More power the best way?

[torqueaddict]

So guys I feel kinda bad for posting this on a Mopar site but one of my mechanics really opened my eyes. I have a challenger with a big block 383, it has 440source stealth heads a forged crank street avenger carb with a cam that's just above stock. He had a 69 camero with an ls2 in it with a 6speed tranny. He took me for a ride in his car, we weren't racing or anything just showing me what his car can do. His car was REALLY powerful, quick and just flat out intimidating. Now I know his car has better technology due to the fact it's a new motor and  mines is based on tech from the 60's but is there anything I can do to make my car significantly faster without getting a whole new motor, stroking my current motor or just spending tons of cash I don't have? My car has an msd box a Mopar electronic ignition and everything else is new. Maybe a bigger carb maybe a better cam or should I just start over. By the way my tranny is a stock 727 and I have 323 gears. Maybe upping my gear ratio would be the answer. Thanks in advance for any help guys.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

What size carb do you have? Do you have headers? Do you have an "X" or "Y" type of exhaust?

[Road_Runner]

Boy, that's not an easy question to answer if you're looking at completely closing the gap, but if you're just asking about what else would help your combo I'd say 3.91 rear gears & something around a 3500 rpm stall torque converter and likely a bigger carb depending on what you have now.  When I was racing the Roadrunner back in the 70's the 383 really liked to rev and did best when the rpm was 3500-6800 or so.  I ran both a 4.10 & 3.91 (after I trashed the 4.10) and a 10" convertor and the car launched hard & outran a lot of cars with bigger motors.  But its unreal how much power they can get out of these modern motors especially those darn GMs!!

Later, Jim

[ChallengerHK]

I think you touched on some things that you need to ask, specifically what rear end ratio he has, and what stall speed converter. Also, where was it powerful? Did it pull well from a standing start? If so, did you get a chance to experience him punching it at highway speed?

[Road_Runner]

My 727 also had a Cheetah auto/manual valve body & shift kit installed so I could hold it in a gear as long as I wanted.  Mine also had a 'barely' streetable cam with lots of duration & overlap (needed it to tame the roughly 13.0-1 compression I was running at the time.  So basically my 383 was more race than street, but it did run very hard.  Trouble is, with today's 500+ cubic inch strokers, single & double power adder motors, your & my little ole 383 just can't compete head-to-head with the real heavy hitters.

Later, Jim

[torqueaddict]

Yes I have headers,I have an x pipe not a h pipe and my carb is a 675 cfm street avenger. I kinda would like to not have to go 391's because that will kill my freeway driving but I may not have much of a choice.  And Jim that sucks because from what I hear putting a new hemi is not as beneficial as the modern gm motors. That's very lame and I hope not all true.

[Moparal]

Listen to you. Don't be intimedated by the camero. And stop whining about cruising if you want to run strong, spend some money. That camero had money spent on it. It has an over drive installed also.  Low geared 6 spds will make you think yer going fast with all the jerking in the shifts.  Your little carb isn't a close match for any big power.  Your 383 or any MOPAR can and will run with any brand car, just takes money.  There's an automatic barracuda setting in my shop I would race the camero with. Actually 2 of them.  Anything can make power with the right parts, you just have to use your wallet, or set on the porch and watch.

[PlumCraZRT]

750 cfm carb (dyno tuned), recurved distributor, Edelbrock RPM intake, 3.91 or 4.10 rear (overdrive would be great with a 4.10 rear), 1-3/4 headers, aggressive solid roller (or flat tappet) cam.  Hopefully you're already in the 9.5+:1 compression range.

[72rtchallenger]

Listen to you. Don't be intimedated by the camero. And stop whining about cruising if you want to run strong, spend some money. That camero had money spent on it. It has an over drive installed also.  Low geared 6 spds will make you think yer going fast with all the jerking in the shifts.  Your little carb isn't a close match for any big power.  Your 383 or any MOPAR can and will run with any brand car, just takes money.  There's an automatic barracuda setting in my shop I would race the camero with. Actually 2 of them.  Anything can make power with the right parts, you just have to use your wallet, or set on the porch and watch.

  you go AL ,,you want morr power , quit spending time in a low gear chevy and get mo par and built it to scream,,as al said any car can move fast its all how ya build it to do so

[Chryco Psycho]

Well we need more info ,  It is an automatic trans so you could be killing the whole combo right there with converter choice I would put in a Trans go Shift kit  . What cam exactly ? Which Avenger carb ? I would use a Proform double pump carb at 2x the CI so 750 cfm . Which intake ? Headers , Manifolds , what size exhaust , X pipe ?
 

[ireland383]

 I know when I first had my motor redone I was disappointed until I got it tuned just right.  As said at least 9.5:1 is a good start.  I'm at 9.8:1 with the KB400 pistons and 80cc Stealths.  Had to mill them .030 to achieve 80cc.,  previously they were 86.  Had 3.23's and went to 3.91's the cam & compression liked them a lot better (235/482).  750 holley and 2400-2600 stall with 1 3/4 headers round out the rest.  No problem leaving 100 ft. slabs down the street without power braking. I'd say i'm right around the low 400 hp. mark with the car weighing in at 3420.  Bring on those Chevies

[HP2]

  is there anything I can do to make my car significantly faster without getting a whole new motor, stroking my current motor or just spending tons of cash I don't have?

Budget approach, nitrous, around $600. Bolt on, bucks up approach, blower, around $2500. Beyond that your spendng upwards of $6000-10000 for either an entire new engine set up or a 3G Hemi.

Honestly, like everyone else said, it can be done, but it takes lotsa dollars and time and you will need to get into the engine.

[MizzouRT]

First, let's recognize your friend has a cool car that is a hot set up.  It is not just the newer motor, but the new transmission with 2 overdrives that allow low end gearing without giving up drivability.  Worse yet, the 69 Camaro started out as a lighter car than your Challenger, and the modern LS engine and 6 speed transmission are both going to take even more weight out of the Camaro.  All the new motors can make lots of power while enjoying good fuel economy and low maintenance.  But before we get all depressed, remember that it cost your friend some significant bucks to do the engine & transmission swap.  If you spend the same type of money on your car, it will be competitive.  He will always have the advantage of a lighter car.  If he has modded the LS engine and you want to catch him, probably time to start thinking about how to add displacement.  That is where you have a big advantage, with a big block engine you can make lots of power by reaching displacement levels not available with the smaller modern engines.  Cubic inch for cubic inch, the LS has thousands of dollars of electronics on its side and that won't be easy to beat staying at 383 displacement, especially against a lighter car with lower gears.

[Bart]

My 383 stock lower end with bigger cam, Indy heads, 780 cfm Holley, MSD made 452hp @5800rpm.

Regards,

[MizzouRT]

My 383 stock lower end with bigger cam, Indy heads, 780 cfm Holley, MSD made 452hp @5800rpm.

Regards,

I completely agree you can make good power with a mild 383.  The bang for the buck is excellent.  It is also easy to get 450 hp from the LS engine (the current version is 426 hp stock).  Figure the Camaro with the LS is 300 pounds lighter and has lower gears.  Suddenly you need maybe 500 hp to offset their weight & gearing advantages.  For the OP, unless you are hung up on beating your friend, something like Bart's set-up makes the most sense to me.  But if your goal is to match or beat your friend's Camaro, just remember you are going to need more power than the LS to offset the Camaro's other advantages.