Thread: trouble in 383 land-help

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Some of the old mopar's came out of the factory with 2.73 gears, that will turn any engine into a pooch off the line. What is the RPM at 60 mph? With that and the tire size could punch it into the computer and see about what the gear ratio is.

Only had one 383 in my life. It was mated to a 4 speed in a 69 barracuda formula S. It would nearly snap your head off coming off the line. Mine was a 330 hp 383 with a 10:1 CR, but many 383's in family cars were 270 hp with 9:1 or 9.2:1 CR. Not of the jump and run clan. Good engines, just not hi-perf out of the box. I really liked mine, but didn't hesitate a minute when offered a 426 hemi on a swap out. Just wish I would have kept it all, instead of throwing in the towel during the 1st Arab oil embargo.

When you say it won't turn the tire, do you mean it actually doesn't want to seem to turn the back tires at all? Or, do you mean that it won't break them lose in a brake stand and lay two big black strips of rubber on the pavement along with a whole bunch of smoke behind you and send the car sideways as it pushes you out of shape?

IF the first question asked above is more correct, I would say that since you are the one that is there with the motor, and seemed to be convinced it's not doing it's job, then run a compression test and see what you get. If the motor is just plain old and tired, that'll tell ya. I really think that your problem lies in the area of the tranny/rear end though. Either the torque convertor is shot and not multiplying the torqure delivered by the engine, the tranny is slipping real bad or something in your rear end/axle area isn't right. Are your rear wheel bearings binding/siezed? Or perhaps your brake shoes sticking?

IF the second question in the first paragraph above is closer to what you're saying, then I would say, change the rear gear ratio. Dave's right (as usual) 2.73's will make any motor seem like a "pooch".

Cheers,
Dutch

hello to all. i think that you are right that the problem is in the trans area, the motor is running fine and it's not that old and it seems to build all the power that it needs(so to speak) i think that i'll pull the trans and go through it and replace the converter. the car with that body should be able to break the tires from a stand still and no, braking the car won't do it either.everything else checked out ok.
thanks for the imput, time to jack her up. thanks again