1983 dodge 1/2 ton long bed, 383 big block
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Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Missouri
1983 dodge 1/2 ton long bed, 383 big block
i have a 1983 dodge 1/2 ton with a 383 big block that i was wondering about........ i'm 23 and me and my father had built this truck when i was 18..... but he passed away soon after 
.... he painted it and done alot of work on it for his daily driver... but he soon parked it.... i had came across a 1969 and 1978 chrysler newport..... the 69 had a 383 2 barrel and the 78 had a 400 big block 4 barrel... i wanted to build the 383 and put it back in the car but dad talked me in to putting it into that pick up.... so we took the tranny, and rear end out of the 78 and the engine out of the 69 and put them in the pick up.... me and dad put a master rebuild kit in the 383.... had the crank turned 20 thousandths, new bearings throughout... stock rods..... .020 flat top pistons, comp cam, with a .280 duration, holly 650 carb, new comp cam valve springs, new lifters.... everything with a master rebuild with a lil extra.... oh i also took the electronic distributer off the 400 too, so i didn't have any points problems, i was wondering..... how high should that engine rev, i never have turned it over 4000rpm, i'm kinda scared of blowin it up, because he had me pay for everything for the truck. witch tought me to respect my things......, what should the timing be set at? dad never did tune everything to run perfect because he didn't want me to kill myself.... and now that he is gone i don't really have anyone that know anything about mopars... could you guys help me out.... any tips or info would be really awesome.... i haven't driven it much since he passed.... i have put a new radiator and electric fan on it since he has gone..... thanks, i can send any other info if needed
.... he painted it and done alot of work on it for his daily driver... but he soon parked it.... i had came across a 1969 and 1978 chrysler newport..... the 69 had a 383 2 barrel and the 78 had a 400 big block 4 barrel... i wanted to build the 383 and put it back in the car but dad talked me in to putting it into that pick up.... so we took the tranny, and rear end out of the 78 and the engine out of the 69 and put them in the pick up.... me and dad put a master rebuild kit in the 383.... had the crank turned 20 thousandths, new bearings throughout... stock rods..... .020 flat top pistons, comp cam, with a .280 duration, holly 650 carb, new comp cam valve springs, new lifters.... everything with a master rebuild with a lil extra.... oh i also took the electronic distributer off the 400 too, so i didn't have any points problems, i was wondering..... how high should that engine rev, i never have turned it over 4000rpm, i'm kinda scared of blowin it up, because he had me pay for everything for the truck. witch tought me to respect my things......, what should the timing be set at? dad never did tune everything to run perfect because he didn't want me to kill myself.... and now that he is gone i don't really have anyone that know anything about mopars... could you guys help me out.... any tips or info would be really awesome.... i haven't driven it much since he passed.... i have put a new radiator and electric fan on it since he has gone..... thanks, i can send any other info if needed
Champion
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 4
From: Bent Mountain Va
Actual stock timing on that year 383 was TDC to 7.5 BTDC depending on if it was a manual or automatic. With all those changes I believe the only way to find the correct timing is trial and error unless you know someone with a dyno. Check the timing to get a base and then change the timing 2 degrees at a time and test drive it. Continue this until you get the best performance. The best timing could be either higher or lower than the base.
I had a 383 1970 Road Runner that would easily hit 5200 RPM. It didn't hit peak horse power until 5000 RPM. I am not saying what yours or anyone else's engine is capable of since I didn't build it.
I had a 383 1970 Road Runner that would easily hit 5200 RPM. It didn't hit peak horse power until 5000 RPM. I am not saying what yours or anyone else's engine is capable of since I didn't build it.