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Heads for a low comp 383

Posted By: justintyme

Heads for a low comp 383 - 04/13/17 06:32 PM

So what was going to be changing valve cover gaskets and adding headers to mine and my sons 69 roadrunner ended up with some broken exhaust studs and a couple valve cover bolts...no problem pulled the head to make it easy to drill out studs right... well the head had a little fall off the bench and is now cracked.

So I need heads, and this 383 was in the car when we bought it,so unknown cam and compression specs but seems to run real well, no oil usage etc. Flat top pistons with no reliefs are around .020-.025 down from the deck roughly. We would like to run this motor for a year or more then build a mild stroker for street use. So ideally the heads would be able to transfer to the new motor, with proper springs, and freshened.

So would something like Sidewinder's or 440 source work ok with the low compressionn on the 383, in a 4 speed car with 3.55 gears, no power anything, on the street. We were running a stock iron 4bbl intake although I have Holley street dominator to try. Edelbrock carb is whats on it.

Thanks for any advice!
Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Heads for a low comp 383 - 04/13/17 06:39 PM

What are the casting number on the top of those heads?
I haven't use the sidewinders heads so I don't know what they flow or how big the combustion chambers are confused
I have used and check a set of the newer(two or three years ago) set of 440 Source Stealth heads and they flowed way more than any stock Mopar BB head I have flowed and the combustion chambers where between 80.3 to 81.1 CC so they have smaller chambers than any of the early stock "516" close chamber heads I've checked and they flowed a lot more air work
My message is I wouldn't hesitate to use them on your Sons motor thumbs twocents
Posted By: GTX MATT

Re: Heads for a low comp 383 - 04/13/17 09:06 PM

I don't see any problems running those heads (just check P/V clearance), will bump your compression up a little more. Should put you around 10:1 if you're only .020 down. My Stealths CC'd between 79.8 and 81 CCs.

I think if you run those heads though, of course you CAN run the stock intake, but you'll be giving up free power with that thing. A Performer RPM or other good dual plane in conjunction with those heads will feel quite a bit stronger than what you had.
Posted By: justintyme

Re: Heads for a low comp 383 - 04/13/17 10:39 PM

Thanks guys, just wanted some reassurance before spending the dough. The current heads were 906 open chambers on top of gaskets with a compressed thickness spec of around .040 if I remember correctly as I had ordered a replacement gaskets before the head fell

Regarding the intakes I think we will try the Holley street dominator we have on the shelf, I know it's not as good as the rb version or the Performer from, but might as well give it a,shot
Posted By: furious70

Re: Heads for a low comp 383 - 04/14/17 12:04 AM

Originally Posted By justintyme
Thanks guys, just wanted some reassurance before spending the dough. The current heads were 906 open chambers on top of gaskets with a compressed thickness spec of around .040 if I remember correctly as I had ordered a replacement gaskets before the head fell

Regarding the intakes I think we will try the Holley street dominator we have on the shelf, I know it's not as good as the rb version or the Performer from, but might as well give it a,shot


Having run the SD on the mild 383, I hated it. Killed the low end torque. My Fury is 4200lbs with me in it, with a 727 and 3.91's it was a pig out of the hole. Put the stock intake back on and 3.23's in and it spun the tires again.
I was stuck between the stock and SD until I made custom a/c brackets, torker/tm6/rpm perf don't allow OEM brackets to get around the runners
Posted By: justintyme

Re: Heads for a low comp 383 - 04/14/17 04:26 AM

Maybe I'll just have to pony up for the rpm also. Would have to run a drop has aircleaner I suppose instead of the airgrabber base
Posted By: bee1971

Re: Heads for a low comp 383 - 04/14/17 03:51 PM

I agree about the SD , same thing on my 71 Bee , zero low end torque , was great above 3,500 Rpms

Anyways

Got my 75 cc Edelbrock E Street Heads sitting in the garage just waiting to bee installed

Waiting for some time off work and warmer weather
Posted By: justintyme

Re: Heads for a low comp 383 - 04/14/17 06:23 PM

Thanks again guys, so I ordered a set of heads and an Edelbrock RPM last night from 440source. Anyone know how much of a drop base air cleaner and filter height I can run to fit under the hood of a 69 runner?
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