The numbers 383 for my Road Runner

[bruce]

Have just found out the numbers 383 MAY be available for my Road Runner... good news of course, but very preliminary at this point. I don't even think I'd install it back in the car if I had it--the car now has a 440+6.

But it sure would be nice to have just so the engine can stay with the car for that if and when day if I ever have to sell... The determining factor will be what the current owner of my car's 383 thinks he needs to get out of it. I'm not crazy about the idea of paying a BIG premium for a 383.

Thoughts?

[CtownRunner]

Hope it is a reasonable price. A 383 is usually not expensive. It is a bare block, stock or Built?

[bruce]

No details just yet. It was last rebuilt in 1988 when it got separated from my Road Runner. I don't even know whether the car has seen any miles once the 383 got dropped in. It's a really long story--the guy who HAD the Challenger was some serious low-life scum that you would NOT want to deal with. It had sat and sat neglected for a LONG time before my 383 got swapped in. What has happened since who knows?

And he had owned his Challenger since back in the late '70s. I never expected him to sell the car or the engine. But now he's sold the car and the new owner MIGHT deal with me on the engine.

It's complete and running AFAIK.

[gcoupe72]

That's exciting news! better than finding a broadcast sheet.

You may have something he'd trade for?

Better than dollars.

Hope it works out!

[71GTX]

numbers matching can and does add to the value of ones car if you go to sell....Do you have the original tranny from the car as well??

[1971SSP]

Good luck Bruce. On paper it sounds great....but as you stated, it would be hard paying top dollar for a 383. Hope it works out.

[bruce]

numbers matching can and does add to the value of ones car if you go to sell....Do you have the original tranny from the car as well??

Yes, the numbers trans is in the car, it never got separated like the 383 did. So this 383 would be all it takes to be all matching. This whole thing is going down with a Facebook friend as intermediary (imagine!) and it's testing my patience pretty good waiting for the next update. LOL!

[71Beeper]

Good Luck with getting the motor Bruce! I hope it all works out for ya.

[bruce]

Well, made a phone call tonight. Honestly don't know how I never met this guy when I lived in Iowa. He's somewhat older than me, but knows all the same Mopar guys in my hometown that I do. So far no price has been mentioned--he's more keen on trading for something he needs for the restoration of the Challenger. He seems like a really nice guy at the outset, a real Mopar guy--meaning he's keen on reuniting the 383 with my Runner. But it's all preliminary, so the other shoe is still waiting to drop.

He's promised to email some photos of the Challenger and I'm looking forward to seeing them. He's also promised to check the engine for my VIN tomorrow, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Everything about my story on how the 383 ended up in the Challenger checked out with him, so it's looking very promising.

Bottom line though still is how much?

[Eric]

That's great Bruce....hope it works out for you!

....too bad he can't change your car's original color from white

[wildcatcreekmopars]

Good luck Bruce. On paper it sounds great....but as you stated, it would be hard paying top dollar for a 383. Hope it works out.

Wow.... I like 383's had a bunch of them..... there good engines.... especially when there matching #s.....

Hope it works out for ya !

[71GTX]

Truly hope that it works out....

[bruce]

It's under this hood, I KNOW it is!

From his story it sounds like the car has never even been driven since my 383 got installed, just sitting in storage since 1988.

[bruce]

That's great Bruce....hope it works out for you!

....too bad he can't change your car's original color from white

I'm sure you thought I missed this on Moparts:

"Nice project! I've always liked white on a 71 runner. "

[Beepbeep!]

Good luck on getting the engine back!