Author Topic: best 340 step by step engine rebuild info  (Read 2345 times)

Offline culp71

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best 340 step by step engine rebuild info
« on: June 04, 2015 - 09:17:44 AM »
all,

currently putting a 71 340 back together pretty much a stock rebuild (J heads, forged crank. w slightly aggressive cam, bored, Turned crank etc.)

just looking for the best walk through book or website detailing all steps /details for a correct 340 rebuild.

I have done a lot of older straight 6 Chevy's but I want to make sure if there's any special steps or recommended things, that one would not want to miss, that I do it all properly. (as I know all engines have small differences, I recall seeing something about certain head bolts needing sealer and some not, etc.)

thanks
Jason
« Last Edit: June 04, 2015 - 12:26:39 PM by culp71 »




Offline cudabob496

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Re: best 340 step by step engine rebuild info
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2015 - 08:57:17 PM »
ebay seems to have some decent books
72 Cuda, owned 25 years. 496, with ported Stage VI heads, .625 in solid roller, 254/258 at .050, 3500 stall, 3.91 rear. 850 Holley DP, Reverse manual valve body.

1999 Trans Am, LS1, heads, cam, headers, stall, etc! Love to surprise the rice rockets with this one. They seem so confident, then it's "what the heck just happened?"

2011 Kawasaki Z1000

Offline dakota

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Offline JMB340Challenger

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Re: best 340 step by step engine rebuild info
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2015 - 01:02:00 AM »
http://www.amazon.com/How-Rebuild-Small-Block-Mopar-Engines/dp/0895861283
This one is great, especially for a stock or mild rebuild. Good detail!
1970 Challenger. 11:1 340 .030 over 2.02/1.60 Ported 915s, Harland Sharp roller rockers, Victor 340 intake, Holley 750 mech secondary DP, 232/242@ .050 .528 hyd cam, MSD 6AL, MSD mech advance distributor, full manual reverse valve body 727 3500 stall, 8 3/4 489 w/ 4.10s, Truetrac differential

Offline 73440

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Re: best 340 step by step engine rebuild info
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2015 - 06:40:53 AM »
I bought one of these books.   I was happy with it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rebuild-The-Small-Block-Mopar-LA-273-318-340-360-/281096317265?hash=item4172a56951&vxp=mtr


Those SA books are great for any subject they cover,have about ten of them.
Have fun with the rebuild and new engine!
67 440
72 413 / 727
73 Barracuda w/ 68 440
65 Plymouth Fury III , I sold ,was my Nana's car till 92 yo.
51 Ford F1 239 Flathead, flipped , new cab , stolen
59 BelAir 283 4 door original patina
01 Chevy van 420, 520 miles
06 Crown Vic Police Interceptor
75 HD Ironhead converted to RH shift
73 HD Ironhead
82 HD Ironhead
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: best 340 step by step engine rebuild info
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2015 - 03:56:05 PM »
There are a number of tricks with any engine build , they all have quirks to look out for some apply to any engine other are specific .
You need the check over the block carefully Before you assemble anything to be sure all internal plugs are in place .
Don't get rushed , look for every detail , work through every step , going back to change anything will take more time than doing it right the first time .
 Brg chamfers have to be right or the crank or rods will be tight , the crank should turn easily , make sure the rods are in the right way , the oil hole faces the cam & provides oiling to the cam . I usually order file fit rings so the gaps are dead on , rings have to be installed correctly with the right side on top , everything has to be torqued correctly , some bolts are held with locktite , others have to be sealed for water or oil . Rear main seal has to face the correct way or you will have a major oil leak . Make SURE you degree the cam , lining up the dots "should " work  but I have seen cams where the cam was off by as much as 10* with the dots lined up as the keyway or alignment pin was off . Always measure the piston height to deck so you know exactly what your quench & head clearance is , also measure piston to valve clearance do not take it for granted .
 Take notes as you build so you know exactly what you have .

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline culp71

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Re: best 340 step by step engine rebuild info
« Reply #6 on: June 09, 2015 - 12:57:29 PM »
all great info, I have order the few mentioned books and thanks you Chryco Psycho for all the specific details.
seems like the most common things done wrong are rear crank seal and missing internal plugs.
« Last Edit: June 09, 2015 - 03:06:17 PM by culp71 »

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: best 340 step by step engine rebuild info
« Reply #7 on: June 09, 2015 - 04:10:40 PM »
Not the most common faults , just stuff to look for  , there are 100 places to go wrong , follow all torque specs , for example I have seen total engine failures from over torquing rocker shafts for example & having a rocker sieze & hold a valve open distroying the valve / piston / block / head /cam , after that you remove the intake & carb , maybe save the crank & scrap the rest .

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t