1963 Mopar 'Station Wagons' 'Max-Wedge and Golden Commando 3

[Paul Ceasrine]

New for 1963

Plymouth.............. Savoy - Belvedere - Fury - Sport Fury

Dodge.................. 330 Series - 440 Series - Polara - Polara 500
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'Golden Commando 383'.......383/330 HP (4-Barrel)

'Commando 383'.....................383/305 HP (2-Barrel)

"Commando 361'....................361/265 HP (2-Barrel)
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Not a wide choice for a 'Hot Street' package.

Available with the Torque-Flite Automatic, or the 'new' Borg-Warner T-10 '4-Speed Manual',
with a Factory installed Hurst-Campbell Floor Shifter.

Factory Gear Ratio's were limited to the 3.23 Sure-Grip.

A 3.55 Gear-Set was 'Optional', but only with the 361/265 HP engine or the
Dodge Polara 500 'only' 383/305 HP engine, and with a Manual Transmission 'only'.

Note; The 'Commando 383'......383/305 HP engine, was available 'only' for the Dodge Polara 500 Models.
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* The 'Base Models'..........(Plymouth Savoy and Dodge 330 Series) weighed in at.......................#3300 lbs.
* The 'Mid-Level Models'...(Plymouth Belvedere and Dodge 440 Series) weighed in at................#3350 lbs.
* The 'Upper Models'.........(Plymouth Fury and Dodge Polara Series) weighed in at.....................#3400 lbs.
* The 'High-End Models'...(Plymouth Sport Fury and Dodge Polara 500 Series) weighed in at...#3425 lbs.

[4406mopar]

Paul, the Borg-Warner T-85 '3-Speed Manual' was only avalable with the 426 engine. The 4 speed for the 383 was a Borg Warner T-10.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Originally Posted by 4406mopar

Paul, the Borg-Warner T-85 '3-Speed Manual' was only avalable with the 426 engine. The 4 speed for the 383 was a Borg Warner T-10.

Correct, Mr 440-6 Mopar,

My error,,,,

Also, as per the 'January 1963' Chrysler Internal Literature,,,,,,,

The 383 was to be available with a
* 383/305 HP......with 10.0-1 Compression (2-Barrel)......Dodge Polara 500 'only'.
* 383/320 HP......with 11.0-1 Compression (4-Barrel)
* 383/325 HP..... with 11.0-1 Compression ('Dual-Quad')

Yet, they came up with a 383/330 HP.......with 10.0-1 Compression (4-Barrel) only combination.

And plans for a 426-S 'Street-Wedge'
* 426/370 HP
* 426/375 HP

Neither made it......

Performance Results

* Dodge Polara, 383/330 HP - 4-Speed - 3.23 Gears.....................................15.70 @ 87 MPH

* Dodge Polara, 383/330 HP - 4-Speed - 3.91 Gears (Dealer Installed).......15.10 @ 91 MPH

[Paul Ceasrine]

1963 Plymouth Savoy

The 'Base Model', 'no frills' Sedan.

Production Numbers
* 6-Cylinder.......................................... ...........38,644
* 318............................................... .................25,023
* 361/265 HP 'Commando 361'........................438
* 383/330 HP 'Golden Commando 383'.........2110
* '426 Max-Wedge'............................................ ..257

* Total............................................. .................66,462

[Paul Ceasrine]

1963 Plymouth Belvedere

A good NHRA Competitor for B/S or B/SA in 1963

383/330 HP...... "Golden Commando 383"

* 10.0 -1 Compression
* Carter AFB............................................... ................ (575 CFM).... 1 7/16" Primary and 1 9/16" Secondary
* Camshaft (Hydraulic)....................................... ........ .430" Lift / 268* Duration / 48* Overlap
* #2463200 Cylinder Heads. {Closed Chamber}.... 2.08" Intake / 1.60" Exhaust
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Chrysler had 'originally' planned the following '383' combinations;
* 383/305 HP.............. 2-Barrel...10.0 -1 Compression
* 383/310 HP.............. 4-Barrel...10.0 -1 Compression
* 383/320 HP.............. 4-Barrel...11.0 -1 Compression
* 383/325 HP........ 2 x 4-Barrel...10.0 -1 Compression
* 383/330 HP.............. 4-Barrel...11.0 -1 Compression....(Solid Camshaft)
* 383/343 HP.........2 x 4 Barrel...10.0 -1 Compression....(Solid Camshaft)...(#2402557 '413-300J' Cylinder Heads)

[Paul Ceasrine]

Frank,,,,

In 1963 the NHRA National Records.

B/S = 9.50 to 10.59 Wt/Hp

B/S........ 13.17 @ 109.22 - { 1963 Chevrolet Impala SS convertible 409/400 HP }
B/SA..... 13.39 @ 105.01 - { 1962 Dodge Polara 383/343 HP }

1963 Plymouth Belvedere Production Numbers

* 6-Cylinder.......................................... ...........20,613
* 318............................................... .................40,733
* 361/265 HP 'Commando 361'........................832
* 383/330 HP 'Golden Commando 383'...........937
* '426 Max-Wedge'............................................ ..194

* Total Production........................................ ...63,309

[Paul Ceasrine]

Ed,

Since the 1963 383/330 HP couldn't outrun the 1962 383/343 HP 'Dual-Quad' cars in B/S or B/SA.

Here is what the 'Cheaters' did.

A) TRW L2293 Pistons which were 12.5 -1 Compression.

B) Lunati Camshaft (Hydraulic) which had a .465" / .465" Lift and 285* / 300* Duration.

C) Switch to the '413-300J' Cylinder Heads.

D) Switch to the Carter #3615 AFB (From the Chrysler 413), which had an 'Advertised' 625 CFM Rating.
D ) But the { 1 7/16" Primary and 1 11/16" Secondary } Carburetor was closer to 650 CFM's.

[Paul Ceasrine]

1963 Plymouth Fury Production Numbers

* 6-Cylinder.......................................... .............3571
* 318............................................... ................48,400
* 361/265 HP 'Commando 361'.....................4127
* 383/330 HP 'Golden Commando 383'........2064
* 426 'Max-Wedge'............................................ ...52

* Total Production........................................ ..58,214

[SStockDart]

For you 1963 lovers, you might want to check this convertable project out in Phoenix....it looks cheap to me..

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/3677393984.html

FYI, I live in the Phoenix area and could pick it up and store it at my place until the buyer makes arrangements to get it.

[Paul Ceasrine]

1963 Plymouth Fury

The 318 {2-Barrel}, 361 {2-Barrel} and 383 {4-Barrel}

Available with the Borg-Warner T-10 {4-Speed}

* Close Ratio = 2.20 - 1.64 - 1.31 - 1.00
* Wide Ratio = 2.54 - 1.89 - 1.51 - 1.00

Performance Test

383/330 HP - 4-Speed - 3.23 Sure-Grip = 15.75 @ 88 MPH