Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Never raced for money, but I DID outrun a lot of unsuspecting motorcycles with it. It was just a tick faster than the 4-cyl. 900 Kawasakis, which were new at the time... They, of course, never saw it coming... lol!

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

The camshaft I had was actually the camshaft that was in the 'RIDDLER" Oregon-based 340 car that had won the Winternationals, a couple of years before. Mark Colleti's dad owned a chain of performancxe Mopar shops, and was apparently getting some help from Chrysler at the time. Gary Ostrich (20 miles from my house) did contract machine work for Chrysler at that time (the godd ol' days) and the Colleti clan had sent Mark's engine to Gary to change it over to a Super Stock confuguration, and the cam and lifters were sitting on a shelf, one day, when I was visiting the shop to see my friend, Charlie Malyuke, who worked there for Gary. I mentioned that I needed a cam, and Gary offered to sell me the used, but still fresh, "Riddler" cam and lifters for $60.00, and said he'd throw in a new set of new valve springs, for good measure. The deal of a lifetime.... lol!

Subsequently, Lunati (who had ground the cam, originally) came out with a line of camshafts called "Riddler" cams for small block Mopars, so I assumed that it was the same grind, but I don't know that.

It picked my car up 3-tenths from the stock 340 automatic cam. The bonus was it idled like a Gasser, now... nasty-sounding! LOL!!

Dunno about the VOOODOO cams...

Sorry for the blatant hijack...

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Bill,

No worry on the 'hijacking',,,,,,,,anything is allowed for a Mopar owner.
This thread is open to all who can contribute something.

Do know about the Coletti's out of Hillsborough, Oregon,,,,,,,
Mark and his dad 'Smokey Joe'.

Lunati did have a 'special grind' out for the 340's,,,,,,,back then
Thought the 'Riddler' camshaft came out in 1969,,,,after Mark won
the 69' Winternationals Stock Eliminator with the 68' 340 Barracuda (F/SA).

pc

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

I use to watch all those old cartoons back then, and always wondered if "Wile E Coyote the Super Genius" and all of that ACME Company stuff that he used would ever end up catching the Road Runner or not, lol.

http://www.digitalbusstop.com/wp-con...e-E-Coyote.jpg
http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/20...by_thoomas.jpg

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Only because other people added Mopar memories. In 1970 I bought a 70 Barracuda 318 3 speed. It did have an 8 3/4 rear. I lived in Virgina and raced it at Suffok Raceway. I added Holly 2 barrel and it ran 16.10. In late 1971 I got Ed Miller from Chesepeake to change it over to a 340 4speed.He did all work including having exhaust made,shifter, and tuning. But it costed me a whopping $900 parts and labor. lol The car ran 13.10 on street tires with 3.23 gears. That was the good old days.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

I have a 69 383 4-speed RR. Red with a black vinyl top. I brought the car a couple of years ago from, Paul Wong.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Lunati RL980 was the camshaft everyone was using in the 440's around here in the seventies. My brother had a 67 Dodge RT. He bought a 440 that Johnny Labbous had taken out of his SS/GA Roadrunner and put it in the RT. Talk about a wild street car!

Wayne

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

One of the sharpest looking Road Runners I ever saw,
back in 1968, a hardtop 383 Road Runner.

White with a black vinyl top,,,,,,,,,and the black matte hood.
Keystone Klassic wheels,,,,,Goodyear Polyglass R-W-L tires
with G-70 x 15's on the front, and G-60 x 15's on the back.

Really a simple addition to the car, that made it stand out.....
It looked fast,,,,,,and clean....

pc

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

'68 B5 blue Hemi, auto, dana. Just got home from Viet Nam and saw the ad in the Atlanta paper, the owner was in Viet Nam and told his parents to sell it. Bought it in Sep. '70 for $1,275.00 with a new aamco trans.

Sure wish I had it back!

