70 dodge dart vs. 70 nova

[RALLY]

1968 340's
• engines painted red w/black accessories 1968 Dodge Dart 340 cubic inch motor specs.

• 275 hp at 5,000 rpm & 340 lb-ft torque at 3,200

• 4.040" bore and 3.310" stroke

• forged crank w/shot peened rods

• 10.5:1 compression ratio

• ‘206’ hydraulic cam - 268 in. dur. - 276 ex. dur. 44 overlap (in 1968, only the

4 speed cars got a more aggressive cam, automatic versions got a cam

that become the standard in these hi-performance engines)

• a dual timing chain and a windage tray

• big X heads - 2.02 inch intake valves and 1.60 inch exhaust valves (894’s)

• free flowing dual plane 4 bbl intake

• Carter 650cfm AVS Carburetor w/1.44" primaries and

1.69" secondaries

[Lee Stewart]

Those were the factory specs. The real HP on a 340 was close to 300. NHRA factored them at 295 for F,G Stock (68 and 69). The 71 was even higher due to the big Thermoquad carb: 320 HP D,E,F,G Stock

[DWR]

18 degree heads also.

[RALLY]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

Those were the factory specs. The real HP on a 340 was close to 300. NHRA factored them at 295 for F,G Stock (68 and 69). The 71 was even higher due to the big Thermoquad carb: 320 HP D,E,F,G Stock

In 1968,
the NHRA re-factored the 340's 275 Horsepower rating to 310HP, even
before it hit the pavement at Pomona, for the 1968 Winternationals.

Larry Gilley very competitive in his 68 GTS 340 Dart in stock eliminator.

[earntaz]

Originally Posted by RALLY

In 1968,
the NHRA re-factored the 340's 275 Horsepower rating to 310HP, even
before it hit the pavement at Pomona, for the 1968 Winternationals.

Larry Gilley very competitive in his 68 GTS 340 Dart in stock eliminator.

Does anyone know what the LT-1 as in the 70' Z-28 was factored at by NHRA?

[mockingbird812]

Originally Posted by Bill Pritchard

I gave the only decent picture I had of my Dart to a friend who was the local Motorsports reporter for our local paper. He used it when he started doing a column about the local Cruising scene 'back in the day'.....I never got the picture back, but I have a scan of what appeared in the paper. He may have taken a bit of artistic license when describing my car My friends' 69 Super Bee is in the background.

That is is just way-cool Bill. Just love it!!! Cool ride!

[earntaz]

Originally Posted by Arrowsmith

NHRA HP ratings aren't what they used to be. They now take in account racer requests to lower the HP rating. When that happens, the racer gets to drop into a more favourable class. On the other hand, if a specific combination is regularly quick against the Index, the HP factor can be increased. So as you can imagine, there just might be a bit of a hustle going on. Stock and Super Stock use different "stock" HP ratings too. With that in mind....

All of these are ratings with OEM heads; not "legal" replacement heads -- replacement heads can result in more or less HP:

The 1970 Camaro LT1 is currently rated at 320 in Stock with a stick; 325 in Stock with an automatic

The 1970 Corvette LT1 is currently rated at 330 in Stock (stick only, obviously)

The 1971 Camaro LT1 is currently rated at 315 in Stock (stick only -- no automatics accepted)

The 1971 Corvette LT1 is currently rated at 315 in Stock (stick only)

The 1968 & 1969 & 1970 Dart 340 is currently rated at 299 HP in Stock

The 1971 Dart 340 is currently rated at 314 HP in Stock

1970 3X2BBL Challenger is currently rated at 308 HP in Stock with a stick; 319 with an automatic

As you can see, it's little bit of a gong show today and because of that I wouldn't be too quick to use NHRA factors as a rating source today (although years ....maybe decades...ago it certainly was).

Hope that helps.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne -- was it the same in 1970? That is when I was running my Z-28. Thanks again ... Craig

[RALLY]

Originally Posted by Arrowsmith

"Thanks Wayne -- was it the same in 1970? That is when I was running my Z-28. Thanks again ... Craig"


Craig...It was well before my time with the NHRA so I can't give you an absolute answer...however I'm pretty sure it was far different ballgame back then. Farmer Dismuke was the National Tech Director in 1970 (1960 to 1988) and he actually came up with the Classification Guide. Bottom line was Farmer was in charge and there was no monkey business. I don't think in his wildest dreams that the system would be so different (botched?? mis-used?) today. NHRA is a far different place now.

WS

Agree NHRA is way different. Just not the same anymore.

[EZ Nova]

It was before my time as I'm only 54 at this time. Was into Mopars as my first cars and locally Mopars were king. My 1st car was the '68 GTX convert clone. BUT second was a legit '68 GTS 340 4 sp car. Had both when I was 18.

So I talked to a lot of the older guys that ran these cars new on the street and track. The 340 was usually considered the fastest SB around. There were 5 '66L79 Chevy II's and there was usually 1 that had work that would beat a 340 mopar. The rest were usually a couple cars behind. Dusters seem to work better then the Darts from what I heard.

LD340 intake and headers n gears would wake these up some nicely too.

[RALLY]

Originally Posted by EZ Nova

It was before my time as I'm only 54 at this time. Was into Mopars as my first cars and locally Mopars were king. My 1st car was the '68 GTX convert clone. BUT second was a legit '68 GTS 340 4 sp car. Had both when I was 18.

So I talked to a lot of the older guys that ran these cars new on the street and track. The 340 was usually considered the fastest SB around. There were 5 '66L79 Chevy II's and there was usually 1 that had work that would beat a 340 mopar. The rest were usually a couple cars behind. Dusters seem to work better then the Darts from what I heard.

LD340 intake and headers n gears would wake these up some nicely too.

Dont know but it seemed like the Dusters were a heavier car than the Darts.