Ronnie Sox 'Performance Tests'

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O.M.R,posted:
"I haven't made a pass in any "fast" car since the mid 80's.....Man, how I would love one more shot ." Damn.
 
One reason I think he was such a good road tester, besides his obvious skills, was that he was never shy with the engines. From some of the vids i've seen, it always sounded to me like he pushed the rpm's higher then some of the other testers, especially in 2nd & 3rd.
 
1967 GTX 440,

A 4-Speed with a {Code #408} Dana Rear and 3.54 Gears.

Before Sox & Martin got their new 67' GTX 440, that they would run in SS/E
in 1967.

In October 1966, they tested a new GTX in Detroit.

* Shipping Weight......... #3535 lbs.
* Curb Weight.............. #3765 lbs.

The 'best' Plymouth Techs were running 14.30's @ 98 MPH in a 'stock' 4-Speed,
with 3.54 Gears. Of course with a 'mild' performance tune-up, and the GTX equipped
with 14" Magnum 500 Road-Wheels on 7.75" Red-Streak Tires.

Ronnie came in, and had them pop on a set of 15" x 6.0" 'JK' wheels from a Chrysler Imperial,
with 9.15 x 15" Tires {29.60 Tall x 5.40 Width}, and then swapped in a set of 'colder' Champion Spark Plugs.

A few timing adjustments and tweaks on the Carter AFB {750 CFM}.

The GTX had a 'new' pair of shoes...........as Ronnie averaged 14.04 @ 102.1 MPH after 7-Runs.

With a best of 13.98 @ 102.3 MPH.

That's with an 'Inland Shifter'......................
 
1967 Plymouth GTX

440/375 HP {4-Speed}, with Dana Rear

With Hooker Headers, 4.10 Gears and Casler 8.00 x 15" Slicks.

Test Results......... 13.45 @ 105.51 MPH

140.jpg
 
You gotta have the right shoes to race a 4 speed, actually even an automatic. If you cant feel what's going on, you don't have a chance. I usually wear a pair of sperry's to the track, they are thin and light.
 
1967 GTX 440

The General Analysis, a GTX 440 w/4.10 Gears would handle the '426 Street Hemi'
and it's persistent problems of carburetor, valve and timing adjustments.

Ronnie Sox,

On the Street, the GTX 440 can't be beat. It's lighter than the 'Street Hemi' and has just
as much torque. You only need Headers and 4.10 Gears, and you'll be the 'Top Cat' at
your Night Hang-out.

We've got one ready for NHRA 'SS/E', and were already running well under the 'set minimum index'.

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Cool thread.
From a clip I seen (approx 1/2 an hour) Dick would say he "Walks the car out, then Hammer it." A crew set up a in car camera. His clutch foot went to the floor and back up in a 1/2 blink of the eye. Lighting quick. Is even bet his foot came up quicker than the clutch pedal on its own.

I myself would just slam the pedal to th floor and let it slam up on its own. Just slide the foot to the left off the pedal. BAM! Engaged!
Click to expand...

I assume that "walking the car out" would mean light on the accelerator and an slower clutch release off the line, and the rapid clutch action would be for gear changes.
 
Rumor had it that Ronnie Sox "Mr. Four Speed" supposedly made a stock six pack car that was prepared by MOPAR go 13.00
which I find hard to believe based on power to weight ratio
 
dustoff440 said:
Rumor had it that Ronnie Sox "Mr. Four Speed" supposedly made a stock six pack car that was prepared by MOPAR go 13.00
which I find hard to believe based on power to weight ratio
Click to expand...

Based upon tests at Cecil County Dragoway, they did hit those Elapsed Times in stock G-70 x 15" Tires.

Best Performance Result............13.00 @ 110.15 MPH

Car........1969 Road Runner 440 Six-Barrel , 4-speed w/4.10 Gears {Dana Rear}.

Shipping Weight................#3530 lbs.
Weight-to-Horsepower........9.04 Wt/Hp

Curb Weight.....................#3765 lbs.

Later, the Plymouth Techs replaced the stock #906 Cylinder Heads with a set of 'Kenyon' Blueprinted' #906
Cylinder Heads that were milled to {NHRA Specifications of 79.5 CC's} bringing the Compression-Ratio
to an estimated level of 10.79 - 1.

Performance Results............... 12.76 @ 113.14 MPH
 
R/T Man,

I have no information on Ronnie Sox performing tests on the following factory
1967 production 'stock' cars.

