1968 Dodge Charger

[Paul Ceasrine]

1968 Dodge Charger (Magazine Articles)

(10/67) - Motor Trend.................................Charger 383
(12/67) - Motor Trend.................................Charger R/T 'Magnum 440'

(10/67) - Car and Driver.............................Charger 383
(11/67) - Car and Driver.............................'Hemi Charger'

(10/67) - Speed and Custom.....................Charger R/T '440 Magnum'

(10/67) - Car Life.........................................Charg er 383
(4/68) --- Car Life.........................................The Dodge Scat Pack 'Hemi Charger'

(10/67) - Hot Rod..........................................Charg er R/T 'Magnum 440'

(10/67) - Popular Hot Rodding....................Charger 383
(12/67) - Popular Hot Rodding....................'Hemi Charger'
(1/68) --- Popular Hot Rodding....................Charger R/T 'Magnum 440'

(12/67) - High Performance Car..................Charger 383 and Charger R/T 'Magnum 440'

(11/67) - Super Stock & Drag Illustrated.... Charger 383
(4/68) -- Super Stock & Drag Illustrated......'Landy's Hemi Charger' 'AHRA Stocker'

(11/67) - Car Craft.........................................Char ger R/T 'Rapid/Terrific'
(1/68) --- Car Craft.........................................'Dic k Landy's 68' Hemi Charger SS/B'
(3/68) --- Car Craft.........................................Char ger R/T

(11/67) - Modern Rod & Drag Strip.............Charger 383
(2/68) --- Modern Rod & Drag Strip.............'Hemi Charger'

(2/68) --- Drag Strip Magazine....................'Hemi Charger' and 'Dick Landy'

(5/68) --- Rodder and Super Stock...............Charger R/T 'Magnum 440' Wedge Tech

(12/67) - Popular Mechanics.........................Charger R/T 'Magnum 440'

(4/68) --- Popular Science.............................Charger R/T 'Magnum 440'

(12/67) - American Rodding..........................Charger 383
.
(3/68) --- Road Test Magazine......................'Hemi Charger' - 'Dodge's Larger Charger'

(3/68) --- Hot Rod Pictorial.............................No.2 Hot Rod, Car Craft, Rod & Custom Magazines

[Paul Ceasrine]

Car and Driver (November 1967)

1968 'Hemi Charger R/T'

425 Horsepower @ 5000 RPM's
490 Ft/Lbs. of Torque @ 4000 RPM's

4-Speed Manual with Dana Rear
3-Speed Automatic with 8 3/4" Rear

Standard Gears; 3.23 Sure-Grip
Optional Gears; (3.54 with Dana) and (3.55 with 8 3/4")

With the '426 Hemi' installed in the 1968 Charger R/T, structural reinforcements have been added to the Sub-Frame.
* Anchor plates have been added to each forward point of the mounting base for the rear Leaf-Springs
* Pressed steel-plates have been added to the floor surface above front mounting points of the rear Leaf-Springs
* Bulkheads have been added to the frame-rail section ends at the rear Shackle mounting base points for the rear Leaf-Springs
* A welded steel-plate has been added the sub-floor section directly above the Driveshaft-Rear End yoke.
* A 'specific' K-Frame unit is installed, with a special 'Skid-Plate' welded to the frame.
* The 426 Hemi' will receive a 6-Quart Oil Pan.

[Paul Ceasrine]

'Street Racing A Street Hemi'

Though the 1968 'Hemi Charger' is an '8-Barrel Beast', it is not all it is cracked up to be
without proper tuning and adjustments.

Our 'Press Test' car was equipped the famed '426 Hemi', which comes standard with
Heavy-Duty Suspension, Heavy-Duty Shocks, and 15" x 6" Road Wheels with F70 x 15"
Goodyear Red-Line Tires.

The car was also equipped with a 727-B Torque-Flite Automatic Transmission and
Front-Disc Brakes, which surprisingly are 'options' on the Hemi Charger.

The Rear-End is the standard 'tried-and-true' 8 3/4", and is equipped with a standard
3.23 Geared Sure-Grip unit.

In our 'intial tests', we experienced 'off-the-line' issues and a lack of low-end torque.
Our best E.T. was a somewhat disappointing 14.04 @ 101.4 MPH.

