Mopar 440 racers - time to legalize that shortblock!

[bill dedman]

Wayne,
Charlie would be flattered that somebody remembered his 383/400-Hemis, even if you didn't spell his name (Malyuke) quite right... LOL!

But, he didn't build them to get a lighter, or more advantageouly-configured piston. He liked the shorter rods, shorter stroke, and ensuing, lighter reciprocating weight,.. NONE of which is allowable in the so-called 440 low-deck engines now running.

NHRA has "440" specs on all that stuff that are non-negotiable.

The weight of the block, itself, is a different story.

Anyone wanting to build their own 383/400 Hemi can read all about it in the June, 1980 Super Stock and DRAG ILLUSTRATED, starting on page 57... if you can find one.

Bill

Originally Posted by bill dedman

Wayne,
Charlie would be flattered that somebody remembered his 383/400-Hemis, even if you didn't spell his name (Malyuke) quite right... LOL!

But, he didn't build them to get a lighter, or more advantageouly-configured piston. He liked the shorter rods, shorter stroke, and ensuing, lighter reciprocating weight,.. NONE of which is allowable in the so-called 440 low-deck engines now running.

NHRA has "440" specs on all that stuff that are non-negotiable.

The weight of the block, itself, is a different story.

Anyone wanting to build their own 383/400 Hemi can read all about it in the June, 1980 Super Stock and DRAG ILLUSTRATED, starting on page 57... if you can find one.

Bill

I studied that magazine for months back in college, what a great story. That man was persitent. That took an amazing amount of time to engineer.

[bill dedman]

Crew Chief Pro,
Glad you liked the article. I think the "proof of the pudding" that Charlie had done his homework, occurred when John Hagen's Plymouth Arrow Pro Stocker set the MPH record using one of Charlie's "Low-deck Hemis" in the months before NHRA pulled the plug on smaller engines, and dictated the new, universal 500 cubic inch format.

Additionally, John Hagen was runner-up to Lee Shepherd at the Finals in Pomona that year, losing by a very small margin in the final round, with an engine that had only had about one year's development time.

Charlie built about ten of those modified 383/400 blocks, with most going into street cars. I think Butch Leal got one. Canadian Wally Dyck held both ends of the A Dragster record in the mid eighties with his 400" Hemi, using one of Charlie's massaged blocks.

As an aside, Charlie's first love was Stock Eliminator, and when he lost his bout with Lymphoma, he was hard at work on a '66 Nova 4-speed, L-79 2-door hardtop for C/Stock. That was his passion...

Thanks for remembering him.

Bill

[Frank Castros]

Max'd,
If this is who I think it is, and in good faith you should reveal yourself to the forum. Compete with John with your car not with your keyboard. Everyone appreciates good racing not cowardice slander.
Frank