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

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69 Cuda 440

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In late 1966,

Plymouth wanted to put a 383 4-Barrel engine in the Plymouth Barracuda.

The 383 was going to be made available in the new 1967 Plymouth Barracuda 'only',
as per an August 1966 Plymouth press release.

Dodge had no immediate plans to offer the 383 in the new 1967 Dart GT.

Due to close inner fenderwells and clearance problems, a restrictive dual-exhaust
exhaust system would have to be installed on the tight-frame A-Body. Also a smaller
'jetted' Carter AFB woud be installed on the already poor-flowing cast iron intake.

Though the 383 had a 325 HP rating, when installed in the A-Body, the Horsepower Rating
was dropped down to an 'anemic' 280 Horsepower.

The first 383 engines installed by the 'factory' in the 1967 Plymouth Barracuda during the
(September 1966 production run), were dropped in from the top, utilizing an engine crane.

133675534_069a99e57c.jpg
 
Of course it had to go in from the top. I've heard they used a big hammer to masage one inner fender for fitment.
I've heard the Barracuda was the very first car to get a 340 too but Dart owners will argue that all day too.
 
My 68 will be getting a 383 this summer and I will be learning how tight it will fit. The previous owner had one in with fender well headers, I will be using the factory high rise exhaust manifolds
 
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.
 
1967 Barracuda 383 'Formula S' Production Numbers

1841

Fastbacks 1547 (84%)
4-Speeds.......704
Automatics.....843

Notchbacks 260 (14%)
4-Speeds........97
Automatics.....163

Convertible 34 (2%)
4-Speeds........9
Automatics.....25

th
 
RedFish said:
Of course it had to go in from the top. I've heard they used a big hammer to masage one inner fender for fitment.
I've heard the Barracuda was the very first car to get a 340 too but Dart owners will argue that all day too.
Click to expand...

There are no hammered fenderwells with a 383. 426 Hemi conversion by Hurst-Campbell on pass fenderwell but not the wedge. Even the 440 in M code 68's and 69 fit. You have to have the correct exhaust manifolds but they fit.
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
1967 Barracuda 383 'Formula S' Production Numbers

1841

Fastbacks 1547 (84%)
4-Speeds.......704
Automatics.....843

Notchbacks 260 (14%)
4-Speeds........97
Automatics.....163

Convertible 34 (2%)
4-Speeds........9
Automatics.....25

th
Click to expand...

Would be nice to see a numbers comparison with 67 Camaro and Mustang.

BTW, I was in the army with a guy who had a 383 Dart from Mr. Norm. Never got to see it though, since it was on the other side of the pond from he and I at the time.
 
I will try and find my info but they did some. Reggie Jackson had one that burned in his garage fire.

I remember when I bought my 67 Dart GTS Convertible years ago, "They didn't make a GTS in 67!"

Otay.
 
Very few 1967 Plymouth Barracuda 383's ever around, even back in the day.

And virtually none were ever found at the drag-strip.

True facts, only the 3.23 Posi-Rear was available in the 1967 Barracuda.
No other gears were offered as an 'option' with the 383 'Formula S' car.

If you did see one of these cars at an NHRA Drag Strip in 1967
* Notchback #3119 lbs. = 11.14 Wt/Hp = C/Stock
* Fastback #3202 lbs. = 11.44 Wt/Hp = D/Stock
* Convertible #3224 lbs.= 11.51 Wt/Hp = D/Stock
 
Hyper_pak said:
There are no hammered fenderwells with a 383. 426 Hemi conversion by Hurst-Campbell on pass fenderwell but not the wedge. Even the 440 in M code 68's and 69 fit. You have to have the correct exhaust manifolds but they fit.
Click to expand...

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.
 
65Val said:
No "M" codes' in '68...'69 only.
Click to expand...

The 48 Mr. Norms 440 Dart GSS's were indeed M-Codes. I know of 14 of them that I have personally seen. Indeed PlyMOUTH put 383's in A-Body's before Dodge did. Mr. Norm was a Dodge dealer and couldn't stand the fact that PlyMOUTH did it and Dodge said it wouldn't work. Norm had to put one in a 67 Dart GT, drive it to the headquarters, and beg them to make it! That happened late in 1966 and by February Dodge started building the 457 Dart GT+S cars we know about today! He had to show ALL of Chrysler how to put a 440 in an A-Body...
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
True facts, only the 3.23 Posi-Rear was available in the 1967 Barracuda.
No other gears were offered as an 'option' with the 383 'Formula S' car.
Click to expand...

true fact : Chrysler Corporation called it a SURE GRIP ... Chevrolet/GM called it a POSI-TRAC . :banghead:
 
He had to show ALL of Chrysler how to put a 440 in an A-Body...
Click to expand...

