1962 Mopar 383/343 HP 'Stocker'

[Paul Ceasrine]

1970 Photo

Dover Drag Strip

Big Stockers Meet in 1970,,,

"NED 1 Stockers Bonanza'

A ton of New Jersey Racers headed up to New York to participate in this Big Money Event.
64 of the top Northeast Stockers attended.

Championship Run,
"Banana 1", 1957 Chevy Model #150, 283/250 HP (Class M/SA),,,,,Frank Iaconio
versus
"The Trick Tank", 1962 Dodge Model #440 Station Wagon, 383/343 HP (Class H/SA),,,,Joe Kenney

National Records at the time;
M/SA = 13.50
H/SA = 12.55

[Paul Ceasrine]

Dave,

The 383/343 HP engine was an 'early-Chrysler Race Motor', developed in late-1962,,,,,,,for the Dodge Polara 500.

It could not be ordered as an engine option in the 1962 Dodge.

It was strictly an 'over the counter' performance parts bolt-on application,
to be fitted on the 383/330 HP engine.

A few (not many) of the 1962 Dodge Polara's and 1962 Station Wagons were equipped with the 'special order' 383/330 HP 4-Barrel engine,,,,,,
also known as the 'police pusuit package'.

Included were;
* Camshaft ((Mechanical),,,(Lift .445 Intake / .445 Exhaust,,,,, Duration 294*,,,,,, Overlap 55*)
* Solid Lifters
* Adjustable Rocker-Arms, w/special locking-nuts
* High-Strength Steel Pushrods
* Chrysler 300-J Cylinder-heads (Casting #2402557) (Closed chamber 66.5 cc, with 2.08 Intake valves and 1.74 Exhaust valves)
* High-Rate Valve-Springs w/damper (100 lbs. w/valve closed,,,,,,199 lbs. w/valve open)
* High-Strength Valve Spring Retainers
* In-line Dual-Quad Cast Iron Intake Manifold
* Twin Carter AFB carburetors (500 CFM) (1 7/16" x 1 9/16")
* Special High-pressure 3-valve fuel pump
* Dual-point distributor
* Special Long-branch exhaust manifolds

Note: In May 1966, the NHRA approved the 383/343 HP engine combination for the Plymouth 'Sport Fury' and Station Wagon.

Note: In 1967, the NHRA permitted the use of the 1967 440/375 HP (#2780915) 'Hi-Po' cylinder heads on this engine.

[Chuck Norton]

The earliest 383/343 example I can remember in Division 7 was a '62 Dodge driven by Jim Johnson (not THE Jimmie Johnson) of Hermosa Beach, California and later by Joe Ross. I recall that it was run regularly in 1963 and was a record holder in 1964 (see attachment). I believe that it was a Polara 2 dr. hardtop and I'm sure that it had bucket seats.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Chuck,

The mid-year (1962 1/2') 383/343 HP in the Dodge Polara 500
and/or Plymouth Sport Fury combination knocked off another Mopar
for B/SA in 1963.

In early-1963, the 'Hot Combination' for B/SA was the 1961 Plymouth Fury 'Hardtop Coupe' with the
'Optional Dodge Engine' (413/375 HP 'Cast iron In-line Dual-carbed engine).

But by mid-year 1963, the secret was out, and the 'lighter' 383/343 HP cars were out-running the 'bulky' 1961 Plymouth's.

[treessavoy]

Paul,

Was the 413 with the two inline fours ever a viable combo or raced by anyone?

JimR

[Hemi Moose]

Didn't Don Garlit's run a 62 Dodge with a 383 motor with inline carbs on it or was that a 413 with inline carbs, I'm not sure.

.

[Geerhead55]

Originally Posted by Hemi Moose

Didn't Dob Garlit's run a 62 Dodge with a 413 motor with inline carbs on it or was that a 383 with inline carbs, I'm not sure.

Dob Garlits????? I'm glad I'm not the only one who suffers from "Fat Finger" syndrome!
Danny Durham

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by Hemi Moose

Didn't Don Garlit's run a 62 Dodge with a 383 motor with inline carbs on it or was that a 413 with inline carbs, I'm not sure.

.

In an article with a Mopar magazine Garlits told of getting a '62 Dodge Max wedge from the Dodge dealer, driving from Fl. to TX in it and winning the Stock Eliminator then driving it home to FL where his wife drove the car for a time.

I have only seen one '62 Dodge with the 413 and inline 4bbl's. It was at a Mopar car show at Atlanta and was fully restored and owned and restored by an Air Force Staff Sergeant. It ran 14.30's all day long and shut down a '67 hemi car 3 out of 3 times.

JimR

[Paul Ceasrine]

Originally Posted by Chuck Norton

The earliest 383/343 example I can remember in Division 7 was a '62 Dodge driven by Jim Johnson (not THE Jimmie Johnson) of Hermosa Beach, California and later by Joe Ross. I recall that it was run regularly in 1963 and was a record holder in 1964 (see attachment). I believe that it was a Polara 2 dr. hardtop and I'm sure that it had bucket seats.

Chuck,

The 1962 Polara 500 383/343 HP combination started showing up in mid-1963.

Jim Johnson won B/SA class at the 1963 Indy Nationals,,,with the 1962 Polara 500,
13.39 @ 105.01 MPH.

In early-1963, the 1961 Plymouth 413/375 HP cars were running 13.40's, and had
a hold on B/SA.

After the 1963 Indy Nationals, Jim Johnson lowered the B/SA National Record to 13.07 @ 108.18.
He was running as quick as the A/SA cars in 1963.

After 1963, the 1961 Plymouth Fury (Hardtop Coupe's) with the 413/375 HP were no longer a
threat in B/SA at Major Events.

[Barnstorm]

Originally Posted by Chuck Norton

The earliest 383/343 example I can remember in Division 7 was a '62 Dodge driven by Jim Johnson (not THE Jimmie Johnson) of Hermosa Beach, California and later by Joe Ross. I recall that it was run regularly in 1963 and was a record holder in 1964 (see attachment). I believe that it was a Polara 2 dr. hardtop and I'm sure that it had bucket seats.

Jim Johnson/Joe Ross sold the car to Rick Johnson who raced it for several years setting the National Record before selling it to Kenney in 1967.