1968 '340' Barracuda vs 1968 '383' Road Runner
Cudavert,
The 1968 'medium-body' cars that were within the same E/S or E/SA Class as the '383' Road Runner were the;
Chevrolet Chevelle SS393 {396/350 HP}
Pontiac GTO {400/350 HP}
Oldmsobile 4-4-2 {400/350 HP}
Buick GS400 {400/340 HP}
The Mercury Cyclone {390/325 HP} and Torino GT {390/325 HP} were classed
one lower in F/S or F/SA in 1968.
I would have to honestly say, that they were all fairly close in 'Stock Performance'
with the 4-Speed. But the '383' Road Runner had a slight-edge with the A-727 Automatic
against the other automatics.
The '383' Road Runner was 'no match' for the 396/375 HP Chevelle 4-Speed cars.
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To make the '383' Road Runners run on the street
Part I
1) First you needed a set of 3.91 or 4.10 Gears.
2) Adjustable Pinion Snubber
3) Front Leaf Spring Clamp
4) Extra-Stiff Rear Shocks
5) G60 x 15" Tires on 15" x 7" rims
6) Headers (Cyclone or Hooker Headers)
Part II
1) Replace the Inland Shifter with a Hurst Competition Shifter
2) Pull the Cylinder Heads
- a) Have the Machine Shop perform a 3/Angle Valve Job
- b) Have the #906 Heads milled to get the Combustion Chamber down to 78.5 CC (usually a .040" Milling)
- c) Have the Valve Spring Height set to equal
- d) Have the ports matched
- e) Install a set of Teflon Seals
3) Install a Chrysler #3412004 "284" .484" Lift / 284* Duration Hydraulic Camshaft and Matched Lifters
4) Install a Double-Roller Timing Chain
5) Install a Carter or Holley High-Pressure Mechanical Fuel Pump
Part III
1) Install an Edelbrock #DP4B Aluminum Dual-Plane High-Rise Intake
2) Install a Carter 750 CFM AVS or Holley 780 CFM 'Vacuum-Secondary Carburetor
3) Install a Dual-Point Distributor with Performance Curve
With 4.10 Gears, you would be damn near the 'King of the Hill' on Street in 1968.
If you had the 'balls' to put in a set of 4.56 Gears, you'd be running low 13.00's.