71 Cuda ? Go with the 383 or put in a 440?

[67Vette427]

That sounds pretty trick! Anybody want a 70 440HP motor? 

[67Vette427]

The 70 383 thats in it now has the late 70 heads... I think the # are end in 452. I'm sure the cc volume is higher than the 906 head. Any idea what the volume is? I was also thinking of putting the correct 906 heads on the 70 383.

[Chryco Psycho]

906 & 452 heads are both open chamber heads with approx 88cc volume

[67Vette427]

Then the head change wouldn't make any difference. What was the horsepower diffrence between the 70 and later motors?

[Chryco Psycho]

quite a bit mostly due to lower compression & poorer cams both cam be easily fixed

[67Vette427]

Are the pistons different? How is the mopar 484 lift cam? Here is a picture I took of today in the driveway. Finally got the front end down a bit 

[Chryco Psycho]

yeah the pistons were .100 or more below deck
 What happened to the white Hemi Chall ?

[67Vette427]

I always favored the 71 Cuda and this one came along with a four speed and a rally dash. It was on the expensive side and the wife wouldn't give up the 3rd stall in the garage so I put it up for sale. It sold in a week.

[todd383]

man its amazing how many people underestimate the 383,if  matched right, it can make some serious power, I built many 383s and a couple of 440s and thhey both  seem to be around the same horsepower, but the 440 will have an advantage on the tourqe side, but not by much, My 383 in my challenger now has a little over 500 hp, with only 9.75 comp. ported heads, hughrs 3038 hyd. cam, performer rpm intake, and its very streetable. Beleive me , u will be satisfied with the performance of  a good runnin 383, so build the 383!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I remember about 15 or so years ago, my friend had a 69 383 gts 4 speed stock engine  low milage, we put 391s in, headers, aluminum intake, an a holley 750 carb, we took it down the track and  were runnin in the mid 12s at 108 plus in the 1/4  with 14 in. tires .

[67Vette427]

I see what you're saying Todd. I had the 440 left over from the Challenger and I hate to keep it sitting around. I agree that the 383 would run real well. Today I drove the car and it really is a good driver, it could just use about 30 more horses. That would be easy to get and still keep the car a good driver.

[71340RT]

The Cuda looks so good I would also stay with a 383 build up and try to keep it stock looking so you can surprise people with what it will be able to do. Just my 2 cents.
Jeff

[67Vette427]

Thanks. Nice 71 R/T what color is it? Original? What code if so?

[Chryco Psycho]

The 383 is a great engine no doubt but 2 things are a factor , the cost is the same to do a 440 or a 383 & he has the 440 & the stroker 383 is rally onlt the added cost of the pistons & would look stock , point 2 is the 360 has more stroke than the 383 so it does lack torque
 I am basically contimplating the exact same choice , I have a good running 440 in my Chall but it is Gutless so do I build a 383 for it , stroke  383 or fix the 440 Im sick of having less HP than everyone of my customers engines I have built

[67Vette427]

LOL, I know what you mean Chryco. I've done three engines in the last month and mines been sitting there. I  drove the Cuda today and of course some Ford Mustang Cobra ( around a 2000 ) came up jumping on it next to me. I just didn't pay attention to him which was the best thing to anyway since my daughter was in the car. But right around that time you all know what I was thinking?? I miss the Hemi in that Challenger, it would smoke the tires at a 30mph roll, go screamin sideways and scare most away.

[67Vette427]

With all the feedback, I think I'll throw a cam in the 383 that's in the car and see what that does for the car. I'm thinking of one of the purple shaft cams p/n 4122035 284 dur and 484 lift. I'd go with the 509 but it has a pretty rough idle. A cam is pretty easy to switch out.