Nicks Garage 383 build

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RAMM

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First off I despise 383's possibly more than the 318. The 383 has no right to call itself a big block. I've built more than a few and they always disappoint. ALWAYS. I've actually been refusing to build them if the customer wants a " stock rebuild, im only cruising, don't care about performance" etc... Because they always lie. When the numbers are in they are always disappointed and ask " Why is the HP so shitty?" And they don't like my answer. "Because you insisted on a stock rebuild and lied about not wanting performance" I always suggest a 431 build or something else..even a small block. Oh and Nick's dyno must be off because any 383bIve built needs headers to get to 349hp. His engine is either amazing "although the TQ numbers don't suggest that" or his dyno is very forgiving. I love his head scratching.....Why is it so low? Because it never made 425tq in the first place. A 383 Chev seriously embarrasses our big block. Oh and anyone saying they had a strong 383 back in the day is delusional or never drove anything faster than a 1984 Dodge Magicwagon. J.Rob
 
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The 383/400 Chr has the highest rod/stroke ratio of ALL the popular BB engines. That means they do not breath well at low/mid rpm, all else being equal. Sig Erson, a very clever cam grinder, realised this DECADES ago & issued the warning below; although it refers to the 440 [ has a high r/s ratio as well ], it also applies to the 383. No other engine brand has this warning.
The popular stroker combos [ 383/406 SB Chev, 4XX SB Chrys, 347 Ford ] all punch above their weight compared to stoke configured engines. What these strokers have in common is a low r/s ratio...

img282.jpg
 
@RAMM

long time listener, first time caller, what are your thoughts on the 400 with say a thumpr cam?

(and will you link that big block 2bbl you did?)

i'll hang up and listen.
 
I guess I've never seen a Mopar engine that ran worth a ****, then.
 
I like the 383 "call outs", it sounds cool.

'69 Roadrunner with a 383... classic.

20240528_055129.jpg


Since its introduction in 1959, the Chrysler 383 Wedge V8 engine has earned a solid reputation as one of the top big blocks ever made by Mopar. Producing a maximum of 335 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque from the factory, the 383 Mopar powered many iconic muscle cars throughout the 1960s and very early-1970s. Though it has often been overshadowed by its larger 413, 426, and 440 big-block siblings, the 383 V8 remains a favorite of many.


☆☆☆☆☆
 
George Jets said:
I like the 383 "call outs", it sounds cool.

'69 Roadrunner with a 383... classic.

View attachment 1716255386

Since its introduction in 1959, the Chrysler 383 Wedge V8 engine has earned a solid reputation as one of the top big blocks ever made by Mopar. Producing a maximum of 335 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque from the factory, the 383 Mopar powered many iconic muscle cars throughout the 1960s and very early-1970s. Though it has often been overshadowed by its larger 413, 426, and 440 big-block siblings, the 383 V8 remains a favorite of many.


☆☆☆☆☆
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That's a little incorrect, as the dual quad in the early 60s was rated at 343HP. Seems those type articles always leave that one out.
 
I've never seen any other brand bunch piss all over another of their brand's engines. Even the Chevy guys like them all. The fact is you can make any engine perform well and if you cannot, then something is wrong.
 
1) I don’t know RAMM (op) from anyone or his / her skill level. So this is not personal. But you mention “customer.” Are you a legit machine shop (kinda implied) or are you a crafty engine builder in your home garage helping out fellow car lovers?
2) 383 Mopar was a big block- 383 Chevrolet is a small block stroked out. Two different animals of the same type. Big dog versus Belgian shepherd if you ask me.
3) the small engine bay of a Mopar Abodies did not allow for a big block to fit easy. So a 383 was our “it’s voodoo” magic for years. Now a lot has changed and with strokers being the best route financially- building a Stock 383 is not needed. Kinda like building a 318…..
4) this OP rant is just going to cause hate and discontent. I personally have wasted too much energy on it and I don’t own either engine. lol!
Syleng1
 
Syleng1 said:
1) I don’t know RAMM (op) from anyone or his / her skill level. So this is not personal. But you mention “customer.” Are you a legit machine shop (kinda implied) or are you a crafty engine builder in your home garage helping out fellow car lovers?
2) 383 Mopar was a big block- 383 Chevrolet is a small block stroked out. Two different animals of the same type. Big dog versus Belgian shepherd if you ask me.
3) the small engine bay of a Mopar Abodies did not allow for a big block to fit easy. So a 383 was our “it’s voodoo” magic for years. Now a lot has changed and with strokers being the best route financially- building a Stock 383 is not needed. Kinda like building a 318…..
4) this OP rant is just going to cause hate and discontent. I personally have wasted too much energy on it and I don’t own either engine. lol!
Syleng1
Click to expand...
He's a well respected bonafide machine shop/engine builder, and it really surprises me that he would make a post like this. You don't see Chevy guys pissin all over any of their big blocks with a 4.250 bore.
 
