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1971 Roadrunner with factory 383 looking for upgrade advice

brian casto

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Greetings from someone new to the car craze. I recently bought a 1971 roadrunner and absolutely love the car. I am looking to have a few upgrades made to the engine, which is a factory stock 383. I am think about a new cam and headers to start and then maybe a new carburetor. Does anyone have a recommendation on any of these? I am trying to learn but as I watch the multitude of online videos I feel like I'm drinking from a firehose. Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Brian
 
Greetings from someone new to the car craze. I recently bought a 1971 roadrunner and absolutely love the car. I am looking to have a few upgrades made to the engine, which is a factory stock 383. I am think about a new cam and headers to start and then maybe a new carburetor. Does anyone have a recommendation on any of these? I am trying to learn but as I watch the multitude of online videos I feel like I'm drinking from a firehose. Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Brian
First question, what is your budget?
Second, what are your (realistic) goals?

Speed's expensive, how fast do you wanna go?
 
Well, if the car is original, then DEFINITELY mark & keep all the original parts. I would suggest headers, a dual plane aluminum intake manifold (check vs. hood clearance since they are usually taller than stock) and a high-flow air filter first while keeping the stock carburetor. Next, I'd probably add electronic ignition and see where you're at.

Assuming the engine is low mileage (say 50,000 or less) a cam is a good idea, but keep in mind you'll need a new timing chain, valve springs, lifters & maybe rocker arms and pushrods too depending on the cam. Honestly, you might be best off doing the "bolt on" stuff I listed above & then build an entirely new motor for the "hot rod upgrade". I like taking that approach myself with cars because you can pull out/replace an entire engine in a few days and still have a complete "backup engine" (the one you pull out that's still complete). If you rebuild the one that's in there, plan on at least a month or two extra time with the car not running while you wait for machine work to get done & parts to come in, etc. This approach is also a good idea if the engine in the car now is the original engine.
 
How about pictures? Will you drive the car more than 100 miles a year?
 
How about pictures? Will you drive the car more than 100 miles a year?
Excellent question, if you're going a 1/4 mile at a time. Well the budget is the only parameter to consider. But if you are going to drive it every nice weekend you can, that's a whole new can of worms.
 
Wow, thanks for the feedback. I didn’t know what to expect with my post but am encouraged. My 71 roadrunner was born with a 340, but the original owner changed it out with a ‘71 383. I’m not looking to race or run it hard often, rather a weekend driver, local shows etc. I need to do some work to the interior and am currently dealing with some rust on the frame so I’m not looking to put a huge amount in the engine as I it has other needs. That said I can see putting about $2000 to improve the engine. I attached a few pictures to this post.
Thanks again to everyone!

1B6430EB-7DDB-495D-B8B1-2BDB8FEF43B6.jpeg F94FC37E-B285-4F7B-A063-A2D4924E3E8D.jpeg 926D8AEB-3C47-43AC-B4AF-7EC1A87D95B4.jpeg
 
Had a '71 383 Air Grabber with a 4-speed. Loved the car.
 
Will you be doing your own mechanical work, or paying a shop to do it?
Makes a big difference on how far $2000 will go.
 
[QUOTE="PRHeads, post: 911303078, member:

I suppose it depends on the improvement, I want to learn how to work on the car but I don’t want to get over my head. I would take on a tru bolt on project or something that I could find thorough instructions or video on line. I wouldn’t do a cam project at this point with my limited knowledge and experience.
 
Drive it and enjoy it. Find out how it does in the summer heat and take it from there. Does it have ac? Aftermarket ac makes a pleasant ride. Lots of choices. Vintage, Classic and others.
 
Nice car,
I have a 72
The compression isn`t real high on a 71 383 even on the 383hp, they are advertised at 8.5. They were likely much,much less. We have a 71 383hp it had a 284/484 mopar performance cam, stock hp valve springs. We had the original 346 heads shaved a bunch from 90 cc's down to 73cc and raised the compression a little above 9:1. It had edelbrock performer and headman headers. The performer intake is lighter but not much of a performance upgrade. It would have loved a 2500 to 3000 stall. It did pull hard to 6000. You might want to take a compression check before you bolt on parts.
 
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good post Curious
Do a compression check and post back
easy to overcam a street 383 so unless you just want to impress on sat night BVVC
383 is a good package
"The performer intake is lighter but not much of a performance upgrade" This
If you like the sound of headers that's the first thing - me I like my stereo and just run headers on race cars get good ones with thick flanges
what carb now most carb upgrades only help on the very top end and after headers
you can put a vacuum gauge on and see how much you are pulling when revved up in first or second going up a steep hill
I put a 426 crank and rods in a 383 4 speed superbird made to look factory stock, ported heads $$$ ( and yes you could order just about anything back then)
convertible with air- no problem if your dealer wanted to claim it was for a car show.
 
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