383 add more torque versus lose horsepower

[sext7366]

I talked to a local guy who has raced a few older mopars and suggested like many have pointed out that the 383 did not produce a whole lot of torque.  To counter this he suggested switching from my edelbrock single plane to either a stock dual plane or aftermarket one.  He also said my headers were ok but that the stock manifolds were ok.  I am running headers crrently, but honestly didn't notice a difference after putting them on.  The reason I'm looking for more is that afew years ago I had a 70 charger with the 383 high performance engine.  It was wicked fast for a basically stock car.  My new charger has: 770 holley single plane headers 230/236 cam and windage tray with a 2800 stall and 3.23's and seems equal in power with my old charger.  I am wondering if the single plane is overkill on a street engine even if the stall should help make up for it.  I had the same gears in my old charger as well and I know this upgrade would be beneficial, but... I guess to me it just seems like something is wrong either with the engine, or something else??? Maybe I'm just crazy!!! This has been killing me because after a rebuild and added performance parts it still isn't fast.  Maybe I should just save up and buy a supercharger and 3.91 gears.....hhhmmmmm Any ideas should I look for more torque or not.  To me just changing the gears is good but like I said I feel like I should have more power???
I know I posted something similar but was curious if this seems right for a 383 or not?

[dodge freak]

That comb sounds ok not sure what type of single plane manifold you have some are for 3000 - 7000 rpm's if thats the type you have now then a manifold swap makes sense. If its for 1500 - 6000 rpm's I myself would leave it alone, unless you really like those 3.23 gears. If you don't drive much on the freeway get the 3.91 gears it make a big difference. 3.55 works better on the freeways cursing 80 mph. I have 3.91's and it goes pass 100 mph but its at 5000 rpm's +. 5 years ago I threw a rod but its been ok since the rebuilt. As long as your valve springs are good you CAN drive all day on the freeways with a  3.91 gear but  your gas milage will stink and you have a better chance of breaking something in the motor. The motor will love those gears and it will rev. much faster and get in to the power band.

If I had to do it all over again I would still get the 3.91 gears even with this $3 gas its makes everthing much easier. Your motor makes great power but after 4000 rpm's if you want to lower your power peak then swap a duel plane manifold but that cam is a little too big for a duel plane IMO.

[Plumcrazy]

I would switch to a dual plane intake with a carb in the 600 cfm range.

[deputycrawford]

I have a 383 in a 69 Charger. I use a 4.10 gear but 28 inch tall tires. I also have 9.35 to 1 compression and a .575 lift solid cam in the car. I use a 9 1/2 inch 3500 rpm stall converter for the combo. What i'm getting to;  I use the Edelbrock Performer RPM dual plane intake on my somewhat wild street engine. The standard Edelbrock performer intake will kill power. You might try the RPM intake and hang on. Great low end for a 383 and it revs to the moon. I have my rev limiter at 6800 rpms. A dual plane will do you well. A couple of guys here will give you another optional dual plane intake. I think its the Street Dominator but don't quote me on that.  Deffinately, get that single plane intake off that car.

[deputycrawford]

I have a 383 in a 69 Charger. I use a 4.10 gear but 28 inch tall tires. I also have 9.35 to 1 compression and a .575 lift solid cam in the car. I use a 9 1/2 inch 3500 rpm stall converter for the combo. What i'm getting to;  I use the Edelbrock Performer RPM dual plane intake on my somewhat wild street engine. The standard Edelbrock performer intake will kill power. You might try the RPM intake and hang on. Great low end for a 383 and it revs to the moon. I have my rev limiter at 6800 rpms. A dual plane will do you well. A couple of guys here will give you another optional dual plane intake. I think its the Street Dominator but don't quote me on that.  Deffinately, get that single plane intake off that car.

[firefighter3931]

It sounds like you need to do some tuning on that engine. Where is the timing set at ? How much static compression does the engine have ? When the cam was installed was it degreed in ? If so, what was the installed centerline ?

The 383's aren't known for huge bottom end power but they make "descent" torque. I'll agree with the others that you should swap to a dual plane manifold. The performer rpm is the obvious choice along with some deeper gears. For example ; a 3.23 ratio will be reduced to a 2.99 if you are using a 28in tall tire (275/60/15).

Ron

[Chryco Psycho]

which single plane do you have now ,single planes offer a lot of different rpm ranges , a small single plane like the Hollet Street dom is a good intake & not wroth replacing , but a big single like a Team G would be a bad choice 
I would do some tuning first
the 770 is about right for a 383 I would keep that

[sext7366]

Manifold is the edelbrock torker 383 which is supposed to be good from 2500-6500 rpm the only thing as faras tuning could be timing because the vacuum advance house connecting will hit one of the heater hoses when turning the distributor, so this is the farthest I can move it.  It does however run good at this point no detonation etc.  Other than this..I do have the 28 inch tires which is killing my rear end gear...but thats it.  Oh timing is at 15 degrees cam was installed at 110 degrees.

[dodge freak]

Did you check if the throttle is opening all the way when you floor it ? Have somebody floor it with the motor off and make sure its open all the way.

I would go for a gear change first - sure its not as cheap as a intake swap but I bet it do much more good, even the 3.55 would help does not seem like much but it does make a difference

Did you change the carb jets ? Those carbs don't come perfectly jetted to your motor..

[firefighter3931]

Manifold is the edelbrock torker 383 which is supposed to be good from 2500-6500 rpm the only thing as faras tuning could be timing because the vacuum advance house connecting will hit one of the heater hoses when turning the distributor, so this is the farthest I can move it.  It does however run good at this point no detonation etc.  Other than this..I do have the 28 inch tires which is killing my rear end gear...but thats it.  Oh timing is at 15 degrees cam was installed at 110 degrees.

The torker is a descent manifold....i would keep it and add a 1in 4 hole spacer under the carb. The tall tire with 3.23's is killing the acceleration....you need deeper gears for sure. The other comment i'll make is on the cam degreeing. If you installed it a 110* it will be sluggish down low. That cam should be installed on a 106* intake centerline. 


Ron