Biomedtechguy
Well-Known Member
I am interested in any story about 383 builds, from stock to "shadetree" performance builds (like my friend did in 1980, more to follow) to all out wringing the most power out of the factory 383 block possible.
Back in 1979/80 I hooked up my best friend with a local cruiser. Being a Mopar guy, of course I took note of this guy's 70, 383, Air Grabber, Pistol Grip 4 speed equipped Roadrunner. It sounded like a good running, stock Mopar big block should sound, appeared (and was) unmodified, and the factory F6 green metallic paint and black stripes with green bucket seats and console all looked good.
So they made a deal. My friend changed the factory 4bbl intake to an aluminum dual plane, headers, put a Holley 780? 4bbl carb on it, Direct--><--Connection Purple Stripe cam (I think it was the "street Hemi grind? around 284°/.488 lift) springs, lifters, Centerlines (I loved them) wide radial T/As and a 3.91 rear gear with the adjustable pinion snubber. He also played with a 4.3X gear in that 8¾ Sure Grip rear axle assembly.
It was a consistent, solid, reliable mid to high 13 second car on the street and strip, and he won more races than he lost.
Last note, and then any 383 stories can come a flyin'...
When we were watching him race someone, especially at night, we could always tell when he hit 2nd gear, even if he was too far away to hear, or if the other car was way louder. See, his turn signal detente was worn, and there was a little weight to that metal turn signal arm, and he power shifted so that was a pretty violent slam into 2nd gear, and the left hand turn signal always came on!!
The other thing is I took a ride a few times when he would stage it and get at it like a quarter mile race. 1st gear was extremely noisy, between the headers, carb gulping air through the Air Grabber, tires spinning but moving the car forward, a whole lot of physics lessons all happening at once! Once he hit 2nd, that was often the tell of the tape, and he would usually pull away from the car next to him by a significant margin.
Great car, great memories, and I believe a properly components matched to the natural strengths of the 383's engineering design setup is highly competitive to other "old school" engines of that era.
What are YOUR 383 stories??
Back in 1979/80 I hooked up my best friend with a local cruiser. Being a Mopar guy, of course I took note of this guy's 70, 383, Air Grabber, Pistol Grip 4 speed equipped Roadrunner. It sounded like a good running, stock Mopar big block should sound, appeared (and was) unmodified, and the factory F6 green metallic paint and black stripes with green bucket seats and console all looked good.
So they made a deal. My friend changed the factory 4bbl intake to an aluminum dual plane, headers, put a Holley 780? 4bbl carb on it, Direct--><--Connection Purple Stripe cam (I think it was the "street Hemi grind? around 284°/.488 lift) springs, lifters, Centerlines (I loved them) wide radial T/As and a 3.91 rear gear with the adjustable pinion snubber. He also played with a 4.3X gear in that 8¾ Sure Grip rear axle assembly.
It was a consistent, solid, reliable mid to high 13 second car on the street and strip, and he won more races than he lost.
Last note, and then any 383 stories can come a flyin'...
When we were watching him race someone, especially at night, we could always tell when he hit 2nd gear, even if he was too far away to hear, or if the other car was way louder. See, his turn signal detente was worn, and there was a little weight to that metal turn signal arm, and he power shifted so that was a pretty violent slam into 2nd gear, and the left hand turn signal always came on!!
The other thing is I took a ride a few times when he would stage it and get at it like a quarter mile race. 1st gear was extremely noisy, between the headers, carb gulping air through the Air Grabber, tires spinning but moving the car forward, a whole lot of physics lessons all happening at once! Once he hit 2nd, that was often the tell of the tape, and he would usually pull away from the car next to him by a significant margin.
Great car, great memories, and I believe a properly components matched to the natural strengths of the 383's engineering design setup is highly competitive to other "old school" engines of that era.
What are YOUR 383 stories??
bought the MP porting templets and got out the die grinder. (Bigger is Better Right!)
