383 hop up

[coolpolara66]

I everyone, I own a 1966 dodge polara 383 2bbl, not the original engine but it is a 1966 block. I got an edelbrock streetmaster intake and a thermoquad 850 cfm plus hi po manifolds to put on it plus it Will be dual exhaust. I want to know 2 things. First, is it ok to run it on a stock engine, my car is automatic and I got a 2500 rpm Stall tc and 2,76 gear out back. Second, when I removed the heads last week I notice that it has flat top piston very close to deck .is it normal for a 2bbl engine ? On every site I look it only says dish piston for 1966 engine. I can't afford a cam swap for now so I just want to know ici m'y combo is ok for now, I mean in term of power. I don't want to make my car more sluggish than it is right now. Thank you for futur reply. And my car is 2 doors hard top.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

No dished pistons ever on a Mopar BB only adjustments in compression height ( distance from center line of piston pin and the top of piston. I think on a 383 they varied from around 1.80-1.92. That's a good combo that should net you up to 20 mpg on highway if tuned right.

 

[detmatt]

I know the primaries are small but isn't that a bit much for a basically stock 383 with a 2bbl cam?
on the dished Pistons, it's funny you should mention that because the '67 383 that I recently got the intake and heads from had dished Pistons in it. It was a standard bore engine that did not appear to have replacement slugs.

 

[1978 NYB]

Are you looking for performance or gas mileage?

I would use an Edelbrock 1406 carb, 650 cfm and it comes with an electric choke. It's plenty of carb for performance and mileage and easy starts on a 383. AAP has it on the shelf in all stores. You can order on line (+15% off) and pick it up in the store 5 minutes later.

The stall converter is really useless unless you're doing some serious racing on the track especially combined with 2.76 highway gears.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/edelbrock-performer-series-carb-1406/5020646-P

 

[bulldogchesty]

I know the primaries are small but isn't that a bit much for a basically stock 383 with a 2bbl cam?
on the dished Pistons, it's funny you should mention that because the '67 383 that I recently got the intake and heads from had dished Pistons in it. It was a standard bore engine that did not appear to have replacement slugs.

My 68 Newport 383 has dished pistons also.

 

[53ryder]

Are you looking for performance or gas mileage?

I would use an Edelbrock 1406 carb, 650 cfm and it comes with an electric choke. It's plenty of carb for performance and mileage and easy starts on a 383. AAP has it on the shelf in all stores. You can order on line (+15% off) and pick it up in the store 5 minutes later.

The stall converter is really useless unless you're doing some serious racing on the track especially combined with 2.76 highway gears.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/edelbrock-performer-series-carb-1406/5020646-P

I have one of those on my '67 Monaco!

Glenn

 

[coolpolara66]

That's what I Said. Every 383 2bbl that I came across had dished piston, but mine are flat top like road runner one's. That make's me wonder what Kind of 383 I got, Maybe it's a 4bbl but someone has put a 2bbl carb and intake on it. If so, is There any difference in cam beetween 2bbl and 4bbl camshaft?

 

[1978 NYB]

I have one of those on my '67 Monaco!

Glenn

I have used these on numerous cars.....great performance right out of the box.

 

[detmatt]

I have a FSM for '68 and in the engine specs section the only differences they call out between the 2bbl and 4 bbl engines are the compression ratio with the 2 bbl being 9.2 to 1 and the 4 bbl is 10 to 1. The actual psi is lower in the 2bbl and the valve springs are different. They don't call out any differences in the cam or Pistons themselves until I look in my '68 parts book where they show different part #s for the 2 & 4 bbl Pistons. So there you have it.

 

[1978 NYB]

I have a FSM for '68 and in the engine specs section the only differences they call out between the 2bbl and 4 bbl engines are the compression ratio with the 2 bbl being 9.2 to 1 and the 4 bbl is 10 to 1. The actual psi is lower in the 2bbl and the valve springs are different. They don't call out any differences in the cam or Pistons themselves until I look in my '68 parts book where they show different part #s for the 2 & 4 bbl Pistons. So there you have it.

Same part number for the cam?

 

[commando1]

I have used these on numerous cars.....great performance right out of the box.

I fought with oem carbs for years convinced that if I tinkered with them long enough, I could make them work better than any "universal" aftermarket carb. I had the "I'm smarter than..." mentality.
Finally after years and years of this BS, I started thinking like Ross (Gasp) about FI. After reading Bob the Edelbrock Spokesman's spiel over and over, I went to the Eddy 650 thinking that here's more money down the drain.
I took it out of the box, AS-IS, and simply swapped it in.
It started immediately.
It idled like FI without touching a screw.
Regardless of pedal pressure, it accelerated with zero bog, cough, hiccup, hesitation, fart, or heart burn.
The choke closed when cold, opened as it warmed up.
The stock air filter fit under the hood.

I feel so ashamed...
Keep preaching Brother Bob to the unwashed masses. Yes, you can click on ADD TO CART on the Summit website like a Chevy guy but you will overcome the shame when you turn the key.

whew - too much expresso this morning...

 

[detmatt]

Same part number for the cam?

In '68 the parts book lists 2 cams for the 383, one for the Road Runner and one for the rest.

 

[FinallyGot1]

Got one on my '68 Newport too.....sitting on a Holley Street Dominator manifold.

 

[LocuMob]

Someone stole the 1406 i left on a truck, so I used my 1407 i had laying around. Worked great. I have a 1411 on now but have never hooked the choke up.

But if yu already have an intake and carb laying around, I say throw them on and run it. You can always change it out later on if you don't like it.

 

[1978 NYB]

In '68 the parts book lists 2 cams for the 383, one for the Road Runner and one for the rest.

I believe that is where the extra 5 hp came from to get to 335 hp.

 

[detmatt]

Indeed.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Wow that learned me I have never "seen" dished pistons in a BB. So do your heads casting number end with 516? I would put the thermoquad on it the beauty of them is the secondaries are on a spring loaded air door if it bogs tighten it up if they don't open or not quick enough loosen spring tension. They are still a excellent design even if nobody likes them because of the lean burn stink they have on them. A fat/rich car will run okay but a lean running car will stumble, cough, surge, and run poorly. A carb off of a lean burn car and with intake, dual exhaust open air cleaner will make lean even worse.

 

[coolpolara66]

Yes my heads are 516 and for carb my brother just gave me is edelbrock thunder séries 750 cfm. Is it better torque wise? All I want is a somewhat quick daily driver.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Thunder series are good carbs easy to setup and work on. If you have 516 casting heads and the piston is less than .050 down in the bore your compression is going to be pretty high.

 

[Yatzee]

My 383 has flat-tops and they were original. It is a 66 power plant as well. If you want a bit more zip there are a few things to check first mainly the timing chain and sprockets for stretch and wear. An 850 on a 383 is overkill and a 650 would be better. These engines are the best of both worlds - BB power with SB "wind-up" capability. Making it "breath" better is not just a case of bigger exhaust.The cam is really the brains of the engine. A newer cam can do wonders for performance especially with their new designs and technology. I run a Lunati cam/lifter combo and after installation the power difference was immediately noticeable. Those gears outback are begging to be changed to maybe 323's which are a good compromise for power and mileage. There really is no super cheap way to improve a Mopar power plant, as many users will attest to, but with a bit of cash applied in the right places you can certainly make a "whimpy" engine quite stout. Good luck, I hope this information helps out.