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Rebuild or replace my 383?
#1348046
12/08/12 07:21 PM
12/08/12 07:21 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar
OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
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OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
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Hey people I have a question. My factory 383 is getting pretty tired after 40 years of hard work and I am starting to think ahead of either having a professional builder or a shop redo the engine or maybe buy a crate motor and upgrade to a 440? I have heard so many horror stories about shops that do awful rebuilding work or make mistakes and cause failures almost immediately. I can't even think of anyone I could even go to who does this type of thing anymore around me. Keeping the original numbers matching engine is great for purists, but is it easier and more cost effective to just by a readymade motor? Also i think the time would be much quicker with just a pull out and install the new engine that having to store the car at a shop while the original engine gets sent out for rebuild. In the end am looking for something that is set up for long life, durability, fuel economy over lots of horsepower. So how about some opinions on what to do? If you anyone knows of a good place to buy a ready done crate engine I would love to hear it.  Thanks Stu
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Re: Rebuild or replace my 383?
[Re: lewtot184]
#1348048
12/08/12 07:57 PM
12/08/12 07:57 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
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what would I do if I had a numbers matching RR?
I'd build a motor to beat on, and put the numbers block on a stand. If you didn't want the expense of building 2 motors right now, then I'd at least take it all apart, strip the block, sand blast stuff like timing chain, oil pan, valve covers, then put it all together in a "mock up" but with an empty inside -- no cam, no crank/rods/pistons, just make it all nice and pretty, then use it as a display in your bar/garage.
Stu, I know the distance is a bit far, but tell me what you want, I'll build it for ya! I'll even properly break it in on a well known, Mopar reputable machine shop here in Ohio--Kammer and Kammer's over in Dayton. that's where I took my stroker for dyno tuning.
**Photobucket sucks**
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Re: Rebuild or replace my 383?
[Re: 70Cuda383]
#1348049
12/08/12 08:05 PM
12/08/12 08:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar
OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
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OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
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Quote:
Stu, I know the distance is a bit far, but tell me what you want, I'll build it for ya! I'll even properly break it in on a well known, Mopar reputable machine shop here in Ohio--Kammer and Kammer's over in Dayton. that's where I took my stroker for dyno tuning.
So Tom would that be me sending you my engine as how would the logisits of that work?
The other idea would be to drive the car out to you and have you do the work, and then drive it home. That would make a nice road trip for sure!
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Re: Rebuild or replace my 383?
[Re: 70Cuda383]
#1348052
12/08/12 08:26 PM
12/08/12 08:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar
OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
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OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
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Quote:
I'm flexible! however you want to do it! 
Ok i checked and it's about 5000 miles round trip and with the cost of fuel, lodging, and other stuff it's probably cheapest to just have you build it from your core and ship it back to me.
Why dont you work of a ball park figure and let me know in a PM what i am looking at price wize. 
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Re: Rebuild or replace my 383?
[Re: 70Cuda383]
#1348054
12/08/12 10:13 PM
12/08/12 10:13 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,285
Pacific NW USA
CompSyn
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,285
Pacific NW USA
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Quote:
what would I do if I had a numbers matching RR?
I'd build a motor to beat on, and put the numbers block on a stand. If you didn't want the expense of building 2 motors right now, then I'd at least take it all apart, strip the block, sand blast stuff like timing chain, oil pan, valve covers, then put it all together in a "mock up" but with an empty inside -- no cam, no crank/rods/pistons, just make it all nice and pretty, then use it as a display in your bar/garage.
You know, I seriously thought about doing this vary thing with my numbers Road Runner, but then I thought na, the safest place for a numbers matching engine block is bolted to the car to which it was born. Because life is uncertain, e.g., fires, floods, robbery, vandalism etc., not to mention the human factor such as serious illness, sudden death, or just plan loosing interest. You'd get tired with a engine block rolling around your shop collecting dust, rust and taking up space. If you omit the numbers block now, there's a much higher likelihood it will never go back in the car.
This engine has survived for 40+ years, if rebuilt right it'll last another 40+. Do a basic but effective rebuild, then find a bottom of the barrel Belvedere/Satellite or Coronet and bolt in your 572 Hemi crate engine. OR sell your numbers car and buy what you really want.
Just throwing out some ideas. 
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Re: Rebuild or replace my 383?
[Re: MidPenMopar]
#1348058
12/09/12 05:00 PM
12/09/12 05:00 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18,880
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RSNOMO
Moparts Torchbearer
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Moparts Torchbearer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18,880
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Quote:
Hey people I have a question. My factory 383 is getting pretty tired after 40 years of hard work and I am starting to think ahead of either having a professional builder or a shop redo the engine or maybe buy a crate motor and upgrade to a 440?
