340 Rebuild reccomendation

[sleepychallenger]

Me and David (Cuda_Project 73) are looking at rebuilding his 340. He wants something that will still get up and go but is a good street engine. What would you reccomend for pistons, cams, so on and so forth.

[nivvy]

http://www.shadydellspeedshop.com/engines.htm

nothing but small block stuff.. one of the best small block guys in the country....

 

[1970-cuda340]

http://www.rpmmachine.com/shop/html/1-98001-1-Chrysler-340-to-a-372-stroker-combination-500-HP-.html   (ordered for myself already)

http://www.rpmmachine.com/shop/html/1-98013-1-Chrysler-340-to-a-416-stroker-combination-500-HP-.html     

[moper]

Post a lot more about the car. What trans, gearing, and the intended usage. Include every option it has, and what you plan to do with it in the future. Then tell us how much you can spend, and what you have to start with.

[Chryco Psycho]

 
 for a typical street engine i would 20:1 Speed pro piston , ported 308 truck 360 castings , Engle or Lunati VooDoo fast ramp cam [grind to be determined], Eddy RPM air gap inatke & 750 carb with TTI or Dougs headers
 better heads would be an option depending on budget

[73cuda-project]

Me and David (Cuda_Project 73) are looking at rebuilding his 340. He wants something that will still get up and go but is a good street engine. What would you reccomend for pistons, cams, so on and so forth.

Yeah... this is me    Like Drew said,  we will be rebuilding my engine as soon as I get my Income tax return. I plan to spend no more than 2k in the rebuild and I want it to be able to drive long distances (Something that would last for a few years) but at the same time be able to floor the pedal and go  since this will be a daily driver.

I have not take the engine apart yet, so I would not be able to know if I can reuse some of the parts that I currently have. I want to keep my X heads, if they not damaged or anything.  I am trying to keep it low budget because I am working on buying body panels for my barracuda.
 
I currently have a 8 3/4 rear (I don't know what gears are in it) and a broke 727 in it (the reverse is busted) and I am planning on getting another 727 while a save money for the 4 speed tranny and conversion parts.

David

[moper]

$2000 is not enough to completely rebuild that engine. However, if it's in good shape, or has already been rebuilt, you can do some mods to get it better. You'll spend almost 1/2 if not more than half on redoing the X heads alone. Another $1500 would at least get you stock replacement type parts and decent machining.

On the trans.. A broken low/reverse band is a fairly cheap fix if the trans works well otherwise... Especially if the trans is out of the car.

[sleepychallenger]

a lot of the parts will be kept, intake, heads, carb... the heads will be reworkded but the guy here in town is really reasonably priced. i got a carolla head done for 160, just getting it machined, no valve work, he said 110 per head for a valve job before. however, bigger valves, etc might run up our price. i am hoping that the crank and rods are salvageable, other than that, what are we looking at. i know normal gasket set, pistons, rings, bearings, cam and lifter kit.... i know i am leaving some stuff out, but i have seen these things built for under 2000 when most of the parts are salvageable.

[71chally416]

I always get nervous when I hear about the "Local guy" that's gonna grind valve seats in a Mopar head. I've seen so many ruined by bad machining. 

[sleepychallenger]

this guy is good, no worries. been machining heads on everything for years and years. he owns panama city cylinder head. last time i went in there he had what looked like a 10 foot long head laying threre. said it was off of one of the ships.

[moper]

If you think you can, more power to you. I'd be interested on the total outlay, and the results. I dont thinkk it can be done, even if you have the heads done for $500... and I'd use $500 rebuilt heads (IE Aerohead..) for a door stop. Not with guides, seats, spring seats/guides trimmed, milling, magging, and assembly. What equipment does he have to cut the seats?

[sleepychallenger]

dont know what his set up is. David has good heads as it is, just wants a good cruiser with power when he needs it, we arent going all out with this thing

[71chally416]

this guy is good, no worries. been machining heads on everything for years and years. 

Those are the guys you have to watch out for. He'll pull out a big 40 lb grinder with a cutting stone he's had for 30 years to do the seats. 

[nivvy]

just throw a 100 shot at it...... $500 kit ...... 

[71chally416]

It's all in the basics. Ring seal, a good valve job, a decent cam and a good exhaust system that has mandrel bent tubing, a free flowing Intake system and the right gears and tires. It's a POC to make a mid 12 second 340 E-body that isn't radical at all.