'A-Body Showdown' ~ 1967 Dart GT 273/235 HP vs. 1968 Dart GT 318/230 HP

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69 Cuda 440

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The 'Ultimate' A-Body Showdown

Mopar fans from all across America show up at New York National Speedway to see the 'Ultimate A-Body Showdown'

1967 Dart GT 273/235 HP 'Charger 273'

vs.

1968 Dart GT 318/230 HP

The Match-Up > 'High-Compression' 273 4-barrel vs. 'Big-Cube' 318 2-Barrel
 
1968 Dodge Dart GT ...........'It's Not A 340'

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I have heard rumours of 14 second 318's before.
Freind of mine in high school had a Demon Sizzler 318-3sp floor shift.
This car ran 15.50's.
I still think the 273 has the edge.
 
Shipping Weight wise,

Very Close.

1967 Dart GT ~ 273/235 HP............... #2940 lbs.

1968 Dart GT ~ 318/230 HP............... #2981 lbs.

We all know what the 273/235 HP is equipped with, and what it can do.

In 1968, both Dart GT's were classed in NHRA 'J/Stock' {12.50 to 12.99 Wt/Hp}

The Rumor Mill, is that the 318 could run with the 273/235 HP, if you dialed in the
proper Performance Modifications.
 
RB Dart,

Correct

273/235 HP
* 10.5 - 1 Compression {Step-Dome Piston}
* Cylinder Head > #2685920 ~ 57.3 CC {Closed Chamber}
* Valves > 1.78" Intake / 1.50" Exhaust
* Camshaft = .425"/.425" Lift ~ 248*/248* Duration ~ 20* Overlap
* Solid Lifter
* Valve Springs > #98 lbs. Valve Closed ~ #210 lbs. Valve Open
* Cast Iron Intake - 4-Barrel
* Carter AFB - 500 CFM {1.437" x 1.563" Throttle Bores}
* Dual-Point Distributor
* 'Special' Single 'Y-Pipe' Exhaust = 2.50"
* 'Special' Low-Restriction Muffler {2.25" Inlet / 2.25" Outlet}
* 'Special' Resonator {18" Length}
* 4-Speed A-833
* 3.91 Gears w/Sure-Grip {Available option w/4-Speed}

* Factory Rating > 235 HP @ 5200 RPM ..... 280 Ft/Lbs. of Torque @ 4000 RPM

* The NHRA 're-factored' the 273/235 HP 'down' to 210 HP.


318/230 HP
* 9.2-1 Compression {Flat-Top}
* Cylinder Head > #2843675 ~ 60.3 CC {Open Chamber}
* Valves > 1.78" Intake / 1.50" Exhaust
* Camshaft > .373"/.400" Lift ~ 240*/248* Duration ~ 20* Overlap
* Hydraulic Lifter
* Valve Springs > #103 lbs. Valve Closed ~ #144 lbs. Valve Open
* Cast Iron Intake - 2-Barrel
* Carter BBD - 285 CFM {1.44" Throttle Bore}
* Single-Point Distributor
* Single-Pipe Exhaust ~ 1.80"
* Muffler {2.00" Inlet / 1.80" Outlet}
* 3.91 Gears w/Sure-Grip {Available with 4-Speed}

* Factory Rating > 230 HP @ 4400 RPM ..... 340 Ft/Lbs. of Torque @ 2400 RPM

* The NHRA 're-factored' the 318/230 HP 'down' to 185 HP.
 
I had a guy tell me last summer that his factory hi-po 273 would eat my '70 340/4spd swinger any day of the week .... cant remember what car it was though ..
 
65-440 said:
I had a guy tell me last summer that his factory hi-po 273 would eat my '70 340/4spd swinger any day of the week .... cant remember what car it was though ..
Click to expand...

Never happen,

The 273/235 HP may able to stay with a 'stock' 340 for a little bit,

Providing it had Headers and 4.56 Gears.

On the big-end, the 340 would pull way-away from the little 273.
 
Cube advantage on paper, but with the equal stroke, these engines will act a little closer down low then it looks.

Cam wise, it's a bigger advantage for the 273 then it looks, because of the cubes.

With the little two barrel, and running out of steam 1k earlier, I can't see how the teen can hang with the 273.

With a shift point in the mid 4's and 3.91 gears, i hope the driver of the 318 car is ready to row some gears, early, and often:D.
 
318 shouldve gotten a 4bbl at least tho I've seen some 318 2bbl's run pretty damn well...I've also seen some modified 273's run like a 340....none of them were punks...tests or no test were basic 350chebby spanksters...this will be a close race between these 2,slight adv to 273 in this test would be my guess...we'll see
 
Going to be close but that teen has a pretty big torque advantage...
 
