1968 Showdown 68' Barracuda 340-S vs. 68' 383 Road Runner

jims5600 · 05-25-2013, 01:46 PM

Paul I would bet that not many people forgot or didn't know how quick
those 340 's where. A very strong running engine.

Skypower · 05-25-2013, 03:15 PM

I'll take 340 in this deal. I have had many 340
Cudas and they run like scalded dogs.

Paul Ceasrine · 05-25-2013, 03:52 PM

On paper, it liked looked like the 383 Big-Block Road Runner should have handled the 'Mini-Hercules' 340.

But wiser heads knew, the 'High-Reving' 340 was quicker in the 1/4 Mile.

Unfortunately, Mopar only offered each car with a 'one-size-fits-all'
340/275 HP and 383/335 HP as the only engine packages.

For Gear-Ratios,
* Standard Gears = 3.23
* Optional Performance Axle = 3.55

If you were lucky enough to know someone in Performance Sales at the
Regional Zone Office, they could finagle the factory to install a set 3.91
Gears w/Sure-Grip for you. Of course for an additional $144 for any 'so-called' connected Dealer only.

Next Up,,,,,,,,,Head-to-Head

Jeff Lee · 05-25-2013, 04:33 PM

I've had many 340 cars, A body and E body. I'll take the 340 A body over the 383 B body any day!
My favorite line from potential opponents on the street "Yea, I've got a 454" To which I would say "yea, this 340 is going to put you to shame!" And it always did...

mopar68 · 05-25-2013, 04:35 PM

Presuming you're talking about cars in Pure Stock trim, I say it all depends on who's tuning and driving it. If it's Sox & Martin-prepared with Ronnie Sox behind the wheel vs. some lesser entity preparing and driving the 340 Barracuda, especially if they're both 4-speed cars, my money's on the Road Runner.

M68

Paul Ceasrine · 05-25-2013, 08:07 PM

Pistol Pete,,,,,,,,,,,, My Mopar Brother

We ran several of them, off the Meadowland Chrysler-Plymouth Dealership lot, and the Barracuda 340-S was quicker, in every way.

The below results were from Jerry Gross, Chrysler Technician who tested many Factory Cars.

Tested Average

1968 Barracuda 340-S

* 4-Speed w/3.23 Gears ............. 14.73 @ 96.7 MPH
* Automatic w/3.23 Gears.............14.89 @ 95.1 MPH

* 4-Speed w/3.55 Gears............... 14.44 @ 97.4 MPH
* Automatic w/3.55 Gears............. 14.66 @ 96.8 MPH

1968 383 Road Runner

* 4-Speed w/3.23 Gears............... 15.01 @ 94.2 MPH
* Automatic w/3.23 Gears............. 15.12 @ 93.1 MPH

* 4-Speed w/3.55 Gears............... 14.74 @ 98.0 MPH
* Automatic w/3.55 Gears............. 14.86 @ 95.2 MPH

Remember too, the Barracuda had E70 x 14" Tires, and the Road Runner was equipped with F70 x 14" Tires.

More To Come,,,,,,,,,,,,

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

Paul Ceasrine · 05-28-2013, 04:19 PM

Curtis,

Correct on the 1968 Camshafts

4-Speed
.444 /.453 Lift ~ 276*/284" Duration ~ 52* Overlap

Automatic
.430/.444 Lift ~ 268*/276* Duration ~ 44* Overlap ~ 114* Center-Line

Though the NHRA has a different variation.

05-25-2013, 01:46 PM	#1
jims5600 Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 125 Likes: 47 Liked 21 Times in 9 Posts	Re: 1968 Showdown 68' Barracuda 340-S vs. 68' 383 Road Runn Paul I would bet that not many people forgot or didn't know how quick those 340 's where. A very strong running engine.

05-25-2013, 03:15 PM	#2
Skypower Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 49 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1968 Showdown 68' Barracuda 340-S vs. 68' 383 Road Runn I'll take 340 in this deal. I have had many 340 Cudas and they run like scalded dogs. __________________ 69 Cuda / with a 66 426 Hemi, 4 speed, Dana 4.56 68 Cuda getting ready to go on the rotisserie.

