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383 Engine Questions
Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 1:21 pm
by 68GrayJ
Hello All!
I have a 68 D200, that I have acquired. It currently has a 318LA engine, which is factory. I am picking up a 383 2barrel engine from a couple towns over tomorrow.
From what I have read, the 2 barrel version was a lower compression engine(9.2 compared to the 10). My question is what was the difference between the 2 barrel and 4 barrel to get the drop in compression?
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 2:08 pm
by dodgeboykim
68GrayJ wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2018 1:21 pm
Hello All!
I have a 68 D200, that I have acquired. It currently has a 318LA engine, which is factory. I am picking up a 383 2barrel engine from a couple towns over tomorrow.
From what I have read, the 2 barrel version was a lower compression engine(9.2 compared to the 10). My question is what was the difference between the 2 barrel and 4 barrel to get the drop in compression?
Pistons most likely.
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 5:16 pm
by MadMC63
If you really want to know the differences you you need to start doing research. Year makes a difference. Apllication makes a difference. Version makes a difference and so on. Lots of different variations.
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 8:02 pm
by Hobcobble
dodgeboykim wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2018 2:08 pm
Pistons most likely.
Dished, as I recall.
John
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 8:18 am
by 68GrayJ
I am looking into a 400-450 Horse range build. I have read that the advertised compression is 9.2, but actually in the mid 8's. Is this true? The block was cast in 68, and has the original 2 barrel intake.
If its a set of pistons, does anyone have any stock replacement pistons or something close, that they would recommend.
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 10:16 am
by MadMC63
What did the two barrell engine come out of? What are the casting numbers and stamp numbers on the block, heads?
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 11:13 am
by MadMC63
Decode the block casting number as follows: 2120329 = 383 RB (1959-1960) 1851729 = 383 B (1959-1964) 2128854 = 383 B (1964) 2532130 = 383 B (1965) 2568130 = 383 B (1959-1971) 2899830 = 383 B (1970)
Decode the ID boss stamping as follows: M38 = 1959 383 (B block) MR38 = 1959 383 (RB block) P38 = 1960 383 (B block) PR38 = 1960 383 (RB block) R38 or R383 = 1961 383 S38 or S383 = 1962 383 T38 or T383 = 1963 383 V38 or V383 = 1964 383 A383 = 1965 383 B383 = 1966 383 C383 = 1967 383 D383 = 1968 383 E383 = 1969 383 F383 = 1970 383 G383 = 1971 383
1960-1964
From '60 to '64 a typical engine ID code will look like this: S42-222
The first digit identifies the year: S=1962
The next 2 digits are the first 2 digits of the engine CID: 42=426
The last 3 digits are the date and month: 222= February 22
1965 - 1971
In '65 the third digit of the CID was added to the engine ID code.
After '65 a typical engine ID code will look like this: B383-322
The first digit identifies the year: B=1966
The next 3 digits are the engine CID: 383=383
The last 3 digits are the date and month: 322= March 22
Year Codes for B & RB Engines
A - 1965
B - 1966
C - 1967
D - 1968
E - 1969
F - 1970
G - 1971
H - 1972
J - 1973
P - 1960
R - 1961
S - 1962
T - 1963
V - 1964
4T - 1974
5T - 1975
6T - 1976
7T - 1977
8T - 1978
Other Stampings
Additional stampings may be found on the ID pad.
They identify non standard engine components.
A - .020 oversize cylinder bores
Diamond - oversize tappets
E - Cast Crankshaft
HP - High Performance
L or LC - low compression
M - .001 undersize main bearing journals
Maltese Cross - .001" undersized bearing shells
Maltese Cross and an X - .010" undersized crankshaft
O.S. - .005 oversize valve stems
P - premium fuel
R - regular fuel
RX or MX - all main or rod journals .010" undersized
S - special engine
WT or TW - water test
X - .010" undersize crankshaft
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 11:55 am
by 68GrayJ
MadMC63 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 09, 2018 11:13 am
Decode the block casting number as follows: 2120329 = 383 RB (1959-1960) 1851729 = 383 B (1959-1964) 2128854 = 383 B (1964) 2532130 = 383 B (1965) 2568130 = 383 B (1959-1971) 2899830 = 383 B (1970)
Decode the ID boss stamping as follows: M38 = 1959 383 (B block) MR38 = 1959 383 (RB block) P38 = 1960 383 (B block) PR38 = 1960 383 (RB block) R38 or R383 = 1961 383 S38 or S383 = 1962 383 T38 or T383 = 1963 383 V38 or V383 = 1964 383 A383 = 1965 383 B383 = 1966 383 C383 = 1967 383 D383 = 1968 383 E383 = 1969 383 F383 = 1970 383 G383 = 1971 383
1960-1964
From '60 to '64 a typical engine ID code will look like this: S42-222
The first digit identifies the year: S=1962
The next 2 digits are the first 2 digits of the engine CID: 42=426
The last 3 digits are the date and month: 222= February 22
1965 - 1971
In '65 the third digit of the CID was added to the engine ID code.
