[therock]

Back in the day I got this car from a mechanic of the MOPAR dealership in the area that serviced the interceptors. It had the antenna grommet plugs and still had the microphone clip on the dash and the screw holes for the equipment.
It was orange with the black striped hood with a 383 and I was told if there was a direct connection high performance mod or option for the car it was in there. It loped at idle wonderfully.

They (interceptor service techs) liked to take a Holly (non-spread bore) and add another idle circuit plate on the rear float bowl and gears on the throttle shafts that made all four bbls move at the same time. They knew back then what it meant to be lean as possible to get the power. Lots of guys mback then thought the more gas the better.
It had the Corvair turbo mufflers on it and it was pure joy.

The car would do 13sec 1/4 milers @ around 105 in 2nd gear and when I hit 3rd she could walk away from those 1970's Cobra Jet big blocks set up for top end that tried to sucker me into losing a 1/2 mile race. When I crossed the 1/4 mile line I was shifting a few lengths in front of them and could see the smirk go away as I broke their hearts.

I never heard of anyone else talking about these factory 3 speeds in Road Runners or chargers and would like to hear more about them. I remember it was a big cast iron monster.

 

[valiant67]

The 3 speeds were used because insurance companies penalized cars with 4 speeds with higher premiums. The whole reason was to make muscle cars cheaper to buy and insure.

 

[Scrounge]

The whole reason was to make muscle cars cheaper to buy and insure.

Agreed. When introduced for '68, the Road Runner came standard with a 4-speed, but the 3-speed manual was standard starting in '69, which lowered the cost of the car new (the base price rose for '70). I bought a '70 Road Runner with a 3-speed manual pretty cheap in the mid-'70s, but by then, it was a troublesome rust bucket, and I didn't keep it very long. I like the body style from '68 to '70. I'd also have liked the '67 and '66 body style, had the the car been introduced earlier.

 

[therock]

I see. At first I didn't believe it was a real RR but it was. The department was moving to another car and selling these. He told me the troopers liked the 3 speed in an interceptor because it accelerated well in 1-2 and then top out nicce in 3rd.
The only car in my area that spanked me was a 1970 454 SS that had been breathed on some.

Thanks. Now I know about the 3 speed.

 

[Fast Eddie]

As you can see the heavy duty 3 speed manual was standard on the 340 and the 383................

 

[Scrounge]

In the carburetion row under the 383 column, it list a "Holley AVS 4-bbl". The AVS was a Carter 4-bbl carb from 1968 to 1971. I don't know much about Holleys, but I think they used numbers instead of letters to designate their carb models. Holley 4-bbl carbs were available on Mopar big blocks, regardless of the transmission, though I think the Carters were standard equipment. Perhaps the OP could tell us whether the Holley on his Road Runner was factory standard, optional, or an after-market replacement.

 

[GLHS60]

Fast Eddie have you ever seen a Fury GT with the Dana axle??

I had one years ago and never looked but see it listed in the brochure.

Thanks
Randy

 

[GLHS60]

383's could be factory equipped with either a 625 CFM Carter AVS or the smaller 570 CFM Holley R-4440A. (often called 600)

I believe the listing above means either Holley or AVS could be used when both are mentioned.

Where only AVS is mentioned, Holley's weren't available, EG: 340.

Much discussion over the years why the Holley was also available, but nothing concrete unless Fast Eddie has some insight. Either could have A/C or automatic, 330/335 H.P., some claimed the Holley could pass emissions easier but everyone knew in stock form the AVS was faster.

Similar thing over at Chevy, the top 396 solid cam Engine ran a large Holley, (375/425 H.P.).

The hydraulic cam 396, both 325 and 350 H.P versions, could have a small Holley or larger Qjet.

The only hydraulic cam 396 to run the small Holley exclusively was the 1966, 360 H.P.!!

Thanks
Randy

In the carburetion row under the 383 column, it list a "Holley AVS 4-bbl". The AVS was a Carter 4-bbl carb from 1968 to 1971. I don't know much about Holleys, but I think they used numbers instead of letters to designate their carb models. Holley 4-bbl carbs were available on Mopar big blocks, regardless of the transmission, though I think the Carters were standard equipment. Perhaps the OP could tell us whether the Holley on his Road Runner was factory standard, optional, or an after-market replacement.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Here are the AMA carb specs for 1970:

 

[Scrounge]

I believe the listing above means either Holley or AVS could be used when both are mentioned.

Where only AVS is mentioned, Holley's weren't available, EG: 340.

Maybe for 1970. When I bought a '69 Imperial some 30 years ago, the seller said that it originally came with a Holley 4-bbl, but he didn't like it, so he replaced it with a '71 Carter AVS 4968S. Perhaps the AVS was standard equipment, but when the factory ran out of them, they used whatever Holleys were available.

 

[Fast Eddie]

I see. At first I didn't believe it was a real RR but it was. The department was moving to another car and selling these. He told me the troopers liked the 3 speed in an interceptor because it accelerated well in 1-2 and then top out nicce in 3rd.
The only car in my area that spanked me was a 1970 454 SS that had been breathed on some.

Thanks. Now I know about the 3 speed.

Here are the specs for the 3 speed and 4 speed manual trans from the AMA. Notice the rear end ratios and

I see. At first I didn't believe it was a real RR but it was. The department was moving to another car and selling these. He told me the troopers liked the 3 speed in an interceptor because it accelerated well in 1-2 and then top out nicce in 3rd.
The only car in my area that spanked me was a 1970 454 SS that had been breathed on some.

Thanks. Now I know about the 3 speed.

Here are the ratios for the manual transmissions for 1970 from the AMA.

 

[GLHS60]

The chart FastEddie posted was for Plymouth only as the original post was about a Road Runner.

440's in Chrysler and Imperial often had Holley's.

Thanks
Randy

Maybe for 1970. When I bought a '69 Imperial some 30 years ago, the seller said that it originally came with a Holley 4-bbl, but he didn't like it, so he replaced it with a '71 Carter AVS 4968S. Perhaps the AVS was standard equipment, but when the factory ran out of them, they used whatever Holleys were available.

 

[mforeman2929]

Back in the day I got this car from a mechanic of the MOPAR dealership in the area that serviced the interceptors. It had the antenna grommet plugs and still had the microphone clip on the dash and the screw holes for the equipment.
It was orange with the black striped hood with a 383 and I was told if there was a direct connection high performance mod or option for the car it was in there. It loped at idle wonderfully.

They (interceptor service techs) liked to take a Holly (non-spread bore) and add another idle circuit plate on the rear float bowl and gears on the throttle shafts that made all four bbls move at the same time. They knew back then what it meant to be lean as possible to get the power. Lots of guys mback then thought the more gas the better.
It had the Corvair turbo mufflers on it and it was pure joy.

The car would do 13sec 1/4 milers @ around 105 in 2nd gear and when I hit 3rd she could walk away from those 1970's Cobra Jet big blocks set up for top end that tried to sucker me into losing a 1/2 mile race. When I crossed the 1/4 mile line I was shifting a few lengths in front of them and could see the smirk go away as I broke their hearts.

I never heard of anyone else talking about these factory 3 speeds in Road Runners or chargers and would like to hear more about them. I remember it was a big cast iron monster.

My 70 roadrunner is also a 3 speed .. d13 on the tag pretty cool considering only 500 made .. wonder what this is valued at

 

[chuzz]

Man, I feel cheated. I had a 74 Duster with a 3-speed in the floor and a SLANT SIX!. LOL