JimR

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

The hot cam for 440s back then was the Isky 1012B, which was essentially a Max Wedge Stage III grind.

Through the mufflers that cam sounded so intimidating.

There was a black '69 GTX with a white vinyl roof and Cragar S/S that had that cam in it. It was one bad boy.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

http://cdn1.iofferphoto.com/img/1085.../3079287/1.jpg
http://oldcaradvertisements.com/imag...oadrunner3.jpg
http://www.drwebman.com/img/charter/..._ad_re400f.jpg

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

In 1979 I bought a new Z 28 and drove it through the summer. Because I live in Minnesota and they salt the roads daily from early November to the end of March, I wanted to put the Camaro away for the winter. So I started to look for a good winter beater that I could sell in the spring and not lose alot of money on. I found a 40,000 mile 69 Roadrunner for sale for $1500.00 that was a 383/auto and drove that through the winter. It started every day, even at -30 degree mornings. It was a little hard on gas, so I checked the rear gear, turned out to be a 3.91. I pulled it out and put in a 3.08 I think, funny thing is it turned it from a fun car to drive to a total slug, plus my mileage never really improved. I kept the car for two years and sold it for $2000.00 Never thought my "beater" would be more valuable than the Camaro. Like many, wish I had it back. Dyno

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

In early 80's a friend had a '70 RR with 440-6 and a column shifted 727. Dana 4.10 & Air Grabber. It was Vitamin C with white bench interior and the "Trail Duster" side strip. I still think that is one of the best looking cars. This car was bone stock, mufflers and OEM style tires. He was obsessed with minimizing the ET in complete factory stock condition. He got it down to 13.72. I remember driving the car. I have to believe with slicks it would have gone into the twelves because from a 25-35 MPH role and dropping it into low, it was an animal. Wish I could remember the MPH it produced because that would be telling.

In the late '80's a friend restored an A12 Super Bee. 440 Six Barrel, 4-speed, 3.54 Dana. All stock except it did have higher compression domed pistons. At the same time, I restored a '66 HEMI Satellite with 4-speed and 3.54 Dana. We raced 3 times on a back road. I wish I had video. Classic B body HEMI vs. Six-Pack, same trans, same gears. Each race was the same. Six-Pack has the lead in first and second with the HEMI making up lost ground at the top of second, third gear the HEMI is dead even, forth gear the HEMI puts a fender on the Six-Pack and by the top of 4th, the HEMI is a fender and maybe part of a door ahead. In a typical in-town street race the Six-Pack would be the victor. Of course the Six-Pack did have some more compression than stock.

What is also interesting is the GTX vs. RR. The GTX came standard with a 440/375 and was a little bit heavier. The RR was standard with a 383 and you had two engine options; Six-Pack ('69 or '70) or HEMI ('68-'70 not counting the '71 models). In my mind, the GTX should be worth more than a 383 RR. But that's not the case in today's muscle car market. The RR is hands down the winner over a 440 GTX. And the '68-'70 RR will out sell the '68-'70 Super Bee.

Bill,
The same guy that had the '70 RR above also had a '64 Signet. It was a well known early '70's street racer in the Phoenix area. It was built by a guy that cut weight out of everything. A100 seats, home made aluminum single resivoir master cylinder, aluminum nuts and bolts and acid dipped body parts. It was plain silver. When my friend owned it, he had a bone stock '70 340 with cast exhaust manifolds in it with an A833 & 4.56's. It ran high 11's. He added a cam, fenderwell headers, a hi-rise and Holley and it was a 10 second car. This was around 1980 and a 10 second 340 was pretty darn
fast. Neil Smedly owned the car for awhile and he sold it to somebody. The car has completely dropped off the radar. I'm sure it's a roach by now but I sure would love to own that car.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Had to be a 2.73 or a 3.23 rear gear. Jim

.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

[QUOTE=Paul Ceasrine;283932]The famous 1968 Road Runner 'Beep Beep Horn'

http://i22.ebayimg.com/03/i/02/59/0f/52_1.JPG

Paul;

I have an original Road Runner horn like this, but the body of the horn is painted the same purple as the cartoon bird's head. It looks like factory paint and I assumed they were all that way, but I see this one is black. A buddy of mine has one that he added to his '76 Volare Road Runner back when he bought it new, and it's purple also. Maybe ours are a Canadian market version by a different vendor.

