more 340 questions

Author Topic: more 340 questions  (Read 6897 times)

Offline miketyler

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more 340 questions
« on: May 03, 2005 - 06:59:44 PM »
I decided to take a break from the grinding and sheet metal today and I started taking apart the motor. Block is 2780930-340-3, heads I believe are 360 heads and are 3769974. Is this hybrid setup a good thing?

It just gets better - I get my impact out and the crankbolt comes right out and my compressor hasnt even built up pressure yet.  I have my puller ready to pull the HB and guess what? it slides right off. I'm guessing this is not a good thing.  :nopity:

The crank has a mild shoulder on it and the HB is somewhat "loose" on the crank until the last 1/16" or so. The seller said the HB had a little "orbit" to it and might need to be tightened up more. In a box of parts that came with the car was an old HB that was cracked in the hub along its axis. Somone PLEASE tell me I am not looking for a new crankshaft. I also pulled the cam. Its a Crane and is ether 1-278-2 or N-278-2. It has numbers below that which read 69  26  9. How far from stock is this cam?   
« Last Edit: May 03, 2005 - 07:01:21 PM by miketyler »
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Offline OUTLAW

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2005 - 07:45:20 PM »
as long as the key way is good it can be repaired easy enuff (even if the keyway is bad it can be saved) it can be repaired right in the car even

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2005 - 01:27:29 AM »
I would look for another balancer off a 318 , both are neutral balanced , I doubt the crank is a problem
 the heads you have are 75-76 360 heads , nothing special , you could have 2,02 valves installed or find a set of 308 castings which are the best production 360 small block heads
 I don`t have a reference for the Crane Cam , ti would seem to ahve 278* duration which is only slighty laregr then a factory cam & there are some modern grinds that are far better

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Offline miketyler

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2005 - 05:50:21 AM »
Why the 318 HB? Does it have a smaller ID than the one I have now? The keyway is in good shape on the crank. Maybe all the balancer needed was to be tightened up more.  :dontknow:

Judging from the way this engine idled, I would have assumed it was quite a ways from stock. I am still looking for a stock or close to stock cam with good low end for driving around town and decent mid/high for highway driving. I may be the only one on this board that is more conerned about reliability and gas mileage than speed and performance. I assume the stock grind is what I am looking for? Where can I get the best deal on the cam I need? Ma Mopar or ?

     
72' Cuda restomod
70 Mustang Mach 1
07' Toyota Tacoma Prerunner Dbl cab in Speedway Blue!
01' Honda 1100 Shadow Sabre
96' Seadoo Challenger

Offline rnsykes

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2005 - 08:00:36 AM »
I think the reason for the 318 balancer is that they are a dime a dozen, and are essentially the same balancer as the 340 balancer.  I have the balancer off of my old 318 on my 340 now.  try calling a junk yard and asking them for a balancer for a 340, and you'll see why searching for a 318 is the better way to go.

Offline Mopar73340

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2005 - 10:34:36 AM »
I bought a balancer for a 318 a few years ago from a local Chrysler dealer for less than $100 bucks. so they should be easy to find.  You can still buy the factory grind cam from MP, try Summit Racing Equipment.   Oh, and Miketyler your not the only one here who isn't into setting the car up to race.  :)
« Last Edit: May 04, 2005 - 04:56:35 PM by Mopar73340 »
73-Challenger 340 727/GearVendors Auto
73-Challenger 408 Pistol-Grip 5-speed

Offline miketyler

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2005 - 01:00:39 PM »
I'm with ya on the 340 thing now. I didn't realize they were so "collectable". The one thats on there looks new.  I just got off the phone with the Crane folks. They believe my cam is an H-278-1 and that is a 2220 duration. Specs are here:
http://www.cranecams.com/index.php?show=browseParts&action=partSpec&partNumber=693801&lvl=2&prt=5

My car is an automatic car, and I wanted to get away from the unnecessary high idle and the stumbling on initial takeoff. I am thinking this cam is a bit much for the more tame M1 dual plane manifold I am running.

