Tunnel Ram on a 383

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I have a single thermoquad tunnel ram 400 going together for one of my Darts. Gonna have a 4 speed and Dana 60 behind it. Still looking at head and cam options.
 

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carbs are like women, getting one to do just what you want is hard, getting two to do what you want,..... is much harder but the joy and excitement of it will make you the envy of many...

I run twin 650s (tunnel ram) on a SBC and the WOW factor is through the roof...

(junk yard motor, stock heads, pistions and rockers)

It is a COLD blooded ***** tho, make sure you warm it up at a decent RPM or you can foul plugs fast..
 
carbs are like women, getting one to do just what you want is hard, getting two to do what you want,..... is much harder but the joy and excitement of it will make you the envy of many...

LMAO! Touche'! That was good!
 
I know that the 383 tunnel Rams aren't produced anymore, but there are enough out here to be had. I visit Carlisle a few times a year. Hopefully I can find one complete with carbs and all. I am really glad that their is a lot of interest in this post. I want to do as much research as I can to be the combination right. I would hate to put it together and than be disappointed. Now the questions:

Will I be ok with the stock heads and rockers? I will get them ported and have a valve job done on them of course.

How much should I bore it? Or do I even need to?

What about the Pistons and rods? Can I get away with stock and the right cam change?

Would headers make a huge difference over the HP manifolds? I don't want to spend the money for under chassis BB headers if I don't have to.

This is not going to be a strip car by any means. I just want a cool looking street car that has some balls, because let's face it, something sticking out of the hood always looks neat :)

Your iron heads will be totally adequate for your 383. If you have the closed chamber heads I would use them.
 
Headers would make a big power difference, I definately would use them.
 
Good luck with your Tunnel Ram
There is a reason they have long runners- high rpm 3000 -8000+

Last time I ran one was in 1982 in my F/MP 1966 Chevelle
301 ci 680 lift 290 duration @ 50 roller cam, 14 to 1 compression , hemi 4 speed pro shifted with 6.17 gears -tunnel ram with 2 800 cfm holleys

Have had few race cars since and still do

Geebus way to muddy the waters!!!!!!!

There is a HUGE difference between a 301 CI engine in a chevelle and a 383 in an A body. That is just for starters.

Long runners are for LOW RPM not high rpm. Bigger plenums are for LOW RPM.

If you want to spin the piss out of , short runners and a small plenums.


A 383, WITH THE CORRECT CAM, will love a TR and TWO 750's. Been doing this stuff for decades. There are three ways to kill a TR.

1) Wrong manifold. See above.
2) Wrong cam. You need a cam sped'd for a TR
3) Small carbs. You need to think this through. I have seen many guys use 450 or 600 cfm Holleys and they are pigs. That's why a single 4 will beat them.

Get the correct intake and cam.
 
Two 750s with no converter and highway gears on a 383? Two 600 CFM carters on a 440 ran fantastic for me with very little adjustment with a purple shaft cam. Use the 2 x 4 top and adapt it to a pair of 4412 2bbls! Better fuel distribution and great throttle response!
 
Dart Swinger Sedan 2 Dr Hdtp with 330 HP 383 Cu In Engine
Shipping Weight: 3194 lbs Wheelbase: 111"

1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Coupe 2 Dr with 275 HP 327 Cu In Engine
Shipping Weight: 3125 lbs Wheelbase: 115"

Not much difference
 
The 4.25 bore and 3.38 stroke give the 383 lots of potential.... Turn down a 440 cranks mains and make it a 426!
 
I also have the option of a stock '69 375 horse 440. We have one of them in stock too :). I could put a tunnel ram on the too, instead of a 383. I haven't decided the best route. What would happen if I put a tunnel ram on a bone stock 440 as mentioned above?
 
I also have the option of a stock '69 375 horse 440. We have one of them in stock too :). I could put a tunnel ram on the too, instead of a 383. I haven't decided the best route. What would happen if I put a tunnel ram on a bone stock 440 as mentioned above?

Then use two 650's if you are not comfortable with carbs that big. I never use ANY air valve secondary type carb ever. I did when I was younger. I have learned since then.

The biggest issue is the correct cam. And, don't forget, you need carbs that are calibrated for a TR. By someone who knows what emulsion and air bleed correction does.
 
Dart Swinger Sedan 2 Dr Hdtp with 330 HP 383 Cu In Engine
Shipping Weight: 3194 lbs Wheelbase: 111"

1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Coupe 2 Dr with 275 HP 327 Cu In Engine
Shipping Weight: 3125 lbs Wheelbase: 115"

Not much difference

Bore to stroke ratio, rod to stroke ratio, and intended purpose.


Big difference.
 
I'm starting to plan out my next Mopar project and I wanted to see if I could get some insight and opinions. I'm looking for a Demon to build, and since I already have a small block (340) Duster, I was thinking about putting a 383 in a Demon. I have always wanted to building a car with a tunnel ram, so I'm thinking maybe now is the time to do it. I don't know much about tunnel rams, like is one brand better than the next? What kind of build to I need to do in order to support a tunnel ram? I have heard they can be difficult to tune for the street, but I have no idea how true that it. How do I determine what size carbs I need? I'm not looking to building something totally radical, but not leave it stock either. I have a stock '68 383, 727 with 70K miles on it. It was originally a 2 bbl, but is now a stock 4bbl.

What is a good combo to go with for a tunnel ram? Any information or suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!
I know that the 383 tunnel Rams aren't produced anymore, but there are enough out here to be had. I visit Carlisle a few times a year. Hopefully I can find one complete with carbs and all. I am really glad that their is a lot of interest in this post. I want to do as much research as I can to be the combination right. I would hate to put it together and than be disappointed. Now the questions:

Will I be ok with the stock heads and rockers? I will get them ported and have a valve job done on them of course.

How much should I bore it? Or do I even need to?

What about the Pistons and rods? Can I get away with stock and the right cam change?

Would headers make a huge difference over the HP manifolds? I don't want to spend the money for under chassis BB headers if I don't have to.

This is not going to be a strip car by any means. I just want a cool looking street car that has some balls, because let's face it, something sticking out of the hood always looks neat :)
I know that the 383 tunnel Rams aren't produced anymore, but there are enough out here to be had. I visit Carlisle a few times a year. Hopefully I can find one complete with carbs and all. I am really glad that their is a lot of interest in this post. I want to do as much research as I can to be the combination right. I would hate to put it together and than be disappointed. Now the questions:

Will I be ok with the stock heads and rockers? I will get them ported and have a valve job done on them of course.

How much should I bore it? Or do I even need to?

What about the Pistons and rods? Can I get away with stock and the right cam change?

Would headers make a huge difference over the HP manifolds? I don't want to spend the money for under chassis BB headers if I don't have to.

This is not going to be a strip car by any means. I just want a cool looking street car that has some balls, because let's face it, something sticking out of the hood always looks neat :)
 
You dont need much for a mild set up, but i would recommend a single quad for easy tuning, minimum of 10-1 compression and a cam equal to a purpleshaft 474 hemi grind, that cam sounds really nice, your 383 doesnt have enough compression being a 2 bbl motor, i have a 383 tunnel and other parts if you need.
 
Use 600 cfm with vacuum secondaries. Use 2 carbs, not one, flow is better. They arent that hard to tune. Get a WB and ask questions.
 
Go with a Weiand 1986 tunnel ram.
I have an early production one (no Weiand logo on the base) on my 12-1 383.
It has a single quad top, I'm doing that because I'm going to run a E85 Dominator.
Here's a mockup with a 750dp:
KIMG0702.JPG


KIMG0640.JPG
 
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