Turning a 383 into a real hemi?

[jayzee]

My 59 Desoto has the 383 B block. Which hemi heads would work for it a 50s hemi or the 60s hemi heads?

 

[Bb70charger500]

We love new members here and someone might Know but you might get more help at thehamb.com they do 64 and older only cars .
Butttt someone here might Know

 

[IQ52]

This one will be fun to watch.

 

[Fran Blacker]

My 59 Desoto has the 383 B block. Which hemi heads would work for it a 50s hemi or the 60s hemi heads?

Is the 383 a 59 383? If so could be a RB383. But why unless you stroke it.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

I don't think they are a bolt on deal.You would need a hemi block,,,,,,,,I think.I'm a 2nd gen guy so I'm not sure.

 

[jayzee]

I checked it is a B block not a RB. From what I heard the RB 383 was used in Chryslers when they ran out of B block 383s in 59-60. Its not a big deal if hemi heads don't fit. I am looking at getting 400-450 hp with basic simple upgrades. I figured stock hemi heads would be a cheap and easy way to help it breathe. I am looking at KB hyper pistons, Edelbrock dual plane intake, a 850 cfm quadrajet (for drivability and fuel economy), better cast exhaust manifolds, better factory iron heads that won't need ported with larger valves maybe.

 

[YY1]

what the OP wants is not going to happen

doesn't work like that

there were after market bolt on Hemi heads for B/RB blocks available during the late 1980's

but they are very hard to find

 

[Fran Blacker]

There was/is a kit to put Hemi heads on a wedge. https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-0809-building-hemi-for-less/

 

[jayzee]

Are there bolt on heads that flow better then the 59 heads? I might go with stealth heads, but would rather go with unported iron heads if they can get me to the 450 mark

 

[andyf]

My 59 Desoto has the 383 B block. Which hemi heads would work for it a 50s hemi or the 60s hemi heads?

None of them, it doesn't work that way. You can't just mix and match parts at random.

 

[jayzee]

I know that. I am just not familiar with mopars. I have built several Buick v8s with great success, but took a while to carefully decide my combos. What heads do interchange with the B block 383?

None of them, it doesn't work that way. You can't just mix and match parts at random.

 

[moparsaver]

I am just not familiar with mopars.

 

[jayzee]

I only buy Buicks, but I always wanted a Desoto. This 59 was perfect timing and price. I always had a soft spot for Mopars because of their strong ties with the Buick Motorcar Company. I love my Desoto so much I am buying another 59 Firedome lol

 

[Fran Blacker]

I only buy Buicks, but I always wanted a Desoto. This 59 was perfect timing and price. I always had a soft spot for Mopars because of their strong ties with the Buick Motorcar Company. I love my Desoto so much I am buying another 59 Firedome lol

Some pictures would be nice. Why not find an early Hemi it doesn't need to be a 392. For performance part Hot Heads.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Hemi heads are wider than the 383 BB block. There were companies that use to adapt them but the process was not cheap, the heads were of the 426 version.
What you are trying to accomplish is not impossible. The on cheap will be the impossible part. Head work and getting everything to flow correctly will be the biggest expense.

 

[493 Mike]

If you are willing to spend the money to do a hemi conversion why not pop for Edelbrock RPMs or Trick Flow 240s. Either will get you to your HP goal.
Mike

 

[70chall440]

I have a 56 Desoto 330 ci Hemi in my 52 Dodge B3B pickup. I got the Hemi for $250 and then got a quick education on Gen I Hemi's. First off, Pretty much anything before 57-58 does not interchange with anything else; what I mean is that the Desoto Hemi's do not interchange with the Dodge or Chrysler Hemis; same thing between those 2. In 57/58 Chrysler standardized the hemi line. Having said all that, there are some parts commonality between the first Gen hemis and small block Mopars, specifically like the distributor (I am running a SB Electronic ignition on mine). In other words, gen I hemis share more in common with small block Mopars than they do with the big blocks.

You really should check out HAMB.com, also look at what Hotheads.com sells. You are going to find that parts for these motors are not all that easy to come by. No one makes a cam for any of the first gen stuff except the 392; you have to have a core which gets welded up and recut. If you really want to enjoy the car and are not hemi fixated, you are much better off putting in a more modern engine. If you want to stay relatively "old school", then drop a newer 383 or 440 in it; if you don't care all that much about being old school, drop in a 5.7 hemi with modern trans and enjoy it; or go to a junk yard, find a 5.9 (360) and trans and transplant that; you get a roller motor, relatively simple EFI, lots of available parts, serpentine system, etc.

 

[jayzee]

The 383 B block was used up until like 1971. The only difference by what ive read is the crank size is a little different before 1962. Does that mean any 60s dodge 383 parts (aftermarket heads, etc) will work in a 59 383 being its the same engine basically?

 

[mopar 3 B]

The early 383's did not have side mounts like the later 60's versions. Head design changed some time around 63. The 4 bolt covers and rocker stands disappeared. Other than that parts should interchange with the BB's. The RB 383 has more in common with the 413 of the time.

 

[jayzee]

So swapping heads from like a 68 will work? I don't plan on using the stock 2 barrel intake or exhaust manifolds anyways so if there is fitment issues there its not a problem. I am seeing what will and wont work for it. I am thinking about a aftermarket dual plane spreadbore intake, later (65-70) or aftermarket heads, of the shelf mild cam, later cast manifolds or shorty headers. I just don't want to find out that some odd design changed and the newer parts wont work.