The only engines available on a 68 Charger R/T were the 440 & the Hemi.

I know Air Conditioning wasn't available with the Hemi.
Could you get Air Conditioning with the 440?

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/dealerships/_1968-DealershipsOrderingInfo.shtml?load_img=1

This link says that Air Conditioning was not available with 4 speed manual trans on 383-2 barrels or R/T or 6 cylinder manual.

Does that mean no Air Conditioning on any R/T, or no Air Conditioning on 4 speed R/T?


(I just bought a 68 Charger 383-2 barrel auto trans with air conditioning. Original engine is gone, and I'm trying to decide how I want to build the car. It's a keeper, no plans to sell it. LL1 Dark Turquoise, White interior, White vinyl top. It came with a 440 short block, so I'm thinking it would look good as an R/T clone with a white bumblebee stripe. The 440 was a blue engine in 68 though, and I prefer orange engines. I'd put an orange Hemi in it if it wasn't for the air conditioning. decisions decisions. Did a 1968 383 engine have the VIN stamped on it anywhere? If not, maybe I could just return it to stock. Hmm...)

Tav

If it was an early build car then it probably did not have the vin stamped on the block. Yes you could get a 68 R/T with air. I've worked on several. I should clarify my statement. They were available in automatic and not 4 speeds.

Air conditioning was NOT available with the 440 with a manual 4 speed.

If you wanted AC on the R/T you needed to take the automatic transmission

My 69 auto RT has A/C, as mentioned above not available on 4 speed RTs or I believe not any 440 4 speeds not just RTs or Chargers.

Turquoise on all big blocks wedges in 1968

Thanks a bunch guys!

I'm leaning towards making it an optioned out 440 auto trans car then. The AC firewall is in good shape, and the car already has the 727 auto and console shift setup.

The 440 short block that it came with is a 1972 cast crank.

I can find another if needed, but does it matter?
Is any 440 block ok as long as I use the right cam, heads, intake, etc.?
I can use a steel crank in this 440 block right?


The cars Scheduled Production Date is March 28th 1968.
I'm guessing that's probably late enough that the engine would have had a VIN stamped on it.
No worries about trying to find an early unstamped engine then.
Besides, the VIN will always say that it's a 383-2 barrel car and not an R/T, so I guess engine numbers don't really matter here.
Is any 440 block buildable, or is there some I should avoid?
It would be nice if it looked mostly correct after it was assembled.

Tav

as stated above - all '68 big-blocks (non-HEMI) were turquoise

NO A/C on any MOPAR with 440 & 4-spd

..... but

NO VIN stamping on any 1968 MOPAR with 383 2bbl

yes, you can build the block you have with a steel crank & 906 heads if desired

I had a 68 Charger parts car that was a 383 4 barrel 4 speed. Motor and tranny were long gone. I found a motor and a tranny cast and built before the SPD of the car. Since no 383 Chargers were stamped Hp, it is technically possible to be the buzz word everyone likes to toss around of " matching numbers" I think people put too much emphasis on the matching numbers thing. I have a customer who bought a 70 RR at an auction. It had a Galen Govier report with the car. You know the kind that you could send in the fender tag info and get back a simple write up. The car was also represented as matching numbered everything. Well the 4 speed was matching but that was all. It had a 67 model 741 carrier and a date "correct" 383 that was cast only a week before the SPD and re stamped vin number. It was very obvious to me by the fonts but they guy even missed the vin. The plant actual plant code was a G and he stamped a B! She was heartbroken when I told her this. My comment to her was that you have a great looking car, let's fix the mechanicals and enjoyed the car. One thing that is possible with a 68 383 car is to find a 68 383 block and stroke it with a new crank. It makes a better motor than a stock 440 anyway. Build it the way you want it and enjoy it.

Thanks!

Numbers matching is neat, but I'm not overly concerned about it.
I'm more concerned about it looking correct than whether the numbers actually match.

It is neat to know that I could find a 1968 383 at any point in the future and return the car to it's original 383-2 barrel "numbers matching" status.

I don't think I'd have as much fun driving a 2 barrel car around though. If it was a 383-4 barrel car, then I might consider using a stroked 383 and trying to make it numbers matching.
I'd really want the white bumblebee stripe and at least one 4 barrel carb though, so I'm leaning towards the 440.
When I say it out loud, "440" makes me feel better than "stroked 383".

Planning to meet a guy on Monday that says he has a 1968 440, so maybe I'll pick that up.



I am interested in hearing why a stroked 383 is better than a stock 440 though. Is it simply greater displacement? How big can you stroke a 383? Does it remain pretty drivable? (I prefer regular driving & cruising over racing.)
I'm also building a 1970 Roadrunner 383 4 speed air grabber car.

On 68s, if it was stamped, the numbers would be stamped back near the bell housing flange on the driver side I think. That area gets covered with oil and dust as it's behind the head so often hard to see. Striker 383 would get you a 432 cu in. I'd do that IF you wanted to maintain the 383 appearance. It may also make the AC use a bit easier. I'm not sure if brackets and hoses are the same between Raised 440 block and the low deck. I know small block and. If block have different hoses. Personally, if you are buying crank anyway, I'd get striker kit for 440 to get me 499. You could then have a decent cam that allows you to use with AC and would still have some serious stump pulling torque. I think I'd go turquoise engine with your color combo.

Great color combo you are planning and a turquoise engine will be a better look.

you can stroke a 383 to 496

My 68 RT has AC and power windows. It was from a desert state. Factory ac BRKT is a giant cast iron piece, unique to 440. Used in 67 and 68 only.

Daughters 69RT 440 auto survivor has A/C.

True story: original owner of Charger (good friend) went to Crenshaw Dodge (LA) in Jan69 to buy an RT. At the time, Crenshaw had a good supply of hemi Chargers, on sale because nobody was buying them. None had A/C of course and it is SOCAL. So he ended up with one of the few 440s with A/C in stock.

The air conditioning mounts where definitely different on the 440 motors compared to the 383 motors back then, not interchangeable

It's great to know that they're different.
Anyone have a picture?
I'll probably need to find one.

Pic

I removed this from a 68 440 engine. I see no casting numbers, yet.

There is also a unique heater hose bracket that bolts to the alternator, unsure if it is reproduced.

Why is that bracket restricted to 440? What does the 383 use?

Edit: Okay, let me re-phrase this. Is this bracket 440 application only? If so, what would a 383 use? If not, then this bracket would fit a 383?