nativefx
Active Member
I have a 68 Dodge charger with a 383/727 non-numbers matching. I lost oil pressure a few weeks ago and am still waiting to get it looked at and hoping I don't have to rebuild. I already had plans when I bought the car to build another pro-touring/restomod, but I had hoped to drive with the 383/727 while my first project got completed (69 Firebird project, 550hp forged LS3, T56 Mag, air-ride, etc.)
If the 383 has to be torn down, I don't know if I want to spend the money to rebuild as I probably couldn't recoup a majority of it when I sell it off. Since I want to be able to drive the charger while finishing the firebird, I'm starting to look at my options sooner rather than later. I want something mainly street driven, dependable for longer drives, obviously hp/torq to be fun when I want, and I'm hoping to at least get somewhere around 20 mpg so I can actually take the car on longer trips and not worrying to much about distance to next gas station. Most likely I will put a 6spd in the car to help with this.
These cars are nose heavy, so if I don't go the Hellcrate route, I'm really interested in the MP aluminum blocks/Indy Maxx blocks to save weight as I heard it could be substantial. My question for these is, what are the significant pros/cons when considering a stroked 400 or 440 old school aluminum build, compared to looking at the Gen III aluminum block as a base? Both options would be fuel injected and I might look to keep the engine looking like more of an old school motor. From some of the research I've done it looks like I can easily get around 600 hp/500 tq NA out of either option. Does the Gen III offer enough positives given it would be newer style/technology to help with what I'm after? Reliability, street-ability, decent mpg etc? Obviously the suspension, body stiffening and other things will be addressed as I tear into this, but I'd like to hear thoughts about engine choices (including the Hellcrate), which would then probably help to iron out these other choices.
Only have a couple pics of the charger:
If the 383 has to be torn down, I don't know if I want to spend the money to rebuild as I probably couldn't recoup a majority of it when I sell it off. Since I want to be able to drive the charger while finishing the firebird, I'm starting to look at my options sooner rather than later. I want something mainly street driven, dependable for longer drives, obviously hp/torq to be fun when I want, and I'm hoping to at least get somewhere around 20 mpg so I can actually take the car on longer trips and not worrying to much about distance to next gas station. Most likely I will put a 6spd in the car to help with this.
These cars are nose heavy, so if I don't go the Hellcrate route, I'm really interested in the MP aluminum blocks/Indy Maxx blocks to save weight as I heard it could be substantial. My question for these is, what are the significant pros/cons when considering a stroked 400 or 440 old school aluminum build, compared to looking at the Gen III aluminum block as a base? Both options would be fuel injected and I might look to keep the engine looking like more of an old school motor. From some of the research I've done it looks like I can easily get around 600 hp/500 tq NA out of either option. Does the Gen III offer enough positives given it would be newer style/technology to help with what I'm after? Reliability, street-ability, decent mpg etc? Obviously the suspension, body stiffening and other things will be addressed as I tear into this, but I'd like to hear thoughts about engine choices (including the Hellcrate), which would then probably help to iron out these other choices.
Only have a couple pics of the charger: