Which engine ??

[Aus_Cuda]

I have a '73 cuda which i am restoring.

Option 1-
Put the original numbers matching 340 back in, keeping it as original as possible. Keeping the car very original

Option 2-
I have a new 426 Hemi, Aluminium block (Indy maxx), aluminum heads, hyd roller cam, 472 stroker crank, roller rockers, and all other good bits in it. (would need different trans also to suit the hemi.)
not as original but always something special about a Hemi.

Option 3-
Install the Hemi but keep the 340 mothballed and not separate them, 340 is always there if needed ??

Keep tossing what to do ?

[The Cuda Guy]

Option 3.

Don

[crash340]

Option 3, thats what I'm doing but not going Hemi,,,, stroking a 340/360, to keep the small block theme.

Greg 

[loco340cuda]

Option 3, best of both worlds. 

[dfrazz]

3 - best of both worlds

[aris_unlimited]

Honestly I would keep the 340 option, but modernize it with a roller cam, some better heads, etc. 340's are good motors, and worth the investment. Usually I look for 318 or 6 cylinder models if I am planning an engine swap.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Option 3 is best if you have the storage space.

You NEVER want to get rid of a numbers matching 340. 

[67vertman]

Option 3 is best if you have the storage space.

You NEVER want to get rid of a numbers matching 340.

 

My original motor is stuffed under my work bench, and it will go with the new owner....if I ever sell it

[roadman5312]

                    Option 3. The mystique of the HEMI.   

[Aus_Cuda]

I recently did a resto on the original 340. I was really pleased to see it is still an original bore size block and when I took it to get chemical cleaned the engine guy said
he had never seen an block of that era with the water jackets so completely rust free and clean.
I ended up putting standard size pistons back in as I didnt want to go overbore.
The 340 is complete now but to upgrade it with roller cams/heads/manifolds is not really an option. If it goes back in the car it does so in original format.

Im leaning towards option 3 myself.

[Racer57]

I'd go with Option #1 and do as aris_unlimited suggests because with Options 2 & 3 you'll have a lot more than just an engine sitting around by the time you get everything together after converting the car to a hemi. Its your time and money. How much of both do you have ? 

[dyslexic teddybear]

Just like most.....option 3.

Have fun ......and go back to stock if desired.



When I do my Challenger, most likely will store the matching motor and build something else. I have several 360 cores.....likely go with a stroker, and save the original.

[1 Wild R/T]

Option D None of the above....  Build a 408 Stroker using a later 360 roller block....  And stuff the 340 under the work bench...

And here's why... 

340..... If you when with the original 340 it would be all stock, while stock 340's do run good you'll be bored... And if you decide to beat it & it got hurt or honestly even if you didn't beat it & something went wrong & the motor got hurt......

426....  You've got allot of nice parts but getting the valve train properly sorted is gonna be more trouble than most folks realize & even if/when you've got it all sorted how much would you really drive it? 99% of all the Hemi's I've seen in the past 30 years spent more time sitting with the hood up with the owner sitting in his lawn chair doing the "Look at my HEMI" thing...  Ok so your not another pop the hood/look at me type of guy, then whats the point of the Hemi, I'll admit they have an impressive top end charge but a stout 408/426/440 stroker small block can run with it while pulling down a heck of allot better mileage...

Oh, also to go Hemi there's the trans, exhaust, you'll want a Dana, brackets, pulleys, mounts, K member,Radiator... It's all doa-ble but the stroker small block bolts right in....

BTW I owned an original 71 HemiChallenger so I kinda know a little about this...

[dfrazz]

Option D None of the above....  Build a 408 Stroker using a later 360 roller block....  And stuff the 340 under the work bench...

And here's why... 

340..... If you when with the original 340 it would be all stock, while stock 340's do run good you'll be bored... And if you decide to beat it & it got hurt or honestly even if you didn't beat it & something went wrong & the motor got hurt......

426....  You've got allot of nice parts but getting the valve train properly sorted is gonna be more trouble than most folks realize & even if/when you've got it all sorted how much would you really drive it? 99% of all the Hemi's I've seen in the past 30 years spent more time sitting with the hood up with the owner sitting in his lawn chair doing the "Look at my HEMI" thing...  Ok so your not another pop the hood/look at me type of guy, then whats the point of the Hemi, I'll admit they have an impressive top end charge but a stout 408/426/440 stroker small block can run with it while pulling down a heck of allot better mileage...

Oh, also to go Hemi there's the trans, exhaust, you'll want a Dana, brackets, pulleys, mounts, K member,Radiator... It's all doa-ble but the stroker small block bolts right in....

BTW I owned an original 71 HemiChallenger so I kinda know a little about this...

I agree about the stroker 408 as that is what I did in my '71 Chally and it ran very fast.  But the OP said he already has a new Hemi.  So he can either sell the Hemi and buy a stroker or invest in the rest of the drivetrain?

[vinb]

Option 1

Do the 340,  maybe make it around 375/400 h.p. and use the rest of the money that would be for the Hemi and put it into the car itself.

If your not going to race it , I would not stroke it. Why waste a nice block.