340 or 383 challenger

Author Topic: 340 or 383 challenger  (Read 17182 times)

Offline MoparMan440

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #15 on: March 26, 2005 - 10:48:31 AM »
I would do the 340 but then again I'm a brain washed small block guy.  :dogpile:




Offline Killer_Mopar

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #16 on: March 26, 2005 - 12:01:25 PM »
Also I was looking in one of my mopar books and I know it doesnt really pretain to this because it was about stock engines.  It said that the 340 and 383 e bodys performed about the same because the 383s extra hp was lost to poor weight transfer and tire spin because of the extra weight up front.

Matt

This is true, if you ever look into the stock times of the dart you will see that the 340 and 383 have the same time, however if you look at the MPH, you will see that the 383 was 2-3 miles faster, the problem was the poor traction 60s tires had and the narrow dart tires. However, with todays rubber and with the wider challenger tires, this isnt as big as an issue. If all other factors are the same (trans, gearing, etc.) the 383 should outrun the 340. Also, you could stroke the 340 to 416 and have a huge small block, but you just as easily drop a 440 crank in a 383 and have a 426 CI.  In the end, this is a preference issue......do you want to be a small block or big block kind of guy?
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Offline Carlwalski

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #17 on: March 26, 2005 - 02:48:47 PM »
Oh I see.....good info lads.  :)

A warm 383 would take a lot more abuse than a worked 340.
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Offline torredcuda

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #18 on: March 26, 2005 - 05:19:48 PM »
You should also figure in redline,a good small block will out rev a comparable big block so you can run a lower gearing which gives a quicker launch.I shift my 340 at 6500 rpm with no problem and if I had a better valvetrain to go to 7000 grand easy and believe me my engine has seen LOTS of abuse!  :burnout:  :burnout:  :burnout:
Jeff
72 Barracuda 340/4spd  Torred
70 roadrunner 383/auto  In-Violet
70 Duster 360/auto drag car  (Petty Blue soon)
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Offline whitesatinmopar

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #19 on: March 27, 2005 - 10:07:55 AM »
 :iagree: But only in part, I've heard numerous tried and tested Mopar guys say the 383 is the BB that thinks it's a small block, why?, because it has it's own unique quicker reving for a BB, admittedly it won't rev as fast as the 340 but the options of "buidability" of the 383 is I would think better. In otherwords if you'd invest the same amout of money in both engines the "options"/results should favor the 383, and it is one hell of a durable engine. Personally in an E-bod the downside of the BB is weight and hadeling, great if your straight lineing but curves can become tricky.  :dontknow:
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1970 Charger 500
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1972 R/R 440+6 (wanabe)
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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #20 on: March 27, 2005 - 05:28:53 PM »
I am with WSM on this, the same money spent on each engine and it will be the 383 hands down. Torque and hp and cubes, what more could you ask for?  :dontknow:  Hey, if you spend enough money you could make a 273 beat the pants off a 440. It's all up to what you are willing to spend and what makes you happy! I am a big block fan and that includes the 383 so I am very partial but also believe as stated that dollar for dollar you can build a stronger 383 than the 340 for the same money spent.  :thumbs: Anyone got any ET's for any factory produced 340 VS 383 in like cars? That would be interesting, the 340 is dinamite in a small block package for sure!!

Offline redelliott

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #21 on: March 27, 2005 - 10:36:48 PM »
i have a 72 chally with a totaly stock 340 with 93000 miles on it runs 14.9 on radial t/a's ,355 gear  manifolds and little 2 inch exhaust. it's a 4 speed so traction is limited 2.5sec.  60 foot times. very fun street car.what would a stock 383 run?

Offline Killer_Mopar

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #22 on: March 28, 2005 - 12:25:25 AM »
Im not sure of what the actual time a 383 R/T would run, but I read somewhere that all R/T cars had to meet a certain criteria to be and R/T, one being that it had to run under 14.4 in the 1/4 mile.......so it should run at least that....I would test mine, but its far from stock so that wouldnt be fair. Also, your 14.9...was that run with any mods??? and what was the elevation and weather like?? and how about the tires??? Just wondering because you would have to find a 383 car with the same conditions as yours for it to be a fair comparison.
70 Challenger R/T SE - The never-ending project........

Offline Carlwalski

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #23 on: March 28, 2005 - 12:35:32 AM »
For a small block 1972 340 (240bhp) no mods except headers that is a very respectable time.  ;)
You see big block E-Bodies pulling those times.
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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #24 on: March 28, 2005 - 06:49:30 AM »
They do pack a potent punch for sure!  :boxer:  The highest rated 340 had 290 hp, must have been the 6 pack?  :dontknow: 

Offline whitesatinmopar

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #25 on: March 28, 2005 - 07:06:32 AM »
I have a 70 Charger 500 SE with the 383 mag. with a 4 speed and 3:23 suregrip, now I cannot verify these times, but the previous owner said he had taken it to the track a couple times, not to race but just to run down the strip, he said he ran in the low to mid 14's and the motor was stock. Considering the added weight of the B body and what seems like a foot between gears with the factory 4 speed, personally I'd say this is most respectable, all I can verify is that it will burn rubber all day long and is a blast to drive. I have since added a purple shaft cam and a 750cfm carb, so she is not pure stock now. I still need to beef up the valve springs, the stock ones are just not stiff enough to handle the new cam, I've bent a couple push rods and cracked/bent a rocker shaft, I don't hit her as hard now,lol.
1969 Polara 500 vert.
1970 Charger 500
1971 Dart Swinger
1972 R/R 440+6 (wanabe)
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Offline ragtopdodge

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #26 on: March 28, 2005 - 10:04:26 AM »
I the 340 was just a bare block for cheap, I'd get it and save for a stroker build up.  If not, and you have to pay for crank and heads, forget it and save the money for aluminum heads and intake if you want to shave some weight off the front end.  Aluminum radiator and master cylinder will help too.

Get some bigger torsion bars, a front sway bar, and you won't notice you'll have a big block goin' 'round the corners.
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Offline BB73Challenger

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #27 on: March 28, 2005 - 12:49:00 PM »
I'm gonna have to go with the 383 here.
It's already in, they make good power, plenty of parts both new and used.

I'd still buy the 340 too.  :grinyes:
Jeff from Cleveland, Ohio

Offline Carlwalski

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #28 on: March 28, 2005 - 12:59:28 PM »
They do pack a potent punch for sure!  :boxer:  The highest rated 340 had 290 hp, must have been the 6 pack?  :dontknow: 
Are you sure Plum?  :dontknow: All records I can find about the hp out put for a '72 340 are 240bhp.  :???:
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Offline Killer_Mopar

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Re: 340 or 383 challenger
« Reply #29 on: March 28, 2005 - 01:50:38 PM »
I think he was saying that they had up to 290hp....the 340-6 had 290 and the 340-4 had 275 for the 70 model year. If your comparing apples to apples than the 70 383-4 had 335 so it still best the 6-pak by 45hp. As a rule of thumb, the 383 car would have to weigh 400 lbs more to run the same 1/4 as the 340 car.....and since it doesnt, the 383 is faster.
70 Challenger R/T SE - The never-ending project........