05-25-2013, 03:52 PM	#3
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1968 Showdown 68' Barracuda 340-S vs. 68' 383 Road Runn On paper, it liked looked like the 383 Big-Block Road Runner should have handled the 'Mini-Hercules' 340. But wiser heads knew, the 'High-Reving' 340 was quicker in the 1/4 Mile. Unfortunately, Mopar only offered each car with a 'one-size-fits-all' 340/275 HP and 383/335 HP as the only engine packages. For Gear-Ratios, * Standard Gears = 3.23 * Optional Performance Axle = 3.55 If you were lucky enough to know someone in Performance Sales at the Regional Zone Office, they could finagle the factory to install a set 3.91 Gears w/Sure-Grip for you. Of course for an additional $144 for any 'so-called' connected Dealer only. Next Up,,,,,,,,,Head-to-Head Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 05-25-2013 at 07:43 PM.

05-25-2013, 04:33 PM	#4
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: 1968 Showdown 68' Barracuda 340-S vs. 68' 383 Road Runn I've had many 340 cars, A body and E body. I'll take the 340 A body over the 383 B body any day! My favorite line from potential opponents on the street "Yea, I've got a 454" To which I would say "yea, this 340 is going to put you to shame!" And it always did... __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

05-25-2013, 08:07 PM	#6
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1968 Showdown 68' Barracuda 340-S vs. 68' 383 Road Runn Pistol Pete,,,,,,,,,,,, My Mopar Brother We ran several of them, off the Meadowland Chrysler-Plymouth Dealership lot, and the Barracuda 340-S was quicker, in every way. The below results were from Jerry Gross, Chrysler Technician who tested many Factory Cars. Tested Average 1968 Barracuda 340-S * 4-Speed w/3.23 Gears ............. 14.73 @ 96.7 MPH * Automatic w/3.23 Gears.............14.89 @ 95.1 MPH * 4-Speed w/3.55 Gears............... 14.44 @ 97.4 MPH * Automatic w/3.55 Gears............. 14.66 @ 96.8 MPH 1968 383 Road Runner * 4-Speed w/3.23 Gears............... 15.01 @ 94.2 MPH * Automatic w/3.23 Gears............. 15.12 @ 93.1 MPH * 4-Speed w/3.55 Gears............... 14.74 @ 98.0 MPH * Automatic w/3.55 Gears............. 14.86 @ 95.2 MPH Remember too, the Barracuda had E70 x 14" Tires, and the Road Runner was equipped with F70 x 14" Tires. More To Come,,,,,,,,,,,, Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 05-25-2013 at 09:57 PM.

05-25-2013, 04:35 PM	#5
mopar68 VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,660 Likes: 8 Liked 44 Times in 27 Posts	Re: 1968 Showdown 68' Barracuda 340-S vs. 68' 383 Road Runn Presuming you're talking about cars in Pure Stock trim, I say it all depends on who's tuning and driving it. If it's Sox & Martin-prepared with Ronnie Sox behind the wheel vs. some lesser entity preparing and driving the 340 Barracuda, especially if they're both 4-speed cars, my money's on the Road Runner. M68 __________________ "The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws." - Tacitus Last edited by mopar68; 05-25-2013 at 04:39 PM.

05-28-2013, 01:20 PM	#7
Curt Rees Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ft. Pierre, SD Posts: 357 Likes: 434 Liked 251 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.

05-28-2013, 04:19 PM	#8
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1968 Showdown 68' Barracuda 340-S vs. 68' 383 Road Runn Curtis, Correct on the 1968 Camshafts 4-Speed .444 /.453 Lift ~ 276/284" Duration ~ 52* Overlap* Automatic .430/.444 Lift ~ 268/276* Duration ~ 44* Overlap ~ 114* Center-Line* Though the NHRA has a different variation.