383 Motor "too big" for A body Duster?
#1
383 Motor "too big" for A body Duster?
I see a 1971 Duster for sale with a torqueflite automatic with B&M ratchet shifter and 383 motor. I want to use car mostly as just street car but am interested in doing beginner vintage hpde track days. I was originally looking at a 340 duster. My question is if the 383 would make the car too front heavy? How about the difference in weight between the 340 and 383? I want the car to have decent power but can handle as good within reason that a duster can. Ger.
#3
Mopar Lover
Both are 1.6 lbs per cubic inch, 383 is plus 43 c.i. and 70 lbs which can be reduced with aluminum manifold and headers. I believe the 383 with its short stroke is a great package for an A Body and any weight concerns would be with the 440 RB engines. The 383 has the option of stroking to achieve big cubes in a small package, 438 or 496 c.i..
#4
Super Moderator
Mopar put plenty of 383s in Abodys and in 1969 put the 440 in a few Abody Darts....
I've done a 440 in a Valiant in the early 80s, fun car...
I've done a 440 in a Valiant in the early 80s, fun car...
#6
New Member
I currently have a Plum Crazy 71 Duster with a 383/ Six pack motor. It was originally a slant six car with manual steering and brakes. My car needs some suspension upgrades from the slant six components, and I am about to start that project. I am adding 4 new gas adjustable shocks, a power front disc brake kit, new manual steering gear box(fast ratio 16-1), and front and rear sway bars. I have had a 73 Duster 340 before, and I don't see any difference in the big block vs small block handling. I am convinced that the only problem I have is the sloppy and worn out steering gear box that I am about to take care of.
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