color of 383/4 in a standard Barracuda or Challenger

[bb71challenger]

I am going to mimic a standard Challenger with a big block and want to know if the 383/4 was orange or blue in  1970 and 1971.

[Challenger6pak]

It would have been orange in an N code car. I have one here. It is a 1970 N code 4 speed Challenger. It was not an R/T. The motor is orange.

[Supercuda]

There were two 4-barrel 383's offered in 1970. The HP engine was Street Hemi Orange (N-code, 335 hp), and the standard 383 4-barrel engine (L-code, 330 hp) was the traditional, Chrysler Turquoise. I have seen both engines installed in non-HP cars, and the fender tag or VIN should tell you which you have.

[bb71challenger]

There were two 4-barrel 383's offered in 1970. The HP engine was Street Hemi Orange (N-code, 335 hp), and the standard 383 4-barrel engine (L-code, 330 hp) was the traditional, Chrysler Turquoise. I have seen both engines installed in non-HP cars, and the fender tag or VIN should tell you which you have.

I thought the N code was the 4 barrel version and the L code was the 2 barrel version? 

[Alaskan_TA]

Both 4-bbl 383 engines were "N" codes in the VIN.

One was HP, one was not. The HP version was orange, the regular version blue.

Here is the 1970 TSB page showing the engine colors;

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/TSBs/1970/D70-25-1%20page5.jpg

[Supercuda]

I knew somebody with a 1970 Challenger that had the L-code 383, with a factory 4-V carb on it. I swear, it said "L" in the VIN, and the engine was a 4-V car. The engine was turquoise, and I wasn't into fender tags then, so I never looked at the option code, but I know what I saw. What a morass we have in this area! There are even 2 camshafts for the 4-V engines. I took out a stick with 276/292 duration from my 1970 383 HP, and the one listed in all current literature I've seen for the HP engines, shows the 268/284 cam out of the 440 as the only HP camshaft. I have been kicking myself since 1986 for not saving the OE ecamshaft from my engine, because it might actually help solve a few arguments in this area. I am sure that you have some backing documentation for your conclusion, Barry, but it doesn't change what I've seen. Sometimes, I want a time machine for the express purpose of going back to see these things in their new state, so that we can all rest a little easier.

[bb71challenger]

Both 4-bbl 383 engines were "N" codes in the VIN.

One was HP, one was not. The HP version was orange, the regular version blue.

Here is the 1970 TSB page showing the engine colors;

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/TSBs/1970/D70-25-1%20page5.jpg

Thanks Barry. Now I dont really care either way what color I paint the engine. With that said, could you get a magnum 383 in a base Challenger? To tell the truth a torquoise low deck stroker would lend itself better to my intention of a sleeper "383 looking" stroker motor. 

[cjm]

I thought the N code was the 4 barrel version and the L code was the 2 barrel version? 

I agree............    The "N" code was for the 383 - 4 barrel.....
                          330 hp ---- was with the carter carb
                          335 hp ---- was with the holley
.................................................................Both were orange.........

[sleepychallenger]

I agree............    The "N" code was for the 383 - 4 barrel.....
                          330 hp ---- was with the carter carb
                          335 hp ---- was with the holley
.................................................................Both were orange.........

i thought the 330 was the non hp and 335 was the hp. i have the HP engine with the carter.

[cjm]

I had researched this a while back and I believe were both stamped HP on the block (330&335hp).. (Dodge-Magnum,Plymouth-Commando)  The additional 5 hp came from the Holley carb, all other components were the same (69&70)... I don't know if it was a changeover from carter to holley or an option......  Also, in 71 they lowered the compression ratio for the 383...

[Challenger6pak]

With that said, could you get a magnum 383 in a base Challenger?

Yes. That is what my car came with. The cars came with a flat hood and a 383 four barrel emblem on the fender instead of the V-8 script. This is the one mounted below the Challenger emblem.

[bb71challenger]

Yes. That is what my car came with. The cars came with a flat hood and a 383 four barrel emblem on the fender instead of the V-8 script. This is the one mounted below the Challenger emblem.

Cool, never seen that before. You could get the sport hood on the base Challenger too right?

[MEK-Dangerfield]

My car was originally a base model with a 383, and flat hood.

You can see where that went out the window.   



    Mike

[bb71challenger]

Yeah, thats why I am asking. I bought a magnum hood for my car and will put it on regardless but my goal is a well optioned base Challenger when I am done.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Yeah, thats why I am asking. I bought a magnum hood for my car and will put it on regardless but my goal is a well optioned base Challenger when I am done.

Yeah, my car had AC, the light package with turn signal indicators on the front fenders. Six-way seat. It had a AM/FM/casette, but that is gone.