Dale Davies
Well-Known Member
Looks excellent. IMHO, I would just clean up paint chips and things like that, especially if a factory GTS. Those 340s in a light car are fairly quick. An unmolested survivor car will retain value better.
New here and looking for advice with my setup.
- Thread starter Gtsjosh
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Gtsjosh
Active Member
I can’t remember off the top of my head. When I decided it I think it was green or blue originally. I’m out of the country for work until the end of the month. When I get home I’ll decode it again. I need to confirm Gear ratio too.
Matt Miller
Well-Known Member
Gtsjosh
Active Member
I do too, especially with red interior. That car is gorgeous.
Matt Miller
Well-Known Member
383 Auto
I should have kept it!
The hood inserts need to swapped, the right side as seen in the picture should be on the driver's side, and visa versa with the other one. They should read from the back to the front.
Why would you care or try to convince him of getting a new car when he has the car to enjoy and modify as he would like. After all, it is HIS car and it’ll be HIS WAY, not yours. He wants to modify the car. If you want to have him keep it stock, perhaps you should buy it from him so he can roll the money over into a new car lock stock and barrel.
Gtsjosh
Active Member
I knew I’d get some of that when I posted , which is fine , I get it. I did buy a gts on purpose to have something that would appreciate. However I don’t plan on cutting her up or doing anything too extreme to her. But I figure all the basic bolts ons and cam to make it rip and keep all the parts that come off of it incase I ever decide to sell it in the future. Because let’s face it , 400ish hp in this car will be a blast and most of us love to tinker.
Tony Cabler
Member
I don't have any advice except keep that car in the family.
What a gorgeous vehicle!
Can you imagine the pride your grandkid or great grandkid would have driving it?
What a gem...
What a gorgeous vehicle!
Can you imagine the pride your grandkid or great grandkid would have driving it?
What a gem...
AJ/FormS
68 Formua-S fastback clone 367/A833/GVod/3.55s
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until you put some serious tires on her, any money you spend on the engine, will just buy you more tirespin.
For fun driving, you are looking at less than 50 mph, because, after that anything can happen, and on skinny street tires, that anything, usually leads to sad faces and broken cars.
So then the headers and a good tune have already put you over 300hp; just learn to drive it, and make yur own fun.
More Power in a 340 will come at a higher rpm. The cam in that engine is already set up for a 5500 rpm shift. From the factory, the most likely rear gear is 3.55s. So then 5500 will be 64mph in Second gear. Already a swell, if not perfect, combo.
Making more power at a higher rpm will take a longer period cam, with a later closing intake valve, which will sacrifice cylinder pressure, and kill some low-speed power.
My advice is to not fall for the allure of 400 horsepower. You will end up spending a lotta lotta money, and end up turning her into a point and shoot kindof car, which mostly takes all the fun out of it.
While 400 hp is a nice number, with that car of yours, it is a recipe for destroying it.
My advice is to just drive it.
Learn to keep it in your lane, and pointed in the right direction; with lots of run-off road ahead of you. That alone will start off as a serious challenge, but eventually, could become, big fun.
Lest you think I'm blowing smoke;
I started out driving a '70 Swinger340 /4speed/3.55s back in 1970, and have had A-bodys ever since. The long wheelbase skinny-tired ones are the trickiest of all to learn to master. Until you can control one at 300hp, I wouldn't put a nickle into speed-parts.
Instead, put yur money into tires, suspension, brakes and steering. Cuz at 400hp, if you didn't, you'll be wishing you had, perhaps as early as the first time out.
I've been driving the snot out of A's on the street, for 50plus years, trust me, lol.............. in the early years, it did not end well for some of them.
Those cars, as they left the factory, are evil handling sobs that are just waiting to surprise you when you least expect it.
My nickname all thru high-school was "ditcher"; need I say more?
BTW,
it was never my fault.
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Pay no mind to AJ.
AJ/FormS
68 Formua-S fastback clone 367/A833/GVod/3.55s
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OP said
OP already has one of the most potent of the 340 lineage, and the headers allow that factory cam to finally wake up. The engine combo is already as good as it gets for;
, short of spending a few thousands of dollars.
