"i own two of those old 273 engines and that was one of the highest revving engines chrysler ever built due to the short stroke it had,but none of them was ever called the commando,i got one that came out of a 66 barracuda,that runs right around 275 horse power,stock no modifications,they also had factory aluminum intakes on them,and solid lift cams,in a light body car they was hard to beat,you can buy any piece you want for that engine, i rebuilt mine about two years ago, jegs has any piece you want for that engine,i bought a master rebuild kit for less than 500 bucks,pistons and all,the 318 is a better engine to build but the 273 would smoke it on a 1/8 mile track,in its time nothing anyone else had would touch it coming out of the hole ,not even fords popular 289 would touch it,i know i use to race them every saturday night,good luck.
Source(s):
been a certified mechanic for 40 yrs now."
Wow.
"I don't remember the 273 engine ever being called a "Commando", a term usually reserved for the big block engine, 361 cubic inches and up, in the Plymouth line.
The last year for the 273 powered Dart was 1967 I believe and if that's the case it would not be an original engine to a '69 Dart.
The highest horsepower 273 was a 275 which required a .500 lift cam and used solid lifters. The biggest problem were the small valved heads, a four barrel carb with standard four barrel cam was 235 horsepower. Any parts for a 273 engine would be hard to come by and more than likely have to be custom machined."