Jeff Kempton

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

I did the same thing; except my winter beater in '79 was an original owner unmodified '69 Swinger 340/auto. However, it was pretty rusty so I felt justified. I sold it to a guy the next spring and he transferred all the correct drivetrain and accessories into his own highly modified '69 340 Swinger to return it to stock, but not until after he bracket raced my old car all summer and had a ball!

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Here's my 1968 Road Runner story. When I was about 18 my cousin bought a '68 Road Runner 383/4 speed. Only problem was he had lost his license due to several tickets and was walking that week, so he recruited me to pick up the car and drive him around in it that night. I was happy to be driving that beautiful musclecar and was being pretty careful with it. After an hour or so he abruptly told me to pull into a parking lot, where he turned to me and said "If I wanted to be driven around by an old lady I would have gotten my mother to come with me. Now for s--t's sake take this out and POUND it so I can see what I bought!" The rest of that night was a lot of fun....

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

2.76 was the standard and I think there was a 2.54 avail at some point.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyHHz...eature=related

'68 RR commercial. Beep Beep! :)

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

The 8 3/4 hiway gears of that time were 2.76 2.94 3.23. There were some other oddball ratios from 58-62 like 3.36 and 3.73. All the Road runner horns that came on the cars were the light purple color, the black one pictured above is a current replacement.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

My car was a fat pig, for what it was. I weighed it THREE different places because I could NOT believe how heavy it was! It was a V-100, el-cheapo, 2-door post car with a radio and a heater, PERIOD. All three places said it weighed over 3,100 pounds WITHOUT me in it; the lightest being 3,105, with half a tank of gas. It did have a cast iron 4-speed and an 8.75" rerar, but geeze; the shipping weight was only about 2,700 pounds...

I was bitterly disappointed...

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

'68 Horns were painted black. Purple started in '69.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Road Runner Facts:

The 1968 'Beep Beep' Horn was painted black, with the decal.

The 1969 'Beep Beep' Horn was painted 'Cool Gloss Purple', with the decal.

The early first production 1968 Road Runners were pillared post cars with the push-out quarter-glass.

The hardtop 1968 Road Runners came out in mid-year (after January 30,1968) production.

The early first production 1968 Road Runner 4-speeds were equipped
with the 'Inland Floor Shifters'.

In 1968 mid-year production (after January 30, 1968) the shifters were changed over to
'Hurst' standard linkage units.

Car Price;
Pillared coupe; $2896
Hardtop;,,,,,,,,,, $3034

The 4-speed manual transmission, was standard with the car.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

I had posted before about the '69 340 'Cuda fastback that I also bought new. I went into the service in the winter of '68 and sold my Road Runner because I thought I was going to be gone for 3 years.

Due to medical issues, I was discharged in March of '69. I ordered a Yellow '69 340 'Cuda 4 speed with 3:91 gears. I won several trophies with the car at Marion, SD and Sioux City, IA.

In checking the Mopar production figures, I think there were only 93 fastback 'Cudas sold in 1969. I think about that car yet.

So, I consider myself very fortunate, that I was able to own two Road Runners and a 340 equipped 'Cuda! The 4 speed 'Cuda was much more fun to drive. On a good hot South Dakota summer time day, you could see the tire mark shift points on the hot asphalt with that car.

