I've had three 340 cars including a 1970 Swinger with a 4-speed and 3.55s, totally stock, purchased with 11000 miles on it in the fall of 1970 from the original owner.
The handling was ugly, it wasn't particularly quick or fast 14.4@98mph, But on the street all 340 Darts were a force.It's secret was that, with me in it, it scaled at 3330pounds. I was 18 and 140ish in 1971.
The tires, those E70-14 Polyglass roller skates were the absolute worst tires I ever drove on, but once you figured them out, you could do tricks with them, that would send your passengers home with stained shorts, I'm sure! Once I put Radials on her, she became drive-able,lol.
The powertrain in mine was bullet proof. Right up until it blew a W/P belt, and I failed to notice. Thank goodness for 5 and 50 warranties.But after 5 years I had worn out the synchros for the second time, the 3.55s were long gone, in favor of 4.10s.The entire suspension,steering and brakes were worn out. The body had been bashed into so many poles, curbs, ditches,buildings, and yes, other cars too, that I just wanted to get rid of it. I got 58% of my purchase price back, and on the day the new owner came to get it, I told him not to stall it as I had had to push start it to warm it up for him. The starter had just died.It was a cold March day IIRC.
That was the most fun car any young boy could have for $1005 over 5 years,not including repairs, maintenance and the 14 tires it burned up,lol.
So what would you like to know?
Do they need better valve springs?Hyup. What else? Do they suck gas? Hyup. Do they handle like a drunk on rollerskates? With the factory stuff, Hyup.How are the brakes? PDF, pretty darn fine; they saved my bacon on more than a few occasions,Hyup.Is the shifter really as bad as they say? Hyup. Can they really bury the speedo? I think so Hyup; It was hard to keep it on the road after 135 so I didn't really look; and I had 3 other screaming hi-school babies on board. But hey they bought the gas.
How strong is the grill? Not very; I pulled a shift when me and a buddy were playing Push-O-War. His 69 350 Chevelle lost, but it cost me a grill when my car launched into him,Hyup. How are the headlights? I can't say; most of my driving time was during daylight hours. The night was for partying,Hyup.I mean sleeping, so my dad said.
I can tell you another thing; those Polyglass tires and factory steel wheels can really take a beating.That's all I can say about that,Hyup. And another thing, that car could fishtail for a very long ways, but if you got into third gear doing that, you better be on a parking lot, cuz things are gonna get ugly right quick, and there ain't nothing you can do to save it,Nope....
If you care to try it, You can lay rubber in three gears with those belted hard as iron polyglassers, and if you look real hard you might be able to find the shift tell-tales, but mostly not,Nope.But going into 4th is just a chirp cuz now yer doing 100 mph, and a 340 is not a 440, Nope.
It's a terrible winter car,Hyup.The front end is too heavy, the "posi" pushes, the tires are skates, the whole thing is like a drunk on a merry-go-round, Forget that chit, Hyup.
What else? Well the 340 stocker has no top-end rush like a 440, so if you are dumb enough to accept a challenge from a B-car or even a C-car, there is only one way to win; you don't start from a stand still, and you don't race past 85 mph. The 340 will blow off the polyglassers through two or three gears if you try that, and the Polara will be long gone. If you manage not to explode the tires, you stand a chance, but only to 90ish mph, Cuz that 440 Polara is just coming on the pipe in second gear, and in a another second or two he will be showing you his taillights.Hyup, so beware, stack the deck in your favor. I did, but I was almost embarrased.Hyup. Oh and never pick on a motorcycle any bigger than 350cc. Not even a dirtbike. They will embarrass you for sure, all the way through first gear,hyup
What else.
