Whats the differance on a magnum 383?

[4Bangin69]

Whats the differance on a magnum 383 and a regular stock 383?

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

believe the Magnum used the HP manifolds, 440 camshaft, and 440 cylinder heads   

[resq302]

believe the Magnum used the HP manifolds, 440 camshaft, and 440 cylinder heads   

Windage tray in the oil pan also.

[4Bangin69]

Hey thanks for the info. If i change a few things i could make it a magnum then?

[Troy]

believe the Magnum used the HP manifolds, 440 camshaft, and 440 cylinder heads   

Same cylinder heads for all big blocks - but the factory ads specifically mentioned the 440 heads which is confusing.

There were 3 different 383s - a 2-bbl and 2 4-bbl versions. A 383 2-bbl obviously had a different intake manifold and carb but also a lower compression ratio and a single exhaust. The standard 4-bbl engines had a dual snorkel air cleaner and HP exhaust manifolds along with the 4-bbl carb and intake. The Magnum included an unsilenced air cleaner, higher lift cam, stiffer valve springs, windage tray, and dual exhaust. The "standard" rear gear was also different although I'm writing all this from memory and don't have the exact numbers. I believe the 383 4-bbl came with a 3.23 but I know a lot of the 2-bbl cars had 2.76 rear gears.

Troy

[Challenger340]

The "440 Heads" propaganda, was more of a marketing/promotional thing back in 1968.

Important to remember, was that all 383's prior to that time, had utilized Heads with the smaller 1.60" Exhaust Valve.
Then, beginning in 1968,
Chrysler incorporated the larger 1.74 Exhaust Valve into all their BB Heads, when previously the 1.74" had only been seeen in "HP Version" 440 Engines in '67.
Easy to see how it became a 383 with "440 Heads", as a marketing ploy for the new "Magnum" 383 Engine.

[Sixt8Chrgr]

If your VIN has an "H" as the fifth charactor in the sequence what does that stipulate relative to the 383 standard or magnum. Is there a way to tell if the car had a standard or magnum motor from other appearances other than the air filter?

Thanks

[Dans 68]

Have you looked at this thread? http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,34882.0.html

I'm taking a wild guess that you have a '68 383 Charger, in which case the "H" means a 383 4-bbl. It is not a "Magnum/HP" engine.

Dan

[resq302]

ALL 383 that got a 4 bbl came with the H in the VIN plate.  There was a different VIN code for the 383 2 bbl engine.

[Sixt8Chrgr]

Have you looked at this thread? http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,34882.0.html

I'm taking a wild guess that you have a '68 383 Charger, in which case the "H" means a 383 4-bbl. It is not a "Magnum/HP" engine.

Dan

Thats a great post thanks!!

[375instroke]

The H means 383 4bbl only.  The car it went into is what made it a 383 magnum.  That would be Roadrunner and Super Bee, so something like RM23H would be a 383 Magnum, and an RH23H would be a 383 4bbl.  As for the 440 heads, the stiffer valve springs on the same head casting would make it a different part number assembly, so I think it would be totally correct to say that.  I had a good post on Moparts with lots of good info on the 383 I started when asking about the A-body version, but they deleted it.  The 383 4bbl had higher compression, but the same cam as the 2bbl.  Here are some brochure pics that are interesting:

[resq302]

Yet the picture of the 383 4 bbl is incorrect  if you got the 335 hp version.  That came with an unsilenced air cleaner, chrome oil breather, and other such stuff.  There has been proven 69 chargers through build sheets that came with the "925" magnum 335 horse engine.  Those cars aslo seem to be combined with the 4 spd manual tranny too.

[Ghoste]

That would be the correct air cleaner for California though, would it not?

[resq302]

That would be the correct air cleaner for California though, would it not?

Yes.  A CA car would also have turn down tips too at the end of the exhaust.

[375instroke]

There has been proven 69 chargers through build sheets that came with the "925" magnum 335 horse engine.  Those cars aslo seem to be combined with the 4 spd manual tranny too.

I think this came up in the deleted post on Moparts.  Kind of like the '68 4-speed 340 getting a hotter cam.

[Sixt8Chrgr]

My car is a 68 Charger with the 383-4bbl with automatic and air-condition. My car would have the motor as shown in the picture?