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

The 48 Mr. Norms 440 Dart GSS's were indeed M-Codes.
Click to expand...

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 thought one shock tower was moved 3" outboard , maybe driver side?.
 
Rhinodart nailed my comment. 65Val, Dodge and Plymouth divisions operated separately back then.Plymouth came up with the Road Runner concept first. Dodge passed,until they saw the Road Runner sales. Straight from Mr Norm on the 383 swap,and the Road Runner concept guy. Mopar Action,interviewed both.
 
pishta said:
I thought one shock tower was moved 3" outboard , maybe driver side?.
Click to expand...

Not on either of my big block cars ('68 383, '69 440, both Darts). The passenger side was cut and spliced on the Hemi cars though. Basically an L shaped cut that followed the contour of the shock mount down about 3" and then straight out to the engine and the resulting hole filled with sheet metal so the head would clear. This was done by Hurst.
 
on the hemi cars, show it to me and prove it. want to see a factory picture. i think you are all wrong. the hemi engine fits in.
 
Yes, 73abodEE,

Yes, the Posi-Rear is/was called 'Sure-Grip'.

The 1967 Barracuda 383 'Formula S' could only be purchased with a 3.23 Sure-Grip.

As for the left (Driver Side) exhaust manifold for the 1967 Barracuda 383, it was designed by Arlen Vanke.

Casting #2899002 (1967 Only)
attachment.php



* Note; No modifications were required to the inner fenderwells to fit the 383 engine into the 67' A-Body.

In 1967, Chrysler wanted the 383 to be made available 'only' in the Barracuda. The 1967 Dodge Dart GT
was 'approved' later in the production year, and it had 'nothing' to do with 'Norm' Kraus and Grand Spaulding Dodge.

Plymouth was planning to release the 67' Barracuda 383 in September 1966, bu re-tooling issues pushed back the introduction date to November 16, 1966.

A total of '1857' Barracuda 383 cars were produced.

Nr. Norm did put a 383 in a 1967 Dart as a project in December 1966 and was going to offer that as a
'Special Dealer Optioned Car' at Grand Spaulding Dodge and other affiliated Dodge Dealers who were 'Mr. Norm's' members.

But Dodge put the 'squash' on that, and eventually went into production with the 383 in the Dart GT from February 1967
thru June 1967.

Only '457' of the 1967 383 Darts were built. They were called Dart GT + 383 = Dart GTS
 
Straight from Mr Norm on the 383 swap
Click to expand...

Yup, thats what he's been saying for 30+ years, and that keeps propagating the myth.

The 1967 Dodge Dart GTS was 'approved' later in the production year, and it had 'nothing' to do with Norm Krausse and Grand Spaulding Dodge.
Click to expand...

This I can believe.
 
The shock tower was flipped on the passenger side of the Hemi super stock b bodies in '64 and '65 for clearance.
I have seen pictures of the Hemi super stock a bodies with the shock towers ''massaged'' by a hammer for clearance on a super stock Hemi car.
The Hemi super stock a bodies also had spacers between the k member and frame to lower the engines down, probably making this ''adjustment'' to the inner fender necessary.
 
Dartnut said:
The shock tower was flipped on the passenger side of the Hemi super stock b bodies in '64 and '65 for clearance.
I have seen pictures of the Hemi super stock a bodies with the shock towers ''massaged'' by a hammer for clearance on a super stock Hemi car.
The Hemi super stock a bodies also had spacers between the k member and frame to lower the engines down, probably making this ''adjustment'' to the inner fender necessary.
Click to expand...

i think you are correct with the spacers but not with the shock towers show me some factory pictures before the where sold. i am talking about the 68 dart and barracuda's
 
Since I own a factory Hemi Dart, a 383 4-speed Dart for 35 years now, a factory 440 Dart and an M-Code Mr. Norms GSS and have worked for Mr. Norm for the last 5 years I may know a thing or two about these cars. No cutting and splicing on the Hemi Dart fenderwells, just some nasty hammering! The Mr. Norm M-Code Darts used 67 383 manifolds then Norm had Iggy's muffler make headers later, I used to have a set. So you who think know about the 273 Dart GT that Norm had the 383 put into and drove to Detroit, when did that happen and why do you believe that Norm had no input to Dodge on the decision to make the 67 Dart GTS's, which I have owned 6 of...
 
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