Musclecar Showdown ~ 1968 Road Runner vs. 1964 GTO

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69 Cuda 440

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'Musclecar Showdown'

The the 'new' Marketed Musclecar versus the 'original' Musclecar.

1968 Plymouth Road Runner ~ 383/335 HP
versus
1964 Pontiac GTO ~ 389/325 HP
 
Do we even need to do this? Really? The Poncho is fixin to get its butt handed to it. lol
 
1955 Chrysler 300-C was the original muscle car. That being said, doesn't look like a bad comparison.
 
First muscle cars. Light body. Big motor.
1962 Dodge Dart 413
1963 Plymouth 426 Wedge
In fact Max Wedge engines were available in various engine sizes in all 1962, 1963 and 1964 Dodge and Plymouth intermediate cars. They were game changers the day they hit the strip. And I consider those the first muscle cars.
When Terminal Island Dragstrip closed down I had the opportunity to see the early altered wheelbase Plymouths and Fords Race. And one Pontiac tempest. That was something to behold.
 
'Horsepower and Torque'

1968 Plymouth Road Runner '383'
Bore ....................... 4.250"
Stroke .................... 3.375"
Compression Ratio ... 10.0 - 1
Horsepower ............. 335 @ 5000 RPM's
Torque .................... 425 @ 3400 RPM's

1964 Pontiac GTO '389'______
Bore ....... ............... 4.062"
Stroke .................... 3.750"
Compression Ratio ... 10.75 - 1
Horsepower ............. 325 @ 4800 RPM's
Torque .................... 428 @ 3200 RPM's
 
Let's face it most RR's,bees, chargers etc came with the 383. That was the bread and butter HP engine for Chrysler along with the 340.
 
Rear-End Gear Ratio's

1968 Road Runner '383'
* Standard ........ 3.23
* Optional ......... 3.55
* Special Order .. 3.91
* Sure-Grip

1964 GTO '389'
* Standard ........ 3.23
* Optional ......... 3.08
* Optional ......... 3.36
* Optional ......... 3.55
* Special Order... 3.90
* Special Order... 4.33 {Dealer Installed 'only'}
* Safe-T-Track
 
vntned said:
1955 Chrysler 300-C was the original muscle car. That being said, doesn't look like a bad comparison.
Click to expand...


The original Chrysler 300 was the "1955 Chrysler C-300" 354 Hemi and 360 HP. Yes the first muscle car at more than 1 HP/ CID.... :cheers:


The 300-C was the 1957 model.... #-o


Easy to get confused with the terminology.... :???:
 
Not an asswhooping by any means, the winner had the better reaction times, almost identicle ET, GTO has 2 mph on the runner.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBtrviG29HI"]1968 440 GTX v 1966 GTO - 1/4 Mile Drag Race Video - Road Test TV - YouTube[/ame]
 
Actually, in showroom stock condition, it might have been a good race. I do think that the Roadrunner would have edged out the GTO. This would have been especially true if they both ran an automatic.
 
Another one pretty identicle.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoVRgRAWts8"]1968 Dodge Charger R/T vs 1965 GTO Tri-Power 1/4 mile Drag Race - Road Test TV - YouTube[/ame]
 
Also comparing wrong cars. The GTX outweighs the Road Runner.
 
Automatic vs. Automatic

1968 Plymouth Road Runner 383/335 HP ~ Automatic ~ 3.23 Gears
* 15.05 @ 93 MPH

1964 Pontiac GTO 389/325 HP ~ Automatic ~ 3.36 Gears
* 15.50 @ 91 MPH
_______________________________________________________________

The Mopar 727-B Torque-Flite 'trumps' the 2-Speed 'Super Turbine 300' Pontiac Automatic.

Gear Ratio's
* 727-B Torque-Flite ....... 2.54 / 1.45 / 1.00
* Super Turbine 300 ....... 1.87 / 1.00

The Pontiac 2-Speed was an up-graded version of the 'Super Turbine 300'.

It did come thru with a 2200 Stall-Converter.

Negative > The Transmission weighed in at a 'bulky' 152 lbs.
 
How did the cars compare, weight-wise?
C
 
clhyer said:
How did the cars compare, weight-wise?
C
Click to expand...

1968 Road Runner ~ 383/335 HP
* Coupe ...... #3424 lbs. ~ 10.22 Wt/HP
* Hardtop .... #3450 lbs. ~ 10.30 Wt/HP

1964 Pontiac Lemans/GTO ~ 389/325 HP
* Coupe ...... #3270 lbs. ~ 10.06 Wt/HP
* Hardtop ... #3289 lbs. ~ 10.12 Wt/HP
 
Heads Up

1968 Road Runner '383' Coupe
* #3424 lbs.
* 4-Speed A-833 ~ 2.66 / 1.91 / 1.39 / 1.00
* Inland Shifter
* 3.91 Gears
* Sure-Grip

1964 Pontiac GTO '389' Coupe
* #3270 lbs.
* 4-Speed {M-21 Close-Ratio} ~ 2.20 / 1.64 / 1.28 / 1.00
* Hurst Shifter
* 3.90 Gears
* Safe-T-Track

Note; If 3.90 Gears are ordered, an M-21 Close-Ratio 4-Speed could be added.
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
Heads Up

1968 Road Runner '383' Coupe
* #3424 lbs.
* 4-Speed A-833 ~ 2.66 / 1.91 / 1.39 / 1.00
* Inland Shifter
* 3.91 Gears
* Sure-Grip

1964 Pontiac GTO '389' Coupe
* #3270 lbs.
* 4-Speed {M-21 Close-Ratio} ~ 2.20 / 1.64 / 1.28 / 1.00
* Hurst Shifter
* 3.90 Gears
* Safe-T-Track

Note; If 3.90 Gears are ordered, an M-21 Close-Ratio 4-Speed could be added.
Click to expand...

With 'Prowler' Cheater Slicks {8" Wide x 28" Tall}

* Road Runner ............... 14.31 @ 98.7 MPH
* GTO ........................... 14.34 @ 98.2 MPH
 
Camshaft Specifications

................................ Mopar 383/335 HP ...... Pontiac 389/325 HP

Lift .............................. .450"/.458" .................. .407"/.411"
Duration......................... 268*/284* .................. 273*/282*
Duration @ .050" ............ 208*/221* .................. 200*/210*
Overlap .......................... 46* ............................ 54*
LSA ............................... 115* ........................... 111*
Centerline ...................... 113* ........................... 106*

Valve Springs .................. Single-Coil w/Damper .... Dual Springs
Load-Rate {Valve Open} ... 234 lbs. @ 1.40" ........... 251 lbs. @ 1.173"
Load-Rate {Valve Closed} . 105 lbs. @ 1.86" ........... 108 lbs. @ 1.586"
 
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