@Gtsjosh
You're gonna get a lot of varying opinions in this thread, and in the end you will have to sort thru them and search for the nuggets.
My best advice is to abandon this thread and come back with something like this;
"I have *** amount of dollars to spend; where should I begin?
I can almost guarantee that most of the answers will actually make sense
=================
I'll give you my answer right now;
install the tallest widest tires that FILL those tubs, on appropriate wheels; Move the springs and narrow the rear if you need to. Get some HD street springs and probably slapper bars. Then, if you have a regular A833 with the 2.66low, put the biggest number rear gears in the housing, (Up to 4.10s) that you can stand to cruise with, and don't forget the sure-grip. If you already have gears back there between 3.55 and 3.91, then I suggest to consider swapping it out in favor of the 3.09 Commando. See Note-1
Now, put some disc brakes on the beast, if it doesn't already have the Rally Suspension package.
That is where this road starts.
If you don't start here^^,
and DO build your engine up to 400hp;
you will be driving one of the World's fastest skateboards. That is to say; it won't stop, won't steer, won't handle, will be very little quicker in the zero to 60 contest, and it will scare the crap out of you just about every time you lay on the gas for 5 or 6 seconds.
But you will be able to scare thechit out of all your friends, until no one will ride with you any more. After that, it will get very lonely......
Note-1
For the funnest streeter, you want to be able to hit about 60/65 in second gear. If you have to shift into third, that will put your engine off the cam, and reduce your average power, which will then be slower in the zero to 60 contest. If you don't hit at least 4800, you might as well install a 318 cam.
Your 1968 cam, if still in there, specs out at 276/284/114 and that means the power-peak will be up around 5200, and with the right springs you can rev that to whatever. 5400 sounds good to me, to start with.
That means to top out at 60mph/5400 in 1.92 second gear with 28" tires (about the tallest you can fit), would take 3.91s.
And 3.91s will make a starter gear of 10.40, normalized to 8.91 at 24", Not great but adequate. But 65= 3050 so that might put a damper on your cruising. However, on short hops, 10% lower rpm only takes 10% longer to reach your destination. I burned up a lotta lotta miles at 56mph.
Just for comparison; if you have 3.23s; you will hit 60mph at only 4465 assuming no tirespin, with those 28s.
But it's worse; 32mph in Second (still with 3.23s) will be 2380. Downshifting into 2.66 low will get you 3500/no tirespin with slapper bars, and that is waaaaaaaay off the power.
Whereas 3.91s would get you 4000 perhaps some tirespin; and the
309 Commando low gear would get you 4640 with raging tirespin.
The point is, with a given engine, matching the combo to the application is King, and Torque multiplication will get you a lotta lotta fun.
If your budget is limited, I would suggest starting with;
installing the largest tires that fit in the stock tubs, a well-adjusted SureGrip, slapper bars, and whatever gears will get you the 8.91ish normalized starter gear.
OP already has one of the most potent of the 340 lineage, and the headers allow that factory cam to finally wake up. The engine combo is already as good as it gets for;
, short of spending a few thousands of dollars.
@Gtsjosh
You're gonna get a lot of varying opinions in this thread, and in the end you will have to sort thru them and search for the nuggets.
My best advice is to abandon this thread and come back with something like this;
then add;
"I have *** amount of dollars to spend; where should I begin?
I can almost guarantee that most of the answers will actually make sense
=================
I'll give you my answer right now;
install the tallest widest tires that FILL those tubs, on appropriate wheels; Move the springs and narrow the rear if you need to. Get some HD street springs and probably slapper bars. Then, if you have a regular A833 with the 2.66low, put the biggest number rear gears in the housing, (Up to 4.10s) that you can stand to cruise with, and don't forget the sure-grip. If you already have gears back there between 3.55 and 3.91, then I suggest to consider swapping it out in favor of the 3.09 Commando. See Note-1
Now, put some disc brakes on the beast, if it doesn't already have the Rally Suspension package.
That is where this road starts.
If you don't start here^^,
and DO build your engine up to 400hp;
you will be driving one of the World's fastest skateboards. That is to say; it won't stop, won't steer, won't handle, will be very little quicker in the zero to 60 contest, and it will scare the crap out of you just about every time you lay on the gas for 5 or 6 seconds.