If I go back with a stock cam, TC, carb, any big advantage of an LD340 over my M1 dual plane?
« Last Edit: May 04, 2005 - 01:05:47 PM by miketyler »
72' Cuda restomod
70 Mustang Mach 1
07' Toyota Tacoma Prerunner Dbl cab in Speedway Blue!
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96' Seadoo Challenger

Offline Mopar73340

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2005 - 05:01:06 PM »

If I go back with a stock cam, TC, carb, any big advantage of an LD340 over my M1 dual plane?
Quote

I don't think there would be any noticable difference in the manifolds if you have a dual plane on there now. The cam will definetly let you lower the idle speed and probably cure the low end hesitation.
73-Challenger 340 727/GearVendors Auto
73-Challenger 408 Pistol-Grip 5-speed

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #8 on: May 05, 2005 - 12:23:46 AM »
call me stubborn bu ti stil like the Engle grinds
 I use a lot of them & they work
 www.englecams.com
 the 340 cam was 228/235 @ .050 & 268/276 , the 318 was a smaller cam
 I would be looking at the K 54 with 470 lift ,[ more than the 340 cam ] & less duration giving a strong powerband between 15oo-5000 rpm

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline ACE_5150

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #9 on: May 05, 2005 - 11:59:04 AM »
Since you're not looking for performance and you are wanting good gas mileage I would go w/ stock 318 cam and stay w/ the 360 heads. Dont be mislead, even though the 360 has more CID, the heads were lower performance ( hence the bad rep the 360 always had verse the 340) because the 360 usually came stock w/ a 2 bbl carb. The Intake and Exh. ports are generally smaller on the 360 heads, and Int. valve smaller ( 1.88 ").
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Offline miketyler

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #10 on: May 09, 2005 - 12:59:13 PM »
I pulled my heads yesterday. They have the 360 cast into them in the rocker valley but have 2.02" intake valves. I'm probably good with them, gonna get them freshened up at a local machine shop. Everything is VERY clean inside, no sludge or oil build up anywhere. The cylinders have no ridge and the cross-hatch is still visible.

I really need good vacuum to run my brake booster and AC. I also want a dead smooth idle (or close as I can get) and smooth acceleration on take off. I would like good mileage and upper and top end I am negotibale on. I was looking at the Mopar Performance MPPP4452782 which is a repro of the original 340 grind here:
http://store.yahoo.com/chucker54/hyd267276dur.html

or the Comp Cams 20-208-2 that they describe as "Smooth idle. Great replacement for 318 or 360 2bbl. or 4bbl. Passenger car or truck. High vacuum and excellent low speed torque." (Not sure why they dont mention the 340?)
http://www.compcams.com/Technical/Search/CamDetails.asp?PartNumber=20-208-2

Anyone tried these or have a particular model or grind recommendation based on my requirements?
72' Cuda restomod
70 Mustang Mach 1
07' Toyota Tacoma Prerunner Dbl cab in Speedway Blue!
01' Honda 1100 Shadow Sabre
96' Seadoo Challenger

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #11 on: May 09, 2005 - 11:37:20 PM »
I have used the Moipar cam & will not use Comp
 I still recoimmend the Engle over either

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Offline miketyler

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #12 on: May 10, 2005 - 05:32:05 AM »
I checked out their website and I didnt find a stock 340 grind? It looks like they have three models whose descriptions might work although I am not sure my 340 is low compression.

4452-H K-52HYD      Lifter profile for low end torque, smooth idle low compression cars & trucks power from 1000-4500 rpm
4415-H EP-15/18HY Super torque for stock low compression late model cars & trucks with overdrive trans power from idle to 4500 RPM
4454-H K-54HYD      Lifter profile for low end torque, smooth idle low compression cars & trucks power from 1500-5000 rpm

With all the variations out there (and there seems to be a lot) I finally decided the safest way to ensure I had all my requirements was to simply go back with a stock grind.   
72' Cuda restomod
70 Mustang Mach 1
07' Toyota Tacoma Prerunner Dbl cab in Speedway Blue!
01' Honda 1100 Shadow Sabre
96' Seadoo Challenger

Offline rnsykes

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #13 on: May 10, 2005 - 07:21:05 AM »
Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but with the 360 heads, your compression may be lower than you think.  The cylinder head volume I think is slightly higher (around 70cc compared to the 65 cc) which will lower the compression.  Not that it will be a problem to achieve what you are looking for, but it may be around 9-9.5:1 which by some standards would be considered low.  If you are having the head work done, have them cc the heads, and you can get a better idea of what the compression will be.

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: more 340 questions
« Reply #14 on: May 10, 2005 - 09:59:10 AM »
the 340 J heads had 360 cast into them , they are the same heads
Your call on the cam ., But I know the K 54 will work better , you can call Engle & talk to them if you want

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