What we did find, is though the '426 Hemi' is a beast on the track with racer modifications,
in Street -Trim it leaves much to be desired, and can easily be outrun by a properly tuned
'Magnum 440' with 4.10 Gears.

But, with 'fine-tuning', and a step or two up in gears, we feel the 'Hemi Charger' with the
727-B Torque-Flite can be one of the Top Street Racers. We will see what the 1968
'Hemi Charger' does after a one-stop visit to our local performance Dodge Dealership
and a follow up Track Test next week.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Street Racing The Street Hemi

A visit to our New York Dodge Dealership, which has a well-respected Perfomance Staff was needed.
We were well received by a group of mechanics who were called 'Hemi-Heads' who knew their stuff.

They laughed at our recent Drag Strip results, and informed us that the '426 Street Hemi' is useless on
the street, unless you know how to make the proper adjustments in tuning and ignition.

Their top 'Fuel Specialist', a fellow by the name of 'Monk', immediately pulled the twin Carter AVS (625 CFM)
carbuertors off of the Intake Manifold, put them on a clean steel-bench and tore them apart like a Sea Otter ripping
apart Mussels.

As he told us, they need to be 'massaged' to make them work well on the Street, and his wide assortment of
Carter Carburetor performance parts (Jets, Metering Rods, Springs and Accelerator Pumps) gave us the
feeling that he had done this before. Like a 'Skilled Surgeon' he made the improvements and put the
AVS Carburetors back together like they were never opened.

Of course, he would not tell us his 'secrets', but he confidently told us, that everything he does, 'works to perfection',
as he bolted the 'two' gas-guzzlers back on the Aluminum High-Rise 'in-line' intake.

'Step 2', was the Ignition Timing, as our 'Street Hemi' was like an 'lumbering lug' off the line when we ran
it at the Drag Strip during accelerated timing tests.

Our 'Ignition Specialist' was an older gentleman named 'Leo', who was an old-time Drag Racer who was an
expert at dialing in Big-Block Mopars, from 383's to Max-Wedges to 426 Hemi's.

The first thing Leo did was pull the plugs and throw them in the shop trash can, and then yanked the ignition
(spark-plug) wires off and put the on the bech. The next task, was removal of the Dual-Point Distrbutor,
in which Leo boldy stated 'This is your F***ing problem'.

Instead of working on the original Distributor, Leo gave us a completely reworked brand new unit that he had wrapped up in
soft-cloth. With special springs and advance-weights, Leo said to make sure each point unit has a .017 Gap, and to check the
the gap-clearance regularly. The 'new' Champion Spark Plugs (N10Y) were then installed with a precision .035 Gap.

For Ignition Wires, Leo gave us his 'specialty set' of 8MM metallic-core wires that are a Race-appplication only set.

Then for the 'Icing-on-the-Cake', Leo took the Hemi Charger over to the Dyno-Unit, and dialed the 426 Hemi in at
14* BTDC (Stock is 12.5*) with a slight-advance, and set the Total Advance at 34* which kicks in at 2800 RPM.

'Step 3' was for 'gearing and suspension', which we were directed to 'Jimmy B'. And as 'Jimmy B' said, we can't
play with 3.23 Gears. Instead we were treated to a set 3.91 Gears which would give us our much needed launch
which would correct our previous 'off-the-line' issues.

Finishing off, 'Jimmy B' added an adjustable Pinion Snubber to the #742 Casing, which will help prevent the Rear-End
unit from twisting off the line during vicious launches and keep the driveshaft in alignment. Also, a set of Clamps
were added to the front section of the Leaf-Springs (before the axle-unit) to help transer more down-force to the
rear wheels.

The 'final addition' was a set of Goodyear F60 x 15" tires. Though they are not as good as set of 8" wide Cheater Slicks
that we had preffered, they are much better than the F70 x 15" Red-Line units that came with the 'Hemi Charger' and also
fit nicely within the large wheel-well.

Return To The Drag Strip

With the 'air-cleaner' unit lifted to allow for an unrestricted air-flow, and the vacuum-tube removed from the distributor
vacuum-advance and the timing re-set to our track specifications, we were ready to 'unleash' or recalibtated
'Street Hemi'.

