Which would you rather have (440 auto or 383 four speed)

[A383Wing]

Somebody was ordering them.  Otherwise we would of had a staggering amount of 3 speeds since that was the standard tranny in I think pretty much all rides.

Was the 3 speed standard in any of the big block Chargers prior to 1970 though?

3 speed was standard in 66 & 67...but only with a 318....if you wanted a 4spd or auto with any other engine, you had to pay extra for that option....even if the 3spd was not available

unsure about 68 & 69 if 3spd was standard....

Bryan

[Ghoste]

I believe it was the same, slant six and small block had it standard.  Big block it was not available.

[Troy]

The torqueflight transmission had a reputation of being a high performing, bulletproof unit and the 4 speed did not enjoy the same fate.  It was considered to be slow shifting and clumsy when compared to the brand X counterparts of the day.  Everyone knew that the automatic was generally quicker down the 1/4 mile and I'm sure that had a lot to do with the majority of these cars being ordered with the auto.  I know it did when I ordered my '68 R/T.  In those days everyone knew how to drive a "stick shift" car and many people preferred them, as many of the early automatics left much to be desired.  But, the Chrysler Torqueflight changed a lot of peoples minds.  I'd be willing to bet that the percentage of 4 speeds ordered in
chevelles, camaros and mustangs was higher than in any of the Mopars....

I'd be willing to bet you are right on the last part. I have a 70 Mach 1 and the percentage of 4-speed cars seems to be a lot higher than any Mopar.

Troy

[Budnicks]

383 4spd, the B motor would make a good 500 inch stroker.  

the 440 will make a 540 stroker.......................

you can get up to around 525ci with 0.060" over/4.31" bore & a 4.5" crank in a 383 block... I don't think the 15ci's are going to make a really big difference, & I'm sure you already know a 400 block can get even 547ci at 0.060" over 4.40" bore & 4.5" crank, slightly more even than the 440 with a 4.5" crank & 0.060" over bore.... Now 22ci's is a little bigger difference... I'm just saying there's nothing wrong with a good low deck block either....

I'm of the opinion that the taller block will always have a better rod to piston ratio when dealing with stupidly sized strokers. a 540 C.I. low deck can't live for very long with that short deck height. Just because all that sh*t fit into the stock block and will rotate by hand doesn't mean it'll do it @6500 RPM reliably. My .02.

a longer rod or better rod to stroke ratio is always nice, they are just examples of what can be done, apples & oranges kind of... Sure you could build a low deck long stroke to spin at 6500rpm reliably...  Back on subject...  I still prefer the 383 4spd for a street driver, lighter engine over the front wheels, good torque, fun Big Block power, but have had many of both types of tran's with either 440's & 383's or stroker combos of either...  

[Scaregrabber]

The Chargers were more expensive than Road Runners and Super Bees and had a different buyer in general. Young guys with not much money were buying Bees and Runners and they preferred to shift their own gears as we all thought a 4 speed was quicker back then. Charger owners were a bit older, had more money and more likely married to someone who preferred to drive an automatic in those days.
Me, even now the bigger 440 and all the cool R/T stuff trump the smaller engine and 4 speed every time.

Sheldon

[RECHRGD]

The Chargers were more expensive than Road Runners and Super Bees and had a different buyer in general. Young guys with not much money were buying Bees and Runners and they preferred to shift their own gears as we all thought a 4 speed was quicker back then. Charger owners were a bit older, had more money and more likely married to someone who preferred to drive an automatic in those days.
Me, even now the bigger 440 and all the cool R/T stuff trump the smaller engine and 4 speed every time.

Sheldon

I guess I was an oddball then.  I was 20, single and worked at a gas station when I bought my 440 automatic Charger.  Yes, Road Runners were a little cheaper, but there were plenty of young guys running around Southern California in Chargers back then.  It may have been a regional thing also.  I know I dated a gal that was from Florida and remember her saying that she rarely even saw a Charger where she was from.  She said that most of the young guys were into Chevelles.

[six-tee-nine]

She said that most of the young guys were into Chevelles.

I guess she married you? Or was it just for the car?

