1968 Mopar Street-Race ~ Road Runner 383 vs. GTX 440

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69 Cuda 440

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1968 Mopar B-Body Big-Block 'Shoot-Out'

The 'No-Frills' Road Runner with the 383 'High-Performance' rated at 335 HP.

The 'Gentleman's Muscle-Car', the GTX with the 'big ol'' 440 'Super Commando' rated at 375 HP.

~ Let The B-Body Big-Block Games Begin ~
 
gTx for sure.
Those 440's for the most part all ran well.

The 383's, flip a coin. One time you got a killer & the next one was a wimp.
 
What's the weight difference?
GTX was heavy compared to the Roadrunner.......
 
Maybe a no-option 4 speed with 3.91 and a good driver RR could hang with a fully loaded,automatic 3.23 geared,air conditioned, power windowed GTX. Maybe...
 
MrJLR said:
What's the weight difference?
GTX was heavy compared to the Roadrunner.......
Click to expand...

With both cars running with 727 Automatics

....................................................... Shipping Weight .... Curb Weight

Road Runner Coupe {Post Car} ............. #3424 lbs............ #3570 lbs.

GTX {Hardtop} ................................... #3563 lbs. .......... #3713 lbs.

A 143 lb. weight difference.
 
I'm goin with the 427 Ford Thunderbolt in their rear view mirror.
 
GTX, My 383 auto 3:91 sure grip RR was quicker out of the hole, but 440 power would get me top end. I am talking 1968 here. Not many AC anything back then.

Pa karp
 
Couple GTXs at the drag strip. They always run well.

IMG_4006_zpsvboycajz.jpg


1968PlymouthGTX440.jpg


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But, so do the Runners.

DSC01459.jpg
 
Being Fair

With both running Automatics

Each in 'stock trim', and with 3.91 Gears and Old-School 'M & H' Cheater-Slicks {7" x 28"},
and a Performance Tune-Up.

GTX .................... 13.96 @ 101.5 MPH

Road Runner ....... 14.29 @ 98.6 MPH
 
14.01 with 3.55 Sure Grip, 727 and street radials on a soft launch in my 440 GTX (clone).:burnout:
 

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69 Cuda 440 said:
A 'sharp' Gentleman's Muscle Car

A very respectable 14.01 Elapsed Time.
Click to expand...

I remember getting my a$$ waxed, in my fairly new bone stock 69 coronet rt 440 4 speed, by a 68 super bee , 383 4speed, "think he had headers and a shifter!"
 
From what I remember back then, It really depended on the driver. The 383 4sp was tough to beat. AND most RR were just that, 383 4sp with sure grip. And low gears. Mopar put that combo together to be a street terror.
 
Getting those correct '1968' Shipping Weight numbers

Road Runner 383
* Automatic .... #3424 lbs.
* 4-Speed ....... #3461 lbs.

GTX 440
* Automatic ..... #3563 lbs.
* 4-Speed ....... #3666 lbs.

Note; The GTX 440 {4-Speed} came thru the Dana Rear. {Es mucho weight}
 
Abodybomber said:
Impressed the 383 RR is that close,great thread.
Click to expand...

In October 1967,

Detroit Dragway

Chrysler Performance Technical Specialist - Jerry Gross

Jerry tested a new 1968 Road Runner 'Coupe' in late-October 1967.

It was a 727-Automatic with 3.55 Gears. They had pulled the rear, and slipped in a
set of 3.91's.

In stock trim with F-70 x 14" Goodyear Tires {factory equipped}, they were hitting
14.60's.

In the article, Jerry said that they had brought a set of Casler Slicks {28" 'Tall-Boys'}
with them.

With the Slicks, they were hitting 14.35's @ 97 MPH.

As per reported, 'not-a-thing' was done to the Engine {Ignition or Carburetor}, other
than pulling off the Air-Cleaner Tin-Lid.

NOT BAD ........
 
The 383 will rev better. In 1979 I had a 69 383 Magnum 4sp RR that ran pretty good. Was a street terror for sure. Headers suregrip, 780 holley. Those were the days.....
 
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