What size and year is this big block?

[moparhunter]

Local buy and sell. This popped up this afternoon. The seller doesn’t know anything about it except which shown in the pictures. He thinks it’s a 383 but doesn’t know anything else. Anybody have thoughts? This is all the information I have to go on.

 

[toolmanmike]

Can't tell much by the pics.

 

[moparhunter]

Was 383 ever red ?

 

[318willrun]

Could be a 361.

 

[moparhunter]

Yes, it’s kind of what I’m afraid of without driving out to look at it

 

[moparhunter]

Seller wants $200 so the price is good .

 

[JDMopar]

Ask them to scrape the pad under the distributer and report the numbers back to you.

 

[toolmanmike]

The engine size is cast right into the side of the block.

 

[RustyRatRod]

It's a low deck for sure. Ask for a pic of the casting number above and behind the starter on the block.

 

[318willrun]

Seller wants $200 so the price is good .

If it's close, I'd just hop on over and take a gawk. Means he knows "nothing"... I'd turn the crank a full revolution to make sure it doesn't lock and verify what engine/year it is.

 

[rbkt65]

That holley carb was std on 360/383/400. Casting on side won't tell much, like it does on aa 318/340/360. An early 440 casting says 430 on it. Laters ones say 440. Any guess is not wrong, yet.

 

[Professor Fate]

Assuming it's all original-
It's six bolt valve covers, not four- so it's '64 and later.
Both VCs have stovepipes, so '66 and earlier.
2bbl. Carter BBD, so 361-383. BUT it's got a '67 and later type kickdown linkage ("sliding" vs fixed pivot). Hmmmm.
By the looks of it, it's Industrial Red- the only reference I can find to a red passcar B motor is the 1960 Golden Commando 361, and we know it's not a 1960 because of the valve covers. So it's a truck motor? Front or rear sump pan would confirm that.
My guess is '66 361.

 

[RustyRatRod]

That holley carb was std on 360/383/400. Casting on side won't tell much, like it does on aa 318/340/360. An early 440 casting says 430 on it. Laters ones say 440. Any guess is not wrong, yet.

Unless it an RB guess, because it's not an RB.

 

[A56]

Sellers

 

[Lefty71]

Doesnt look like a whole lot to get excited about. Most likely 383 with 516 heads.

 

[Mopar Fred]

Doesnt look like a whole lot to get excited about. Most likely 383 with 516 heads.

I have seen this statement many times on a bodies. How 383 is not exciting. That’s the furthest thing from the truth. I just took a 66 casting date Block 383 and stroked it to a 432 that makes 550 hp And 575 foot pounds of torque. If it is a 383 it fits better than a 440 in a A body.

 

[Murray]

How does a guy that doesn't know what he has ask $200?

 

[moparhunter]

I guess I’m going to go have a peak and see.

 

[Lefty71]

I have seen this statement many times on a bodies. How 383 is not exciting. That’s the furthest thing from the truth. I just took a 66 casting date Block 383 and stroked it to a 432 that makes 550 hp And 575 foot pounds of torque. If it is a 383 it fits better than a 440 in a A body.

Im with ya....i took a nice 400hp and threw away literally everything but the main caps and did something similar many years ago. I'm surprised at what i spent then, and almost cant imagine now. Its in an Abody too.... i really think id stick to a 400 or better (aftermarket) before getting into that ($$$) again. When i did my 383 i had a huge stash of old school mopar race stuff to do that one on the cheap.... i guess im just sayin, i wouldnt even waste 200 bucks without a gameplan.