[RECHRGD]

She said that most of the young guys were into Chevelles.

I guess she married you? Or was it just for the car?

Nah!  I think she liked the Charger better than me.  She went back to Florida..........

[SFRT]

I have a 440 R/T with a 4 speed. it is fun as hell. Especially with a line lock. Even tho a 727 would be faster.....it seems lazy to me.

[bull]

I guess I was an oddball then.  I was 20, single and worked at a gas station when I bought my 440 automatic Charger.  Yes, Road Runners were a little cheaper, but there were plenty of young guys running around Southern California in Chargers back then.  It may have been a regional thing also.  I know I dated a gal that was from Florida and remember her saying that she rarely even saw a Charger where she was from.  She said that most of the young guys were into Chevelles.

What? No way! You're telling me you dated a girl who knew the difference between a Charger and a Chevelle? I bet her friends were driving Dusters and AMXs and just talking about Chevelles.

[Budnicks]

I guess I was an oddball then.  I was 20, single and worked at a gas station when I bought my 440 automatic Charger.  Yes, Road Runners were a little cheaper, but there were plenty of young guys running around Southern California in Chargers back then.  It may have been a regional thing also.  I know I dated a gal that was from Florida and remember her saying that she rarely even saw a Charger where she was from.  She said that most of the young guys were into Chevelles.

What? No way! You're telling me you dated a girl who knew the difference between a Charger and a Chevelle? I bet her friends were driving Dusters and AMXs and just talking about Chevelles.

Yes shes probably one of my  5 sisters  , they were into cars & motorcycles, they couldn't hardly help but be, with me, my 2 brothers & my step dad all obsessive gearheads...

[Budnicks]

I have a 440 R/T with a 4 speed. it is fun as hell. Especially with a line lock. Even tho a 727 would be faster.....it seems lazy to me.

I love your Charger, especially being a 440 4spd car...

[John_Kunkel]

I'd go with the 383/4-speed because it's the only combo that offered big block, 4-speed and A/C...air is a must for me.

[mauve66]

383 4spd, the B motor would make a good 500 inch stroker.  

the 440 will make a 540 stroker.......................

you can get up to around 525ci with 0.060" over/4.31" bore & a 4.5" crank in a 383 block... I don't think the 15ci's are going to make a really big difference, & I'm sure you already know a 400 block can get even 547ci at 0.060" over 4.40" bore & 4.5" crank, slightly more even than the 440 with a 4.5" crank & 0.060" over bore.... Now 22ci's is a little bigger difference... I'm just saying there's nothing wrong with a good low deck block either....

I'm of the opinion that the taller block will always have a better rod to piston ratio when dealing with stupidly sized strokers. a 540 C.I. low deck can't live for very long with that short deck height. Just because all that sh*t fit into the stock block and will rotate by hand doesn't mean it'll do it @6500 RPM reliably. My .02.

a longer rod or better rod to stroke ratio is always nice, they are just examples of what can be done, apples & oranges kind of... Sure you could build a low deck long stroke to spin at 6500rpm reliably...  Back on subject...  I still prefer the 383 4spd for a street driver, lighter engine over the front wheels, good torque, fun Big Block power, but have had many of both types of tran's with either 440's & 383's or stroker combos of either...  

and using a worldwedge  block can get you to 572..................

[bull]

Well, it ended up being fairly close. What's the scientific margin of error here?

[Budnicks]

383 4spd, the B motor would make a good 500 inch stroker.  

the 440 will make a 540 stroker.......................

you can get up to around 525ci with 0.060" over/4.31" bore & a 4.5" crank in a 383 block... I don't think the 15ci's are going to make a really big difference, & I'm sure you already know a 400 block can get even 547ci at 0.060" over 4.40" bore & 4.5" crank, slightly more even than the 440 with a 4.5" crank & 0.060" over bore.... Now 22ci's is a little bigger difference... I'm just saying there's nothing wrong with a good low deck block either....

