The First 1967 383 A-Body, 'Barracuda or Mr. Norms's Dart'

[/6 Matt]

true fact : Chrysler Corporation called it a SURE GRIP ... Chevrolet/GM called it a POSI-TRAC . :banghead:

Since we're gettin' nitt picky here, somebody mentioned valve covers earlier.

I don't have any idea why you would cover your valves. But rockerarms need covers.

 

[Bulldozer]

Since we're gettin' nitt picky here, somebody mentioned valve covers earlier.

I don't have any idea why you would cover your valves. But rockerarms need covers.

lol that posi term really ruffles my feathers lol


i too have seen pics of the passenger side hammertuned on the SS darts from hurst, of course i cant find them now..

 

[69 Cuda 440]

1967 Plymouth Barracuda (Specification Sheet, November 1966)

 

[69 Cuda 440]

1967 Dodge Dart (Sales Brochure, November 1966)

The 383 was 'not' available in the Dart GT at this time in the 'production run'.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Spike,,,,,,,,,

1967 Production Numbers.

67' Barracuda 383.................1841
67' Dart GTS 383...................457
67' Camaro SS 396/325 HP......4003
67' Camaro SS 396/375 HP......1138
67' Mustang GT 390...............24,078
67' Cougar GT 390.................7412
67' Firebird 400....................18,700

Motor Trend (December 1966)

 

[thepaintguy]

Well shut my mouth, I was under the impression that Dart's and Barracuda's got the 383 in '67, as in '67 Dart GTS 383, and Barracuda Formula S 383.

 

[gts340]

OK, so how'd he do it without the 440 A body exhaust manifolds req'd to do the swap?



I'd like to see a pic of that 1968 fender tag with an "M" in the 5th digit. Just 'cause it has a 440, doesn't make it an "M" code car.

...and why did Norm have to show Chrysler how to install a 383 in an a-body when Plymouth was already doing it?

I've seen the M as the fifth digit on every 440 GSS I've ever seen. The maroon, silver and black cars from one collection and the two matching yellow ones from up north.

48 of them, all sold at GSD I believe, exclusively.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

RJ,

The 1967 Dart GTS 383, had the '383 Four Barrel' emblem mounted on the each front
fender. That was the only GTS designation on the car.

A G/T Emblem call-out was mounted in center of the front-grille.
And on the right side of the truck deck lid, a G/T emblem was mounted, or brushed-metal
deck panel insert with a G/T emblem.

Also, a 'Dart G/T' horizontal metal strip was installed on each interior door panel.


VIN #'s started in February 1967...LP23H72275***
VIN #'s started in February 1967...LP23H72281***
VIN #'s started in June 1967.........LP23H72365***
VIN #'s started in June 1967.........LP23H72480***

 

[davescuda]

tell you what 69 Cuda 440 you have a lot of great info on all your post. thanks and keep them coming!

 

[69 Cuda 440]

tell you what 69 Cuda 440 you have a lot of great info on all your post. thanks and keep them coming!

Thanks Dave,,,,,,,,,,

On the 1967 Dart GTS 383,

Only '5' Convertible's with a 4-Speed were built.
Only '12' Convertible's with an Automatic were built.

 

[Hyper_pak]

This is from Car Craft I think.

 

[LovetheA's]

I know for a fact that 67 barracudas and darts were both available with the 383 in 67. I have one of each and the documentation to prove it. The barracuda is a 4 speed conv formula s one of 9 and the dart is a 4 speed one of 229. To the best of my knowledge I'll try to answer the question of what mods were made to the big block a bodies from the factory. I have heard that sometimes the inner fenders may have been dinged hammered on occasion but other than that the only other mod was the hemi cars had flexible brake lines on the master cylinder for removal to get at the valve covers.

Carl

 

[65Val]

why do you believe that Norm had no input to Dodge on the decision to make the 67 Dart GTS's,

Simple....Why would Chrysler need "input" to build a 383 Dart as they were already making 383 Barracuda's (same engine bay)?

