So was the 383 4V pretty docile?

[Mebsuta]

We all know about the 68-71 383 HP and what it will do, but what about the 383 4V with the lesser camshaft? Was it pretty docile and lazy and or did it have a mean streak?

If you have driven both of these in orginal configuration, what do you think?

 

[Finallygotmine]

We all know about the 68-71 383 HP and what it will do, but what about the 383 4V with the lesser camshaft? Was it pretty docile and lazy and or did it have a mean streak?

If you have driven both of these in orginal configuration, what do you think?

Well, if i'm not mistaken, and i'm sure I will be corrected if I am, but there was only 5 HP between the two, but a few more torque. Now, it might depend on how you drive or how many people you had in the car or how many beers you had, but I'm sure the 5 HP didn't really alarm anyone. The 383 was an underestimated engine that proved itself over and over. Whether it was 330 HP or 335, it was great.

 

[Revhendo]

Those 383/4spd Roadrunners always tagged my 440 Chargers *** off the line. They rev'd quicker IMO. At least until I got to the top of first gear..........

 

[383man]

Actually I know the 67 B-body 383 was rated at 325 hp in some and the 67 Cuda at 290 hp. Most other years it was 330 hp in the B-body and of course the 68 to 70 Roadrunner and Super Bees it was 335 hp. It was not alot of difference in them other then the early 60's to 1968 the 383's had the small exh valves (1.60) in the heads and a lower lift cam then the RR and SB cam. Yes the early 383's had the 1.60 exh valve and a cam that had about .425 lift. In 68 they took the larger exh valve (440) heads (1.74) exh valve and put them on the RR - SB 383 and it got the 440 cam of about .450 or so lift. So basic all the 383 was a 10.0 comp eng with the small exh valve heads and the smaller stock 383 cam rated at 325 to 330 hp. Then when the Roadrunner and Super Bees came out they just took the heads and cam from the 440's and used them on the 383's to get 335 hp.
To me the stock 383 was held back some as they ran good but if you put a good aluminum intake and good carb on it and then some good headers they woke up. Then add a solid cam and they would knock off alot of bigger boys !

Here is a good example. I took a stock 68 383 shortblock and freshened it up with new rings and bearings. Then I put the MP .484 cam in it and I used stock 452 heads which are like the 906's that came on the 68 383's and I did a little bowl blending and put Comp single springs on them. I shaved the heads a tad for a true 9.5 comp. I also use stock rocker arms and shafts.
That was it internally as other then the cam and springs it was stock internally. I then put an RPM Eddy intake and a 750 Holley DP carb on it. Used a stock dist I recurved abd the MP orange ign box. Threw headers on it and dropped in in a 72 Dart with 3.91's and a 3000 stall 10" verter. Now to me this eng was still much tamer then the GM SS 375 hp 396 eng which had a solid cam , aluminum intake , Holley carb in it right from the factory and had 11.0 comp. Well this 383 ran 12.30's @ 110 in the 3550 lb Dart with my son in it. To me that ran very good for a basically stock 383 with the .484 cam and few hot rod bolt on's on it. I mean all it needed was a few minor things that alot of GM cars had right from the factory. Heck with just some more tunning or a solid cam you had an 11 second 383 pump gas Dart. I think it ran very good as not many other muscle cars ran any better with the same bolt on's on them. They were 14 second cars bone stock but a few mods and you had a 12 second car. Get a bit serious and you had an 11 second pump gas 383 car !! Ron

 

[WP29440SE]

for the record, i killed a 454 70 chevelle ss with a bone stock air conditioned 383 4 barrel 72 charger with 65,000 miles on it. we ran over a 1/2 stretch and lost him. yes i hurt the motor doing it, and the chebby had 2 passengers but, another kill was added to the charger.

 

[lewtot184]

in late 1967 edelbrock did a dyno test of a 383 (330hp) for hot rod magazine. it made about 280hp in stock configuration. in the mopar engine manuals chrysler states the the true horsepower of a 335hp 383 was about 280-290hp. i believe these numbers to be accurate.