* 1967 GTX '426 Street Hemi'
* 1967 Satellite '383'
* 1967 Barracuda '383'
* 1967 Barracuda '273 Commando'
 
Ronnie Sox {1968 Car Tests}

* 68' Road Runner '426 Street Hemi' {4-Speed]
* 68' Road Runner 383 {4-Speed}
* 68' Barracuda 340 {Automatic}

November 1967
1968 Road Runner 'Coupe' '426 Street Hemi'
* 4-Speed
* 3.54 Gears {Dana Rear}

November 1967
1968 Road Runner 'Coupe' 383
* 4-Speed
* 3.55 Gears 'Sure-Grip'

January 1968
Barracuda 'Fastback' 340 'Formula S'
* Automatic
* 3.91 Gears 'Sure-Grip'

 
Ronnie Sox Tests the 'new' 383 Road Runner

Road Runner 'Coupe'
383/335 HP
4-Speed
3.55 Gears 'Sure-Grip'
E-70 x 14" Tires

Shipping Weight.... #3422 lbs.
Curb Weight......... #3540 lbs.

In 'stock trim', right off the factory production line, Ronnie hit several 14.70's @ 95 MPH.

With the Air-Cleaner removed, and 'Chrysler Tech' Mark Powell making adjustments
to the 'timing, carburetor and clutch'

Best Result....................14.46 @ 97.1 MPH

Ronnie Sox,

'The Road Runner is surprisingly light for a mid-sized car {B-Body},
and for $3000, you can't beat its 'Performance vs. Sticker Price'.

'I would have liked to test it with 3.91 or 4.10 Gears and some better rubber.
And maybe add a 'Dual-Point' Distributor and a bigger Carburetor {Carter 750 AVS}
off of the 440 Super Commando. We'd easily break into the high 13.00's.
 
The control of the clutch comes with gas pedal more so then the clutch . The higher torque and hp your engine has the more this comes into play < remember the gas pedel is much easier to control then a clutch, the heat it sees the more inaccurate it becomes .
 
I bought a 65 satellite 426 street wedge 4 spd. in 69.I was in a senior in high school.I remember looking down that long hood and seeing that 426 emblem.I was in heaven Still have dreams about the car today,Kevin.
 
Kevin D. said:
I bought a 65 satellite 426 street wedge 4 spd. in 69.I was in a senior in high school.I remember looking down that long hood and seeing that 426 emblem.I was in heaven Still have dreams about the car today,Kevin.
Click to expand...

They 'could' have been a monster, had Mopar really put an effort into
making them 'Hot Cars', instead of warmed over bored out 383's.

* 300-J Cylinder Heads
* Solid Camshaft
* TRW Forged Pistons {11.0-1}
* Intake and Carburetor
 
For you 'Rani Sox'

November 1967,

Sox & Martin got a 'gift' from Plymouth Racing Division, to also test.

A 'stock' 1968 Barracuda 340 'Formula S'. An Automatic w/3.91 Gears
with Sure-Grip.

This was the 'Sox & Martin' shop car.

Test-and-Tune............. 13.97 @ 100.05 MPH

Later in February 1968,,,,,,,,at the NHRA Winternatoinals

 
October 1967,

1968 Road Runner '426 Street Hemi'
* 4-Speed 'Coupe'
* 3.54 Dana Rear
* #3560 lbs. {Shipping Weight}

Previously {back in October 1967} Ronnie Sox had run 13.20's @ 108 MPH.

Later the 1969 'Factory Test' performance results were 13.50's @ 105 MPH.

7900388-1969-plymouth-road-runner-car-of-the-year-digital-repro-depot.jpg
 
October 1967

Tri-City Dragway - Saginaw, Michigan

1968 Road Runner '426 Street Hemi' ~ 4-Speed with Dana Rear, w/4.10 Gears

* Shipping Weight..... #3560 lbs.
* Curb Weight........... #3708 lbs.

The Road Runner was Product Planning Executive - Gary Powell's 'Factory Test Car'.

The only items that were changed, was a 'Hurst Competition/Plus Shifter' replaced
the Inland Shifter, and the twin Carter AFB's were re-worked.

* 1st-run........... 13.08
* The timing was adjusted and the Air-Cleaner was removed.
* 2nd-run.......... 12.88
* 3rd-run.......... 12.84
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
Ronnie Sox Tests the 'new' 383 Road Runner

Road Runner 'Coupe'
383/335 HP
4-Speed
3.55 Gears 'Sure-Grip'
E-70 x 14" Tires

Shipping Weight.... #3422 lbs.
Curb Weight......... #3540 lbs.

In 'stock trim', right off the factory production line, Ronnie hit several 14.70's @ 95 MPH.

With the Air-Cleaner removed, and 'Chrysler Tech' Mark Pearce making adjustments
to the 'timing, carburetor and clutch'

Best Result....................14.46 @ 97.1 MPH

Ronnie Sox,

'The Road Runner is surprisingly light for a mid-sized car {B-Body},
and for $3000, you can't beat its 'Performance vs. Sticker Price'.

'I would have liked to test it with 3.91 or 4.10 Gears and some better rubber.
And maybe add a 'Dual-Point' Distributor and a bigger Carburetor {Carter 750 AVS}
off of the 440 Super Commando. We'd easily break into the high 13.00's.
Click to expand...

Correction...
 
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