Putting the 'Hemi Charger' console shifter in 'D", and adding a little force to the gas-pedal for a 2800 RPM
power-brake line launch, we left the line is a smooth steady pull while we 'punched-it-out'.

Like 'night-and-day' between our last experience, this time the 'Hemi' took off and by the time it automatically
shifted into 2nd-Gear at 4500 RPM's we knew we'd be happy.

Our result was a solid 13.49 @ 105.7 MPH

'Three' follow-up runs with the same 'Launch-and-Shift' pattern resulted in the nearly the same Elapsed Times
between 13.48 and 13.57.

The next runs were performed by 'manually shfting' the Hemi Charger, and leaving the line a little more aggressively
with a higher 3200 RPM power-brake line-launch.

Dropping the console shifer into '1', and coming off the line harder, we held on up to 4800 RPM's before hitting '2nd"
as the Hemi zoomed down the strip. We went into '3rd' at the same RPM's and zapped the Trap Lights in blurring
fashion.

Our result was an impressive 13.29 @ 107.8 MPH

We kicked the Hemi Charger back to the line 'two' more times with 'back-to-back' runs of 13.27 before the Temperature
Guage started to read levels that were close to the surface of the Sun.

Now We Have A 'Certified' Street Racing Street Hemi

[Paul Ceasrine]

Car Craft (November 1967)

1968 Dodge Charger R/T 'Rapid/Terrific'

Hemi Charger

Production Numbers (475)
* 4-Speed...........(211)
* Automatic.........(264)

* Car Weight....................#3754 lbs.
* Horsepower....................425 lbs.
* Weight/Horsepower......8.83 Wt/Hp

The NHRA has re-factored the 426 Hemi 425 Horsepower rating, to 465 HP and the 'Hemi Charger' will qualify for the
A/S or A/SA Stock Class.

The 'Hemi Charger' also is positioned in the NHRA SS/D or SS/DA Class for 1968.

Both the 'Hemi Charger R/T' and Charger R/T 'Magnum 440' were the same cars suspension wise, with both having
Heavy-Duty Suspension and Heavy-Duty Shocks, and the same Rear-End units. Both R/T cars came through with
11" Heavy-Duty Drum Brakes as standard equipment.

But, the 'Hemi Charger' had sub-frame structral reinforcements and a special 'K-Frame'.

For the 727-B Automatic Transmission, the '440' utilized (Part #2801541) which was a Heavy-Duty unit. But the
'Hemi Transmission' (Pary #2801544) was equipped with special components which included (special gaskets,
heavy-duty front housing pump and bushing, heavy-duty internals, along with '5' front clutches).

The 10.75" Torque Converters were different, as the '440' utilized (Part #2801359) a unit with a 2000 - 2200 RPM stall.
The 'Hemi' unit (Part #2801766) had a higher stall rate between 2650 - 2850 RPM's.

The '440' used a 6-Bolt Flex-Plate, and the 'Hemi' used an 8-Bolt Flex-Plate.

Both R/T cars used the same A-833 4-Speed Transmission - Code #046 (Part #2892047), which came through with
an '18-Tooth' coarse design spline, a stronger extension and heavier case.

Each used the same 11" Borg & Beck (Type #1756) clutch-disc with a 7" face-plate and high load-rated springs (Part# 2768162)

The '440' used an 11" Pressure-Plate (Part #2800857), while the 'Hemi' used an 11" Pressure-Plate (Part #2768160).
Both units had the identical spring-pressure rate, but the 'Hemi' unit had less assisted-rollers.

The '440' used a 6-Bolt Flywheel, and the 'Hemi' used an 8-Bolt Flywheel.

The '440' used the same Bel lHousing as the 383 (Part #2892260). The 'Hemi' used a special heavy unit which had a
ring-cast added for extra strength (Part# 2892257).

Both R/T's drive-train utilized a 3.00" diamter tube driveshaft.

