340 or 383?

[71chally416]

Really the biggest drawback is it's 70 more lbs than a 360 and 95 more than a 340 at 620lbs, but makes about the same hp stock.  I don't know how much of a concern that should really be when a 280cube Mod Ford motor weighs 675lbs, or as much as an iron 440.

That can be reduced a bunch with aliminum heads/Intake and water pump housing. With good pistons and a rebuilt bottom end with resized rods, good Arp bolts and a good stock forged crank and oil pan they are good to 7,500rpm. The way to build a 383 (IMO) is to make it a high RPM screamer, like the 340. Single plane intake, Big cam, ported heads, the whole deal. If you want a TQ motor, use a 440. 

[74 340 4speed]

High rpm screamer, good handling, =340
Tire roasting torque, straight line performance =stroked 383

[sleepychallenger]

is it possible to stroke the 383 with it in the car?

[71chally416]

Nope.

[Supercuda]

Sure it's possible to stroke your 383 while it's in the car. First, a note of caution: stand on the side of the car, not in front- these things can bite. Always stroke it from front to rear, as that's which way the hair grows on these little guys. By the way, my 383 spins happily to 7,000 rpm with a cast crank, and would do 7,500 with some oiling mods. The cast crank is lighter, and allows this thing to spin like a 340. The one thing not mentioned in this thread, is that the stroke of the 360 is longer than the 383, and that the rod/stroke ratio is very favorable to high-rpm abuse in the 383. The 360 often makes fuel economy comparable to the bigblock, whereas the 340 can be made to sip fuel. If the 340 can be landed for small change, then it is certainly the way to go. If you are willing to leave some fuel economy behind for more power, build a 360. Fewer mods, and it is cheap to get started.

[rallye5.7]

  Why not just build up the 318. I had a 318 Charger and was convinced that a big block was the only way to go. Stroked a 400 ,rebuit a trans, shortened the driveshaft and put a bigger rad in, plus more$$$$$$. The car ran great.
   But------------------ after reading what could actually could be done to a 318 I probably would have been just as happy and the pocket book wouldn't have suffered nearly as much.

 By the way I sold the 318 to a guy who put it in a dakota without changing anything (not even a gasket) and he's been 1/8mi. bracket racing it for two years.

[71chmark]

I've had all 3 and I enjoyed the 383s the best in my 68 and 70 roadrunner.  They screamed.  They are cheap, plentiful and all around good engines for the street.  You can't go wrong with a 383.  I got a 440 for the cool factor but it was a hard choice.  Gas mileage won't be noticebly different between the 383 and the 340 and neither will the performance but your wallet will notice.

[moparcardave]

Back in the Army when I had my 69 Super Bee and stock 383 there was nothing like the buzz.  Stock 383 pulls more rpms then stock 440, and many trips traveling from Ft Leonard Wood back home to northern Illinois were quicker then on 2 lane roads then on the 4 lane interstate.  That speedometer seldom saw much under 100mph most the way home.  The bad thing was those darn drum brakes, I know good enough for CHP.  Though they weren't good enough for a 20 year old guy going 110 past 4 college girls hitchhiking.  (guy behind me in a goat had better brakes).  I thought the 383 was always underrated.  When I did my roadrunner in the early 90's I went stock 383 just because I love that motor.  I had a 72 cuda with a fresh 340 in it, that was very hot, sold it for $900 in the late 80's, yep we all make mistakes I could list a bunch like the buddies 65 hemi for $1500, another buddies 71 Challenger 440-6 4 spd Se for $1600 in 73... Yeah I know dumb...   Anyway the 73 I am doing now will have the 440 in it.  I guess it's just the fact that should I one day sell it, (stop me) it should go for more green.  I have done them completey stock, even with the F5 paint and bench seat.  However, this time doing it for fun, I have had the originals when they were new, and now make it way you would have if you could have.