So here’s the deal I have started on the resto of my numbers matching 69 Super Bee. I am starting to look at the engine rebuild and I am kickin around, purists don’t kill me, throwing a spare 440 crank and rods I have into the original 383. The build would go something like this:

Original Block, Heads, HP Exhaust Manifolds and Carb – 4spd w/3:23 gears.
Comp cams XE262H or the XE268H (leaning towards 262 more torque).
Machine 440 crank to fit 383 block and use 440 rods.
Not sure where to go for pistons yet but my goal would be around 9.5:1ish

Comps CamQuest is what has gotten me to thinking. Fiddling around with engine tweaks. I know the numbers that are derived are not 100% accurate but . . . . .

Also not sure of any pitfalls.

Car would look bone stock and be I believe fairly dependable for rolling to car shows and having fun cruising the local streets.

Looking for comments and or suggestions.

Works fine. Diamond Racing makes 383 stroker pistons. I did a 383 stroker for Mopar Muscle a few years ago, article is in the tech archives. That was a nice little motor with 906 heads. A set of 440Source Stealth heads would also work great. Just paint them and most people can't tell the difference.

I think its a great idea. I got rid of my bee because my 383 wasn't bad enough and I didn't want to swap in a 440, I still regret getting rid of the car

Just for --its & giggles, why not buy another block to do that to?
Otherwise sounds like a great idea.

Thanks for the post. Read the article plus a couple others the 451 Manifesto is one of the first things I read when I got on to MOPARTS sort of an inspiration. I see the Diamond 51950's will get it done and 440source has pistons as well. Should put me in the 9.2-9.3:1 area depending on gasket and machineing. I had considered the stealth heads for a little more compression and loss of weight but from what I can find on the stock intake it will be what holds me back. Maybe port the heads a little just a light clean up??? I also don't want to get too carried away on this motor as I have two other cars to build the 71 will get a 451 built to rev and the 70 I have no idea what I am going to do. I would like to do a six pac something.

Thanks again!

I wish I had a good reply to that. I guess cuz I have the block I should use it. I have seen so many cars that the original motor was pulled to "save" in favor of a bigger/better engine and then it never made it back in the car. Either it got damaged sitting around or sold. If someone were to look the car over closely from all appearances it would still be numbers correct. If I were to sell it I would let the buyer know and give him the crank and rods (easy to store) but I hope that day is a long ways off. I have always dug sleepers thats where the 262 cam could be good too, not too wild. I still haven't sold myself on this deal. The child in me says go baby go, the adult says do I really need it and the pocket book says I have a budget with a lot left on the rest of the car to do. So??????

Thanks!

why not
Ya only live once.
I just built a 540 for a four door
But, it will be fun
street-able-mufflers and tags

I'm in the same exact boat. Have been debating a 383 stroker for my 70 Cuda. Have also been debating whether or not to use my numbers matching block.

At the moment though I'm leaning back towards just building it as a standard stroke 383 with the Comp Cams XE268. I've got plenty of other stuff to spend money on. I'll be interested to hear what you decide.

Yeah its tough! I look at this car and its all numbers and even though rust has done its best to destroy it its gonna be a great car. I will get past the rust (throw money/time at it till its all gone). But I find myself asking how much zoom do I need for this car???? They ran pretty darn good stock! And I don't wanna tear it up after its together. But I wanna drive the heck out of it. Nothing drives me more nuts than a cool car that doesn't get driven. Yeah it could get wrecked but its not that rare and thats why theres insurance! Fix it or replace it. If I don't do the stroker it will probably be the XE262 cam, Hyperutectic pistons 9.5:1,add hardened seats, balance job and all the other basic machineing.

Keep in touch and thanks,
Gene

I didn't notice your sig when I read your original post. Looks like you've got enough 383 cars that you can build one or two as stroker motors and still have one left over for a stock rebuild.

I've only got one to play with. Should be pulling the motor this weekend. Will be my first engine build. I'm pretty much planning on doing the same exact build as you, with the exception of the cam. Thinking I can go with the xe268 as I have 3.91 gears and a 4 speed. No strip use in my future, so I'm just looking to build a nice strong 383 with decent street manners.

Good luck

Geno,

I've been kicking around the same ideas with my numbers matching 69 383 Road Runner. I've decided to store the original 383 engine and do a 400/451 stroker build. The 400 block was cheap and easy enough to come by. It'll be almost impossible to tell that it's not a rebuilt 383 under the hood

All my low deck 'B' engine parts I've been collecting will bolt right on.

Then later on in my spare time, I'll restore the 383 to stock specs and it will go with the car if I ever decided to sell it, which I have no plans to.

Yeah I do have some cars to play with. I was considering the XE268 for mine and I even contacted Comp Cams filled out the paperwork for a full on cam selection help and they got back to me saying 268. After getting that I had been working on the car more and found out my gears were 3.23's instead of 3.55's also started to take into account the weight of myself and my wife in the car and when looking at the profiles of the to cams the little more torque makes sense.
You have a lighter car and the 3.91 gears the 268 should make some great power! What are you doing for intake/exhaust etc.? I have a 400 for each of the other cars as well and since neither are number matching they will definately get some added goodies.