Thread: 383 or 440?

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I got a friend that recently got a 68 charger in great shape.
He has a or he says he has a 383 in it that needs rebuilt or should he put a 440 in it instead. He has access to a couple 440,s

which is the better motor?
Thanks

depends who you ask...I like cubes, but I know of some guys who swear the chrysler 383 will dust any 440...so, I dont know, the 383 revs quicker I imagine, but the 440 will out grunt the 383

I have been doing alot of research lately on BB mopars and there isn't alot of difference in the basic engines, they are all good to build up and of course everything depends on the combination of parts (cam, intake, compression, tranny, rear end gears etc.) that you use to put it together with. The 383 may be a more era correct motor for that car, they all can be built to screem fairly easily. I really am getting to like the BB mopars for thier low end torque stock they have is hard to beat.
One thing I can say for sure is that the late 60's early 70's 440's seem to be the most popular for building.

What about putting a set of 440 Heads on the 383, it was a factory motor option, called the 383 "Commando". I like the 383's myself.

Do the 440. The only thing that beats cubic inches is cubic dollars.

Originally posted by Matt167
What about putting a set of 440 Heads on the 383, it was a factory motor option, called the 383 "Commando". I like the 383's myself.

That would come close to getting you a 383 Magnum circa '68. My '68 Charger was a 383 and I had a lot of trouble with 440's, 350 horse 396's was a totally different story.

Depends.Is the 383 the original motor? If it is I would be inclined to stick with that.Be worth it in the long run.
I had a 383 in my 68 Charger and it was strong as hell,even when I ran it with two burnt out valves. Only thing, it wouldn't stop,had drums on all four corners.
However there is something about the numbers 440 that gets the pulse racing on any Mopar man.Almost as much as that word..HEMI.

Cheers KIWI

Go for the big one,at least the cheap big one,put a 440 crank into a 400 block,you get 452 cubes of real torque in a relativly small package that will melt tires by just thinking "acelerator".};-)

Originally posted by mercmad
Go for the big one,at least the cheap big one,put a 440 crank into a 400 block,you get 452 cubes of real torque in a relativly small package that will melt tires by just thinking "acelerator".};-)

Yep, and if you offset grind the 440 crank for BB Chevy rods and bore the small ends of the rods to mount 429 Ford pistons, you get a 470 cubic inch motor.

Tech, that's a whole new approach to the other thread about cross-breeding cars...

Cool stuff. Thanks for the info.

Pretty nutso, huh?

Hey Tech your Back!
Good deal

The only thing better than cubic inches is more cubic inches, the only thing better than money is cubic money!!! Do the big motor, you'll love it. Heck, do it Tech's way and you will have a super ground pounder!!!!!!

I used to have a 69 Barracuda Formula S with a 383 Commando 330 hp, it would beat most 440 factory stockers. Not the 440-6's though. As much as I liked that engine, if I were doing one today it would be a 440. Much easier to get parts for 440's then the old 383's.

Cool Runnin,
Like previously stated if the engine is original to the car then the car will be worth much more with it. But if not then sky is the limit. It depends on how much power He wants to have. You can build a 383 with very good power and torque, but it will cost approximately the same to build the 440. Except if your going to put expensive parts in them. It does cost more to build a mopar, but it doesn't take as much to make respecable power and torque. People like the 67' to 71' motors better because they forged cranks. The newer ones have cast. You can still build them for good power though. If it were my car and the motor wasn't original I would build the 440.