chrysler 383

I took a 383 out of my San Juan 24.The guys at the parts store think it's a hot,collectable engine.I think it's frozen.Did CC put it in any ski boats?Enlighten me.

Me Too! I love the sound of a big block Chrysler! I have an older complete manual for 318, 383, 440, and 413 c.i.d. Will try to post as soon as I can.

With pleasure.
Answer number one. A 383 was a very fine motor no doubt, but not a really hot collectable in my opinion as this was a low compression marine version with an advertised rating of somewhere between 260-280 HP. Chrysler made some really hot 335 HP versions which went into a number of quick cars, but this is still a neater engine than say a 350, 351, 360, etc., esp in an older craft. So don't pitch it, but don't anticipate getting a lot of money for it. Keep this in mind however, that if you do rebuild it, you can easily, with little additional expense, put it back together with the 335+ HP spec'ns, and I guarantee it'll out pull any new FI small block engine. I don't want to hear about the new PCM 6.0. I hear it's a horse.

Other similar overstated examples are 427 Ford marine engines (and I'm a Ford guy) which many uneducated or deceitful sellers place INCREDIBLY high price tags on, calling them Cobra engines and the like. While there were a limited number of very hot ones coming out from Holman Moody and Interecptor, etc., the overwhelming vast majority, and there were literally tons of them, were garden variety, low rpm 300 HP units used to power large Chris Craft yachts and a very few smaller runabouts. The only value is the block as the heads were small valve anchors. The average 426 non-hemi Chryslers were a similar scenario. They were both still great and bulletproof engines, but not hi-po racers by any means. But I still like the cubic inch numbers, as they do sound impressive, and I love them, it just bothers me when the $$$ get so over-inflated.

Answer number two: I've seen a 383 in a Barracuda. Anyone else? Someone on this Site has a boat just beckoning for this 383 engine. And it's akin to the whole classic boat thing. You pull a 2004 Nautique (total respect) up to the dock and the dock boy gawks and fantasizes a bit. You gurgle a nice Barracuda up to the dock and you catch the whole marina's ear and eye. But total satisfaction only occurs when you pop the engine box (only to safely air the fumes of course), and everyone catches a glimpse (and they do look) of a chromed-out big block 383 as opposed to some typical run of the mill engine. That's the real value of this power plant to the person that shares this perspective, and to me, it's not all about horsepower. It totally complements the boat. I've changed my own mind, the 383 is officially hot.       

Thanks for the insights. I've tried to turn it with a good size breaker.I've snapped off a couple of plugs but only the tops (unlike my Blazer) It doesn't budge at all.Since I have two CCs in pieces here, my efforts are mostly on the one that's coming back together. It's got the 318 that runs.
I guess I have bad luck. I made a form out of 4X4s with "200lb" casters under it so I could roll the 318 around the garage but the 200# must have been for four not each .Ever seen solid wheels go flat?Sad sight.
The 383 is outside and covered .I'm not likely to rebuild it myself. So when it comes to it I'll have to decide wether to have it rebuilt or put in a 351. Or maybe a 7.3 deisel. As much as I like the burble and burp, I like the rumble even better and want something reliable that keeps on rumbling all day long.
Now that I know that some 383's had more hp than others, I understand.
Thanks, Reid