Mopars 1968 '383 Engines'

[69 Cuda 440]

Both the 1967 and 1968 '383' A-Body cars exhaust system sounded as if somebody
had put a 'sock' in the exhaust pipe.

The stock dual exhaust on those cars never made a deep rumble sound.

 

[66fs]

Its the numbers matching engine? yes they are 383 commando

Yes, it is the original engine. "301" intake casting, 4401s AVS, the special A body baffled oil pan, and special exhaust manifolds. I was not the original owner, but maybe second owner. I pulled the motor and put in a "throw together" motor 30 years ago to use as a daily driver. All A body 383's should be HP. The engine code was H not G.

 

[66fs]

IIRC, de-rating of A body 383 was due to more restrictive exhaust necessary for clearance.

This is supposedly the reason for the HP derating. Just look at the 383 "A Body" exhaust manifolds compared to a Road Runners exhaust manifolds. My 68 Barracuda had the Super Commando Tin. Remember that it was the bigger of the two available Formula S engines in 1968. Not that it was the hottest engine for that year, as shown in the original ad posted earlier.

 

[DFX 340 Duster]

Just to make this crystal clear... I'm assuming the only engines that got the 'HP' stamp and orange paint were the Road Runner/Super Bee 335 HP 383s? I have a 1969 Polara with a factory 383 4-bbl and it's painted turquoise and has no HP stamping on the block.

My original numbers matching 383 in my H code 1969 Polara 500 is rated at 330. It has the same heads, intake, carb, compression, and exhaust system as the 335 rated engine. My Mopar parts book specifies different part numbers for the camshafts.

The engine is painted turquoise and no HP stamping.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Correct on the '383' little camshaft.

Part #2532190

.425"/.437" Lift ~ 256*/260* Duration ~ 32* Overlap

Not really a 'High-Performance Camshaft' as Mopar advertised.

Found in the 1968,
* 383/290 HP = '2-Barrel'
* 383/300 HP = 'A-Body'
* 383/330 HP = 'B-Body'
* 440/350 HP = 'Big-Body Boats'

 

[66fs]

According to the Direct Connection Racing Manual, P4120792, the 1968 and 1969 383 A Bodies used the .450 lift 268-276 duration cam while the 1967 383 A Bodies used the .430 lift 256-260 duration cam.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

According to the Direct Connection Racing Manual, P4120792, the 1968 and 1969 383 A Bodies used the .450 lift 268-276 duration cam while the 1967 383 A Bodies used the .430 lift 256-260 duration cam.

Unfortunately, they are incorrect in their printing.

The 383/300 HP in the 1968 A-Body was the same Camshaft as the
383/290 HP {2-Barrel} and 383/330 HP {4-Barrel} {'non' Super Bee and Road Runner}.

But, in 1969 the 383/330 HP A-Body used the {440/375 HP Camshaft and
Valve Train}.

 

[swinger340]

never seen an HP on 68 383 darts or barracudas

They were not HP engines. When disassembling original engines out of both a 67 and a 69 383 big block dart they had mild cams (don't recall lift) and single valve springs. No HP stamped on the block

 

[69 Cuda 440]

They were not HP engines. When disassembling original engines out of both a 67 and a 69 383 big block dart they had mild cams (don't recall lift) and single valve springs. No HP stamped on the block

1968......383 4-Barrel {'non' Super Bee and Road Runner}

Camshaft........ .425" / .437" Lift

Single-Coil Valve Springs.....134 lbs. {Valve Closed} ~ 208 lbs. {Valve-Open}

They really struggled to get over 4500 RPM's.

Hate to say it, but they were..........'LUGS'

 

[davescuda]

They were not HP engines. When disassembling original engines out of both a 67 and a 69 383 big block dart they had mild cams (don't recall lift) and single valve springs. No HP stamped on the block

I think 69 383 A body blocks were stamp hp

 

[dtmlevatan]

Just to chime in .....my 68 Road Runner does have a HP engine painted orange ...... and so is the car ........

 

[69 Cuda 440]

I think 69 383 A body blocks were stamp hp

Correct Dave,

To confuse everyone, the 1969 Road Runner and Super Bee, and the
383 A-Body cars had the same 383 'HP' Engine.

In the Road Runner and Super Bee it was rated at 335 HP, but in the
A-Body it was rated at 330 HP {due to exhaust restrictions}.

For added confusion, the other 383 4-Barrel that was installed in the
other B-Body Cars {'non' Road Runner and Super Bee} was rated at
330 HP as well.

This 383 Engine still had the 'little' 383 Camshaft and low' Load-Rate Valve Springs.

