Here are the valve springs that my 1970 383 4bbl engine has. They're painted red, have a surge coil/damper and appear to be 1970 440HP valve springs.

Many, many thanks to Doug and to Dan for taking time on this. Thanks guys...I mean gurus!!

Let me stir the cauldron some more.

The parts catalog and service manual (Plymouth) lists 1970 383 4bbl's intended solely for B/J/R/W as having the 440HP valves & valve springs. All others by D/P/C, including the 440/350hp - recieving the 383 2bbl parts.


'70 E body E63 4bbl engines shared spark plugs, ignition timing, idle speeds, transmissions (10" t/c with 4bbl & automatic,) 666 intake manifold, HP exhaust manifolds as well as the option of dual exhaust. They shared distributors and also shared those uniquely designed '70 vacuum advance units. With all of the above being the case, they hardly resemble a 383 2bbl at all (blue paint they share.) The 330hp motors were already pre-set up to run the same cam/lifters as the 335 hp motors.

The only parts that seems to not be shared between 1970 B/J/R/W E63 is the windage tray and Holley (with more CFM). Mopar Performance claimed to gain 16hp from the factory windage tray...alone. The 5hp difference is easily gained by a windage tray.

ALL 1971 383 4bbls came with 1970 440HP parts, a Holley and ALL were considered HP. A significant change had occured from those earlier 1969 383 4bbl's that Doug has researched so thouroughly and all his '69 data means very little when compared to these '71 engines. In no way am I taking anything away from him or his research by stating. So how much of that '69 data will actually pertain to the 1970 383 4bbl as well? Don't know.

When one went to buy a replacement 383 4bbl short engine in 1970 - p/n 3462621 - what color would these have been painted?

How did one specify to a dealer's parts clerk to order an orange motor v blue motor when he was using then the same 70-71 parts catalog we all are still using today?