340 4 barrel and 340 6 barrel: were they really UNDERrated?

[fishmens67]

I beat my fair share of big block cars with my 69 340 4 speed Barracuda Formula S back in the day. That car was wicked fast.

This is the reason you beat big block cars, but you couldn't beat mine. ode to the mighty 340

Chassis is the limiter for the muscle car era showroom cars, end of story.

 

[KevinCar]

The 340's were a SCAT PAC. My understanding, that meant they were in the 13.99 or better range. I still have somewhere, ads from the factory that say the 340's are a high 13 car in the "A" bodies. Also $2,800 for a 2800 lb. car. A dollar a pound.

Scat pak was for any car that was quicker than 15 sec quarter mile, from my understanding.

 

[KevinCar]

And my 67 Dart 270 hardtop with a 340 727 and 8.75 is 2870# with the jack, spare tire, rally wheels, full interior and half a tank of fuel. although 69-70+ A bodies were heavier with all the luxuries. 68 340 dart was 3220# as rated. 500-600 # difference would be moe accurate for most cars, except cars with many features and additions they would be heavier, A 1969 a12 Superbee 440 4spd was rated at 3620#, dodge dart lo23 426 car weighed 3020#

1302kg on commercial vehicle scale

 

[Desoto291hemi]

The thermoquad was a shot in the arm for the 340. The 71 high compression TQ equipped 340 is the high water mark as far as I'm concerned. I would seriously doubt the six pack actually made any more power

In my 70 Challenger I had a 340 that I had swapped back into it .
It was a decent old 72 model engine,,,,.020 over from the factory ( large A stamped on the block ),,,with a set of X heads I put on it .
When I rebuilt it ,,I honed it and the bores were good,,but the pistons were funky .
I decided to put in new pistons,,,and my buddy at the parts house could get brand new at the time factory pistons ,,,,.020 over,,68 model 2 valve relief pistons .
I put in a new Purple shaft cam ,,.484 lift,,,,good valve job on the heads .
Aluminum intake,,,,and the Mighty Thermoquad !

With the 4 speed and a 3.55 rear with a Suregrip,,,it was a screaming little dude !
I had several Chevy buddies that to this day still brag on that basically stock engine !
That was one sweet running 340,,,,oh yes,,,it had headers too .
But,,,,other than that not much really,,, Mopar did a good job on those engines.

However,,,,that Thermoquad probably carried a lot of the load there as well .
Those were really good carbs when right,,,,I had a good older friend that tuned the carb for me .
A good tuner and mechanic can do Magic with stuff like that ,,,that others are lost on .
He was really good on stuff like that .

Tommy

 

[Kern Dog]

The mighty ThermoQuad sounds so good at WOT !

 

[Woody500]

My friend Bob Shapinsky of Scottsburg Indiana raced his 69 340 727 Barracuda w/4:10 gear( 3.23 stock)to a best of 12.75 @110 @ Edgewater Ohio. Ran '75 thru '78 Much modded, fenderwells...