Would you?

[Scout63]

I'm still toying with pulling the stock 383/2v and installing the 440 that I had built a while back. It's a 69 block with a comp roller cam, 440 Source heads and Edelbrock manifold and carb. I sort of tried to sell the motor but haven't. I would keep and rebuild the 383.

The 383 runs beautifully so there is no reason to do it other than I would love to hear and feel the 440 in the car. The car is a four speed so would be a lot of fun.

Any and all viewpoints will be appreciated. Ben

 

[Polara_500_Jr]

I am still playing with building an engine similar for my car. Leave the convertible stock 383. Make the roofie car more fun. Dad always talked about building a stroker motor for the 4 speed car.

 

[Polara_500_Jr]

Didn't answer your question. If you have the engine.... toss it in and enjoy. You can always put the stock 383 back in later

 

[413]

Not so fast. 1965 C bodies have an oddball left side engine mount bracket. It bolts to the front of the block and the front ear on the side. Doesn't use the two rear monut ears on the block.

Does your 65 have this bracket to mount that 383? It bolts to the front of the block above the oil pump below the cylinder head. If it does you need to check your 440 block to see if it has the bosses for this bracket.

The photo is how it sits in the car. Two bolts to the front

 

[CBODY67]

The car looks good as it is! Neat that it's a 4-speed, too.

I've always liked 383s, personally, for many decades. Somebody OUGHT to want that 440, but perhaps it's not built like THEY would want it? Whatever . . .

You can always upgrade the cam to an OEM-version 440HP cam, which basically puts the 383 to '67 440HP cam specs, which is the same as the non-a/c '68 Road Runner minus the 1.74" exh valves and the 906 heads. Add an AVS2 for good measure.

Nowadays, it seems that everybody perceives you have to be able to do giant smokey burnouts in circles to have a "powerful car". YUK!! I've always liked cars that will do great at cruising at highway speeds (75-90mph) that have no want for more power in those speeds, which a 4bbl 383 will do nicely. Maybe a little less so with the added drag of the top being down. BTAIM

Find some younger person who wants to build a killer '78 Cordoba or '76 Charger SE, to buy your 440.

THEN . . . you might consider doing a 3.75" stroker kit for the 383 for 452cid.

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

The 383's one-year only engine mounts will work, as long as the 440 you've got has the correct mounting ear in the casting.

As noted above, if it does, then toss it in and enjoy, and keep the 383 for returning it back to stock.

On the other side of the coin, much like @CBODY67 says, I liked my 383 - great all round engine that was just about as fast as my 440 cars, and very smooth and tractable. Something to be said for that as I age!

 

[413]

Agreed with Cbody67. I see posts where a guy wants to build an engine with "500 horsepower", then when the discussion starts they have no clue how to the simplest procedures underhood.

Good running stock engines do very well in these cars.

 

[Jakter]

The only thing you'll gain in driving it on the street is to tell people it has a 440 in it.
I would keep the 383 and save yourself from doing the work for very little real world driving gain.

 

[Big_John]

I'm still toying with pulling the stock 383/2v and installing the 440 that I had built a while back. It's a 69 block with a comp roller cam, 440 Source heads and Edelbrock manifold and carb. I sort of tried to sell the motor but haven't. I would keep and rebuild the 383.

The 383 runs beautifully so there is no reason to do it other than I would love to hear and feel the 440 in the car. The car is a four speed so would be a lot of fun.

Any and all viewpoints will be appreciated. Ben

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IMHO. You have to think about what you are going to do with the car. I've found that cars with "built" engines tend to not be as much fun as you think. A car that's fussy about what gas you put in it, gets single digit mileage, overheats in traffic, and then breaks parts (4 speed carnage!) tends to need more wrench time and get driven less. In other words, not as much fun in the long run.

A stock 383 may get driven more, behave itself more and just be generally more fun.

Your choice, your car, just saying that a car that's all together and running well is a lot of fun.