#5457

Curt Rees

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

I worked at a Chrysler dealership back in '71 up until '79. We worked on a lot of those cars under warranty. But I do distinctly remember one car that the owner took pretty good care of and drove it daily. It was a '70 sedan, plain jane bottom end car, 383, with a factory 3 speed in the floor. The shifter had a plastic knob that was a fake woodgrain pattern. Reason I remember so well that it was a 3 speed manual transmission is that we had a very difficult time getting parts for that tranny. I didn't know the 3 speed was even available, but sources tell me that in 1970 it was standard equipment. Anybody else ever seen one?

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

1968 Plymouth Road Runner

Standard Equipment:
383 / 335 Horsepower 4-Barrel engine (Engine Code H)
4-speed Manual transmission (A-833) with Inland 4-speed shifter
8 3/4" rear-end
3.23 gears (Open-rear)

Required Options:
Sure-Grip Posi ($45)

The salesman was supposed to order this as a 'standard required option'.

Other Options;
727 Automatic Torque-Flite transmission ($39)
Performance Axle Option, 3.55 gears w/Sure-Grip Posi ($88)
Special Order Axle Option, 3.91 gears w/Sure-Grip Posi ($144)

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Plymouth introduces the Road Runner.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...RoadRunner.jpg

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

There was a 65 GTO on the west coast in 65 that had Road Runner on the doors....

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Dave,

Some of the specifications you asked for.

Car Weights:
Coupe: #3424 lbs. (10.22 wt/hp)
Hardtop: #3450 lbs. (10.30 wt/hp)

Both cars were classed in E/S or E/SA in 1968.
In Super Stock, SS/F or SS/FA.

383 Engine (Code H)
10.0 - 1 Compression ratio (Flat-Top Pistons)
.450 / .465 lift Hydraulic camshaft (276*/292* duration) (54* overlap)
#2843906 Cylinder heads (2.08 Intake / 1.74 exhaust) (85cc Open Chamber)
#2806301 Cast Iron Intake Manifold (Dual-Plane)
Carter 625 CFM AVS Carburetor (1 7/16" x 1 11/16")

The 383 Road Runner and Super Bee utilized the oil-pan windage tray, camshaft, cylinder heads, valve springs and exhaust manifolds from the 440 engine.

In 1968, that 383 was rated at 335 Horsepower,,,,,,now considered a 'stretch'.
Today, NHRA rates that engine at 300 HP.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

You are correct Jim...the 3 speed was standard in 1970,and the 4-speed was a option along wth the 727 TorqueFlite.I have not seen a Road Runner with a 3 speed,but have seen one Dodge Super Bee with 383 and 3-speed on the floor.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Ron,

The 68' Road Runner came stock with Heavy-Duty Drum Brakes.
11" x 3" (Front)
11" x 2.5" (Rear)

The standard B-Body cars had;
10" x 2.5" (Front)
10" x 1.75" (Rear)

Other Options:
Front Disc-brakes: ($73)
Power Brakes: ($42)
Power Steering: ($94)
Tinted Glass: ($42)
Seat Head Restraints: ($44)
Lower Rocker Sill Molding: ($21)
Black Matte Hood: ($18)
AM Radio: ($60)
Tachometer: ($51)
Arm Rest w/Ash Tray ($8)
Vinyl Roof: ($79)
Vinyl Trim Interior: ($26)
Remote Control Driver Side Mirror: ($9)
Deluxe Wheel Covers: ($21)
Automatic Transmission: ($39)
Sure-Grip Posi: ($45)
Lower Body Accent Paint ($17)
Air Induction Package ($55),,,,Mid-year option only.

Special Options:
Performance Axle 3.55 gears w/Sure-Grip Posi: ($88)
Special Order Axle 3.91 gears w/Sure-Grip Posi: ($144)
Magnum 500 Wheels {14" x 5.5"}: ($102)
Decor Group ($79)


Decor Group included:
Carpeting
Pillar molding (Coupe cars)
Additional Interior colors (Blue, Parchment, Black or Silver)
Trunk Deck-lid rear molding (aluminum panel w/red painted top and bottom sections,
and Road Runner in speed with a cloud of dust)

Engine color: Turquiose
Valve covers: Turquiose
Oil Breather-Cap: Chrome
Air Cleaner: 'Unsilenced' (black krinkle finish)
Air Cleaner Top Insert: Orange, with '383 Road Runner Engine' lettering

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqN,!gs..._id=8800005007

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Thanks, Paul!!!!

