space I might as well forget the hobby car.

[Ghoste]

I have some interior parts in the basement but even that is pushing it in our house.  No parts in the closet and no greasy stuff in the house anywhere.  She gets mad each time she finds some "new" place I've discovered to stash a guitar, there's no way the car is moving inside too.

[Chargerguy74]

I keep my really nice parts on my bed so they can't get damaged......I sleep on the couch

[CB]

I kept a lot of parts in the bedroom too.

Stashing the 383 under the bed will be a 'little' problem