Is the 383 a better engine, or does the 440 just have more displacement?

When I was about 18 in 1972, my friend’s older sister married this guy named Marty. He was super cool. Bought a triple black stripe delete ’70 LS6 Chevelle new. Sold it when they got married. He was an ace mechanic, first at the ENCO down the block where we lived and then bought a Standard/Amoco station nearby. He told us this great story one day at the ENCO about driving behind a guy in a 383 Roadrunner on the highway, hearing the guy winding 2nd gear forever and thinking to himself, “this guy better shift or he’s going to lunch his motor”, and right then the guy lunched his motor! Marty pulled over to help him and the first thing the guy said was “You just can’t get 7 grand out of a 383!” Marty thought that was hilarious. Then the guy walks over to a piece of a thrown rod on the road and right before Marty can warn him not to pick it up, the guy picks it up and burns his fingers. Wild stuff.