does anyone have a great engine combination for a 383 -4bbl that can produce up to 425hp with stock exhaust manifolds? this is for my 68 A-body barracuda. Budget about 6gs.

Budget?

budget is important because Pistons are key in how you're getting there... I'd go with diamond customs and stealth heads... Maybe take a look at the Streetwise papers. His recommendations are solid and easy to follow.


Honestly the best way is stroke the thing... But it will cost more going in.

is this a numbers matching 383 that you are wanting to beef up on the down low? Otherwise a 440 crank in a 400 block (can offset grind the crank to get 470 cubes) and it'd be a killer with the right equipment and it'd bolt right in to your current 383 brackets (ps/exhaust, everything). The only exhorbitant expenditure is the KB pistons and the special crank grinding & you'll be doing some of that anyhow

Budget is key here. 440 source sells 2 stroker kits, 438 and 496. If I were looking for 425hp out of a 383 I would go with the 438 kit (will still rev similar to the 383) $2200, then a set of trick flow 240 heads $2000, and I think I would try the trick flow track max roller cam with some howards roller lifters $750.

I would shoot for sub 10 to 1 compression, figure the above parts will cost around $5000, another $1200 in machine work and assembly costs, then timing chain, oil pump, gasket set, dizzy drive, fuel pump rod, push rods, rockers, cam bearings, freeze plugs, etc will cost $500ish can easily cost you around $7K thats if you have an ignition system, carb, intake, fuel pump, water pump, balancer, wires,tin covers, etc....


If that is not in the budget, I think with a set of 906 heads ($600 from indy all built and ready to install), a set of pistons close enough to stock weight that you dont have to get the rotating assembly balance 10.8+ to 1 compression, and a stout flat tappet cam, will get you plenty of power, cost would probably be around half of the cost of the above engine...


good luck, I always liked 383's, revv-y and torque-y...

Those Indy heads are a waste of money ... you can get the same low end rebuild at the local autoparts store ...

Open chamber heads AND 10.8 compression is not sound advice, to get that much compression with an open chamber head will require a domed piston ... or cutting a lot off the heads ... I think the only dome available now for a 383 is a KB and it will require a rebalance.

The OP needs to state his budget and desires of how the engine is going to be used, 425HP is doable but hard with stock type parts and/or be pump gas friendly.

I'm .0612 off my 906's with the dreaded kb162's and Mopar shim .020-.017 or whatever the h$ll they're making this week? My chambers cc at 80-80.5 across both heads (got lucky) that equates to 9.7-9.8 again dependent on the gaskets. Feel I'm at the edge of comfort with pump. Add headers and a 220ish cam I'm guessing just under 400hp. With 10.25 and stealths he might make it with manifold?.?.? For sure with headers..But again piston selection is key. FWIW I wouldn't waste my time to throw the 162s at a cat let alone put them in an engine. But that was my most economical choice 12yrs ago.

I did a build using 162's and after it was all assembled I realized that it was a mistake and I disassembled the engine and sold them on the board, then turned the engine into a stroker ... was it you that bought them ?

Nope I was dumb enough to spend full pop... Insult to injury.

Sorry, that is a typo I meant 9.8 to 1, if you see earlier in my post i said "sub 10 to 1".
I had some good luck with the indy 906's, and a friend of mine used a few sets over the years and they are still together making good power, we redid the valve job but besides that they are OK for the money, the reason I like them is cost, if you buy a set of heads, send them to get cleaned, and checked, then buy all the parts, you are going to be over the cost of them heads all assembled..

I was just giving a cheap alternative to what I said I would be looking to accomplish...

