{"id":71116,"date":"2023-07-05T08:09:07","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T12:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dodgegarage.com\/news-api\/?p=71116"},"modified":"2024-03-25T11:19:47","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T15:19:47","slug":"gss-supercharged-srt-demon-340","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/video\/2023\/07\/gss-supercharged-srt-demon-340.html","title":{"rendered":"GSS Supercharged SRT®<\/sup> Demon 340"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

— 360 HORSEPOWER WITH 8.5:1 COMPRESSION RATIO
— 13-SECOND QUARTER-MILE TIMES
— TWIN-SNORKEL HOOD SCOOP  \/ FACTORY PETTY BLUE PAINT <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Radio was a great way of selling cars when Grand-Spaulding Dodge in Chicago was in their heyday. The dealership ran fast-paced radio spots on the powerful \u201cWLS\u201d Chicago-based AM radio station (that, at sundown, could be heard all over the country because of their 50,000-watt mega-blowtorch signal). Norm Kraus, AKA “Mr. Norm”, was highly visible and was called in the car world at the time \u201cThe High-Performance Car King!\u201d National advertising in car enthusiast publications also took place, plus Norm ran a nitro Funny Car all over the country.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time the 1972 model year rolled around, the automotive scene was changing against high-performance, gone was the 426 HEMI\u00ae<\/sup> engine option and it was the last year for the 440 Six-Pack engine. The 340 for 1972 saw a reduction on compression ratio from 10.5:1 (1971) to 8.5:1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PAXTON CENTRIFUGAL SUPERCHARGER<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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It was a walk through the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show that prompted Norm to get the idea of adding supercharged power to the 1972 Demon 340, creating another GSS high-performance car, and one that would actually take advantage <\/em>of this lowered compression ratio of the 340. A deal was worked out with Joe Granatelli at Paxton Products, who were suppliers of belt-driven, centrifugal superchargers. This system was calibrated to work on the small block Mopar\u00ae<\/sub> engine, using the stock Thermo-Quad carburetor, albeit completely sealed-in with a pressure box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides the actual supercharger, the \u201972 340-cid engine\nwas treated to a set of Crower aluminum valve spring retainers, modified fuel\npump, fuel pressure regulator, Milodon competition oil pump, re-curved\n(Chrysler electronic ignition) distributor, re-jetted and re-calibrated\ncarburetor, full-capacity hoses, oversize pulleys and a special high-capacity\nair intake filter (located on the passenger\u2019s side radiator support panel).\nThis belt-driven supercharger turned out to be the  perfect response to\nthe lower factory compression ratio for the 340-cid engine, as the new, lower\n8.5:1 pistons were ideal for blower applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The supercharged 1972 Demon GSS cars were road tested by numerous car magazines of the day with great praise of the blown high-winding small block engine. The sounds of the supercharger package added some flavor to the car, and the editors were impressed with the low listed selling price (before any other options) of $3,695.00. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s an example of the positive feedback the\nwell-engineered little car received by the motoring press:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the sound that gets you more than anything else,\u201d\nstated Joe Oldham when road testing the \u201972 GSS Demon in the July 1972 issue of\nHi-Performance CARS Magazine. \u201cAt first, it\u2019s just a low whistle, but it grows\ninto a shrill, shrieking, incessant whine the harder you mash your foot down on\nthe pedal. It\u2019s a sound that says one thing: supercharged!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GSS Demon 340 with supercharger was a one-year-only\ncar, as by the time the 1973 model year came around, performance was drying up\nand the federal government was clamping down hard on emissions as well,\nincluding the modification of cars sold at dealership. Grand-Spaulding would\nmove on to specializing in fleet sales and custom vans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DYNOMOMETER TUNED! <\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Setting up the cars was done on their in-house chassis\ndyno, which measured rear-wheel horsepower, allowing fine-tuning of each car\nsold. A Sun distributor machine was used to re-curve ignitions and the\nmechanics knew how to re-jet, and further tweak the carburetors for maximum\nperformance. There was even a \u201cMr. Norm\u2019s Sport Club\u201d that offered discounts on\nparts and service, and a cash spiff of $75.00 for members that brought in a\nnew-car customer. This Dodge dealer knew how to sell high-performance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CONTROVERSIAL AT THE TIME<\/strong> <\/h1>\n\n\n\n