After '65 a typical engine ID code will look like this: B383-322
The first digit identifies the year: B=1966
The next 3 digits are the engine CID: 383=383
The last 3 digits are the date and month: 322= March 22
Year Codes for B & RB Engines
A - 1965
B - 1966
C - 1967
D - 1968
E - 1969
F - 1970
G - 1971
H - 1972
J - 1973
P - 1960
R - 1961
S - 1962
T - 1963
V - 1964
4T - 1974
5T - 1975
6T - 1976
7T - 1977
8T - 1978
Other Stampings
Additional stampings may be found on the ID pad.
They identify non standard engine components.
A - .020 oversize cylinder bores
Diamond - oversize tappets
E - Cast Crankshaft
HP - High Performance
L or LC - low compression
M - .001 undersize main bearing journals
Maltese Cross - .001" undersized bearing shells
Maltese Cross and an X - .010" undersized crankshaft
O.S. - .005 oversize valve stems
P - premium fuel
R - regular fuel
RX or MX - all main or rod journals .010" undersized
S - special engine
WT or TW - water test
X - .010" undersize crankshaft
Thank You for the information. I have been doing quite a bit of reading in the past week or so. I am picking the engine up Sunday and I will for sure get the rest of the information then. So far, I only have the block casting numbers, which are: 2468130. Ill fill you in when she's home!
Thanks again for the information. I am new to the sweptline era trucks. The wife and I wanted a cruiser, and I scored an Oregon truck which had been sitting in a warehouse for many years. Only rust on the truck is under the carpet, where one's heel typically rests.
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:28 am
by 68GrayJ
Ive got the engine back home and sittin pretty on the stand.
A quickly glanced at the pad neath the distributor. I show B383 and then below it I see 27 2. Does the head need to be removed to see more. It seemed to be a very small area.
In case you're in the Indiana area, there is a great guy who I got the engine from in the Bloomington area. Wonderful guy , plenty of parts. He'll be up at the Trade show in Indy the first of March, I believe.
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2018 7:47 am
by MadMC63
No, you should not have to remove anything. Does it have a vin number on it? B=1966 followed by the month and day, 27 2, it was installed in the car, not the day the engine was made.
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 4:40 pm
by 68GrayJ
I cleaned off the pad and found it to be this sequence actually.
E383
2 27 2
R
So 1969 383 regular fuel. Originally installed in a car February 27. What's the last 2 for?
I've got a pictur, it's just too big. Any other way to post it?
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 6:44 pm
by MadMC63
I wonder if instead of an "A" for .020 cylynder bores they just stamped a #2. With it being a 69 there should be a VIN number as well as a block ID number.
Beginning in 1968 all Mopar B&RB engine blocks have an engine serial number stamped in the left side oil pan rail at the rear corner under the starter opening.
Sample Serial # PT44028650001
Plant Code: PT
MV,MN - Marysville Plant (426 Hemi)
PT - Trenton Plant (361, 383, 400, 413, 426, 440)
Cubic Inch Displacement: 440
Should need no further explanation
Date Code: 2865
Based on 10,000 day Julian Calendar
2865 is June 1, 1969
Serial Number: 0001
A sequential number for each days
production beginning with 0001
10,000 day calendar link.
https://www.e-bodies.org/wp-content/upl ... 1969-1.jpg
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:37 pm
by 68GrayJ
Hello All,
I have done some digging into this big block and I wanted to get some information from more experienced engine builders than I.
I borrowed a set of telescoping gauages, and a micrometer to evaluate the condition of these bores. Surprisingly enough, the worst I have seen is 4.253 at the the bottom of the stroke and 4.252 at the top. To me this sounds honeable, and STD pistons should work, right?
Also, preliminary, I used a set of calipers and found the pistons to be at most .010 in the hole. Most of them are under .007.
If so, I am in the market for a good set of std bore factory flattops. I measured the CH on the dished piston out of this 2Barrel and its 1.93, which is far taller than any flattop you can buy, or at least that I've found. Any ideas?
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 10:31 pm
by marklein
Might be a bit late, but it might be easier to put a stroker kit in your 318. Could bring it to 392 cid and no one would know it wasn't stock. Then you don't need a different trans, exhaust, and everything else that goes into a swap.
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 7:55 am
by 68GrayJ
I think Im in deep enough now that Ill be sticking with the swap.
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 12:50 am
by Kaegi
I agree those bores are totally within spec. hone and go! cam and a 6 pack???
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 5:51 pm
by 68GrayJ
Hello,
I am send my engine to the machine shop tomorrow. Yay!
I am ordering other parts and thought about the engine brackets. This engine came from a car, I believe. Do the brackets for the motor mounts work with a truck or are they different. If ayo, where can I get some quality ones?
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 10:54 pm
by dodgeboykim
68GrayJ wrote: ↑Tue May 14, 2019 5:51 pm
Hello,
I am send my engine to the machine shop tomorrow. Yay!
I am ordering other parts and thought about the engine brackets. This engine came from a car, I believe. Do the brackets for the motor mounts work with a truck or are they different. If ayo, where can I get some quality ones?
Truck block mounts. Truck pan and oil pickup. truck year helps
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 7:50 am
by Hobcobble
His opening post states '68 D200
John
Re: 383 Engine Questions
Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 12:22 pm
by dodgeboykim
Hobcobble wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2019 7:50 am
His opening post states '68 D200
John
Simply based my comment on his immediate post before me.
No Harm. No Foul.
