68 383 Formula S rant

[e58duster75]

Decided I would upgrade to ps in my 383 S, put the new factory steering gear in, well with headers nothing fit, motor in and out 20 times, still did not fit, manual gear back in now, well put new trans lines in for the braided lines, one does not fit, back to the braided lines, put a recored rad in that was period correct but not for a BB, bottom hose outlet is right in front of the oil filter, put the 73 C body rad which has been modified back in, I love this Barracuda but a bit frustrated at the moment, will have to get new TTI headers, different bottom tank for the rad and not sure about the trans lines. Hopefully nothing else pops up. Thanks for listening. I should have been asking questions on here before I started this work.

 

[AJ/FormS]

I'm trying not to chuckle......
I hope it works out for you.
When I started my Barracuda project;
I had every part I needed to make it a 383. and every part to make it an SBM. So I had multiple choices.
I chose SBM, for the exact reasons that mentioned.
The 367 dropped right in there..............

I chose the SBM, cuz I knew this was gunna be a DD. And I knew that a 350hp engine was NOT gonna be fun in winter. So I knew I'd be swapping in a smaller engine for winter. And whereas the 367 was gunna be a 4-speed, I was pretty sure the smaller would be an automatic.
So for me, a 383 was NOT gunna be the hot ticket.
And so it was, that for the next 6 years, I swapped engines twice a year......... until my son, who wanted that 318, made me an offer that I couldn't refuse. After that, I stopped driving the 367, cuz by now it was up to over 400hp. which ......... I didn't think would play nice with ice and snow. lol.

 

[qkcuda]

I believe that the Schumacher Tri-Y's are the best header for power steering.

 

[jeff alder]

Get rid of the headers. A good 383 in an A body will cut the mustard without them. They may be a little restrictive but is it worth the pain in the *** they are for what you want to do? You should be turning in the 300HP level with a stock 383.

 

[Syleng1]

You could always turn (no pun intended) to an electric ps unit from an electric car.
Mounts under the dash I believe not under the hood.

 

[mvh]

There was a reason the factory didn't offer power steering with the 383 when it came out. I believe they did manage it later, but obviously it is a very tight fit and you need to have the correct combination of parts. Probably best to check with someone who has already done it.

I had a 1967 383 radiator in my small block car for years, and I didn't have any issue with the hose routing. But the other way around, maybe not.

 

[1969383S]

I feel your pain, been down those roads. Patience and research is your best friend and this site, and members really helped me along my journey! Mine started in 2012 and is still going.


I got my 69 383S back to mostly factory specs and wrecked the car this past Saturday. Called Haggarty today and feeling a
little better, maybe! Still can not get the hood open but from what I can see the precious Radiator and Core support survived. I have all the pieces but the required BB steering
column parts to convert and may be the time to hit the go button! See my thread and the soon to be upcoming thread on the repairs to come.

Did I get to "Greedy" Today? Did a double car show Saturday and the ending not so good!​

 

[Oldmanmopar]

If you cut the steering column back to the firewall. eliminate the the lower bearing which is not needed put the foam seal in for a 71 and newer sold at Mopar A Body 71-73, B 71-72, E 71-73 Lower Steering Column End Foam Seal & Retainer . Then 1970 and 1971 B-body HP manifolds fit right on .

 

[e58duster75]

Thanks guys for the humour and ideas, not a good mechanic but I try, usually get in trouble, well everything is back the way it was before I tried to change it, I did get the cam changed to a 6 pack cam from a 551 solid, should be a bit better on the street.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

Nice cars