Making a Hemi out of a 383

[moparstuart]

  summit & jegs both also sell spark plug wire socks  ( an aspestos  style woven material ) It has saved me having to put a new set of plug wires on every year . Header really burn plug wires up , I love those socks .

   

[hotrod98]

Are those like baby booties for plug wires? 

[b5blue]

Very creative!  why not run the wires to the Hemi spot then between the 2 sets of valve covers to the plugs. Since the 383 is lower just weld brackets to the (383) valve covers to hold the Hemi ones. Same thing for the intake, mill the bottom if it's not flat and use longer carb to intake bolts and it will act like a spacer sandwiched between the carb and 383 intake (if it lines up close) Have fun!!

[nitrometal]

I have pics somewhere of a car where they had done exactly what you are so you shouldn't have much trouble.  I can try and dig them up if you think they'd be of any use to you.

Yes please Ghoste, I would love to see it, if it's not much trouble. Thanks!

I have a nice set of new hemi spark plug wires. I wonder if you could use the boots off of them and slide them over a set of regular plug wires. If you want them, just e-mail me your mailing address and I'll send them to you.
 
I wonder what's going to happen to the heat coming off of the headers. Will it be trapped up inside the covers or are you planning to add a piece in there?

Thanks Larry,  If you don't need the boots I'll send you my address.  I will have a solid plate so the heat won't get trapped in the covers.

  summit & jegs both also sell spark plug wire socks  ( an aspestos  style woven material ) It has saved me having to put a new set of plug wires on every year . Header really burn plug wires up , I love those socks .

Yeah, the socks will work great and they won't be visible. Win win!

Very creative!  why not run the wires to the Hemi spot then between the 2 sets of valve covers to the plugs. Since the 383 is lower just weld brackets to the (383) valve covers to hold the Hemi ones. Same thing for the intake, mill the bottom if it's not flat and use longer carb to intake bolts and it will act like a spacer sandwiched between the carb and 383 intake (if it lines up close) Have fun!!

Yes exactly, it's like a spacer.  I've already used the longer carb bolts and it worked, plus it lines everything up perfectly.  Now I just need to machine out some pieces to fill in the front and sides to make it look like it attaches to the intake manifold. I figure I'll leave the back end open so the heat won't build up in there.

[Ghoste]

I've been tearing my hair out looking for the pics of that car and so far nothing (naturally).  I've gone through my photo albums and most of the loose pics, if it doesn't turn up in the next box of loose photos I'll go to the negatives.  I called a buddy of mine yesterday who was with me when I saw the car and he clearly remembered but couldn't verify I had actually taken pics or provide me with any details of how it was done.   He said the car was yellow .  Anyway, I'm still looking and I've at least narrowed down the years, it had to be 2003 to 2005 and I found alot of pics to cars that I didn't know I had so I'm getting somewhere just not where I need to be to help you.

[nitrometal]

I've been tearing my hair out looking for the pics of that car and so far nothing (naturally).

Hey Ghoste, don't go bald on account of me!   

Doug hasn't been able to find a contact for John Freeman either (he did this years ago).

I might have to do it through trial & error (probably more error than trial)!

[b5blue]

So your going to run your carb. ducted to the cowl and delete the wipers? The hole for the wiper motor may be big enough to feed the 383 that way you wouldn't have to cut anything up.Good Luck your crazy...LIKE US!! 

[nitrometal]

So your going to run your carb. ducted to the cowl and delete the wipers? The hole for the wiper motor may be big enough to feed the 383 that way you wouldn't have to cut anything up.Good Luck your crazy...LIKE US!! 

That's the plan.  But, I have to keep the wipers functional to keep it street legal and of course the motor is right in the way.  I need to relocate the wiper motor or go to a different set-up. Maybe something like the pre-30's hot rods have a universal motor that can be mounted in different locations.

Or I could do it like the Goldberg-Everham charity Superbird where they swooped the cowl induction to the side of the wiper motor and left it in its original location.  But I really don't like that look.

And yes, I am crazy!!!   

[moparstuart]

So your going to run your carb. ducted to the cowl and delete the wipers? The hole for the wiper motor may be big enough to feed the 383 that way you wouldn't have to cut anything up.Good Luck your crazy...LIKE US!! 

That's the plan.  But, I have to keep the wipers functional to keep it street legal and of course the motor is right in the way.  I need to relocate the wiper motor or go to a different set-up. Maybe something like the pre-30's hot rods have a universal motor that can be mounted in different locations.

Or I could do it like the Goldberg-Everham charity Superbird where they swooped the cowl induction to the side of the wiper motor and left it in its original location.  But I really don't like that look.

And yes, I am crazy!!!   

couldnt you just cover it also fully and leave it open underneath to let it breath.
   why did they cut around it ?  to give it air ?  wont it breath from the back side ?

[b5blue]

Hey check out boating supply! They have neat wiper motors with a long shaft to poke through the frame of the windshield. There are also cable run types from Hot Rod shops. Nether are very expensive.  My 53 Willys CJ3A had a vacuum operated on the drivers side and a hand crank one for the passengers side!   

[nitrometal]

couldnt you just cover it also fully and leave it open underneath to let it breath.
   why did they cut around it ?  to give it air ?  wont it breath from the back side ?

You know, I thought about that.  Everything else is fake why not the cowl induction?!  The top cover of the air cleaner would completely hide the wiper motor.  It would be nice to have fresh cool air coming in from the cowl vents though. Maybe I can have both.  As you guys know there's not a whole lot of cool air entering through that puny nose grill.

Hey check out boating supply! They have neat wiper motors with a long shaft to poke through the frame of the windshield. There are also cable run types from Hot Rod shops. Nether are very expensive.  My 53 Willys CJ3A had a vacuum operated on the drivers side and a hand crank one for the passengers side!   

Now that's talking crazy!!!   

[moparstuart]

couldnt you just cover it also fully and leave it open underneath to let it breath.
   why did they cut around it ?  to give it air ?  wont it breath from the back side ?

You know, I thought about that.  Everything else is fake why not the cowl induction?!  The top cover of the air cleaner would completely hide the wiper motor.  It would be nice to have fresh cool air coming in from the cowl vents though. Maybe I can have both.  As you guys know there's not a whole lot of cool air entering through that puny nose grill.

Hey check out boating supply! They have neat wiper motors with a long shaft to poke through the frame of the windshield. There are also cable run types from Hot Rod shops. Nether are very expensive.  My 53 Willys CJ3A had a vacuum operated on the drivers side and a hand crank one for the passengers side!   

Now that's talking crazy!!!   

yeah i was thinking cut the cowl for air on the passenger side and leave the motor and just cover it so it looks like you have the full air cleaner cowl fresh air .