[Paul Ceasrine]

1968 Dodge Charger (Magazine Performance Results)

Charger 383
15.15 @ 92.1 .........(4-Speed w/3.23 Sure-Grip)
15.30 @ 90.2 .........(Automatic w/3.23 Sure-Grip)
15.47 @ 91.0 .........(Automatic w/3.23 Sure-Grip)
15.46 @ 89.1 .........(Automatic w/3.23 Sure-Grip)
15.35 @ 91.7 .........(Automatic w/3.23 Sure-Grip)
15.47 @ 91.0 .........(Automatic w/3.23 Open-Rear)


Charger R/T 'Magnum 440'
14.53 @ 95.5 ..........(4-Speed w/3.54 Sure-Grip)
14.40 @ 96.8 ..........(4-Speed w/3.54 Sure-Grip)
14.61 @ 96.1 ..........(Automatic w/3.55 Sure-Grip)
14.90 @ 95.5 ..........(Automatic w/3.23 Sure-Grip)
13.80 @ 103.1.........(4-Speed w/3.54 Sure-Grip) ----- (Southern California Dodge Dealerships - Cragar Performance Package)
14.66 @ 97.4 ..........(Automatic w/3.23 Sure-Grip)
14.62 @ 96.4 ..........(4-Speed w/3.54 Sure-Grip)
13.22 @ 108.4 ........(Automatic w/4.10 Sure-Grip) ---- (Rockville Center Dodge Dealership Prepared)
14.29 @ 98.3 ..........(4-Speed w/3.91 Sure-Grip) ------ (Dealer Installed Gears)
14.87 @ 94.3 ..........(Automatic w/3.23 Sure-Grip)
14.89 @ 97.4 ..........(Automatic w/3.32 Sure-Grip)
14.48 @ 95.6 ..........(4-Speed w/3.54 Sure-Grip)
14.57 @ 95.1 ..........(4-Speed w/3.54 Sure-Grip)
14.26 @ 97.1 ..........(4-Speed w/3.54 Sure-Grip)
14.50 @ 95.3 ..........(4-Speed w/3.54 Sure-Grip)

Charger R/T 'Hemi Charger'
13.50 @ 105.0 .......(Automatic w/3.23 Sure-Grip) ----- (Factory Prepared 'Press Test Car')
14.04 @ 101.4 .......(Automatic w/3.23 Sure-Grip)
14.11 @ 100.1 .......(Automatic w/3.23 Sure-Grip)
13.54 @ 105.1 .......(4-Speed w/3.54 Sure-Grip)
13.90 @ 104.0 .......(4-Speed w/3.54 Sure-Grip)
14.06 @ 103.5 .......(Automatic w/3.23 Sure-Grip)
13.50 @ 105.2........(Automatic w/3.91 Sure-Grip) ----- (Dealer Installed Gears)
13.99 @ 102.2 .......(Automatic w/3.55 Sure-Grip)
13.29 @ 107.8 .......(Automatic w/3.91 Sure-Grip) ----- (Cy Greene Dodge Dealership Prepared)
15.20 @ 94.5 .........(Automatic w/3.23 Sure-Grip)

[Paul Ceasrine]

Car Life (April 1968)

How Much Scat In The Scat Pack ?

The famous 'Performance Test' where the 'Hemi Charger' with an Automatic and 3.23 Sure-Grip
'flopped miserably' with a 15.20 @ 94.5 MPH in the 'timed accelerated tests'.

As per the Car Life Test Staff, the (Yellow; Paint Code #SS1) 'Hemi Charger' sounded like it is was
'shooting ducks' as it lumbered slowly off the line, and popped and back-fired all the way down the
Quarter-Mile Track.

Rattling exhaust and flat out 'slow', as the 'Hemi Charger' couldn't even break the 15-Second Barrier.
By far, the worst running 'Hemi' we ever tested.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Popular Hot Rodding (October 1967)

Charger 383

The 'only' performance test with a Charger 383 (4-Speed) with a 3.55 Sure-Grip Rear.

Performance........14.92 @ 95.1

[k.pascoe]

Paul, What was the total production of the '68 Charger? Do you have that by engine breakdown?

[Paul Ceasrine]

1968 Dodge Charger (Production Numbers)

Charger 383
* Total Production.......19,012

* Automatics................18,754
* 4-Speeds........................258

Charger R/T 'Magnum 440'
* Total Production.......17,584

* Automatics................14,366
* 4-Speeds....................3,218

Charger R/T 'Hemi Charger'
* Total Production............475

* Automatics.....................264
* 4-Speeds.......................211