The Colonel Will Be Upgraded This Coming Winter!!!

[THE COLONEL]

The Colonel will be getting an overhaul.  The 318 will be gone, and a 383 dropped in.     The guy that will be doing my engine has worked on race car engines back in the 50's & 60's, and raced them too. He also has worked for Chrysler for years. You should see his collection of cars...including an ALL ORIGINAL 68 Cornet, and he also has a 1970 Hemi Charger, along with a few others. This guy (Ed) in these parts is the Mopar Guru. His nickname is "Fast Eddie", and if you happen to get your engine rebuilt by him, people loathe over your car and his work. He's a good friend of my fathers, and has asked me about rebuilding my engine, and it just now happens to be that this coming winter, I will finally have the money. You have to really know this guy for him to say yes for a rebuild. Ed could build an engine with his eyes closed. He glass beads every nut and bolt, so you can imagine what it will look like!!    He also suggested for me to help him, so I can learn too. This will be awesome! Anyway, he has a 383 sitting there right now, and is code correct for my car. It came out of a 69 cornet from a guy that we also know, so I know the engine is good. I do like the 318, but if he is giving me a 383 for the 318, I can't pass it up. Man I can't wait!!!!

You can be sure I will have lots of pics when it happens.  It will be nice to have an engine that that can take me cross country if I choose to, and not have the worry of breaking down!

[CB]

I am happy for you! Upgrading is always fun, not knowing what to expect but knowing its gonna be a hell lot beter, right?
Is your drivetrain in good shape & the front end?
Good luck on the project!
CB

[moparjohn]

After doing mine this summer I can tell you that it is a great experience.  The 383 is a great motor, and you know I drive mine everyehere!

[6pkrunner]

Sounds great! You're gonna love the 383

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Very underrated IMHO.......good luck with the swap

[tan top]

           sounds like a good swap    would like to see some progress pictures  , i 'm getting carried away now but   if you ever want a different motor after the 383 .. you could always get a 400ci and then stroke it  , then make it stock looking with a 383 pie pan etc  . that will  shake up  a lot    .......                any way ....  good luck with the swap

[Shakey]

Looking forward to the photos!   

[THE COLONEL]

Thanks guys.  I am so excited to get this swap.  The engine bay will be painted black, but I'm not sure what color I want the block.  Blue, or orange.  At least I have time to think about it!

[tan top]

but I'm not sure what color I want the block.  Blue, or orange. 

                       orange 

[rt green]

dont forget the big block t bars

[Khyron]

good luck, I'm extreamly excited on how my BB and body is comming 

you'll love it!

[Rolling_Thunder]

I had a used 383 that I put new rings and bearings in...     used the old pistons, rods, crank...   didnt even measure them or anything...   put in a stock MP resto cam...     mild ported 906 heads, edelbrock dual plane with a 750...     remember...    STOCK CAM and manifolds....     layed down 293rwhp...   

[OttawaCharger]

That's great!
We're definitely looking forward to pics 

[THE COLONEL]

That's great!
We're definitely looking forward to pics 

In about 10 months, I'll start having them!  I think that will be a lot of popcorn before then!

[OttawaCharger]

That's ok.  I'll just have a few of these     

[THE COLONEL]

WELL, I MIGHT BE SCRAPPING THE IDEA OF A 383 NOW!!!! 









I might just have to get a 440!!! 
They guy that has the 383 waiting for me, also has a GTX with a 440 in it, and he just recently found the original motor for it, so the 440 will be coming out when he has a reason to do it....and I might just be giving him that reason to take it out.  The 440 is virtually brand new, as he just rebuilt that one not long ago, and has not had it out, so there are basically no miles on it.  Take it out of the GTX, and slide it into The Colonel!!!!!!    I don't know all the ins and outs of how it is built, but he said it is built to run, and will burn the tires off the car if I so desire to!!!    He is going to give me a price, but basacilly, I was told that rebuilding the 383 with labor, machineing, and eveything, might not be much less then getting the 440.  So we'll see what he has tied up in the 440, so he can let me know!!!    

I also got a paint thickness gauge from him to make sure the car is worth redoing and not bondo bucket (HLPAG Special).  He works for Chrysler, so he can get these things anytime, and I'm glad I did it.  I took pics of all the panels on The Colonel, and wrote the readings down on the pics where I did the testing, and found out that The Colonel is extremely solid.  I knew there were a few bondo spots, but he was amzaed at how solid it was from the readings, saying (at least in our area) that is one of the best he has seen.  The guage tests the thickness of the paint to the metal, and the higher the mills on the reader, the more bondo you have also.  I am really excited now!!!!!!  I hope the price is right (pun intended) that the 440 works out!!!!   I'll let ya'll know when he gets back to me!!!

[Silver R/T]

good luck, make sure to post pics when you get it done