CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post - 1968 Showdown 68' Barracuda 340-S vs. 68' 383 Road Runner

Curt Rees · 05-28-2013, 01:20 PM

Since I was fortunate to own both and ran both at Marion, SD, I will weigh in on the subject. I changed the gears from 3:55's to 3:91s in my 1968 Purple RR. It would run 14:70s with NO prep other then checking the air in the tires. On a good day, it would get into the 14:50s. That ET was good enough to get several trophies in the pure stock classes of the day. Army called and I sold it.

As I have referenced in other posts, I ordered my my 1969 '340 Cuda with a 4 speed and 3:91 gears. It was consistent in th 14:50 range and on a good day into the 14:40s. Again, no prep other then checking the air in the tires. Those times were again good enough to take home several trophies.

Marion, SD was not a sea level track at the time. Elevation is 1300'. So the cars would probably have been quicker at a sea level track.

I remember some of the Plymouth ads being run showing low 14s for the RR and high 13s for the 340. This was I believe after some Sox and Martin prep! In real life, no.

I think some distributor and carb work, both cars would have picked up a couple of tenths. I did not do either.

The 2nd owner of the Cuda, put on a set of headers, slicks and jetted the carb and recurved the distributor and ran 13:70s. He did replace more then one clutch!

If I remember correctly, the 68 340 4 speed Cuda had a better cam then the automatic. I think that was not the case in 69. The cams were the same in both the 4 speed and the auto, with the 68 auto being standard. Paul might be able to confirm this.

#5457

Curt Rees

05-28-2013, 01:20 PM	#8
Curt Rees Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ft. Pierre, SD Posts: 357 Likes: 415 Liked 250 Times in 51 Posts	Re: 1968 Showdown 68' Barracuda 340-S vs. 68' 383 Road Runn Since I was fortunate to own both and ran both at Marion, SD, I will weigh in on the subject. I changed the gears from 3:55's to 3:91s in my 1968 Purple RR. It would run 14:70s with NO prep other then checking the air in the tires. On a good day, it would get into the 14:50s. That ET was good enough to get several trophies in the pure stock classes of the day. Army called and I sold it. As I have referenced in other posts, I ordered my my 1969 '340 Cuda with a 4 speed and 3:91 gears. It was consistent in th 14:50 range and on a good day into the 14:40s. Again, no prep other then checking the air in the tires. Those times were again good enough to take home several trophies. Marion, SD was not a sea level track at the time. Elevation is 1300'. So the cars would probably have been quicker at a sea level track. I remember some of the Plymouth ads being run showing low 14s for the RR and high 13s for the 340. This was I believe after some Sox and Martin prep! In real life, no. I think some distributor and carb work, both cars would have picked up a couple of tenths. I did not do either. The 2nd owner of the Cuda, put on a set of headers, slicks and jetted the carb and recurved the distributor and ran 13:70s. He did replace more then one clutch! If I remember correctly, the 68 340 4 speed Cuda had a better cam then the automatic. I think that was not the case in 69. The cams were the same in both the 4 speed and the auto, with the 68 auto being standard. Paul might be able to confirm this. #5457 Curt Rees __________________ Curt Rees 5457 SS Last edited by Curt Rees; 05-28-2013 at 01:25 PM.