 

[69CoronetRT]

IMHO. You have to think about what you are going to do with the car. I've found that cars with "built" engines tend to not be as much fun as you think. A car that's fussy about what gas you put in it, gets single digit mileage, overheats in traffic, and then breaks parts (4 speed carnage!) tends to need more wrench time and get driven less. In other words, not as much fun in the long run.

A stock 383 may get driven more, behave itself more and just be generally more fun.

Your choice, your car, just saying that a car that's all together and running well is a lot of fun.

Agreee. Having done something similar, there's really not a lot of real world upside to massive engine upgrades.

You won't drive any faster to the DQ with the kids.
You're not going to be street racing for pink slips.
None of the guys hanging out at the NAPA will care.
You're not gong to dump the clutch with a drivetrain engineered for a mild street 383.

You can keep a lot of money in your pocket.
Less fussy operation.

 

[Snotty]

Just saw an article today in Hemmings about the '65 Fury with the 383 and 4 speed in it. You have one, and you want to drop a (yawn) 440 into it? The only time you'll feel the difference is when you push the pedal to the floor, and how often are you going to do that? I see with your MC and aluminum radiator, you're not interested in originality (which is fine). But what will you really gain?

I'd leave it alone.

 

[stain]

and you want to drop a (yawn) 440 into it

I don't his particular 440 is of the "yawn" variety....

 

[stain]

I know the feeling your going through. I am going down the same road with my 74 Blazer. It runs great BUT the engine is "meh". I have had the truck for a while and really like it. Rather than sell it, I am currently building a Vortec 383 stroker. It will make the truck feel different .
Plus, no project car is EVER really done......we are always looking for something to do to them!

 

[Snotty]

I don't his particular 440 is of the "yawn" variety....

I'm tired of seeing them in cars they didn't come in. Most especially, E Bodies. So... yawn.

 

[mgm1986]

The 383 runs beautifully so there is no reason to do it other than I would love to hear and feel the 440 in the car. The car is a four speed so would be a lot of fun.

Maybe you could convince another member with a worked 440 - 4 speed C-Body to let you drive or go for a ride in their car.

Nice car, love the red interior with the black paint and white top

 

[57fury440]

With a good running 440, there will be a big difference in performance. That being said, what are you going to do with this car? If it was mine and like you said has a good running 383, I would leave it that way. Is the 440-crank drilled out for a 4 speed? If not, that could be a problem. Drive the car and enjoy it. You can always get a lighter sedan and drop the 440 in that.

 

[Scout63]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. The 383 runs beautifully and is dead smooth at all speeds. I mostly drive it to work and around town. Someone above is right that I sort of want the 440 just to see it and feel it, but it won’t change my world. The power is fine as is. On the water we say “Never leave fish to find fish.” I think that applies here. Thanks to the forum the 383 is safe for now. I’ll noodle around with trying to sell the 440 at some point if I don’t change my mind again.

 

[62dodge]

Howdy Everyone We all have a story. Here is mine back in 87 I found a 65 Coronet for my sweetie. It had a 361 2bbl single exhaust 276 open rear end, ran very nice. Step one dual exhaust with Calif turbos, next 4bbl off of a 69 Charger RT manifold off a 68 Road Runner, next 323 limited slip. The car ran awesome then I was bored one day and pulled a 413 out of our 64 300 rebuilt and updated it added two 4bbl Holleys 390CFM so that is drivable and installed it in the 65, upgraded radiator with a 4 core, updated the torque flite and new exhaust. We haven't looked back the original motor is in my shop. What I'm suggesting is go for it, swap in the 440 and have fun. PS When I did this the Coronet was my sweeties' daily driver.

 

[Blusmbl]

What are the specs on the roller cam in the 440, and is it hydraulic or solid? Depending on how radical it is, it could either drive like your 383 just with more power everywhere, or it won't get out of it's own way below 3000 rpm. 4 speeds are less forgiving to an engine with a lot of camshaft.

 

[Scout63]

Blusmbl - Cam is Comp Cams Xtreme Energy 230/236 Hydraulic Roller Cam (3 Bolt) for Chrysler 383-440. I don’t think it is super aggressive. Heads are 440Source aluminum.