So many engines...

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Dustey

Dustey

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Brunswick Georgia
Hey guys, over the past year I’ve been gathering all these engines for my 1973 Plymouth Duster to replace the slant six. Now that the slant six is in need of a rebuild I thought I’d throw in one of my v8s. I’m just looking for some opinions or input on what you guys would do. My budget is pretty flexible.

Here’s what I got
1 1976 motorohome 440
2 383s one is a magnum
1 1971 318

I’m really looking to make around 450 horse with a good amount of torque to match. I used the car as a daily driver, but now I’d like to make it into a street brawler that can take abuse and I can drive often.

I like the 383s cause I think they’re a really solid engine that can take a beating but 450 hp seems a little radical in a 383 for street driving, I’m not sure.

For the 318 I have a small block intake for a 6-71 roots blower and the blower itself. I also have a 273 steel crank that will bolt right in, not sure about what pistons to use but definitely some aftermarket forged ones.

As for the 440 I have no clue what to do, the low compression 440 seems like it would be good with the 6-71 blower. Or the much simpler route of getting better compression pistons around 9.5-1 as I’ve been told many times that a hot 383 is like a breathed on 440

I already have a 8 3/4 rear end and mounts for each conversion so I’m not worried about any of that.

What would you guys do, any other different routes you would take?

And please don’t say do a 408 stroker, heard it a thousand times lol
 
Think the answer is easy, lots of torque and very streetable = largest displacement you got.
 
A 6-71 on a teen would be cool. The 273 crank is a good piece for it with some aftermarket steel rods. Blowers like low compression so look for forged pistons to match the combination. Call the cam companies with your combo and have them grind a special one. You might get 500 horse with the right combination.
 
Slant 6 w/ 250 shot nos and a diaper to hold the aftermath. Then do the same to the 318....then the 383, bet the 383 holds together.
 
I'd do the nice 383 with the blower. 440 motorhome motor probably has jank heads, valve rotators and sludge up the yang. 318 with a blower would be hard to find cheap forged pistons for. 383 Forged are ~$450 set, 318's are $680! Just my opinion.
 
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I would go with the 383 magnum, most bang for the buck. Just put it in.
 
I just gotta say;
at 12 ft elevation in Brunswick, yur 318 should be fairly peppy with just a plain rebuild using hi-compression pistons and a nice set of Magnum heads.
I mean right out of the gate she is pushing 10 pounds per cube.
 
^^ Yes, you make a 432(?) Wedge. IIRC. Must turn down the throws and use a 383 rods, ala 451 and cut the throws .125 to clear the innards. different stroker pistons can use either rods again ala 451. You can get the 383/400 stroker crank already done up off the shelf now.
 
If it were me, 440 all the way. Although the 383 may be a better choice for fitment. Not sure if the 383 would require cutting the inner fenders or not. Im sure it would for headers but maybe not for manifolds
 
If you need to drive it every day drop the idea of the blower. Big block A bodies are cool but I think a small block package is preferred. If you have the 318 and want to use it, I'd stroke that. There are quality crank packages available, the output with pump gas fits what you want, easier physical fit, easier maintenance, easier to pass off as "just a ***" at the cruise night or track, lower overall cost. That's my recommendation.
 
Dustey said:
Hey guys, over the past year I’ve been gathering all these engines for my 1973 Plymouth Duster to replace the slant six. Now that the slant six is in need of a rebuild I thought I’d throw in one of my v8s. I’m just looking for some opinions or input on what you guys would do. My budget is pretty flexible.

Here’s what I got
1 1976 motorohome 440
2 383s one is a magnum
1 1971 318

I’m really looking to make around 450 horse with a good amount of torque to match. I used the car as a daily driver, but now I’d like to make it into a street brawler that can take abuse and I can drive often.

I like the 383s cause I think they’re a really solid engine that can take a beating but 450 hp seems a little radical in a 383 for street driving, I’m not sure.

For the 318 I have a small block intake for a 6-71 roots blower and the blower itself. I also have a 273 steel crank that will bolt right in, not sure about what pistons to use but definitely some aftermarket forged ones.

As for the 440 I have no clue what to do, the low compression 440 seems like it would be good with the 6-71 blower. Or the much simpler route of getting better compression pistons around 9.5-1 as I’ve been told many times that a hot 383 is like a breathed on 440

I already have a 8 3/4 rear end and mounts for each conversion so I’m not worried about any of that.

What would you guys do, any other different routes you would take?

And please don’t say do a 408 stroker, heard it a thousand times lol
Click to expand...


A 440 based Duster. It runs 8.90's @150
 
Just watched engine masters crank out 432hp and 473 lb-ft out of a stock 78 low compression 440 with a 268 comp cam and 240cc trickflow cnc heads. Yeah my vote is 440. So easy to get power just freshen up the bottom end and done.
 
A well thought out blower motor can be a great cruiser. It does not have to be a noisy, rough running gas hog.

And there is nothing like the seat of the pants instant torque you will feel as you are pinned back in the seat.

You don't need forged pistons if you keep the comp ratio under 9-1. Ford and GM produced thousands of 3.8 liter supercharged engines with cast or hyper pistons.

Before I built my blown 354 I spoke at length with blower shops about pistons. Some had bone stock SBCs in the field with 6.71 huffers that ran for years making great street friendly HP.

You don't have to make a blower engine behave like a Top Fuel digger.
 
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