Is there a difference in 383 before and after 1968?

[Lenny B]

Hello Everyone,
While I've been keeping my eyes open for a doner big block car for the right price, 1968 to 1970 b-body, I came across Edelbrock's website and noticed that they specify their top end kit for the 383 is for 1968 to 1979 blocks. My question is: Are the pre 1968 383 engines different. I have been coming across a few 1965 383 short blocks for cheap but after reading Edelbrock's notes I'm not sure if there is a difference. Is there?

 

[Cranky]

Naw....not much but the 67 383's had closed chambered heads. Don't know what else but a 67 short block wouldn't be much different except for a different deck height on the pistons. Someone else might have specifics otherwise. Btw, 383's ended production around 72 and became 400's

 

[A383Wing]

lifters & pushrods are different

 

[Beekeeper]

lifters & pushrods are different

What's different about them?

 

[A383Wing]

length

 

[Beekeeper]

length

That's a new one on me. Sure thought all B series 383s were the same

 

[A383Wing]

I mixed early lifters with late pushrods, or was it the other way around, I ferget now....was so long ago, anyway, car would hardly start and barely run....had low to no compression in the cylinders......

 

[dieseldazzle]

They did have different lifters just never paid enough attention I think it was cup size

 

[BeatersRus]

depending on the year,even a 2 bbl 383 had some serious guts.
for example,i think? a 64 383 2bbl had like 310hp?

and then in 66 there was 2 versions thru 68

270 Horsepower........ V8-383 2 Barrel 4.25 x 3.375 383 9.2 270 @ 4400 390 @ 2800 45-65
325 Horsepower........ V8-383 4 Barrel 4.25 x 3.375 383 10 325 @ 4800 425 @ 2800 45-65

In 1968, the 383 Road Runner and Super Bee models were introduced, starting the biggest performance surge since the early 1960s; they were essentially created by taking the new head and camshaft designs and putting them into the 383.

they stuck the magnum 440 heads and cam in them.
now a days,id use the shortblock w/9-1 comp or better and just get new alum heads.
you can build a 400+ horse 383 using boltons.

 

[monaco66coupe]

The 906 head in 68' sent the engine in a different direction. But gas was 98 octane then. Nowdays with crap fuel one has to be Inventive. I am rebuilding my 383 in the 69'cuda, but Installed to the 9:2 pistons, and added the 67' 915 closed chambered heads.
I hope to have a peppy engine with the four speed. we will see!

 

[Richard Cranium]

I think it was cup size

Yes, I agree.

 

[69Coronetrt]

depending on the year,even a 2 bbl 383 had some serious guts.
for example,i think? a 64 383 2bbl had like 310hp?

and then in 66 there was 2 versions thru 68




they stuck the magnum 440 heads and cam in them.
now a days,id use the shortblock w/9-1 comp or better and just get new alum heads.
you can build a 400+ horse 383 using boltons.

In 1968, the 906 heads were the same for all RBs. What was different for the 335 horse 383 was the cam and associated valve springs from the 67 440 HP.

 

[BeatersRus]

right,but hes asking about 65 motors.
can you post some specs?
ik you are the guru and i had some issues finding any 1965 383 specs ie,Compression ratios .
i had a 64 383 w 10-1 flattops myself,and it was a 2bbl.

 

[69Coronetrt]

right,but hes asking about 65 motors.
can you post some specs?
ik you are the guru and i had some issues finding any 1965 383 specs ie,Compression ratios .
i had a 64 383 w 10-1 flattops myself, and it was a 2bbl.

The library at Hamtramck Historical has a lot of info: http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/library.shtml

 

[BeatersRus]

perfection !
and do you perchance have that same page for the 64 383?

 

[69Coronetrt]

perfection !
and do you perchance have that same page for the 64 383?

Again, there is a lot of good info on Hamtramck Historical: http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/dealerships/1964PlymouthDealershipDataBook-02.shtml

 

[Cranky]

The 906 head in 68' sent the engine in a different direction. But gas was 98 octane then. Nowdays with crap fuel one has to be Inventive. I am rebuilding my 383 in the 69'cuda, but Installed to the 9:2 pistons, and added the 67' 915 closed chambered heads.
I hope to have a peppy engine with the four speed. we will see!

I remember buying 101 in 69. Heck, the factory was still building cars with more than 10-1 compression....

 

[flyingfarley]

I seem to remember that the lifter end of the pushrods were different, and the lifters were made different where the pushrod went in.. ...should be able to just use later lifters and pushrods and be fine.

 

[BeatersRus]

maybe im asking this in the wrong way,so ill try to rephrase.
ive looked up the 64 engines and it lists Only the 330 hp one on that site you keep posting.
http://www.hamtramck-historical.com.../1964/64_Ply_Val_Engines_trans_specs_0005.jpg

now,in the f-stock drags,they ran 383-2bbls and 4bbls in the dodge darts.
i see No mention of these 2bbl engines anywheres.
could you possibly help me understand the diff ratings...?
at some point,last year? i had found a website that broke these down and even had the 1964 383-2bbl listed at 310 hp <<
i cannot find it now.

 

[69Coronetrt]

Do you mean an A or B body Dart? An A body Dart would not have a 383 until 67 and I don't recall an A body 383-2 bbl. The last year of the B body Dart would be 62. So there wouldn't be a 63-66 A body Dart with a 383.

A body 383s did have a different HP rating compared to a B or C body.

Configurations and what was available in what body did vary. For example, you may have been able to get a 383-2 in a C body but not a B body.