Opinion’s Wanted on 383 Build

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Troub

Troub

67 Dart 270, 225 slant six
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Guys,
Looking for opinions on this Edelbrock Top End Kit for a 65 383 block I’ve been gifted. I haven’t gotten into the tear down yet but it looks stock and I’m guessing the heads are 516’s.
Planning on building this for my 67 Dart.
let me know any thoughts on the kit?
Thanks!
 
383's a good engine. perhaps even great. That's my opinion.
 
Troub said:
Nothing at all! Just trying to get close to 400Hp.
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400/400 is easy.... I believe the 383 mag was 320..but the 400 torque !! and on your way to breaking/replacing...naaa wont get enough traction to break parts // unless you have A body 383 manifolds those A body TTI's are almost half the price of that kit:steering:
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The rest of the parts are fine.The only thing I may change would be the cam.
 
So you guys think 400 HP can me made using the existing 516 casting heads?
 
Before considering using the 516 heads, call a few machine shops you would consider doing the necessary work to reburbish and modify the heads, along with the associated parts upgrades to go along with whatever you chose for a cam.

In my area, it’ll be cheaper to buy Stealth heads.
 
.....or buy my 400 ready to drop in.
 
Thanks to all you guys for the thoughts!
Always appreciate all the knowledge.
 
As long as your compression ratio comes in between 9.5 to 10.5
or so those parts should work beautifully.
 
I just looked up the cam specs for the Ede top end kit.
It’s tiny.
Smaller than the 68-69 335hp cam.

I think you’d be pretty hard pressed to see 400hp out of a 383 with that combo.
 
That Edelbrock top end package on a high compression piston (as noted above) and a good cam working in the rpm range you want will be really nice.
Dump the Edelbrock cam in the ocean.
Go for it.
 
If you want to buy that stuff it won't hurt any that's for sure, I'd pick a different cam though unless that's what you want . Along with a good exhaust you'll easily make 400 horsepower, EASILY
 
W
Troub said:
View attachment 1715788007 Guys,
Looking for opinions on this Edelbrock Top End Kit for a 65 383 block I’ve been gifted. I haven’t gotten into the tear down yet but it looks stock and I’m guessing the heads are 516’s.
Planning on building this for my 67 Dart.
let me know any thoughts on the kit?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
What is your intended use? For street it looks pretty good. Should make good torque for street driving. That directly relates to fuel economy.
IMHO, there is a big market crash coming. Probably worse than 1929, and it may last longer. Fuel economy will be important.
I looked at the kit specifications.
Cam: 204I/214E@0.05", 270/280 advertised, 0.420"/0.442". LCA not listed. This is an older design commonly refered to as an RV cam.
Something along the lines of Howards Cams; CL720862-08DL may be better today. Both the Edelbrock and the Howards are hyd flat tappet so oil with ZDDP is required. Say Penzoil 10W-30 intended for diesels?
The Howards cam:238I/238E @0.05", 266I/266E advertised, 0.558" lift on both lobes. This one is ground with a LCA of 108°. David Vizard's cam LCA selector for paralell valves (mainly sm Chevy) is his 128 formula. Based on intake valve curtain diameter and cylinder displacement with about 10:1 to 10.5:1 compression, would indicate 103.5 LCA for your application.
The Edelbrock specs say built to order, so you could probably call and request a different cam with specs like the Howards. Another option if theiir cost goes up or they do not have a cam close to the Howards, buy the kit and sell the unused cam and lifters. With that Howards cam you would need to check the valve springs for rate and coil bind. Valve to piston clearance is mandatory with a new build. Make sure you have valve clearance for 0.600 lift in case you decide an upgrade is in the cards later. Then you know you can slip a cam in later without having to machine the pistons.
Comp is part of Edelbrock now and has similar cams to the Howards. May be able to arm wrestle them for a reasonable upgrade.
 
Not all stock 383's have positive deck height. Several years used unique tall piston's that are above deck @tdc so as to achieve 10+:1 compression ratios with open chamber heads, the same heads as used on 440's. Chrysler didn't make a special head for the 383. If you have one of those negative deck 383's you cannot use closed chamber heads. Take a look at your short block @tdc before ordering heads.
 
you probably have 516 heads, they are closed chambers and flow about the same as good small block heads. I'd find a good set of 68 up heads and go through them, maybe add 2.14 and 1.81 valves. Get a custom cam and valve springs, a good intake, carb, and have Halifaxhops set up your distributor. Done.
 
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