Chrysler 383 V8 Engine

The Chrysler 383 V8 engine was first seen in 1959 and was produced up through 1971. This motor was one of Chrysler’s most widely used engines in the 60s and was found in a large amount of Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth models. The total production numbers for the 383 are somewhere in the 3 million range so finding parts for them these days is not difficult at all.

The 383 V8 became so popular mainly due to the fact that it was so versatile. It was found in more family oriented cars like the Chrysler 300 and Newport as well as muscle cars like the Dodge Charger and Plymouth Barracuda. In the mid to late 60s the 383 was a great alternative for performance enthusiast who couldn’t get a 440 V8 or 426 V8 engine. Horsepower for the engine ranged anywhere from 270 up to 335 depending of course on the compression and carburetor setup.

Like most of the powerhouse motors of the 60s increased emission laws in the US ended up killing off the 383 for the 1972 model year. Nowadays with simple bolt on performance parts, you can easily get 100+ more horsepower out of a stock Chrysler 383 V8 without killing your wallet. For more information be sure to check out this article from Mopar Muscle Magazine.

Engine Specifications