Finding a 340 • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **Joel Bennett (Joel)** » 01 Jun 2003 10:46

Be honest fellas, what are my chances of finding a used '70 340, non-T/A spec engine?

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 01 Jun 2003 11:14

You can find them but they are expensive. You are better off finding a 360.

A friend of mine sourced a 1970 340 to put in his Barracuda. He was told the engine had been a 'runner' but had been cut out of a car and had stood for a few months. The owner said he intended to put it in his own car because it was such a good engine but for the right price he would part with it.

It cost my friend a thousand dollars to buy it and have it shipped over to England. When he pulled the heads off the ports and the cylinder bores were solid rust and the sump was full (and I do mean full) of rain water. The engine is junk.

He has since bought a 360 at much lower cost and it is a real 'runner'.

by **Joel Bennett (Joel)** » 01 Jun 2003 11:45

I'm sorry to hear that your friend got taken.

I know I can get 360 fairly easily. I guess the real reason why I'm looking for a 340 is becuase I want something a little more unique. The 340 may have a smaller stroke than a 360, but the larger stock bore is what really appeals to me. I have this thing for higher reving engines, so the smaller stroke isn't really a concern. My friend and I plan to start from scratch, so the engine doesn't have to run all that great.

by **Graham Shortreed (Transma** » 02 Jun 2003 1:14

I would think that in the U.S.A., finding a 340 wouldn't be to much of a problem. Finding a good one of course might be more difficult.
However, that said, haunt your local wrecking yards, ya never know what might turn-up.
A customer of mine found a 340 engine( neither himself or the wrecker knew it was a 340 by the way) missing the intake manifold in one of our local wrecking yards. It was of course covered in lots of grease and grime, and looked like a 360 he was actually looking for to put in his pickup truck. When he got it back to his shop and got it cleaned up he got a pleasant surprise, he found a 340 instead of the 360. The even bigger surprise was when the oil pan came off and 4 bolt main bearing caps where found, and after some extensive research, he found he had a TA 340 long block.
Good Hunting, and good luck.

by **Ted S (Teds)** » 05 Jun 2003 18:29

never heard of a 340 with 4 bolt mains.

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 05 Jun 2003 21:19

Me neither.

by **Luke (Luke)** » 06 Jun 2003 12:53

I think theres a conversion to make 4 bolt mains on a small block the 4 bolts go up not 2 up and 2 sideway's.

by **Graham Shortreed (Transma** » 13 Jun 2003 17:02

Dave.
TedS and you are of course both correct about the 340 TA, not coming from the factory with the 4 bolt main caps.
I was in my customers shop yesterday, and posed your observations to him. He said that he knew it was a TA block because of the beefier block casting than a normal 340 engine.

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 13 Jun 2003 20:45

That would be correct. I think they added extra material for a 4-bolt mains set-up in the de-stroked race engines but the street engines came with normal two bolt mains.

by **Douglas Little (Dlittle)** » 13 Jun 2003 21:16

I have found several 340's in the area. I bought two 70 motors. I have no idea what is necessary to get them to where they are needed. Most of the engines are complete 340's but not all are 70-71 issue. A small thing as the later blocks build up just great less the crank. This is North Carolina USA so go figure. Average price is about $500 US for a short block. Not every common but still around for now. Figure big valve heads, correct exhaust manifold and steel cranks as a big extra. No intakes but all have windage trays. Only early years have offset oil filters. Please use this as a guide for pricing only.

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 13 Jun 2003 21:18

After all that I have forgotten who it was that wanted one?

Oh yes. It was Joel!

by **Andy Neal (Tweety)** » 17 Jun 2003 2:12

or you could always buy a new MP block and save a whole heap of troubles with worn out, broken old lumps of badly cast iron, I went through a few smallblocks before I arrived at the solution- an R3 with a proper crank and Childs and Albert 'super speedway' steel rods, this thing is safe to 8000RPM, but only needs to go to 7400, (it made peak power at 6800). I may actually know of a complete TA motor, but I wouldn't vouch for it's condition?

by **Glenn Jackson (Henner)** » 17 Jun 2003 19:02

I'll sell you my 71 340 for 21,000 it comes with the car at no charge!!

by **Andy Neal (Tweety)** » 18 Jun 2003 2:20

Nah strangely enough E-bodies are not my scene, tee hee

by **Glenn Jackson (Henner)** » 24 Jun 2003 12:47

joel I know this is short notice but I just found this on ebay if it ends without a bid maybe you can contact him if this has any intrest to you.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS API.dll?ViewItem&category=33615&item=242 0231622