How to tell which engine is in the car?

[Wilsoner]

Hey guys I'm new here and thought I would start with my first of many stupid questions 

I'm going to go look at a 74' Charger SE which is supposed to have a 68' 383/727 combo in it but I'm new at
this and don't really know how to tell if it is actually a 383 or just a 318 and I really don't want to get snowed.

[Ghoste]

To start, if the distributor is in the back it's a smallblock and if its in the front its a big block.  There will be a machined pad on the front near the distributor (if its a 383) telling you the cid among a few other things.  The 318 will have a pad machined on the front of the block on the drivers side just below the cylinder head.

[ACUDANUT]

If it's a 383. the engine size is right by the distributer shaft..

[Wilsoner]

Thank you kind sir that makes things easy so hopefully in a week or so I'll be able to
get a build thread going on here and ask you guys a million other questions, first
vehicle with a carb!

p.s. its a 3.5 hour long drive so I didn't want to make the trip without having the facts

[Highbanked Hauler]

You have landed in the right place as there is a ton of help here and don't worry about stupid questions,we have all asked them at one time or other.

[nvrbdn]

welcome to the site. when ya get that puppy home, a few pic's would be great.

[68X426]

Here's a good resource on Chrysler engines (pictures too): http://www.allpar.com/mopar.html

And also: http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/charger/1971-1974-chargers.html

First carb you say? Welcome to the old school. 

[MaxE48]

Interesting thread, so I decided to check my engine. Stamped under the distributor shaft is- H400. My car is a 1970 RT clone with a, what I was told 2 barrel 383. I have had the car 2 months after importing it in to Australia from North Carolina. What does H400 mean? I am not familiar with a 400 cubic inch big block.

[justcruisin]

Don't be scared to ask, its great to see new people interested in these machines and I am pretty sure all here are only to happy to help and see you on your way to helping keeping these old chargers alive among the new high tech rides that we see today.

[ACUDANUT]

The 400 engine, replaced the 383.  The 400's were made cheaper and do not have as much HP as the 383's.  You have a 72 or newer engine that does not have a forged crank and some call the smog engines..  400 engines ain't junk, they just were not as fast as the 383's.

[Wilsoner]

Looked at it only once and its being held for me until Tuesday so I'll be able to check it out and will definitely be snapping
some pictures. Lucky for me I land where the car is by plane and figure the 350km drive home will be the beginning of
a beautiful relationship

What I know about the car so far is a rebuilt 383 from a 68' with a 4 barrel edelbrock 670 carb, new intake, headers and a newly rebuilt
727 tranny, should be fun  

[nvrbdn]

  good luck on the drive home.

[FLG]

Good luck!

When you get it, ditch that edelbrick junk and buy a nice holley or proform dp'er 

[MaxE48]

Interesting thread, so I decided to check my engine. Stamped under the distributor shaft is- H400. My car is a 1970 RT clone with a, what I was told 2 barrel 383. I have had the car 2 months after importing it in to Australia from North Carolina. What does H400 mean? I am not familiar with a 400 cubic inch big block.

Just cleaned the motor and found stamped under H400- 8 14 E
I would assume 8 14 is the date, but what does "E" represent?

[69CoronetRT]

Interesting thread, so I decided to check my engine. Stamped under the distributor shaft is- H400. My car is a 1970 RT clone with a, what I was told 2 barrel 383. I have had the car 2 months after importing it in to Australia from North Carolina. What does H400 mean? I am not familiar with a 400 cubic inch big block.

Just cleaned the motor and found stamped under H400- 8 14 E
I would assume 8 14 is the date, but what does "E" represent?

8 14 is the assembly date (August 14th) E = cast crank