Old Hemi Vs The New - My prospective

[Full Throttle]

In 1975 (I'm old) I was driving a nice '66 GTO Tri-Power 4 speed convertible car. I heard about a 67 Hemi GTX automatic that was for sale for what was then a good but not great price $1500.00 This was a pristine car 27,000 miles Black on Black automatic. I was excited about getting a Hemi car and looking forward to the brute power of it. Well to my dismay the old GTX was a consistant 13.70 car not really much faster than my GTO in fact on the street the GTO beat it a number of times. It was not until we changed out the 3.23 gears to 4.56 and added some headers and Racer Brown cam that the old Hemi came alive. With some tires it was an 11 second car The problem was that the car sucked to drive with the cam, gear and no overdrive. Yesterday I drove home my second black Hemi car, a 2006 300C SRT-8. In pure stock form this thing will clean house on the old GTX It runs, drives, turns, and stops, something that the GTX could not do on its best day. It uses less gas by far, and does not use as much oil as gas like the old one did. Coming up to my first stop light I hit the brakes and stoped about 2 cars faster than I thought I would, (need to get used to the barkes) The GTX may have rear ended the guy without using two feet on the pedal. I got rid of the GTX the same summer for the stupidly high price for 1975 of $2200 to a guy who "had to have it" I really never got attached to that one, to be honest I was a little disapointed with it. (About 10 years ago I heard he still had it, who's stupid now? ) I cannot say the same for the new SRT-8 though, one day, about 100 miles later plus one very suprised new GTO owner (won by two cars) and this is a great car that my wife and I are both in love with. I can't wait to tear into it to see what we can find.
Mike

["C"Bandit]

Good story!

I'm sure there is a few of us that whish we could have back some of our old muscle cars from the 60s and 70s. I know I do

But your right that these new cars are far superior to those old ones in the way they run, handle, brake ect. Only down side is the cost, but what can you do about that other than not to buy a new car, not me

[frank29]

Originally Posted by Full Throttle

...........a 67 Hemi GTX automatic ...............The problem was that the car sucked to drive with the cam, gear and no overdrive.........

I can relate to that. I had a '68 Camaro. It had a 350 that I sunk a fortune into. It was hooked up to a turbo 400 with 3K stall convertor. Just the smallest manuever and that small block was really reving.

I have no way to compare it to my "C"; but, I think the Camaro was quicker. Like your's it wasn't that drivable, I was just to young to realize it.

[sorbs]

You point out why 340 Dusters/Demons usually kicked the snot out of big block B bodies...weight kills baby! The RBs were HEAVY. The Hemi was a tuner that came detuned from the factory by design. When tuned, in a straight line, it was hard to beat.

Also back then, as you point out, by adding a cam, headers and changing gears with a set of slicks you're in the 11s. it was pretty cheap too.

Today we deal with the PCM/ECM, warranty and a $40K+ entry fee. Times have changed my friend and I like my California Walnut steering wheel. I like being in the 13s and keeping my warranty too. AC and backup sensors are nice as well. Heated leather is comfy. Man, aren't these great times or what?!

[pd171]

Originally Posted by Full Throttle

In 1975 (I'm old) I was driving a nice '66 GTO Tri-Power 4 speed convertible car. I heard about a 67 Hemi GTX automatic that was for sale for what was then a good but not great price $1500.00 This was a pristine car 27,000 miles Black on Black automatic. I was excited about getting a Hemi car and looking forward to the brute power of it. Well to my dismay the old GTX was a consistant 13.70 car not really much faster than my GTO in fact on the street the GTO beat it a number of times. It was not until we changed out the 3.23 gears to 4.56 and added some headers and Racer Brown cam that the old Hemi came alive. With some tires it was an 11 second car The problem was that the car sucked to drive with the cam, gear and no overdrive. Yesterday I drove home my second black Hemi car, a 2006 300C SRT-8. In pure stock form this thing will clean house on the old GTX It runs, drives, turns, and stops, something that the GTX could not do on its best day. It uses less gas by far, and does not use as much oil as gas like the old one did. Coming up to my first stop light I hit the brakes and stoped about 2 cars faster than I thought I would, (need to get used to the barkes) The GTX may have rear ended the guy without using two feet on the pedal. I got rid of the GTX the same summer for the stupidly high price for 1975 of $2200 to a guy who "had to have it" I really never got attached to that one, to be honest I was a little disapointed with it. (About 10 years ago I heard he still had it, who's stupid now? ) I cannot say the same for the new SRT-8 though, one day, about 100 miles later plus one very suprised new GTO owner (won by two cars) and this is a great car that my wife and I are both in love with. I can't wait to tear into it to see what we can find.
Mike

In 1972 at age 18 (I'm not old by the way) I bought a 69 Roadrunner with a 383 for $900. It was fast (going by some of the cars I defeated in the quarter mile), I think at least as fast as my 300C but probably not as fast as your SRT. It had poor handling and braking but I loved it just the same. I was making $72 a week and paid for the car myself. I don't think many 18 year olds making minimum wage today could afford to buy a 3 year old 300C or SRT-8. Heck, I can't afford an SRT-8. I am really jealous of those like you that have one.