Wow; I wonder where I could get a pair of those "heavy-dury" rear drums and shoes for my '64 Valiant slant 6 turbo car? I need all the help I can get, holding it on the starting line, power-braking tobuild boost for the launch (don't want to have to put a trans-brake in it, if I can help it...)

I'm thinking these wide, 11" brakes would do wonders.... but where in the world would I find a set????

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

I wasn't in this country most of 1968, but I did buy a 69 when I got out of the Army. It was a 383, 4 speed, air grabber, 3.91 sure grip, and decor group. Still have it. 23,000 miles. They cancelled my warranty when dealer discovered I was racing it. Go figure.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Dodge trucks use them in the 70's-80's.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Thanks, Chris; we are planning on trying to use full boost from a power-brake "launch," which is a good prescription for "rolling the lights," so exemplary rear brakes will be mandatory. We'll probably end up with a transbrake, but that's gonna be a last resort... don't wanna have to do that unless there's just no other way.

Thanks again; that truck application opens up a whole different area of possibilities, and one I probably would never have thought of! :)

You da man....

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Lamb use to make a pinion brake that bolt on the front of the rear end air operated, this deal would hold.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Have no idea what your talking about......

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/image0-4.jpg

69, Hardtop, 383, 4-speed, console.....crappy photo taken with an old polaroid....lol

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

At Gateway International Raceway
http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/q...nalRaceway.jpg

At Sikeston Drag Strip
http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/q...nDragStrip.jpg

We bought this RR in 1985. I was supposed to drive it to high school, but dad had another idea. We bracket raced it for a long time. It is an original J body hemi car and will see duty again someday.

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Rich Blake,,,,,

What do you mean you have no idea of what I'm talking about,,,,???
1968 'Standard Equipment'

By the way,,,,,,,the car photo you posted is of a 1969 Road Runner...not a 1968.
Don't you know what year car you owned,,,,,:rolleyes:

The 1969 had more standard 'bells and whistles'....;)

1968 Road Runners, when first introduced in October 1967.
Coupes (pillared post) cars only.
* 383 Standard engine (335 Horsepower) ('H' Code)
* 4-speed transmission (standard equipment)
* Inland 4-speed shifter
* 8 3/4" rear end, with 3.23 open rear
* Bench seat (Fleet Grade; Cloth and vinyl)
* Rubber floor mats (full floor)
* Heater
* Dog Dish Hub caps
* F70 x 14' Goodyear Polyglass GT red-line tires
* 14 x 5.5" steel wheels
* Drum brakes (11" x 3" front) and (11" x 2.5" rear)
* Heavy-Duty Suspension

Car Cost $2896
Car Weight #3424 lbs.
NHRA Class: E/S or E/SA

Mike,
The A-833 transmission (23-tooth spline)
1st gear - 2.66
2nd gear - 1.91
3rd gear - 1.39
4th gear - 1.00

The stock flywheel weight: 36 lbs.
Clutch disc: 10.5"

Thats It,,,,,,,,Oh,,,,,,,,,,,'Plymouth, is a out to win you over'

Re: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
 

Francois Periard at the Bowling Green Division 3 event this year

http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/q...isPeriard1.jpg

http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/q...isPeriard2.jpg

http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/q...isPeriard3.jpg

http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/q...isPeriard4.jpg

My Canadian friend, Francois' bad Hemi Road Runner. He built this car around 1978 and has been running a Barton Hemi since '85 or so. Nice guy and works very hard. 10.20's @ 4000lbs is damn impressive.