Quote:

---

I believe you and I wasn't even a glimmer in Dad's eye in '68. But I also believe the factory and subsequent dealerships did some things that were never mentioned... Like a mechanic blowing up the original Hemi on the PDI test drive. I know the mechanic that got fired for it (much older than me but story was verified...lol). The owner of the new car was not told there was a warranty longblock in it from the day before they picked it up... Or the new unsold cars that got full repaints after they were backed off a carrier with the upper deck a hair too low (happened when I was working at the dealership). You can never say never with mopar (or dealerships).
Blueprint spec is just that. Unfortuntely, the factory never blueprinted anything and I've yet to see a 383 deck that was even close to blueprint spec. As Johnsaid, I've only seen about 8 of them... Not a real big representation honestly but with no exceptions and similar findings on all factory engines regardless of displacement I trust the trend......lol.

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Yes it is , I have factory originals and a set that have been ported , I'm going to run them both on the engine if I get the chance to dyno it before I put it in, should be sometime next month. I'm also going to throw on a set of B body manifolds to see what the HP difference is with those.

---

All this going to be done on an engine dyno then?

Be neat to see what the differences were at the wheels with the entire exhaust system and drivetrain factored in.

Anyway what are do you live in? Maybe check it out in person when you get around to it.

Would you consider checking power output (on the engine dyno of course) with a C body HP manifold if I sent you one?

Dan

---

Send me a check and I'll test all the manifolds you want.

I have a C body drivers side HP also but hadn't planned on that one though , I only have so much time to get this done.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

FWIW I know a couple of guys that put closed chamber heads on a 68/9 383 and had piston clearance problems because of the o/+ deck height of the engine. It isn't all BS. Some were + some were very close to deck.

---

Only 3 ways this could have happen, someone decked the blocks, the factory screwed up and the deck was way too short which means they would have had to cut the intake or head to get it bolted together or they had something that was very special that no one knew about. I have 2 69 383HP engines in my garage with the heads off, both are factory deck and both still have their factory rotating assemblies, neither have pistons above the deck. Now I know that 2 hardly makes a sample, but I have had others in the past and everything was the same.

There was a guy that I used to work with, he's dead now, that ordered a 68 Road Runner NEW that he CLAIMED was some special 365HP package to run against the Chevelle SS with the 375HP 396. I never could find anything out about this and he was known as somewhat of a BSer so I just took it as that.

Until someone SHOWS me one of these MYTHICAL positive deck 383's or some factory documentation they are nothing more than unicorns ....

---

OK fine< >You guys seem to have all the answers whether you were there or not so according to you it and couldn't have happened. It happened and I WAS there. Don't remember seeing any of you around.
PS: one was a 68 383 RR with less then 3000 miles - other 383 runner with about 6000 miles.

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

FWIW I know a couple of guys that put closed chamber heads on a 68/9 383 and had piston clearance problems because of the o/+ deck height of the engine. It isn't all BS. Some were + some were very close to deck.

---

Only 3 ways this could have happen, someone decked the blocks, the factory screwed up and the deck was way too short which means they would have had to cut the intake or head to get it bolted together or they had something that was very special that no one knew about. I have 2 69 383HP engines in my garage with the heads off, both are factory deck and both still have their factory rotating assemblies, neither have pistons above the deck. Now I know that 2 hardly makes a sample, but I have had others in the past and everything was the same.

There was a guy that I used to work with, he's dead now, that ordered a 68 Road Runner NEW that he CLAIMED was some special 365HP package to run against the Chevelle SS with the 375HP 396. I never could find anything out about this and he was known as somewhat of a BSer so I just took it as that.

Until someone SHOWS me one of these MYTHICAL positive deck 383's or some factory documentation they are nothing more than unicorns ....

---

OK fine< >You guys seem to have all the answers whether you were there or not so according to you it and couldn't have happened. It happened and I WAS there. Don't remember seeing any of you around.
PS: one was a 68 383 RR with less then 3000 miles - other 383 runner with about 6000 miles.

---

The three that I have personal experiance with were all below deck - and I'm not saying that none were above. One of them was like .007+ below.

Was there contact just turning it over? The MP shim gasket, for a bunch on years, was actually 0.018" thick. Even with a piston a few below the deck, could still have contacted the head when run.

Quote:

---

---

Quote:

---

CCing heads isn't rocket science. Hardest part about it is ponying up the insane amount of money they want for a buret, but I've also heard of guys doing it on the cheap with a really big syringe. I think you can get them at farm and feed stores.

0.020" steel gasket would certainly help to give you a bump over the 0.039 you've got.

Cam wise, you might wanna give the Hughes Whiplash cam a look. Supposed to be designed for low compression engines. There's a member on the board that goes by Junky that recently put one in his 383 and he's been raving about it. Apparently really work up his 383 after he swapped out a Comp XE262 (IIRC).

---

Quote:

---

CCing heads isn't rocket science. Hardest part about it is ponying up the insane amount of money they want for a buret, but I've also heard of guys doing it on the cheap with a really big syringe. I think you can get them at farm and feed stores.

0.020" steel gasket would certainly help to give you a bump over the 0.039 you've got.

Cam wise, you might wanna give the Hughes Whiplash cam a look. Supposed to be designed for low compression engines. There's a member on the board that goes by Junky that recently put one in his 383 and he's been raving about it. Apparently really work up his 383 after he swapped out a Comp XE262 (IIRC).

---

Quote:

---

i currently own 5 (too many friends/acquaintances who yanked original engines for built 440's) 68-70 383hp's,all are low mile,never been disassembled bottom ends. the deepest in the hole on any is .006 in the hole,the shallowest (the one in the pics) is .002 in the hole.
piston #1
piston #6

---

Quote:

---

Did you consider one of those driver side C body manifolds with the modified/welded - full diameter - exit? Are they still available?

---

Quote:

---

Hello:

Quote:

---

---

"The 68-69 383 4bbl. is the only 383 to have been built with positive deck height from the factory. The blueprinting manuals list it as +.020 to +.021"

?????

Your source for this information "Blueprinting manuals"

Maynard

---

Don't give up .

Quote:

---

i currently own 5 (too many friends/acquaintances who yanked original engines for built 440's) 68-70 383hp's,all are low mile,never been disassembled bottom ends. the deepest in the hole on any is .006 in the hole,the shallowest (the one in the pics) is .002 in the hole.

---

.006 in the hole , that is one of the unicorn taller than factory deck height blocks I keep hearing about ...

I'll never doubt they exist again , thank you .