1967 Dart GTS 383 / Barracuda 383 Formula S

[Hemi Moose]

I wonder if these Chrysler employees were swearing during this install.

[Hemi Moose]

It looks like Chrysler built the first big-blocks in the 1967 383 Barracuda before Mr. Norm stuffed one into a 1967 Dart GT, and Chrysler started building them shortly after that as seen in this ad.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Moose,

Those fine gentleman with the nice buzz-cut hair cuts at Plymouth are not using 'fender covers'........

Of course, many of 'F' words had to be said, when dropping the
383 'B' engine into an A-Body.

I'm sure they were saying, whose 'F-ing' idea was this.....

Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

It could be,,,,,,,,

The first run of 1967 Dodge Dart GTS 383's.

Looks to be be very early in February 1967.

First build date;,,,,, February 1967
Last build date,,,,,, June 1967

Total GTS builds = 457
229 (4-speeds)
228 (Automatics)

[borninamopar]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Moose,

Those fine gentleman with the nice buzz-cut hair cuts at Plymouth are not using 'fender covers'........

Of course, many of 'F' words had to be said, when dropping the
383 'B' engine into an A-Body.

I'm sure they were saying, whose 'F-ing' idea was this.....

Paul

Paul,
I remember when I crammed a 440 in a 69 I had when I was younger...The only F word I said when it was done was "F*ckin' cool!

Later, Ed

[Paul Ceasrine]

Those first 383 installations into the 1967 Barracuda were done by
engine crane.

Until someone on the production line figured out that they could
mount them on the 'K' frames, and do the installation from under-neath.

They never told Mr. Norm that,,,,,,,,,,


Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

R/T,

Magazine Articles;
Hot Rod Magazine, December 1966
1967 Barracuda 383 Test

Popular Hot Rodding, December 1966
First Test for a 1967 383 Barracuda

Motor Trend, December 1966
1967 Barracuda 383

Super Stock & Drag Illustrated, April 1967
1967 Barracuda 383 Test

Road Test Magazine, June 1967
1967 Barracuda 383 Test
Car ran a best of 14.70 @ 100.60 MPH
383, 4-speed, with 3.23 Sure-Grip
Included a performance tune-up, and colder spark plugs.
Tested at Milan Dragway, Michigan
Herb Mcandless was the driver.

Test overview:
At 3000 RPM, the car would bog coming out of the hole, due to restrictive exhaust and
inadequate carburation.
If you came off the line at more than 4000 RPM, the D-70 x 14" (6.21" wide) tires
would break loose,
3500 RPM was the right RPM take-off number.

The Inland 4-speed shifter was complete garbage. The only positive thing about it was the 'reverse lock-out'.

Once you hit 2nd gear, the car would then pull properly, and accelerate strong in
mid-range.
The long shift throw between 2nd and 3rd gear would seem to take forever, costing you 2/10's.

The car pulled smoothly through 3rd gear, but the valves started to
float a little at 5500 RPM (end of the 3rd gear).

You should hit 4th gear (final drive) at the 1150 foot mark, giving you about 170 feet in 4th gear.

The ET time of 14.70 with 3.23 gears is impressive.
But more suprising is the 100.60 MPH.
The higher MPH indicates that much is lost on the bottom-end.

A better 4-speed shift unit (ie; Hurst), and 3.91 gears would be a
pleasant addition to the drive-train.
Add 7" slicks for proper traction, and 13.90's would be an easy mark
for this 'B' engine in an A-body.

[Paul Ceasrine]

R/T,

On the 1967 Dodge Dart 383 GTS / 1967 Barracuda 383 Formula 'S'
controversy with Mr. Norm's.

Chrysler had made a sales and marketing decision to put the 383 in the 67' Barracuda, long before Mr. Norm did his 383 Dart build.

With Ford promoting the 67' Mustang GT with a 390, Chrysler felt that
a 67' 383 Barracuda would compare more favorably with the Mustang than a 67' Dart, with the younger sports car market.

Plymouth had scheduled to introduce the 67' Barracuda in
September 1966, but re-tooiling issues developed on the production line, pushing the release date to November 16, 1966.

According to VIN #'s, several 67' Barracuda 383 Formula 'S' cars were
built in the November production at Plymouth.

Mr. Norm's 383 build project didn't take place until December 1966,
several weeks after the 383 Barracuda was out on the market.

pc