Mopar..........A Ball of Confusion...........:violent1:

By the way, the 1968 '383 Road Runner Engine'
was supposed to be a 'Turqiouse' color, and Turqiouse Valve Covers with a Chrome Oil-Breather.

An 'unsilenced' Air Cleaner, with a '383 Road Runner Engine' pie tin.

 

[EL5DEMON340]

Just to chime in .....my 68 Road Runner does have a HP engine painted orange ...... and so is the car ........

It should be turquoise, id bet more than half of the 68 RR had there engines painted orange some time in the last 40 year, mine was orange with the original turquoise under it

 

[66fs]

Unfortunately, they are incorrect in their printing.

The 383/300 HP in the 1968 A-Body was the same Camshaft as the
383/290 HP {2-Barrel} and 383/330 HP {4-Barrel} {'non' Super Bee and Road Runner}.

But, in 1969 the 383/330 HP A-Body used the {440/375 HP Camshaft and
Valve Train}.

I'm going to "believe" the Direct Connection Manual, since there is no way I'm going to run the small cam and weak valve springs. Thanks for confusing me with the facts...

 

[69 Cuda 440]

I'm going to "believe" the Direct Connection Manual, since there is no way I'm going to run the small cam and weak valve springs. Thanks for confusing me with the facts...

That is a 'wise choice', and absolutely nobody should be forced to
use those 'weak' 208 lb. Load-Rate Valve Springs off of the 383
{'non' HP Engines}.

Are you aware that in the 'first' Road Runner magazine advertisement
{Hot Rod Magazine, September 1967} Plymouth listed the 'special'
Road Runner Engine Camshaft at,

.450"/.465" Lift ~276*/292" Duration ~ 54* Overlap

 

[69 Cuda 440]

1968 Camshafts

#2532190................. .425"/.437" Lift ~ 256*/260* Duration ~ 32* Overlap

#2843564................. .450"/.458" Lift ~ 268*/284* Duration ~ 46* Overlap

'Code' Road Runner.. .450"/.465" Lift ~ 276*/292* Duration ~ 56* Overlap

#3412004................ .484"/.484" Lift ~ 284*/284* Duration ~ 68* Overlap


Note; The 'special' Road Runner Camshaft was never installed in the 1968 Road Runner or Super Bee.

Note; The #3412004 Camshaft was an 'over-the-counter' Parts Department 'Package Stock' option.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Egbert,

In 1967 the 383 in the Barracuda was called 'Commando 383'

Production Numbers......1784

There's nothing 'super' about the 383 in the 1968 Barracuda.

Production Numbers.....1120

 

[69 Cuda 440]

And another version of the 1968 Sales Brochure, with different Camshaft Specifications.

340/275 HP = .445"/.455" Lift ~ 284*/292* Duration ~ 60* Overlap {4-Speed Camshaft]

383/300 HP = .425"/.437" Lift ~ 264*/268* Duration ~ 40* Overlap

 

[trovare257]

Just wanted to share that I have a early model 1968 Barracuda 383 S that was produced june of 1967 and has the original unmuffled large air cleaner with the original 383 super comando pie tin on it. It has the black knob Inland 4 speed T shifter and no turn signal indicator lights on the front corners of the hood. This car is all original being its a one owner car, I still have the original window sticker and finance papers.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Trovare 357,

You mean one like this.

 

[buck351]

1968......383 4-Barrel {'non' Super Bee and Road Runner}

Camshaft........ .425" / .437" Lift

Single-Coil Valve Springs.....134 lbs. {Valve Closed} ~ 208 lbs. {Valve-Open}

They really struggled to get over 4500 RPM's.

Hate to say it, but they were..........'LUGS'

I have a 67 GTS. Saying they struggled to get over 4500 rpms is accurate. I use to say it didn't breath well at the upper rpms. At one point in my youth I put in a cam that had twice the overlap and eveything else the same with Rhoads lifters. Made a noticable difference.

 

[buck351]

my car was 8/27/67..but its orig pie tin was gone... i have never seen an early survivor 383-s or GTS to see when the pie tin cut off date could be! i bet it was with in a few weeks [so mid august latest]... got any pics of early SPD survivors?

I have an earlier GTS (shipped from factory 2/27/67) and you can see the pie tin in my photo gallery pic of the engine. It's a replacement but I have the orignial which is identical.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

1967 GTS 383

Air Cleaner '383 Four Barrel' {Chrome Valve Covers}

 

[66340SEDAN]

Check out these oldies......68 Bee, the 68 Road Runner has a Hemi and check out those snow tires :glasses7: