High Performance Car Magazine
Final Comparison Analysis Beteen the 1967 Charger '383' and the 1968 Charger '383'.
The results are not even close. The 1968 Charger out-performs the 1967 Charger in a match-up
of Drag Strip Performance. Though each car weighs the same and have equal drive-trains, the
1968 '383 Engine surpasses the 1967 '383' Engine hands-down.
At the Drag Strip, the 1968 power-plant showed nearly 8/10's quicker Elapsed Times with our
4-Speed Car Tests. And Top Speed resulted in a 5.4 MPH gain.
Based upon Chrysler's current
330 Horsepower Rating of the 1968 383 4-Barrel, we feel that this
power-plant puts out nearly
{+
40} more Horsepower than the 1967 383 4-Barrel Engine.
Horsepower Gains for the 1968 Charger '383' over the 1967 Charger '383
* Cylinder Heads............
+ 15 HP
* Intake Manifold.............
+ 8 HP
* Carburetor....................
+ 6 HP
* Exhaust Manifold..........
+7 HP
* Fan-Clutch....................
+ 5 HP
1968 Mid-Year Improvements
* A 'new' Unsilenced Air-Cleaner
* Switching from the Inland 4-Speed Shifter to a Hurst 4-Speed unit with improved linkage.
High Performance Car Magazine (overview)
* Limited Production of 4-Speed Charger '383' cars
* No options for suspension or handling packages
* 3.23 Open-Rear as 'standard equipment'
* 3.55 Gears as only optional gear-ratio available
* No Horsepower-upgrade option for the 383/330 HP 'H-Code' engine
Though we appreciate Dodge in their efforts to deliver a Gentleman's Musclecar with a 'new'
potent 383 4-Barrel big block engine, we have a few suggestions.
1) Offer an option for the Charger 383 with an 'S-16' Heavy-Duty Suspension/Handling Package, which
would include; A) Heavy-Duty .92 torsion bars, B) Heavy-Duty Front Shocks, C) Heavy-Duty
Leaf Springs, D) Rallye Wheels, E) F-70 x 14" tires, F) 11" Drum Brakes and G) 3.55 Gears
with Sure-Grip Rear.
This could be called the 383 'S-16', with exterior badging on the front fenders and trunk lid rear panel.