1968 '340' Barracuda vs 1968 '383' Road Runner
Really enjoying this debate.
I always said, IN MY OPINION, my 2 fastest A-bodY PREDICTIONS right off the showroom floor with break-in miles only:
1868 Barracuda notch back, 340 4 speed, 3.91 gear. (light weight and hotter stick cam 1968 only)
1971 Duster, same drive train. (BIG Thermoquad, 340's seem to love bigger than normal carbs, still high compression)
My buddy Rick ordered a new 1972 340 Duster, Sherwood Green, bench seat, low compression 340, 4 speed, 3.23 Sure grip. As soon as the weather turned warm in the Spring of 72 we took it to Dragway 42 (it was still a 4 lane drag strip back then) Everything was stock except he had put G70-14 Polyglas tires on the rear Rallyes and it now had 4000 miles.
Right off the street, he made a pass and it ran 14.51. (I don't remember the MPH but remember the ET like it was yesterday) Then I screwed up...I wanted to tweak it a little and had brought some lighter advance springs for the distributor. It took longer than I thought and we missed out on any more runs before class call so it only made the single pass, ever.
My wife had a 1972 340 auto / 3.23 gear Duster when we got married in 1980.
This was a well optioned car, buckets, console, a/c, disc brakes.
It sounded healty, but wasn't as quick as I though it should be.
The only non-stock item was the aftermarket Carter 800 T/Quad.
It ran in the 15.50 range.
By comparision, I bought a 1974 360 Duster with 90K. It was equiped the same as her 1972, but with a 3.21 gear.
With 9" slicks, it ran 14.90.
Also at this same time, I had a 1972 RoadRunner with 80K. 400 / auto & 3.23 gear. The only option it had was a/c. It was a bench seat, manual steer & brake car.
It was quicker than the 1972 Duster, it ran in the 15.30 range.
Thats as close a 340 Duster vs 400 Road Runner match up for 1972 that I have.
By the way, neither of the 72's would spin a tire at the track.
Both did have good mid-range to top end power.
