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

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273 said:
Tweaked in what way ?

Tuning ?
Bug's worked of them ?
Better tolerances ? or pick the fastest that probably had better tolerances.
Actually put non stock parts and or mods to them ?

First two ain't so bad what most would do if running them regularly.
Third one is somewhat cheating.
Fourth would be a for sure cheat.
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Press cars were always hot cars, nobody drove one off the floor & got those numbers, it's just the way it was done.
 
Just for fun, do a search on Jim Wangers. He was a PR guy for Pontiac.
That guy was right in the thick of the musclecar heyday.
I’ve never owned a running 340. I never felt like paying the premium for one when the 360s were still so common. I have a 79 360 here with a 340 cam. For a smooth idling engine e, it runs strong.
 
Kern Dog said:
Slant six early A bodies may have been 2900 lbs or less but I call BS on any 67-76 A body V8 car being under 3000 lbs.
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Early Valiant 100's & Dart 170's w/the shorter, lighter 170ci. Slanty, checked in at 2640#. My '69 Dart Custom Cpe., 'teener 904 7.25" weighed 2840# with later Special Edition buckets & rear seat. No carpet/padding, trunk mat, or headliner.
 
Killer6 said:
Press cars were always hot cars, nobody drove one off the floor & got those numbers, it's just the way it was done.
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I'm not questioning if they did it, just to what extent.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I would surely agree. Who would want to read about a slug? lol
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I know it is the low HP 340 years but have a non car magazine that drives a 1973 340 Duster or Dart Sport. I can look tomorrow if anyone wanted to see the results.
 
Kern Dog said:
Just for fun, do a search on Jim Wangers. He was a PR guy for Pontiac.
That guy was right in the thick of the musclecar heyday.
I’ve never owned a running 340. I never felt like paying the premium for one when the 360s were still so common. I have a 79 360 here with a 340 cam. For a smooth idling engine e, it runs strong.
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If it has a 340 cam, auto or manual, it will have a thump. Just for fun, I use to drive into parking garages and set off car alarms. LOL I had a few 360 motors (75 & 79) but never drove them. I would think the 360 with the 340 cam would have a better high end with a 4 bbl, but the 340 would be balls to the wall at lower to mid-range. The shorter stroke 340's did well at my local stock car track.
 
Didn't one of the Pro Drivers click off a 13 second ET in a 340 Duster. I believe it was possible to run a 13.9 with 3.91's and 4-speed in a low optioned car. My factory 74 360 car is 3,100 pounds from the factory- Manuel Steeting, No AC, front Disc. It came with the safety equipment that made the car a little heavier. So an earlier car would be lighter. Take the spare out of the well and it might be just about 2,900 LBS
 
What about the 340 4 gears that came with a bigger cam didn't they do any better then the regular cammed 340's ?
 
TF360 said:
Didn't one of the Pro Drivers click off a 13 second ET in a 340 Duster. I believe it was possible to run a 13.9 with 3.91's and 4-speed in a low optioned car. My factory 74 360 car is 3,100 pounds from the factory- Manuel Steering, No AC, front Disc. It came with the safety equipment that made the car a little heavier. So an earlier car would be lighter. Take the spare out of the well and it might be just about 2,900 LBS
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Have you electronically scaled your 74 360 car?

I digital scaled a striped race camaro at 2,900 lbs. No bumpers, no grill, fairly striped interior. Not streetable.

There was a 74 or something magazine that road tested a new 360 Plymouth Duster. White, striped, bench, auto, dog dishes. Had a rallye mirror on one side and a standard remote mirror on other side :rolleyes:... quality! It ran well in 14's.
 
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No I Haven't, but per the Title (I Know) actually reads 3,075, and on another Duster the same car and year (Optioned up) it reads 3,614 LBS
 
TF360 said:
No I Haven't, but per the Title (I Know) actually reads 3,075, and on another Duster the same car and year (Optioned up) it reads 3,614 LBS
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74 360 Duster is going to be over 3200 lbs.

This article list it a 3246 lbs Curb Weight not as tested measured weight. They are always heavier than curb weight.

Only options on this car are fold down rear seat (will add some weight) and split bench with armrest (little added weight) and passenger mirror (that factory screwed up).


BTW, look at the side mirrors closely !

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I have been a student of the 340 since the mid 70s. I have read everything that I could get my hands on and owned 5 of them. A stock 68 69 70 340 will produce if properly tuned with stock exhaust manifolds 290 to 315 HP with a 71 TQ and electronic ignition is good for about 325 if properly tuned this also where the 70 six pack will land . But in my opinion that is where the stock exhaust manifolds really are holding its potential back. With a good set of headers all the aforementioned combos were good for another 20 to 25 HP. 68 4-speed camshaft was good for possibly another 10 horses in any of these combinations.
 
autoxcuda said:
74 360 Duster is going to be over 3200 lbs.

This article list it a 3246 lbs Curb Weight not as tested measured weight. They are always heavier than curb weight.

Only options on this car are fold down rear seat (will add some weight) and split bench with armrest (little added weight) and passenger mirror (that factory screwed up).


BTW, look at the side mirrors closely !

View attachment 1716392946

View attachment 1716392947
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Yea, great info., but mine is a 4-speed car. It's lighter
 
My 1970 340 swinger with aluminum heads and intake manifold and drive shaft loop being the only real weight changes comes in at 3130 lds. it is a 4 speed with aluminum bell housing.
 
What's the difference in weight between a 8 3/4 rear and a 8 1/4 rear?
 
TF360 said:
Yea, great info., but mine is a 4-speed car. It's lighter
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take it to a local truck stop if they have a CAT scale or a local grain elevator and weigh it. Even a waste transfer station has a scale.
 
Looks good autoxcuda- that's a 18 spline 4-speed. Most likely a little heavier than my 23 spline. Splitting hairs I guess, but I bet the 8 1/4 rear in the 74 is about 30 lbs lighter?
 
So, adding it up from the Article- Fold down rear seat (20 lbs) 4-speed (30 lbs) and 8 1/4 versus the 8 3/4 ( 30 lbs) for a weight savings of approximately. 80 lbs. 3246- 80 = 3,166! Of course a earlier 340 would be lighter than that
 
TF360 said:
So, adding it up from the Article- Fold down rear seat (20 lbs) 4-speed (30 lbs) and 8 1/4 versus the 8 3/4 ( 30 lbs) for a weight savings of approximately. 80 lbs. 3246- 80 = 3,166! Of course a earlier 340 would be lighter than that
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The magazine car would have had a 8 1/4 also.

Again, that is advertised curb weight. Not a actual weight.
 
TF360 said:
So, adding it up from the Article- Fold down rear seat (20 lbs) 4-speed (30 lbs) and 8 1/4 versus the 8 3/4 ( 30 lbs) for a weight savings of approximately. 80 lbs. 3246- 80 = 3,166! Of course a earlier 340 would be lighter than that
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Does your '74 have impact bumpers? That is a huge when considering weight
 
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