Do i have a 383dr RB?

['67 Belvy II]

I just bought a '67 Plymouth Belvedere II 4 door with a 383 2 brl and was under it draining the coolant (if u want to call it that) from the block and I noticed the oil pan rail was flat across the front of the engine. I was under the impression only RB engines had this trait and that a 383 B engine did not. I've heard of a 383 RB but would like to know for sure what I have. Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[MarPar]

I just bought a '67 Plymouth Belvedere II 4 door with a 383 2 brl and was under it draining the coolant (if u want to call it that) from the block and I noticed the oil pan rail was flat across the front of the engine. I was under the impression only RB engines had this trait and that a 383 B engine did not. I've heard of a 383 RB but would like to know for sure what I have. Thanks in advance for any info.

Howdy!

i have a 440 and it is straight across in the front, not too sure bout the 383's. if memory serves, i dont think there was a 383 RB motor. RB stands for raised block, where there's more meat on the top of the block and heads. easy way to tell if you have an RB, look behind the water pump neck for a square chunk of steel. see it next to the distributor hold down?

pics...

 

[detmatt1]

MarPar is correct, the 383 was always a B engine along with the 361 and the 400. The bottom end of the B engine is the same configuration as the RB, for example they shared the same oil pan.

 

[72 Charger SE]

There was a 383 RB, but it was only built for a couple of years, something like 1958 or 1959 through 1960. It was never put into a B body though, since it pre-dates them.

That being said, odds are it's not a 383 RB. You would have to check casting numbers and such to be sure.

 

[6t4polara]

2120329 383 rb 1959-60

 

[Meep-Meep]

a 383 RB is a relic of history and is dimensionally the same as a 440. It will also have the 440 ID pad like in Mar's pic above. All the lower end features for B and RB are the same.

 

['67 Belvy II]

Thanks

Thanks guys. I think I'm confusing y block with b and rb block. For some reason I didn't think b engines were y blocks, had flat oil pan rails. Anyway I think I've got it figured out. Thanks again.

 

[Cranky]

And the RB 383 was available only in the US built Chrysler Windsor and Saratoga....but doesn't mean someone didn't drop it in a different car. Like already mentioned, the RB engines are easy to identify. And what to you mean when you say y block? That's a Ford term....

 

[Meep-Meep]

Thanks guys. I think I'm confusing y block with b and rb block. For some reason I didn't think b engines were y blocks, had flat oil pan rails. Anyway I think I've got it figured out. Thanks again.

Technically you can call the B - RB a Y block, which is Ford speak for the pan rail being below the crank center line. The block as viewed straight on looks like a Y.

 

[oldbee]

Y-Block

My dad had a '59 Fairlane---292's,312's??? are y-blocks..LOL..Weird looking carbs on those.

 

[Cranky]

Technically you can call the B - RB a Y block, which is Ford speak for the pan rail being below the crank center line. The block as viewed straight on looks like a Y.

Yup, technically, but have heard so few refer to a Mopar as a Y block. I think Chrysler tried to avoid their engine being even loosely related to the Ford Y block when the 'deep skirt' Mopar came out many years later because of the bad reputation with oiling problems Ford had early on. Fords lousy oil galley design is a well known flaw with the Ford followers....

 

['67 Belvy II]

Man there's really no end to what you can learn on this site. Thanks for setting me straight guys really appreciate the input and Im not being smart, obviously. Lord keep me green so I can grow