On the 1968 - 318/230 HP - 2-Barrel

With both cars running 3.91 Gears and a 4-Speed Transmission

Stock vs. Stock

The 318/230 could hold its own with the 273/235 HP off the line, and thru 1st Gear.

But, once the 273/235 HP hit 2nd-Gear, the advantage of the Solid Camshaft and
better Exhaust would make a difference.

Plus, the 273/235 really ran well during mid-track {2nd and 3rd Gear}

The 318 'Cubes' would come into play late, but it wouldn't be enough to catch the
273 on the Big-End.

Problem with the 318, was the little Carter BBD 285 CFM Carburetor and 'tight-piped' Exhaust.
 
Anyone know why Chrysler limited the 318's, with the exception of the 80's models, to just a 2V carb?
was this engine designed from day 1 as an econo power plant?
 
mikedevore said:
Anyone know why Chrysler limited the 318's, with the exception of the 80's models, to just a 2V carb?
was this engine designed from day 1 as an econo power plant?
Click to expand...

Chrysler Strange Decisions

The 318 4-Barrel was available in the Marine Application

With a........ 318/240 HP
 
Won't even be close. The 273 4-bbl was a quick package and stop light to stop light it was hard to beat! Just ask me about Herb Beer's 67 270 Dart and my 69 383 Dart on the street, embarrassing...:goodman:
 
In 1968,

The 318 Marine 4-Barrel was rated at "240 HP"

The 318/230HP '2-Barrel' Carburetor and Intake were swapped for a 273 4-Barrel
Intake, and a Carter AFB {625 CFM} {1 7/16" Primary x 1 11/16" Secondary}

Now with a Power Rating.............. 240 HP @ 4600 RPM's
 
I'll go 273 assuming you can get the right gas, even the pump preimium today may well fall short on the 273's, 10.5 comp ratio. Even the 318's 9.2 is high by today's standard on gas. If you are talking back in the day then I'll still stick with the 273. the 318 two barrel starts running out of gas at higher RPM's so shifting at lower RPM's is required giving up on the power curve,

NIX on the 273 hanging with the 340, Back in the day my 69 340 4 speed with with 3.73 sure-grips ran at the Dickinson Raceway park south of Houston in G factory stock, and regulatory ran in the 14.0's with a best time of 13.80. The 273's at that time were normally in the high 14's or 15's.
At least that's my story
Bobby
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
The 'Ultimate' A-Body Showdown

Mopar fans from all across America show up at New York National Speedway to see the 'Ultimate A-Body Showdown'

1967 Dart GT 273/235 HP 'Charger 273'

vs.

1968 Dart GT 318/230 HP

The Match-Up > 'High-Compression' 273 4-barrel vs. 'Big-Cube' 318 2-Barrel
Click to expand...

I grew up in Western MD- in 1968 friend drove a 318 auto Barracuda couple with automatic- street racing spot was more like .2 of a mile "to the bridge"
I watched him kill a lot of cars there- big blocks included- With street tires he was gone while there were spinning-
I say the 318 - how were torque numbers?
 
BobbyY said:
I'll go 273 assuming you can get the right gas, even the pump preimium today may well fall short on the 273's, 10.5 comp ratio. Even the 318's 9.2 is high by today's standard on gas. If you are talking back in the day then I'll still stick with the 273. the 318 two barrel starts running out of gas at higher RPM's so shifting at lower RPM's is required giving up on the power curve,

NIX on the 273 hanging with the 340, Back in the day my 69 340 4 speed with with 3.73 sure-grips ran at the Dickinson Raceway park south of Houston in G factory stock, and regulatory ran in the 14.0's with a best time of 13.80. The 273's at that time were normally in the high 14's or 15's.
At least that's my story
Bobby
Click to expand...

In 1968 a friend had a Barracuda coupe with auto. Place we street raced was more like .2 of a mile. I watched him beat many high powered cars- big blocks included- while they were spinning he was gone- Finish line "at the bridge"
he got there first- They would blow by him if ran further
Key- look at the torque numbers:
273-- 280 fps at 4000 rpm
318-- 340 at 2400 rpm

I had a 273 commando 65 Valiant 100 2 door sedan with 4 speed- no way I would have raced him...

I would make a lot of $$ betting on the 318...
 
Both Dart GT's running a 4-Speed, w/3.91 Gears 'Sure-Grip'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

1967 Dodge Dart GT 273/235 HP ~ 'Charger 273' High-Rev Screamer

* O to 60 MPH ............. 8.2 Seconds
* 1/4 Mile.................... 15.89 @ 89.0 MPH

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1968 Dodge Dart GT {318/230 HP} ~ 'Little Torque Monster'

* 0 to 60 MPH ............. 9.0 Seconds
* 1/4 Mile ................... 16.01 @ 85.1 MPH


th
 
munch...munch...munch...

:happy1:
 
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