1968 Match Race '383 Road Runner' vs 'Cutlass 350 Ram-Rod'

[cudavert]

i would say the 390 ford wasthe worst performance big block out of them all.nice in a f 250 4wd though...

Oh man, I totally agree......they were almost laughable. Tell ya what though (and if you've torn apart a Ford 390 or any FE motor, I'm sure you'll agree) changing from the stock cast iron intake to an aluminum piece......THAT'S ONE QUICK WAY TO SERIOUSLY DROP WEIGHT!! LOL It's hard to believe that the bad-*** Ford 427 high riser had any relation to the 390.

 

[Rob]

A friend of mine had a 68 Stang with a 390 back when I was in highschool in 1975 I figure. Seemed pretty dam quick to me but then again I was driving a 59 Austin :banghead:

 

[69 Cuda 440]

1968 Cutlass 'Ram Rod'

1968 E/Stock {10.00 - 10.49 Wt/Hp}

Oh Man, this car was a 'Killer' in E/S in 1968.

It could run 12.75's all day long.

Most of the 383 Road Runner and 383 Super Bee racers wouldn't even
go thru Inspection if this Cutlass was at the Drag Strip. It would have been a waste of time.

 

[roadrunnerh]

In all fairness to the Road Runner,

The 1968 Cutlass 'Ram Rod' was a car that was prepared by the
'Oldsmobile Specialty Performance Staff', aka 'Dr. Oldsmobile'.

The 350 Engine was 'fully blueprinted'. And the 'Ram Rod' came
with a specially calibrated Rochester MV {800 CFM} Carburetor,
a Distributor with a 'performance curve', and 'tricked' Mufflers.

Then why the hell are you comparing them in this post?
Seems to be apples and oranges......
"specially prepared' Olds Vs. Showroom stock Road Runner?
What's the point?

 

[67redcudavert]

In 1966 Bill Jenkins ran a L79 66 Nova against Jere Stahl's 66 Belvedere I 426 Hemi car heads-up in A/stock. They were very evenly matched, neither one of them dominated over the other, both had winning records.

I have heard that Chrysler used the L79 as a benchmark when developing the 340 A-cars.

390 Fords were slugs. In the early 70s I had a 69 340 4sp Dart. It was a quick, responsive, fun car to drive that revved up real quick. I ran heads up against a 390 Fairlane and I had two other people with me.

383 Road Runners are OK cars. Maybe not the fastest thing around, but a lot of fun to drive and as the saying goes, delivered a lot of bang for the buck. They sold well because of the low price and the clever marketing used to sell them. A car with a bench seat could even be potentially cheaper to insure. I knew 3 people who got new 69s, I got to drive two of them, anything with a 4sp and some power is fun to drive.

I also did automotive machine work from 70-73. I got to operate a Kwik-Way boring bar, it is light-years ahead of a Black & Decker cylinder hone. I enjoyed running the various shop equipment we had, it was nice precision work, something a Black & Decker cylinder is not. Also while working there I worked on a number of 327 heads with 2.02 valves, so contrary to a previous post, yes they did exist.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Mr. Road Runner H,

It's just an information thread, focusing on 1968 E/Stock cars.

Trying to compare the Mopar 383/335 HP vs. the Olds 350/325.

Just a little understanding on how Mopar got 335 Horsepower out of the 383,
or least advertised it that way.

Next up the 383 'Package Stock Option', on a real 383 'Perfomer'.

 

[roadrunnerh]

"Mr. Road Runner H" ??? LOL

Just saying it's not an even comparison, that's all.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Here is a 'Fair' Match-Up.

Hot Rod Magazine {September 1968} tested a better equipped 383 Road Runner 4-Speed.

This time with a 3.91 Sure-Grip, and a Hurst 4-Speed Shifter.

Added, was the new 'Coyote Duster' under-hood Cold Air-Induction unit

Also,
* Viscous Drive Fan-Clutch
* Fan Shroud
* 26" Heavy-Duty Radiator
* Dual-Point Distributor w/Performance Curve
* Larger Alternator Pulley

Test Results.......... 14.28 @ 99.77 MPH
Driver; Jerry Gross {Chrysler Technician}

Jut a few minor 'upgrades' and both the 383 Road Runner and Cutlass 'Ram Rod'
were equal off the Dealership Showroom Floor.

 

[EL5DEMON340]

Mr. Road Runner H,

It's just an information thread, focusing on 1968 E/Stock cars.

Trying to compare the Mopar 383/335 HP vs. the Olds 350/325.

Just a little understanding on how Mopar got 335 Horsepower out of the 383,
or least advertised it that way.

Next up the 383 'Package Stock Option', on a real 383 'Perfomer'.

There was an stock 383 that dulich tested and it came right in at 335 hp give or take a few hp can't remember it exactly. If you run the mph that the 383 RR was running 98 mph that verifies that Chrysler was spot on at 335hp

 

[69 Cuda 440]

September 1968 Marketing Ad.

1969 '383 Road Runner'
* 4-Speed
* 3.91 Gears
* 'Coyote Duster' Cold Air-Induction Unit

Performance Test, both as Stock, and with the 'Package Stock Option'

Ronnie Sox got a best of;
* 13.71 @ 104.01 MPH......{w/Closed Hooker Headers}
* 13.60 @ 105.50 MPH......{w/Open Headers}

 

[agtw31]

during GM testing between Olds and Pontiac back in 67,there was a drag test between a Ram Air II Firebird and a 68 Olds Ram Rod

the Ram Rod spanked the Firebird,and they were not happy

the one thing that really hurt the w-31 was the exhaust manifolds

like the z/28,once some headers were added,and tuning were done,a w-31 was deep in the 13's.



btw,this 383 car did pretty good in it's class

 

[agtw31]

1968 Cutlass 'Ram Rod'

1968 E/Stock {10.00 - 10.49 Wt/Hp}

Oh Man, this car was a 'Killer' in E/S in 1968.

It could run 12.75's all day long.

Most of the 383 Road Runner and 383 Super Bee racers wouldn't even
go thru Inspection if this Cutlass was at the Drag Strip. It would have been a waste of time.

this car was found and is being restored

 

[dartjack]

68 Super Bee. 14.10 all night in pure stock form. Other than 4.10's and H70 tires it was just like Ma Mopar dropped it off. Was poor back then(still am) and just out of high school. 98/99 mph. Couldn't break 100 with it Wish it hadn't rusted away.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

AGTW-31,

This was a 'fantastic car' prepared by Dave Boertman.

1971 Dodge Charger 383/300 HP
Ran in J/SA {11.50 to 11.99 Wt/Hp} in 1971.

The 1971 383 was 'advertised' with 300 Horspower, and Low-Compression {8.50 - 1}.

It fit perfect into J/SA in 1971.

The 'trick', the 1971 383/300 HP came thru with a 'special' Holley 670 CFM
Carburetor, and the 'Ramcharger' {Fresh-Air Package w/Pop-Up Scoop}

It made a lot of difference over the Carter 625 AVS.

 

[fratzog lover]

Great thread. Miss my first muscle car, 1968 bronze roadrunner, 383 on the column, 3.23 black and silver bench.

 

[JP_Allison]

LOL....I would stack my stock 340 T/A against any Chevy/Olds small block ever built .... blue printed or not.

Humph!! ............never did anything with the 340 ... my a**.

 

[adriver]

Damn, this is a long race.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Damn, this is a long race.

Conclusion,

The 1968 Cutlass 'Ram Rod 350' devours the 1968 '383' Road Runner.

Bird feathers everywhere.