383 or 440

[coronet66]

Need advice! Have a 66 coronet stock 383 4spd it's not nom but it's a 70hp 383. Is this motor worth building(500 hp) or should I step up to a 440?

 

[1badgtx]

There are advantages to both...The 383 is a low deck motor...Shorter stroke..Shorter the stroke the quicker it winds up..The 440 will make a good builder too...With the longer stroke it tends to come on at the end of the track...I,m gona pull my 440 and build a low deck 400 for a stroker motor..
Petty Blue 67 gTx

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

I have a stroker 440 now swapped out the stock 383 for it. puts out monstrous amounts of torque, the 383 spun the tires real good too and it had high miles on it and leaked oil lol. You really have to ask your self what you want and think it through well, what kind of driving etc do you want a tire smoker that just slides all over the place like mine or do you want a driver....So many options so many choices but only you know what you want. Be careful in deciding the more power the more $$ I spent 6-7k just on the motor and probably am not done yet. Good luck

 

[Meep-Meep]

I'm a big 383 fan, but as the saying goes, the only substitute for cubic inches is more cubic inches. To get 500 HP out of a 383 you will have to wind it pretty tight, which it can easily take with some very basic mods. The cam required for the high RPM performance will also require a hefty compression increase and today's pump fuel can't support that. I'd go 440 or put a 440 crank in the 383 and make a low block 426.

 

[70rr-brian]

Everyone has pretty much covered it here but I will throw in my 2 cents.

I have a 496 stroker that runs 555hp and 620tq. This is a 383 block with a eddy dual plane intake to keep it close to the original engine height. A 440 will be about 1.5 inches higher in the engine compartment at the very least assuming you go with a dual plane style intake. If you try to run something like an eddy performer rpm depending on your carb/linkage/choke finding an air cleaner drop pan sufficient to offset the height increase you could find yourself looking for a new hood.

Also, as an aside. My engine builder kinda laughed when I talked to him afterwards about some other stuff and said yeah...I don't think I will be offering a 496 anymore. The amount of machining required to cram all that inside was just a royal pain in the a$$.

But I really like the power this little 383 wolf in sheeps clothing puts out.

 

[Cranky]

If I were going to make a change, I'd go with a 400 block...even if I wasn't going to stroke it. Larger diameter cylinders help unshroud the valves for one thing plus it's a stronger block around the main webs. Also, the low decks have more stable cylinders over the RB's just because they are shorter. And it's pretty easy these days to get 1.5 hp per cubic inch out of an engine....

 

[robinsonwr]

I am kind of in the same boat. I have a 66 Satellite 361/727 car that is all original. Intsead of building the orginal motor I am building a 440/512 to and later will do stock rebuild on the 361. I wanted a 400 to stay with a B block. The 440 deal came by and I could not pass it up. I bought a running 440/727 for $400.00. I just bought the Eagle 4340 stroker kit with 7.1 rods, SRP 2618 pistons, rod and main bearings, and Perfect Circle file fit rings for $1300.00 off of Ebay. My Stealth heads just came in and I am waiting for the Comp XR286HR to come in. Man I cannot wait to sleep this thing on the street!

 

[coronet66]

I'm not worried about hood fitment as these came with the hemi and fit under the stock hood. I don't know to much about engines, I was just wondering if the 383 can handle 500 HP. Is the 400 block a bored 383 or different block? Appreciate all the info, this is a knowledgable group!

 

[OG max wedge]

I am new to the 383 game, i've got 426 and 440 in my other cars but this Dick Landy (dli) built 383 has no problem smoking the tires on my 1964 Porala even with the 2.93:1 ratio rear end!

 

[coronet66]

Is the DLI stroked? What comp ratio? What heads? Do u know hp it makes? I know alot of questions

 

[Cranky]

I'm not worried about hood fitment as these came with the hemi and fit under the stock hood. I don't know to much about engines, I was just wondering if the 383 can handle 500 HP. Is the 400 block a bored 383 or different block? Appreciate all the info, this is a knowledgable group!

The 400 is based on the 383....same outside dimensions but the internal casting is different. Reread post #6. The bore of a 400 is .040 over the 440's bore and to get that using a 383, you'd have to punch it out .110"! So the answer to your question is a big NO....:blob1:

 

[OG max wedge]

Is the DLI stroked? What comp ratio? What heads? Do u know hp it makes? I know alot of questions

it's a mistery motor, came with the car but it does haul ***... worth every penny of the 70 camaro i traded for it!

 

[coronet66]

The 400 is based on the 383....same outside dimensions but the internal casting is different. Reread post #6. The bore of a 400 is .040 over the 440's bore and to get that using a 383, you'd have to punch it out .110"! So the answer to your question is a big NO....:blob1:

Thanks for the info.