 

[BB-Dave]

[QUOTE

On the 1967 Dart GTS 383,

Only '5' Convertible's with a 4-Speed were built.
Only '12' Convertible's with an Automatic were built.[/QUOTE]

Morgan where did you come up with these numbers? As far as I know there is no break down between hardtop & convert bodies, just 229 4 speeds & 228 autos

 

[SpikeWills69]

Spike,,,,,,,,,

1967 Production Numbers.

67' Barracuda 383.................1841
67' Dart GTS 383...................457
67' Camaro SS 396/325 HP......4003
67' Camaro SS 396/375 HP......1138
67' Mustang GT 390...............24,078
67' Cougar GT 390.................7412
67' Firebird 400....................18,700

Motor Trend (December 1966)

Thanks and nice work 69 Cuda 440. I was surprised at the high number of Firebirds. Also illustrates why our mopars are so cool.

Thanks again

 

[dart4forte]

The 1967 Plymouth Barracuda 383,

Utilized a Carter AFB {Model #4298} which was a small-jetted AFB.

The 1 7/16" Primary x 1 9/16" Secondary unit was rated at 525 CFM's with
the smaller Jets, not 575 CFM like the other early AFB's mounted on the 383 engines.

If you enlarged the Jets by (.010), you could achieve a boost in performance.

Also had a smaller cam profile and 1.60" exhaust valves. Cam profile changed in 68 as well as a bigger exhaust valve

 

[69 Cuda 440]

BB-Dave,

Of the '457' 1967 Dart GTS 383 cars built, '17' were convertibles.

'5' were 4-Speed cars.

Here is VIN# LP27H72295092 (1 of 5) {March 1967 Build Date}

 

[BB-Dave]

BB-Dave,

Of the '457' 1967 Dart GTS 383 cars built, '17' were convertibles.

'5' were 4-Speed cars.

Here is VIN# LP27H72295092 (1 of 5) {March 1967 Build Date}

I understand your saying 17 converts built....i'm asking WHERE did you get this information?
Is that the red convert that was found in Cali and was at Juliuos's shop a few years ago?

 

[69 Cuda 440]

BB-Dave,

My friend had 1967 Dart GTS 383 'convertible' w/Automatic {soft yellow w/white top and white interior) back in
the early 1970's.

He always told us,,,,,,,,,'383 H-Code, only twelve made'

Addition,

Just talked to him, and he confirmed that only '12' ~ 1967 Dart GTS 383 'convertible' Automatics were built.
He drag raced the car a few times in 'stock trim', classed in NHRA J/SA in 1970 and 1971 (11.50- 11.99 Wt/Hp).

Ran 15.05's @ 93 MPH

NHRA ~ 1967 Dart GTS 383 - Convertible = #3248 lbs. ~ 280 HP = 11.60 Wt/Hp

NHRA Classes
* 1967 = D/S
* 1968 = H/S
* 1969 = I/S
* 1970 = J/S
* 1971 = J/S

 

[BB-Dave]

BB-Dave

Addition,

Just talked to him, and he confirmed that only '12' ~ 1967 Dart GTS 383 'convertible' Automatics were built.

Anyone can say so many built, i'm asking about actual documents or Chrysler records or some proof built. Even GG's book doesn't list number of converts separate from hardtops......
I found and saved a medium green, white interior, white top 4 speed '67 GTS convert from a JY. It's now in someone else's hands, maybe it will be restored? I would say it's the best color combo of any I've seen.

 

[andy korodi]

dont forget the 67 gts conv 383 4spd that is rotting in new york i believe

 

[BB-Dave]

dont forget the 67 gts conv 383 4spd that is rotting in new york i believe

Another one in NY!!!! That one looks much worse than the one I save from the crusher!!!!!!!!

 

[davescuda]

dont forget the 67 gts conv 383 4spd that is rotting in new york i believe

its fixable and worth it. very rare car

 

[69 Cuda 440]

BB-Dave,

Correct, you can't really be 100% sure of any production number built or VIN Tag for that matter.

Though, '12' for the Convertible Automatic sounds about as close to an educated
guess as possible.

My friends 67' was the only I ever saw on the street back then. Ran good, looked
good, and sounded nice.

 

[inkjunkie]

Not 100% but I thought I read that the hemis were not hammered either. That the owner did it to make it easier for them to take the vale covers on and off, but was not done on the original assembly of the hemi cars.

Not according to the 68 SS manual that I have, the only way to get the valve cover off with the motor in the car was to hammer the snot out of the right side inner fender. Have an acquaintance that worked in the facility where the HEMI cars were put together, and he told me they were hammered. Seen someone mention that wedges require it as well, have had a couple of big block a-bodies and none of them needed the inner fenders hammered.