383 Rebuild

[Tropicalcats]

Well it has finally happend the 383 was lifted out of the chally and is on its way to being rebuilt. I talked with a previous owner of the car last week and he told me he rebuilt the engine about 60K ago and almost 17 years ago. It sat for a long time and was  bored to 10 thousands on the first rebuild.

I am just looking for some advice and pitfalls in the rebuild. I want to keep it as original as possible but  will change out the cam. What else should I consider while this Magnum is torn apart? 

Guess I should have said this will be a good weather, mild driving,go to church on Sunday kind of ride. With an occasional desire to chirp the tires in 2nd.

[Chryco Psycho]

Cam & ported heads make the biggest difference , substantial gains are possible & still look stockother than that good machining & balancing + good quaility parts liek forged pistons & Michigan77 brgs all make sense

[Robb]

are you going to use headers or HP manifolds ?

what about your plans for the exhaust ?

what carb are you looking to run ?

[70RAGTOPR/T]

I'm in the process of doing the same thing.  It was suggested by the group that if I wanted more HP while still looking original then I should try stroking my 383.  My 383 is #'s matching.  For more info read Stroking a 383.  Good luck.


http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=21590.0

[Tropicalcats]

are you going to use headers or HP manifolds ?

what about your plans for the exhaust ?

what carb are you looking to run ?

I'll be using headers andwill probably go with a flowmaster maybe a cut-out. the carb will be the original carter with all the emission control stuff from LA

[Chryco Psycho]

I would be more inclined to go the other way & keep the exhaust manifolds & get a cam to work with them & upgrade the carb 

[moper]

IO would rebuild it stock, all new parts except castings. KB makes a flat top piston, that with a steel head gasket and a touch of milling will get you decent pump gas compression with iron heads. The hedas will need unleaded seats, so it may be wiser/easier to locate a set of 452 castings (visually almost identical) and do them up for it. Properly degreed, the stock cam and 9.5:1 will chirp tires all day. If you want more pep, add a slightly larger cam, with matched springs. You wont be unhappy if the work is good.