M-code 440 vs H-code 383 differences.

-
C

Canucklehead

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2006
Messages
355
Reaction score
457
Location
Smithers, BC
I’m a little bored tonight, the snow is coming pretty heavy. I’m curious about what different parts were bolted onto an M-code 440 GTS/Cuda vs a 383 car. I know the driver’s side engine mount and the driver’s side exhaust manifold are 440 only, the exhaust manifold spacer for the passenger side manifold to pipe. Plus the 093 Roadrunner transmission vs the (I’m guessing) 091 for the 383 cars. And of course the 440 Four Barrel hood emblems and 440 Cuda fender emblem. The rest seems to be general big block changes, crossmember, oil pan/radiator/passenger mount and manifold. Am I missing anything?
 
Last edited:
How much snow has fallen so far? They said it was going to start around noon today up there....
 
Canucklehead said:
I’m a little bored tonight, the snow is coming pretty heavy. I’m curious about what different parts were bolted onto an M-code 440 GTS/Cuda vs a 383 car. I know the driver’s side engine mount and the driver’s side exhaust manifold are 440 only, the exhaust manifold spacer for the passenger side manifold to pipe. Plus the 093 Roadrunner transmission vs the (I’m guessing) 091 for the 383 cars. And of course the 440 Four Barrel hood emblems and 440 Cuda fender emblem. The rest seems to be general big block changes, crossmember, oil pan/radiator/passenger mount and manifold. Am I missing anything?
Click to expand...
Technically the cuda had a Black 440 tape callout versus an "emblem" on the fenders and the 383 could be had with a 4 speed.
 
I would think that the transmission should be The same as what came in the R/T and GTX where as the 383 cars used the Roadrunner and Super Bee transmission.
 
619990B7-A1A2-4315-8CA2-C06ED155AF06.jpeg
mcodecuda said:
I would think that the transmission should be The same as what came in the R/T and GTX where as the 383 cars used the Roadrunner and Super Bee transmission.
Click to expand...

Everything that I’ve heard was that the 383 cars came with the 091 and the M-code came with the 093 Roadrunner HD transmission, which, I believe, also came in the 440-6 Roadrunner. My GTS was missing the correct engine/trans when I bought it.
 
A56 said:
Technically the cuda had a Black 440 tape callout versus an "emblem" on the fenders and the 383 could be had with a 4 speed.
Click to expand...

Yes, sorry, I know it was tape. I have emblems on the brain. Something that also comes to mind, is it true that the 440 Four Barrel hood ornament for the GTS came in the trunk or console rather than being installed? Another of the fish tales?
 
I wonder if there is a difference in standard gearing?
(I know you could order whatever set you like, but there has got to be a baseline)
 
diymirage said:
I wonder if there is a difference in standard gearing?
(I know you could order whatever set you like, but there has got to be a baseline)
Click to expand...

Rear axle gear was 3.55 standard, 3.91 optional, from what I’ve heard. Very little information about these cars, so I’m picking the brains of guys that have them/had them or bought them new.
 
I run the 440 M Code Cuda registry. I took over from Dave after he passed.
On top of what was already mentioned is the kick down rod that goes down the backside of the firewall is different than 383, Carb, trans, trans torque converter, wire looms, heater hose bracket, valve covers, distributor, on the fender it’s 440 over the ‘cuda. On the 338 car the ‘cuda is over the 383, pie tin and Horsepower. That’s all I have off the top of my head.
 
yes the 383 auto cars got 091 were as m code got 093 cases the only 383 cars to get 093 were the 335 horse engines in superbee and roadrunner
 
I believe the 440 093 in the a body is a different gear ratios then the 383 091 a bodies.
 
davescuda said:
I run the 440 M Code Cuda registry. I took over from Dave after he passed.
On top of what was already mentioned is the kick down rod that goes down the backside of the firewall is different than 383, Carb, trans, trans torque converter, wire looms, heater hose bracket, valve covers, distributor, on the fender it’s 440 over the ‘cuda. On the 338 car the ‘cuda is over the 383, pie tin and Horsepower. That’s all I have off the top of my head.
Click to expand...

Would you happen to have a comparison picture between the 383 and 440 kick downs? I know that the pivot is big block A-body specific, I’m curious if the pivot to transmission rod would be B-body parts.
 
The '69 GTS 440 M code cars were automatic console cars only.
The '69 GTS 383 cars were available with console automatic or 4 speed manual transmissions.
I talked to a guy who had an original 383 4 speed GTS in the early '80s (that I tried desperately to buy to no avail) that ordered his car new and wanted a 440 4 speed.
They would not order it and said it wasn't available with a 4 speed, so he settled on the 383 with the 4 speed.
He said he bugged them for months, and finally ordered the car late because he knew that they would not build big block Darts in 1970.
I remember that car like it was yesterday, it was red with a black interior and black stripes and was all original.
Funny thing is that the stripe on the driver's side said "GTS" and the stripe on the passenger's side said "Swinger".
And he said it came that way.
I bet he didn't sell it to me because I was a 20 year old kid and he didn't want it wrecked.
However, I went and bought a 383 4 speed Super Bee about a month later and came and showed it to him, and he smiled and said, ''you're okay, Kid!"
A year later he moved and I never saw the car again.
I wonder if it still exists.........
 
I had a 68 383 4-speed car for a bunch of years, FF1 green with dark green interior, build sheet and fender tag, buckets but no console. It had a 383 and transmission case from a 69 Roadrunner. I bought it from a fellow near Gibbons north of Edmonton for 1000 bucks, it had a seized starter so we push started it. I drove it the 30 miles home, tore it all down, it sat for 10 years then i sold it in pieces. If it was a 69 I would be driving it still.
 
Does anyone know if the front sway bar on a M-Code GTS is different than other Dart models: larger or a different shape? This applies to converting to disk brakes--sway bar hitting the calipers.
 
Lord Sparky said:
Does anyone know if the front sway bar on a M-Code GTS is different than other Dart models: larger or a different shape? This applies to converting to disk brakes--sway bar hitting the calipers.
Click to expand...

Same shape bar but slightly larger in diameter for 383 and 440. The factory KH calipers hang off of the rear of the spindle so hitting isn’t an issue. The 73 and up calipers hang off of the front of the spindle so a different sway bar is used.
 
Back when I added disc brakes to my cuda I split the k-frame in half and added the bottom of a 73 k-frame to it so that I could use the 73 calipers on the rear with the 73 sway bar.
 
I’d love to own an M code. Seems the last few years they’ve been starting to come out of the woodwork. This was my GTS circa 1978

D4F0E7A8-D85F-4364-AE3A-E03C8FA94DCD.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top