Seth Jones
Well-Known Member
My first mopar was a 72 swinger with a 440 in 1990. Wish I would have put a 360 in it all those years ago just from an easier to work on stand point.
360-383 A-debate...max builds need not apply.
- Thread starter pishta
- Start date
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.210" That's the difference in the bore sizes. Nuff said.
good point. probably no reason at all.
Seth Jones
Well-Known Member
They did a series of hop ups on it after base lining it. I don’t remember any magazine test on a 383 road runner that broke in the 14’s. Not saying it doesnt exist, just can’t recall one. My dads 68 RR is what got me hooked on mopars.
I personally raced a stock 383 commando in a '68 Fury III, 4 dr hrdtp. automatic, PS, PB, 3.23 gears. Stock manifolds, intake, exhaust, you get the point. I ran a 15.19 at 4400 lbs at the starting line. I'm sure if the motor had been in a low option, lighter RR with 3.55's mid to lower 14's would have been on tap.
- By the way, does anyone think I could have pulled the 383 and swapped in a 100% stock 360 4bbl from a Cordoba and gone faster (or as fast??)???
Unconventional
Well-Known Member
Personally, I like the way a 4"x3.25" motor runs.
340 is pretty darn close to that.
4.25"x3.38" is almost the same bore to stroke ratio plus 12% more total displacement.
340 is pretty darn close to that.
4.25"x3.38" is almost the same bore to stroke ratio plus 12% more total displacement.
Seth Jones
Well-Known Member
I currently personally run a 74 360 duster with zero tricks that has gone 13.7’s@100. 3550 race weight 3.55’s 215/70 14 radial tires.
Seth Jones
Well-Known Member
Does anybody run a 383 68-70 b body in stock eliminator?
LOL.. well, there is something to it I'm sure. factory stall? factory exhaust? zero tricks to me means how it left the factory... I ran 13.9's with 2.45 gears and stock converter and exhaust manifolds with my 360. But, I did have a eddy intake w/750 dp and a cam that was "360 4bbl replacement". Went to 2.94's and headers it went 13.3's
pishta
I know I'm right....
well, I'm sorta branching out to the LA platform as a whole in an A. I mention the 340 heads on a 360 because its a popular upgrade, but the high winding 340's made up for what the 360 had down lower in their increased stroke. the 360 just fit better with the cost factor as 340's are 3X what a 360 will sell for. Most 383's youll run across for sale are probably out of grandmas Polara with the 2bbl still on it. As well as the camper special 360's that come up on Craigs.....
well, if your just looking for a good mule motor that fits nicely, the 360 is hard to beat. And if I have to run "grandma's 383 2bbl" from a Monaco sunk in the weeds then I think most would grab a 360 with X heads... LOL.
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Even using both engines stone stock most powerful offered versions, the 383 wins hands down.
Seth Jones
Well-Known Member
Man if you put 3.55’s in it you’d be in the 11’s.
Probably a few more tricks than just 3.55's to hit 11's. Since what I've posted above, I've replaced the stock 360 cast heads with the Speedmaster heads from the "big sale"... LOL. It dropped it to a 13.13, but I used all the factory rocker/pushrods and still the small cam. The heads want more cam for sure. Changes coming to the car this year, so hopefully it won't make another 13 second pass... LOL
- Question is, would it be faster with a 383 built the same? Stock commando short block with headers and aluminum heads. I'd think so
Seth Jones
Well-Known Member
I agree it would faster but I don’t think it would be worth the headaches that come with big block a bodies.
pishta
I know I'm right....
someone should do a build off:
craigslist 383 block-untouched 906/915 heads stock 4bbl intake,750 Holley, MP 284/484 P4120235 "Roadrunner" cam. A body headers
Craigslist 360 block-untouched 915 1.88 or 2.02 heads, 340/360 iron intake, 750 Holley, MP 284/484 P4120231 cam, A body headers.
Same trans+convertor rating, same rear end...etc.
points awarded for total cost outlay, HP, and ET.
Even an internet build with prices found online (quote your sources) and then a desktop dyno shootout with specs. Maybe another thread.....
craigslist 383 block-untouched 906/915 heads stock 4bbl intake,750 Holley, MP 284/484 P4120235 "Roadrunner" cam. A body headers
Craigslist 360 block-untouched 915 1.88 or 2.02 heads, 340/360 iron intake, 750 Holley, MP 284/484 P4120231 cam, A body headers.
