Help Identifying 383 Longblock!

[Despicable Z]

Hey everyone! Mopar Newb in need of some help here. So I recently brought home a 70 Cuda (VIN: BS23N0B425413) and what I was told was a 440 longblock. The car was originally a 383 auto car but the stock motor and tranny were long gone. The seller knew little about the "440" motor- other than the person he bought the car from provided it, saying it was a 440 that they planned to one day drop in the car. Well I started looking over the motor last night and much to my surprise...I believe it is in fact a date correct 383 longblock.

Now I don't know squat about Mopar motors- but here are some of the block markings I was able to find:

Near distributor:
E 383
2 18 2
R

On the passenger side:
2468130  8
N D

On the driver side:
12 16 68

Regrettably- the patch on the passenger side oil pan rail looks blank to me- I can't see any sign of inscription at all.  When I saw E 383, and the 2468130 on the side I was getting REALLY excited thinking this might have been the matching #s 383 block from the car and the seller didn't even know it- but the lack of any VIN stamped on the side makes me think this might be a replacement motor?  Does having a date-correct replacement 383 make the car any more valuable than throwing in an aftermarket 440,  etc.. or is it sort of a wash? Thanks for any info on this motor you guys can provide! Anything else I should look for? Here's a few pics:











Thanks folks! 

[1 Wild R/T]

E is a 69 engine
F would be a 70..
Should have an HP stamping if the car is an N code Cuda
End of the day it's a good engine to build as it will use the same block, crank & rods as the correct engine... A set of closed chamber heads (516's or better yet 915's) would help it quite a bit..

[Chryco Psycho]

12-16-68 & E would be correct for a march built 69 but is probably a replacement with no VIN stamp

[Despicable Z]

That's sort of what I was thinking guys! Bummer- got so excited when I saw 383 

Thanks for the information...time to weigh some rebuild options!

[1 Wild R/T]

Build a 451 or 470....  http://www.440source.com/strokerkits.htm

[Chryco Psycho]

I agree except you cannot get 451 in a 383 block , with the smaller bore you end up around 436

[1 Wild R/T]

Your assuming I would keep the 383 block... And you could but the bigger bore on the 400 helps with breathing...  Then again he has the 383 & it would be plenty for most guys as a street build..

[Chryco Psycho]

Sky is the limit
 stock block you can get close to 500 " in a 400 block 440 can be pushed closer to 550 & use a world block you can go to 5" bore & close to 600 CI

[Sleepychallenger]

Do a 383 to 496 stroker 

[Despicable Z]

Sky is the limit
 stock block you can get close to 500 " in a 400 block 440 can be pushed closer to 550 & use a world block you can go to 5" bore & close to 600 CI

I like the way you think Chryco! I think I'm going to rebuild the 383 myself with mostly stock or near stock components as a back-up motor for the car, and splurge on a 440 stroker for the car. I really like the 505 & 520 shortblocks from MMR http://www.musclemotorsracing.com/short-blocks/big-block-stroker-short-block.html

Should be pretty easy to hit that 600hp mark with some MW heads and a good bumpstick I'd think.