[stevesrt8]

Fastest car ever owned - Sunbeam Tiger with modded 289. Too bad it was a Ford at heart! This little rocket would go 100 in 2nd gear!

Best car? Probably 1970 454 Chevelle with 4 speed and 3.73 gears. Headers and a Holley was all this car needed, but it still only ran low 13's.

To the guy that thinks large body Mopars were heavy, I had a 1968 Charger that had a built 383/727 torqueflite that only weighed 3300 lbs. It was very light for its size, ran well. I knew Dusters that weighed more!

Also, I do not label the 426 as the best Mopar for drag racing. That title goes to the stump puller of all time, the 440. Those were one of the best stoplight to stoplight motors of all time. Torque right now... no waiting! We had a guy in our "group" that could pull 11's with street tires and pump gas! And the most demoralizing hole shot you have ever seen.

That said, the srt really surprised us at the drag strip this winter. So smooth and quiet, yet quite a runner! Ran several high 12's and then took us home in near silence.

Cars have sure got better!

["C"Bandit]

Also, I do not label the 426 as the best Mopar for drag racing. That title goes to the stump puller of all time, the 440. Those were one of the best stoplight to stoplight motors of all time. Torque right now... no waiting! We had a guy in our "group" that could pull 11's with street tires and pump gas! And the most demoralizing hole shot you have ever seen.

That said, the srt really surprised us at the drag strip this winter. So smooth and quiet, yet quite a runner! Ran several high 12's and then took us home in near silence.

Cars have sure got better![/quote]


Your right about that!!!

The one car I would like to have back was a 1970 Challenger R/T SE 440 Mag 4spd. That was a fun car on the street. Only lost one race against a well built 427 4spd Camaro.

A couple of years after I sold it I was reading in one of those Hot Rod mags which had for some reason build #s for MOPARS (strange for Hot Rod mag) stating that there was only 824 Challengers built with that combination

Finding this info out I really did almost cry.....

Hemi 4spd, Dana 60 with 3.54 sure grip, factory spoiler on the trunk lid, B5 blue with black interior....

[phunter1]

Hi,

I owned a 1969 Dodge Super Bee, 440 Six Pack back in the early 70's. I raced it in the brackets at Orange County, Lions and Irwindale drag strips. It was my daily driver. It was equipped with a Torqueflite Auto, with 3.91 gears and Hooker Headers. The motor was bone stock. The car was consistently a high 12 second car with 9" wide cheater slicks and open headers. Even with the slicks, the car had to be launched very carefuly to avoid wheelspin. I am sure the car would have been quicker with larger tires, but back then the wheel wells were pretty tight compared to todays cars. As far as weight is concerned, my Super Bee weighed about 200 lbs, less than my current 300C. There is no question in my mind that my 69 would out run my 300C in a quarter mile. Stopping, cornering, gas mileage, comfort; the 300C wins hands down.
I have never driven an SRT8, so I have no basis to compare other that specs. Since the SRT8 has 425 NET hp, and the 440 Six Pack has 390 GROSS hp, I would say that the SRT8 should be able to beat a "B" body car.
One last point, I also owned a 1970 340 Duster, which I took to the track several times. If I remember correctly, it weighed about 3300 pounds and ran the quarter in the mid 14 second range bone stock. It is my opinion that the 340 Duster/ Dart could beat a 383 "B" body, but would not be a match for a well tuned 440 "B" body.


Phil

[albow]

Originally Posted by pd171

In 1972 at age 18 (I'm not old by the way) I bought a 69 Roadrunner with a 383 for $900. It was fast (going by some of the cars I defeated in the quarter mile), I think at least as fast as my 300C but probably not as fast as your SRT. It had poor handling and braking but I loved it just the same. I was making $72 a week and paid for the car myself. I don't think many 18 year olds making minimum wage today could afford to buy a 3 year old 300C or SRT-8. Heck, I can't afford an SRT-8. I am really jealous of those like you that have one.

Ahhh, memories. I also had a 69 RR 383, with a fresh candy apple red paint job and a California rakethat I bought at an auction in 1978 for $450. Yeah, I had plans to tuck and roll the interior and do a few other things to it (man those brakes were dangerous and the interior had turn really crappy), but to be young and 17 and have it again before a drunk driver ran over me in it.

[sorbs]

Originally Posted by stevesrt8

To the guy that thinks large body Mopars were heavy, I had a 1968 Charger that had a built 383/727 torqueflite that only weighed 3300 lbs. It was very light for its size, ran well. I knew Dusters that weighed more!!

Um...unless you had a special car your off by about 350LBS at best but more like 700LBS on that Charger. Also, the Duster/Dart was 3,050LBS to 3500LBS fully optioned and if you had a 383 in your B body and the Duster had a 340 you both shared about the same HP (although MOPAR rated the 4bbl 340 at 275 and the 4bbl 383 at 335HP).

Take the weight of the B body combined with your RB (4000LBS) and compare it to the A body with a 6-pack (3150LBS) and you were...dusted.