I'm of the opinion that the taller block will always have a better rod to piston ratio when dealing with stupidly sized strokers. a 540 C.I. low deck can't live for very long with that short deck height. Just because all that sh*t fit into the stock block and will rotate by hand doesn't mean it'll do it @6500 RPM reliably. My .02.

a longer rod or better rod to stroke ratio is always nice, they are just examples of what can be done, apples & oranges kind of... Sure you could build a low deck long stroke to spin at 6500rpm reliably...  Back on subject...  I still prefer the 383 4spd for a street driver, lighter engine over the front wheels, good torque, fun Big Block power, but have had many of both types of tran's with either 440's & 383's or stroker combos of either...  

and using a worldwedge  block can get you to 572..................

or a KB1 or BAE w/4.5"+ bore depending on sleeves &/or water jacketed or not & light weight, not too good for the street though... But I have seen it done

[mauve66]

383 4spd, the B motor would make a good 500 inch stroker. 

the 440 will make a 540 stroker.......................

you can get up to around 525ci with 0.060" over/4.31" bore & a 4.5" crank in a 383 block... I don't think the 15ci's are going to make a really big difference, & I'm sure you already know a 400 block can get even 547ci at 0.060" over 4.40" bore & 4.5" crank, slightly more even than the 440 with a 4.5" crank & 0.060" over bore.... Now 22ci's is a little bigger difference... I'm just saying there's nothing wrong with a good low deck block either....

I'm of the opinion that the taller block will always have a better rod to piston ratio when dealing with stupidly sized strokers. a 540 C.I. low deck can't live for very long with that short deck height. Just because all that sh*t fit into the stock block and will rotate by hand doesn't mean it'll do it @6500 RPM reliably. My .02.

a longer rod or better rod to stroke ratio is always nice, they are just examples of what can be done, apples & oranges kind of... Sure you could build a low deck long stroke to spin at 6500rpm reliably...  Back on subject...  I still prefer the 383 4spd for a street driver, lighter engine over the front wheels, good torque, fun Big Block power, but have had many of both types of tran's with either 440's & 383's or stroker combos of either... 

and using a worldwedge  block can get you to 572..................

or a KB1 or BAE w/4.5"+ bore depending on sleeves &/or water jacketed or not & light weight, not too good for the street though... But I have seen it done

money is NEVER an object right??  i saw an ad for indy cylinder heads where they were selling a USED motor for like $15K...........  of course it was $25K new........... but damn i have a hard time convincing the wife i need to spend $8K

[Budnicks]

383 4spd, the B motor would make a good 500 inch stroker. 

the 440 will make a 540 stroker.......................

you can get up to around 525ci with 0.060" over/4.31" bore & a 4.5" crank in a 383 block... I don't think the 15ci's are going to make a really big difference, & I'm sure you already know a 400 block can get even 547ci at 0.060" over 4.40" bore & 4.5" crank, slightly more even than the 440 with a 4.5" crank & 0.060" over bore.... Now 22ci's is a little bigger difference... I'm just saying there's nothing wrong with a good low deck block either....

I'm of the opinion that the taller block will always have a better rod to piston ratio when dealing with stupidly sized strokers. a 540 C.I. low deck can't live for very long with that short deck height. Just because all that sh*t fit into the stock block and will rotate by hand doesn't mean it'll do it @6500 RPM reliably. My .02.

a longer rod or better rod to stroke ratio is always nice, they are just examples of what can be done, apples & oranges kind of... Sure you could build a low deck long stroke to spin at 6500rpm reliably...  Back on subject...  I still prefer the 383 4spd for a street driver, lighter engine over the front wheels, good torque, fun Big Block power, but have had many of both types of tran's with either 440's & 383's or stroker combos of either... 

and using a worldwedge  block can get you to 572..................

or a KB1 or BAE w/4.5"+ bore depending on sleeves &/or water jacketed or not & light weight, not too good for the street though... But I have seen it done

money is NEVER an object right??  i saw an ad for indy cylinder heads where they were selling a USED motor for like $15K...........  of course it was $25K new........... but damn i have a hard time convincing the wife i need to spend $8K

  Isn't that the truth    fortunately or maybe unfortunately I don't have that problem being single, I just don't have the cash any longer...LOL...