Let's compare '71-'74 BBody 318 auto Elapsed Times

[Dibbons]

'72 Satellite Sebring Plus 318 auto (stock Carter BBD)
non-sure grip 2.71 rear ratio
215/70R14 tires
modifications: stock except for dual exhaust and all new gaskets

two runs at Sonoma (evening):

R/T 1.126 and 0.286
60 2.64 and 2.90
330 7.59 and 7.82
660 11.80 and 11.92
mph 58.82 and 60.06
1000 15.38 and 15.44
1320 18.368 and 18.413
mph 75.37 and 75.79

comments: left in "drive", no tire spin
first run: bogged off line, lifted foot off accelerator momentarily
second run: eased onto throttle, no bog

 

[nstyle73]

I no longer have the time slip as it only went to the strip once in 2006 but :
73 Charger SE 318 Auto non-sure grip 2.71 rear
225/70R14
Modifications: 224/224 cam, Summit Headers, 340 Intake, 600 Holley, 2200 stall with shift kit
9.6-7 ish in the 1/8th (the nearest 1/4 mile track is 120 miles one way). I am positive it was less than 10

 

[Dibbons]

Here is an internet chart to convert 1/8 mile elapsed times to 1/4 times. Of course, it is only an approximation:

http://www.midsouthracers.com/forum/index.php?topic=5384.0

The chart shows "9.6" would be "14.98" in the quarter mile. I would say your '73 Charger was AT LEAST that quick.

Looking at my time slips: 11.80 1/8 and 18.36 1/4 (1st run) and 11.92 1/8 mile and 18.41 1/4 mile (2nd run).

Looking at the chart shows 11.8 @ 18.41 and 11.9 @ 18.56. Well, the 18.41 matches one of my elapsed times exactly, amazing!

 

[Dibbons]

Another post suggested multiplying 1/8 mile times by 1.56. Using my 1/8 mile time of 11.80, I come up with 18.408, which amazingly (again) rounds off to 18.41! Maybe that's what the chart is based on.

 

[mopar73dge]

I raced my 73 Charger stock 318, 2.71 rear end, about 18sec. in the 1/4 mile, I had the shop install when they rebuilt the original engine a 340 spec cam, duel exhaust. cam specs .430 lift got it down to 17.1 in a quarter mile! it was fun back in 1987

 

[mopar73dge]

I forgot I had a 3:23 gear change done at the same time, which gave me that 17.1

 

[mopar73dge]

I am remembering more and more, I shifted manualy, and having a orange box installed many years later it is faster than ever, I think I would beat my old time now if I tried again.

 

[Dibbons]

So that 17.1 was accomplished with the factory two-barrel Carter carburetor?

 

[mopar73dge]

sorry for the late reply , yes factory carter 2bbl carb

 

[mopar73dge]

remember the 1/8th mile time does not really bring the maximum hp up I think, by the time you get to the 1/8th I think its just about at its peak, that is why the 1/4 time is the norm, 1/8 mile isn't that for cars that are for show mostly,? I mean all these cars can take a lot they were all tested for durablity and the 318 up to 5000 rpm, I rarely bring her up to the 5000 rpm but when I do it really screams for this engine, and it goes! I quicker vacuum advance along with the orange box will also give better time and the disconnecting of the vacuum delay module on the fire wall. I tested that and it does give a vacuum delay for saving emissions output.
Make sure your accelerator pump on the carb is at its max travel also there is a adjustment for that, see the factory tech manual to adjust properly. I purchased a NOS carb, carter from a e bay, new in the box.

The acc pump linkage was set very low, I re-bent the rod and what a huge difference, also it was in the wrong hole there are three to choose from.(use the instructions in the manual precisely) The factory setting is designed to save gas and be economical which it will be, but you have less power and torque. experiment with it.

This spring I want to bring it to a engine dyno shop. For 75.00 you get three pulls. I think then and there I will know the true HP with the mods I did compared to bone stock factory specs.

 

[nstyle73]

Gee sorry I only have an 1/8 mile track near by. As far as "for show", is any 318 b-body car really a drag strip terror? Call me when you get in the 10's with a 318. The OP asked to compare ET's, I dont see your?

 

[Dibbons]

I found a "73 NOS carb on Ebay also, installed that after my quarter mile time runs. It matches the NOS charcoal vapor canister I found (the old '72 carb did not have the dedicated port for the newer canister. I still have a stumble when accelerating from a stop sometimes (at full or near full throttle).

 

[Dibbons]

I supposed to put these elapsed times in perspective, we should mention our fuel mileage, which is a little bonus for having such "slow" cars. On road trips, mostly freeway driving, I can easily exceed 17 mpg.

Which is not bad, even comparing it to the 2018 1.5L Honda Accord, which is rated at 33 mpg overall. That Honda gets double the mileage, but only has half the cylinders, not the same interior/trunk space either. I still think our cars were a little ahead of their time. Maybe it's just me, but I can't tell a Mercedes from a Honda anymore.

Lot of persons driving SUV's these days. Combined mileage for a 2018 Toyota 4Runner is 18 mpg, not much over our classic cars (we have a 2004 4Runner in the family stable).

 

[UKPlymouth]

Not a teen, but my updated 340 with manual shifting thru the trans at 5,700 with TF2 shift kit and open 3.23gears gives me low 14s at around 95-97mph on the few runs I’ve done.
Car is 73 Roadrunner.
Motor has cam, heads, Air Gap and TTI’s, so certainly not stock.

 

[Dibbons]

I'll be putting a 340 in shortly that I am rebuilding. high compression, forged crank, ThermoQuad, '68 340 manual camshaft (more or less). and same dual exhaust. I might run the two-barrel Carter BBD for awhile and see how it compares to the factory TQ later. I am thinking about a change in torque convertors, but I don't want anything that is "loose" during freeway cruising.

 

[UKPlymouth]

I fitted a JW 2,500 stall and it’s fine, but I suspect it would be better with 3.55/3.73 gears. Prior to that I had a B & M 2,000 that did well. On my 340motor