But you will be able to scare thechit out of all your friends, until no one will ride with you any more. After that, it will get very lonely......
Note-1
For the funnest streeter, you want to be able to hit about 60/65 in second gear. If you have to shift into third, that will put your engine off the cam, and reduce your average power, which will then be slower in the zero to 60 contest. If you don't hit at least 4800, you might as well install a 318 cam.
Your 1968 cam, if still in there, specs out at 276/284/114 and that means the power-peak will be up around 5200, and with the right springs you can rev that to whatever. 5400 sounds good to me, to start with.
That means to top out at 60mph/5400 in 1.92 second gear with 28" tires (about the tallest you can fit), would take 3.91s.
And 3.91s will make a starter gear of 10.40, normalized to 8.91 at 24", Not great but adequate. But 65= 3050 so that might put a damper on your cruising. However, on short hops, 10% lower rpm only takes 10% longer to reach your destination. I burned up a lotta lotta miles at 56mph.
Just for comparison; if you have 3.23s; you will hit 60mph at only 4465 assuming no tirespin, with those 28s.
But it's worse; 32mph in Second (still with 3.23s) will be 2380. Downshifting into 2.66 low will get you 3500/no tirespin with slapper bars, and that is waaaaaaaay off the power.
Whereas 3.91s would get you 4000 perhaps some tirespin; and the
309 Commando low gear would get you 4640 with raging tirespin.
The point is, with a given engine, matching the combo to the application is King, and Torque multiplication will get you a lotta lotta fun.
If your budget is limited, I would suggest starting with;
installing the largest tires that fit in the stock tubs, a well-adjusted SureGrip, slapper bars, and whatever gears will get you the 8.91ish normalized starter gear.
Gtsjosh
Active Member
I’m out of the country still so I haven’t checked my gear ratio yet. Tires now are 225/60/15. I was thinking about putting 255/60/15 on there but I need to verify the backspace on those wheels. I’m taking them to get powder coated when I get home so I’ll verify then. What do you think of the 255/60/15 ? I’d prefer not to move springs at the moment. I don’t mind spending up yo a few grand on bolt on parts , cam , springs brakes etc. over the next year or so. My plan was to do most everything short of the cam this year and save the cam / springs for after this summer. Thanks to everyone so far who’s offered suggestions.
No Headers, it's already got the good HP 340 exhaust manifolds and X Heads that match them.
I am sure you have the factory 3.23 rear gears and Sure-Grip.
340 4spd Cam you have there already.
Oh Yeah !
I am sure you have the factory 3.23 rear gears and Sure-Grip.
340 4spd Cam you have there already.
Oh Yeah !
AJ/FormS
68 Formua-S fastback clone 367/A833/GVod/3.55s
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2014
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IIRC 255/60-15s are about the biggest tires that will fit in a 67/8/9 wheel tub.
And I can tell you that;
my stock 70 Swinger340/A833/3.55s would usually spin it's G60-14s thru 2 gears, and sometimes into third, in any case; well past the speed limit. G60-14s math to ~248mm , and rounds down to 245. but the Gs had more tread, flat to the road, than the metrics.
Your car with an original 340/4-speed, should have come with 3.55s, at the least.
But to be truthful, those PolyGlass Belted tires were pretty useless. Cold, they were roller skates. Just changing lanes in a hurry could be dicey.
And I can tell you that;
my stock 70 Swinger340/A833/3.55s would usually spin it's G60-14s thru 2 gears, and sometimes into third, in any case; well past the speed limit. G60-14s math to ~248mm , and rounds down to 245. but the Gs had more tread, flat to the road, than the metrics.
Your car with an original 340/4-speed, should have come with 3.55s, at the least.
But to be truthful, those PolyGlass Belted tires were pretty useless. Cold, they were roller skates. Just changing lanes in a hurry could be dicey.
not all 68 340 manual trans cars came with the better manual trans cam, they stopped putting them in mid year. the hemi grind camshaft is a perfect fit for a stock motor. 71 stock intake or airgap manifold with a thermoquad and eletronic ignition would just top it off.
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