I have heard so many horror stories about shops that do awful rebuilding work or make mistakes and cause failures almost immediately. I can't even think of anyone I could even go to who does this type of thing anymore around me.
Keeping the original numbers matching engine is great for purists, but is it easier and more cost effective to just by a readymade motor? Also i think the time would be much quicker with just a pull out and install the new engine that having to store the car at a shop while the original engine gets sent out for rebuild.
In the end am looking for something that is set up for long life, durability, fuel economy over lots of horsepower.
So how about some opinions on what to do? If you anyone knows of a good place to buy a ready done crate engine I would love to hear it.
Thanks
Stu
Cool that you got a plan...
(I'd bag the original-drop something in...No worries)..
There seriously is no one out there in San Fran that you'd feel comfortable with having do a 383???
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Re: Rebuild or replace my 383?
[Re: RSNOMO]
#1348059
12/09/12 05:34 PM
12/09/12 05:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar
OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
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OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
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Quote:
There seriously is no one out there in San Fran that you'd feel comfortable with having do a 383???
...............Nope and how sad is that! I have heard horror stories from every shop i know.. 
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Re: Rebuild or replace my 383?
[Re: MidPenMopar]
#1348062
12/09/12 10:03 PM
12/09/12 10:03 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,811
Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,811
Kirkland, Washington
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Quote:
Quote:
There seriously is no one out there in San Fran that you'd feel comfortable with having do a 383???
...............Nope and how sad is that! I have heard horror stories from every shop i know..
But there are probably dozens of guys that could rebuild a VW bug motor with their eyes closed and a refer in their mouth!
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Re: Rebuild or replace my 383?
[Re: MidPenMopar]
#1348065
12/10/12 02:43 PM
12/10/12 02:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,530
Nunya CA
CR8CRSHR
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,530
Nunya CA
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Stu..I am with you on this one. When it comes to a reputable Machine Shop/Engine Builder, especially for us MOPAR types, the pickings are slim to none here in Northern CA. That being said, I would first try and see if Mopar Engines West can fit you in. They have an excellent rep here in this neck of the words. Albeit they do more with Hemis and such, but will not turn down a Mopar build as their schedule allows and they are Mopar specific. They are in the North Bay area so that keeps it close too. I am one who has had a nightmare of a time with my 383 build for my 66 Satellite project. What ever you do, do not contact California Street Machines in Suisun CA. They are the ones, "that screwed me with out the benefit on intercourse"...  ...and numerous others I have talked to. Having just said that, I went with Bailey Brothers in American Canyon CA when I fixed my Crank issue this time last year. The are a Speed shop although they are more GM types than Mopar but their work is excellent and priced very reasonably and will work on any Marque. After that fix, my 383...which is quiet tame...still wouldn't perform correctly along with a rear main seal issue...so I pulled it again and upon inspecting the heads, found numerous "suspect" procedures that were built into them. I opted for the 440 Source Heads...great buy for the price I might add...and stock right out of the box they bolted up really nicely. Just some small clearance issues with the push rod sleeves that required some enlargement that my Brother and I were able to do ourselves. With the old heads...516's...the valve lash was next to impossible to get right and after inspecting the rocker geometry and lifter preload, found out that failures were built in to the 516's as well. With the 440 Source Heads, it went as smoothly as anyone could ask for. The guys down there in Lancaster CA @ 440 Source have a great attitude and tech service and advise...at least for me it was...plus a large data base on their stroker kits. I know I am getting a little long winded here Stu, but if your RR were mine, I would pull the 383 and use 440 Source 496 or 493 383 Stroker kits. You would have less block messaging and clearing issues than with the 440 crank...  . John/Dart4forty, when he visited over the summer, suggested those 2 stroker kits for me if I ever want to go that route. From my conversations with 440Source and what I have purchased from them so far have given me a peace of mind now with what I am running. I like 383's and they can be made to perform and in some cases out run the 440's. That however depends upon how deep your pockets are. Finally, I would look into Hughes Engines "Whiplash Cam" for your RR. Just a freakin' awesome Cam. Keep me in the loop too if you need any more help with you RR build. I have built a few 383's myself...CA Street Machines doesn't count...so I have a little experience on what it takes to get it right. Remember this...The more you can do the build yourself, then the end results are on you and not from someone else you have relied upon...Good Luck on the decision....cr8crshr/Bill 
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Pull the numbers engine out and it'll never make it back into the car. First decide if you care about numbers. If you do, then have your block rebuilt. I'm sure you have friends/contacts in the area who could steer you to an engine builder they've used. If you just want to do a different engine so you can do a straight swap, step up to a 440. There's no real reason not to.