Yeah, I know you said manifolds, but...FWIW..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-uV61qilqU

well I built this motor for my dads 68 charger and it was a budget build some what.
1968 383 .040 over stock steel crank and rods with arp rod bolts.
KB 400 small dome pistons .
had rotating assy ballanced.
block deck cut leaving pistons .004 in the hole
out of the box 84cc Edelbrocks rpm heads with. cat roller rockers .
felpro 2009 gasket .044 quench.
comp cams extream energy hilift 525 cam
.237 .246 at .050
Rpm intake and 750 out of the box holley hp vacumm carb.
3000 ptc converter in 727 .
13/4 headers heddman.
chrome box igniton.
355 gears in the rear.
nice 40 flow master mufflers makes it sound very mean!
car kicks butt! almost to much power for old dad but he loves it.
it will destroy the 245 60 tires at will . and no hesitations ,
13 inches of vacume nice and tan color plugs.
had machine work done and assembled at home to save some cash.
may be more than you want to spend but you will be happy.

For not much more money than the Aeroheads from Indy, he could have a set of Stealth heads.

Another good option, but almost double the cost, and they are similar to the 906...

Get a set of zero deck pistons, flat top w/ valve reliefs.
440 source stealth heads.
MP .528 solid cam.
Hp exhaust manifolds.
Edelbrock performer RPM intake manifold.

Would be able to be done on your budget. In a 440 this combo will do about 500hp. In a 383 it'll want to wind higher but it should pass your hp goal.

A 906 is similar to an Stealth ??? ... which is a copy of an Edlebrock ... hardly.

Any open chamber Chrysler head couldn't be a poorer choice for a performance type build given the pisspoor fuel that is available today. The only reason to use one is because a racing class REQUIRES one or you own a stock restored show car ...

If one is going to run an iron head the 915, or even a 516 with the exhaust valve replaced with 1.74" would be a better choice in an unported head.

The only zero deck 383 with valve reliefs for a 383 is a custom piston , semi custom in a diamond with the pin moved to get zero AFTER you have the block squared, 383 piston choice is really bad.

Boys, listen to your Uncle JRR! The 915 and 516 are better stock heads.
If you have to do a $200 valve job on a pair of $600 heads, plus buy springs, then the Stealth is in no way nearly twice the cost of the "Indy" heads. And for a 425 hp 383 IMHO the springs that come on a Stealth head are adequate.

The Chrysler open chamber head was a compromise by Engineering trying to do emissions control on the cheap. It doesn't matter what fuel you use, it's a bad design.

Another thing, a 906 head stock will rarely see 230cfm with a good valve job, while a Stealth will see at least 260 out of the box. Plus the Stealth has a decent chamber, very much like the 915 head.

I'd suggest finding Dulcich's 383 build which beat the Chevy 383 in one of Enginemaster's online videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-uV61qilqU

Also buy AndyF's bigblock book. He'll use the money to pay for more dyno time.

There are so many ways to attain your goal that it makes my head spin.

R.

Alas this is why my 383 is apart right now and I've spoke with Dwayne Porter. I'm not intending to spending another dime on those stock heads. When I built mine it was on the cheap and at least I had the fore thought to zero out the deck/pistons.

Be very careful with what heads you decide on for a 383 as the valves can be shrouded. Example the EStreets. I figured I'd be ahead of the game doing those, but after talking with Dwayne it seems they need several hundred in chamber work to get them to flow and unshroud. I'm getting off track here but it's not as easy as opening a box and flopping a head on a 383. There consideration that a 440 doesn't face. The 906 aren't terrible on a 383 if they've have some work done and the smaller runners of the iron are a plus.. All per Porter. the runners can be large on some aluminum heads, and he cautioned me to not touch them on the EStreets as they're already 210 now. Valve job and chamber work only. Just like cam selection and most other parts of a 383 build knowledge, and caution yield best results. Now I'm trying to figure out where to look next. I may end up with Stealths myself. All of the large runners heads (TF) ect just seem like a mistake on a streetable 383 after talking Dwayne.

915s would be a great option but seems most availble for sale now have been coated in gold and painted orange, blue, or cast iron color. $1200 for someone's 50yr old maybe they're good castings that are still gonna have to be checked is too rich for me.