RustyRatRod said:
He's a well respected bonafide machine shop/engine builder, and it really surprises me that he would make a post like this. You don't see Chevy guys pissin all over any of their big blocks with a 4.250 bore.
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Thanks for that clarification Rusty.
 
RustyRatRod said:
He's a well respected bonafide machine shop/engine builder, and it really surprises me that he would make a post like this. You don't see Chevy guys pissin all over any of their big blocks with a 4.250 bore.
Click to expand...
If I see something that needs to be pissed on I piss on it. The 383 Mopar is just that in this case. Guess you don't like the truth--which is the same as piss. J.Rob
 
Syleng1 said:
1) I don’t know RAMM (op) from anyone or his / her skill level. So this is not personal. But you mention “customer.” Are you a legit machine shop (kinda implied) or are you a crafty engine builder in your home garage helping out fellow car lovers?
2) 383 Mopar was a big block- 383 Chevrolet is a small block stroked out. Two different animals of the same type. Big dog versus Belgian shepherd if you ask me.
3) the small engine bay of a Mopar Abodies did not allow for a big block to fit easy. So a 383 was our “it’s voodoo” magic for years. Now a lot has changed and with strokers being the best route financially- building a Stock 383 is not needed. Kinda like building a 318…..
4) this OP rant is just going to cause hate and discontent. I personally have wasted too much energy on it and I don’t own either engine. lol!
Syleng1
Click to expand...
1. Yes full service machine shop/dyno service.
2. I know this but 383 cubes is still 383 cubes. It's still a benchmark to highlight just how poorly the 383 performs.
3. NC
4. If it causes hate then thicker skin is needed--I was bored and responding to Nick's obvious confusion on where the missing power was--hint--It was never there to begin with. J.Rob
 
junkyardhero said:
@RAMM

long time listener, first time caller, what are your thoughts on the 400 with say a thumpr cam?

(and will you link that big block 2bbl you did?)

i'll hang up and listen.
Click to expand...
400 is the same slug as the 383 should run even worse with a dumpr cam. I never built a 2bbl bigblock so? J.Rob
 
Bewy said:
The 383/400 Chr has the highest rod/stroke ratio of ALL the popular BB engines. That means they do not breath well at low/mid rpm, all else being equal. Sig Erson, a very clever cam grinder, realised this DECADES ago & issued the warning below; although it refers to the 440 [ has a high r/s ratio as well ], it also applies to the 383. No other engine brand has this warning.
The popular stroker combos [ 383/406 SB Chev, 4XX SB Chrys, 347 Ford ] all punch above their weight compared to stoke configured engines. What these strokers have in common is a low r/s ratio...

View attachment 1716255381
Click to expand...
Your warmer than most but its really the stroke (piston speed) that is the culprit along with low compression in most cases. J.Rob
 
RAMM said:
If I see something that needs to be pissed on I piss on it. The 383 Mopar is just that in this case. Guess you don't like the truth--which is the same as piss. J.Rob
Click to expand...
Opinions vary and you're certainly entitled to yours.
 
To me power numbers seemed about the same that a similar 340/360 would do.
 
I get it Ramm.

Customers lie. Always.

Same thing happens here. Guys love to say “I only want *** horsepower” and when it’s all said and done it’s not enough.

It makes it difficult to build engines. You know the end product is going to be disappointing but you build it anyway because J. C. Penney said the customer is always right.

And of course these people will go around and ***** to anyone who will listen about what a pig the engine was.

And then that guy will tell a couple of friends and most likely he will get at least part of the story wrong.

And like VD through a high school locker room this continues on until the whole story is wrong.

I can promise the doubters that Ramm can build a high performance 383 if the customer lets him.

And that is the issue. The customer gets what he wanted and then he’s pissed off.

All he had to do was listen to Ramm but instead they went to forums and such and listen to guys who never had to make a living doing this ****.

Epic rant J.Robb

And 100% fact
 
Well if customers are anything like the people asking for build advice on here, they must be extremely vague and seemly pulling performance goals out of a hat. Doesn't seem like a lot of people give much thought to what they want and give even less thought to the rest of the drivetrain.
 
I watched some of that 383 dyno session but I lost interest before it finished. Engine looked like a resto project so it was weird that Nick was so worked up. Maybe he is just always worked up? Resto projects don't make power, they look pretty. Hard to tell in the video but it looked like a stock distributor as well as everything else being stock. Only reason to run a combo like that on the dyno is to check for leaks.
 
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