Engine choice 383 or 440

[-009-]

Just a quick question for you guys, I have a 70' challenger that has a POS 383 that isn't original to the car.
Soon enough the resto will start on her, but I'm torn on the engine size. The goal for the resto is to make it mostly correct, as its no longer numbers matching. It was originally a 383 car.

Would you keep the original size (date correct ideally) or just go with a 440? Being non-numbers matching would changing the engine size affect its future value?

[Sleepychallenger]

Im willing to bet that most will say go with a 440...but I personally like the 383. Make a nice stroker out of it and enjoy 

[anlauto]

Keep it 383...not a huge difference to go 440.

[Strawdawg]

If it's not number matching, build it the way you want to.  If you are looking for speed, take a 440 block, stroke it, and put aluminum heads on it for a little weight saving.  If you want handling, build a small block stroker with aluminum heads and cut the front end down some.

Me, I went with the Hotchkis suspension for handling and a bb stroker for speed...

Once it is not numbers matching, you are not going to hurt the price by modding it, but you can make the price better by doing it right.

[burdar]

I'd put a 383 stroker in it.  The raised pad on the front of a 440 is a dead giveaway that it isn't the correct engine for the car.  Build a stock looking stroker 383 and have the best of both worlds.(stock looks but 440 power)

[anlauto]

  I just put a 496(stroked 383) in a 383 Challenger, nobody knows the difference

[74 challenge]

i'd honestly go with whatever came up for sale that was a better deal and built with better parts.

[HP_Cuda]

The motor already isn't original to the car so I say:

There is no replacement for displacement!

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Using a 383 block you can get 428 CI using a 440 crank & rods , light weight high RPM 440 on a budget
 or 400 block will look like the 383 & wil give you 451 with the 440 crank & rods , you will have lots of power with the original look , but B engine intakes are harder to get & flow less
 With a 440 block I would go to 512 CI !
To me any engine without the matching serial # on the block is a non original engine so build what you want / like !

[anlauto]

This is an original 383 car with a 383 in it.....

496 stroker bored .030 over = 500+ cu in. , 465 hp at the flywheel, but a whopping 585 ft/lbs of torque

[-009-]

Thanks you guys for the input on what engine to go with. Never even considered building a stroker. So it looks like  I'm gonna lean towards building a 383 stroker and if all else fails go for a 440.

Thanks

[todd383]

yes, keep the 383 and stroke it!! just did mine early this year. 496" muscle motors 4.25 kit.  with exhaust manifolds it made over 425 rwhp and 450 rwtq! on pump gas.

[GreenFish]

Yup, go to 440 Source and stoke that 383.  that's what I would do.