Please explain the differences

[blown motor]

Would someone please explain what the differences are between a 340 and a 340TA or AAR engine. Thanks.

[moparmaniac59]

The production AAR Cuda & TA Challengers received engines that were significantly upgraded from standard production engines. The list of upgrades was comprehensive, including stronger engine blocks capable of accepting four-bolt main bearing caps, specially machined cylinder heads, longer pushrods with adjusters, special offset rocker arms, heavy duty snap-rings in the hydraulic lifters, additional oiling grooves in the rocker shafts, and aluminum intake manifolds that mounted 3 2-barrel Holley carburetors. I also believe they had forged cranks. The suspension and exhaust was modified as well! 

                                                                              Matt B.

                                                 

[SoCal Racer]

Matt is correct on the forged crankshafts. The T/A or AAR exhaust manifolds had unique part numbers for these engines, but were physically the same as 340 4-bbl parts. They also had a different part number for the dual-point distributor than 4-bbl 340s. Both the carb and distributor part numbers are transmission-specific with minor differences for manual vs. automatic.

But the biggest difference is the WAAAAAAAAAH when those two end carburetors kick in! 

[Chryco Psycho]

the block was much heavier with full webbing for the mains allowing 4 bolt main caps , this offered the Potential to make a lot more power with the small blocks although I really have never sens a T/A block taken out to max performance . These were followed by R3 blocks in the early 80s , which are extremely strong !
 the Heads were very different as well , the intake port was identical as cast But the pushrods were moved over so the heads could be massively ported  if desired , as above all the of the valve train is unique to these heads .
 All of this was a first step , it was followed with the W2 series heads in the early 70s which are much more radical , then followed the W5 alum & the W8 &9 heads
 I heard of a lightened Prostock Mopar with a R3 /W9 running Prostock times a couple of years ago so what 800 HP or so ?

[cudabob496]

exhaust mufflers were very restrictive, each flow testing only 170 cfm I think.