Difference between 383 and a 426 • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 05 May 2003 11:10

You ever wondered how to tell a Challenger is a real hemi/440 by looking under it?

Both the 440 and hemi have weled-in re-enforcement just in front of the front spring hanger on the rear suspension.

You have to put your hand up into that large hole to access the front hanger bolts. Ignor the thing you can just see at the very bottom of the picture. That is the end of one chassis connector.

Does the convertible have this same mod??

The other area that is beefed up is where the pinion snubber of the diff hits up against the foor.

I will have to check but the Hemi version may be even heavier.

I used to think that all JS cars were like this but on inspection of 383 JS23 cars I can see I was wrong.

So the other big question I have is what difference (if any) in the body is there between a 383 JS23 and a 383 JH23? If there is no difference then why have the JS and JH VIN codes at all?

by **Jeff Maxwell (Redchalleng** » 06 May 2003 1:58

Wait a minute! You're supposed to be the one ANSWERING questions, not ASKING them!

I'll have to get mine up on a hoist of somekind to answer the reinforcement question, and then get a camera to take a pic to post. May take awhile, but I'll do it. My guess is I think it looks like what you posted, but it's been a long time since I've seen it.

by **Jeff Maxwell (Redchalleng** » 19 May 2003 1:23

I didn't get a picture, but this looks like what's under my convertible. The whole has a spray of undercoating over the whole lot, but the hole has those curves in the front and straight across the back on each side ahead of the rear springs.

by **Christer (Christer)** » 19 May 2003 13:28

About the re-enforcement above the pinion snubber:
Is it the bent steel plate (roughly 2-inch wide and 8-inch long) we are talking about?
(I only ask this question because I want to be sure.)

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 19 May 2003 14:19

This bit. It is quite large.

I am told that Hemi cars have another plate welded on top of this one. This is another thing I want to photograph soon.

by **Christer (Christer)** » 19 May 2003 18:41

hmm... I think my 318 Challenger has that re-enforcement with the exception of the middle part. I will check tomorrow.

by **Jack T (Jackt)** » 20 May 2003 3:48

I'll go out on a limb here and express an opinion about the torque boxes. I think they are a part of what's referred to as Hemi Suspension in the performance axle packages. This would be included in the A31, A32, A33, A34 and A36 option code axle packages. All of these include 3.54 or higher gear ratios with 8.75" Sure Grip or 10" Dana axles. Please note that the A35 option code, a HD towing package, includes a 3.23 rear axle ratio and Heavy Duty suspension rather than the Hemi suspension.

by **Christer (Christer)** » 21 May 2003 14:41

I have checked under my car, and it also has the re-enforcement above the pinion snubber.

by **Trevor (Trev)** » 21 May 2003 16:42

my car also has one of these snubber plates 383 2bbl manufactured in california

by **Jack T (Jackt)** » 21 May 2003 18:04

I went and checked a Trans Am and it has torque boxes as well. I haven't been checking for the snubber plate - sorry.

by **Joel Bennett (Joel)** » 25 May 2003 9:47

I thought the Dana 60 was 9 3/4"?

by **David Robson (Admin)** » 27 May 2003 20:52

Here is another bit I was wondering about. Do all Challengers have this extra plate welded over at this point at the front end of each sill just behind the front wheel arch?

by **Roel Bester (Roelb)** » 28 May 2003 20:54

Dave, I went out and had a look, did'nt jack the car up,but the re-inforcement above the pinion snubber is present, also the t boxes and the extra plate in font of the sill. JH23 383 4bbl conv.

by **Jack T (Jackt)** » 28 May 2003 21:13

All convertibles - even the 6-cylinder ones - got this added structure to make up for the missing roof. It makes it much easier to clone a hemi convertible than it is to clone a coupe.

by **Christer** » 15 Nov 2003 22:04

A book of mine says that all 440 six pack k-frames had this triangular plate. Is that correct, Dave? The purpose of this plate is to protect the deeper oil pan that was used in these engines. What about the Hemi´s then?

by **dave-r** » 15 Nov 2003 22:07

Not just 440 six pack but also 440-4bbl cars too (mine has this) and I also think the hemi had the same frame as well.

by **Christer** » 15 Nov 2003 22:10

In another place in the same book, it says that all B/RB engines with six quart oil pans used this skid plate.

by **Christer** » 15 Nov 2003 22:13

Talking about quick replys! I wrote my last post without knowing that you already had answered. You are too quick for me....

by **Christer** » 16 Nov 2003 10:17

I assume that there is a misprint in my book since only the RB engines used the six quart oil pans... (No B-engines used this oil pan)

by **dave-r** » 18 Nov 2003 20:03

I have just been reading the Feb 2004 edition of Mopar Action (it sure looked like it had dropped through a time warp or something the state it was in when I got it) and they have an article on reproduction torque boxes.

Auto Rust Technicians (the people that make all those handy chassis sections to save your car) now make the torque boxes that strengthened the chassis on 340+6, 440, 440+6, 426 and all convertible cars as discussed in this thread.

This means that you guys with hardtops that did not come with them can fit these parts that the factory knew darn well the cars needed in the first place to stop them flexing.

A jolly good idea I think.

by **Christer** » 19 Nov 2003 18:49

Intresting, Dave :!:

Look at http://www.autorust.com/k_2627.html for more information.

by **redgum78** » 19 Feb 2010 5:10

Dave-R (Roppa440) wrote:You ever wondered how to tell a Challenger is a real hemi/440 by looking under it?

Both the 440 and hemi have weled-in re-enforcement just in front of the front spring hanger on the rear suspension.

You have to put your hand up into that large hole to access the front hanger bolts. Ignor the thing you can just see at the very bottom of the picture. That is the end of one chassis connector.

Does the convertible have this same mod??

The other area that is beefed up is where the pinion snubber of the diff hits up against the foor.

I will have to check but the Hemi version may be even heavier.

I used to think that all JS cars were like this but on inspection of 383 JS23 cars I can see I was wrong.

So the other big question I have is what difference (if any) in the body is there between a 383 JS23 and a 383 JH23? If there is no difference then why have the JS and JH VIN codes at all?

Hi Dave. I am trying to get my head around the torque boxes. My Challenger is Js23U0B with 727 auto. It has the rear boxes and the pinion snubber but I m not sure if it has front torque boxes?

Here is another bit I was wondering about. Do all Challengers have this extra plate welded over at this point at the front end of each sill just behind the front wheel arch?

It has these plates too. Do they make up the front torque boxes? I can't see anything else that looks like a torque box on the front?

Thanks mate

Danny