Same trans+convertor rating, same rear end...etc.
points awarded for total cost outlay, HP, and ET.
Even an internet build with prices found online (quote your sources) and then a desktop dyno shootout with specs. Maybe another thread.....
sccachallenger
Well-Known Member
OK, yes 70-71 R/T Challenger also had the 383 HP engine as standard.
And does anyone remember a Larry Shepard article about circle track engines.
He compared the 383-400 B engine to the 360. In stock, or nearly stock classes he gives the edge to the Bs.
He pointed out the larger valves, and higher compression(383) as reasons to run the B over a low compression 360. And felt both had more potential than any 350 chivvy! And yea, I'm old enough to remember when 360s and 400s were considered "junk"
Great discussion folks!
And does anyone remember a Larry Shepard article about circle track engines.
He compared the 383-400 B engine to the 360. In stock, or nearly stock classes he gives the edge to the Bs.
He pointed out the larger valves, and higher compression(383) as reasons to run the B over a low compression 360. And felt both had more potential than any 350 chivvy! And yea, I'm old enough to remember when 360s and 400s were considered "junk"
Great discussion folks!
If I was retired, instead of just tired, and had an extra sum of funds, I'd do a test like that. That'd be fun! And I'd use our DT ('80 D150) as the machine to move! A lot of times a guy can buy a 383 2bbl for 150- 200 bucks as they are not highly sought after.
Yep. Owned a 71 RR with a 340 and it beat the **** out of 383 RR's.
ScamperTom
Supposed to be working
Didn’t the second gen barracuda come with the 383 as an option? I believe it was slower than the 340, due to the extra weight i suppose. For a stock or close to stock motor, it’s hard to believe that would be any different today.
pishta
I know I'm right....
a B for under $600? NFW, Unattainable at that price around here....heck a 361 gets that much (short block only.... $300). Only 383 on craigs in SoCal is a 67 single snorkle $1500 pan to air cleaner, and it has center dump logs so its no Roadrunner motor.
340 Mopar Engine NEW!!! - $5,000 (Hesperia)
Mopar 360 Engine - $500 (Lake Forest)
360 MOPAR motor, broken down - $225
1973 dodge cylinder heads 340/360 cu in rebuilt - $650
not much more locally. I rolled on a 68 383 for $600 4 years ago and the guy blew me off with higher offers.
yeah, here I can get 383/400's pretty cheap. Right now there is a complete but very rusty '76 C body with a 400 4bbl for 600 bucks. Ran when parked. There you'd get your 400, 727, radiator, and 100 bucks back at the scrap yard, not counting if ya talked him down a 100 or so.... and he can't sell it. I bought a low mileage RV 440 last year carb to pan for 500.
pishta
I know I'm right....
wazzup with the 400's then? Smog crap choked the 383 to sub 360 levels so they had to up their game in CID. Still think that was one of the biggest pigs in stock smogger form, Pathetic! Just about every big displacement motor in the last half of the 70's was a joke. Now its the base for some screaming 451's
I wouldn't say a joke. I pulled a '89 360 out of my '89 D150, and dropped a smog 400 2bbl in it. Added a 4bbl and headers and it ran 14.5 with 3.21's and a sticky brake caliper that ended my day at the track. Stuck so bad on the start line I was afraid I'd not make it back home. Don't you think 14.5's is respectable in a D150 for a smogger that I didn't even take apart to freshen up? Do I hear a factory '73 340 A-body whinning out there...???? LOL
By the way I owned/raced a lot of mopars but you can't compare a low comp. 360 to a high comp 383. You have to compare apples to apples. Like a high comp 340 to a high comp 383 or a 360 with flat tops. The biggest problem with the BB was a lot of them were .100 to .125 in the hole so they were really low compression. I used to put closed chamber heads and thin steel gaskets on them with a ssh25 cam on the automatics and a street hemi convertor. Really woke them up. Like 13.50's thru stock mufflers. Hookers of course. In reality on the street a 340 would whip a 383 every time. Apple to apple of course.
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