Author Topic: 340 vs 440 (Read 38078 times)

cudadave72 · « **Reply #45 on:** August 11, 2010 - 09:30:33 PM »

Cooter, keep in mind this is all in good natured ball bustin.

One day I will own a big block Mopar but until then I have to beat my chest and make myself feel good!

Moparal · « **Reply #46 on:** August 11, 2010 - 09:46:40 PM »

I still always go big block, but for just a clean long drive street rod, I think a stock stroke stock 340 would fit Rons bill. Everywhere you drive around his area is 70-80 mph and many miles to get to where you need to be. The 500/500 theary is fun to imagine, but in all honesty, they are not really the engines you want to go a long ways in. Now a turbo v8 would fit he bill even better

67vertman · « **Reply #47 on:** August 11, 2010 - 10:28:12 PM »

Great reading guys, and very entertaining as well, I like all the good natured bantering.
My car will not be a 1/8 / � mile flyer. So, either way, BB or SB, it will be built for reliability and drive ability. I still think I will go big block as that was my original plan. What got me thinking about a small block was one has come available at a very good price and it would have been a date coded block. But the date code thing doesn�t matter to me as my car is already numbers matching, and I plan on keeping those items, so if I ever sell the car the next owner can put it back that way if they want.
Let�s keep the debate going though as I like it.

1970 RT Challenger 1970 · « **Reply #48 on:** August 12, 2010 - 12:18:36 AM »

Maybe a Chrysler 225 Slant 6 with Nitrous and Turbo is the Answer!

67vertman · « **Reply #49 on:** August 12, 2010 - 12:26:12 AM »

Quote from: 1970 RT Challenger 1970 on August 12, 2010 - 12:18:36 AM

Maybe a Chrysler 225 Slant 6 with Nitrous and Turbo is the Answer!

I like your thinking.

1970 RT Challenger 1970 · « **Reply #50 on:** August 12, 2010 - 12:29:48 AM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yENLHe5q2gw

HP2 · « **Reply #51 on:** August 12, 2010 - 08:53:39 AM »

Regardless of engine choice, the key to driveability is torque, lots of it across a broad span. So you'll want a cam that is big in lift and somewhat short in duration that produces a torque peak right at the rpm you are normally cruising in. Do this, it it would be entirely possible to build a 20 mpg big block or 25 mpg small block that is a freaking hoot to drive.

72hemi · « **Reply #52 on:** August 12, 2010 - 09:21:34 AM »

For me I prefer the small blocks. I have owned both 440 cars and 340 cars and I like the handling of the 340 cars compared to the 440 cars. I also want to keep a stock stroke 340 as I have talked to a few engine builders and they have all told me that the small block "behavior" changes when you stroke it, which I also don't want to do, so my next engine build (as I too am concerned about drivability and reliability) will be a lower compression 340 with a supercharger from either Paxton or the Supercharger Store and fuel injection (either a fuel injected 6 pack or Edelbrock Pro-Flo 2 system). My goal is to get better than 20 mpg and around 600 hp. Granted the setup I am proposing is definitely not cheap, but it will meet my needs. Either way you go I'm sure you will enjoy your car. For me it will always be high reving small blocks that save me nose weight to carve up those corners.

IMNCARN82 · « **Reply #53 on:** August 13, 2010 - 05:15:02 PM »

I LOVE MY 340!! Wish I could go EFI six.

My buddies 440 2x4 set up sucks the gas. Bet I get double the mileage.It's in a Charger though too.

Always been a big fan of the A engine. The 318 is the best engine ever built (.) Guess it's the sound at 6K goin' for 4 th.

I might be wrong but... Isn't the only MoPaR to win pinks a 70' Duster 408 sprayed? He crushed it!!!

TreeFrog · « **Reply #54 on:** August 13, 2010 - 05:34:22 PM »

saw one last night or night before. ... ended with a 68 Satellite vs. a 65 Belvedere.
The Satellite took it

Tonefiend · « **Reply #55 on:** August 13, 2010 - 08:35:10 PM »

Whats a 440 with aluminum heads and intake weigh compared to a stock 340? What about with an aluminum radiator and the battery in the trunk?

I will preface this by saying I went with a 340. Mostly because I can bolt it in. Now I am thinking of converitng to a 4 speed, and my radiator could stand to be replaced. So any advantage a small block may have is slipping away.

I like the look and sound of a big block. It just adds an aura to the car. Nothing like a real hemi though. I always get a bit dissapointed when I se a hemi badge and there is a new one in there.

HP2 · « **Reply #56 on:** August 14, 2010 - 11:52:30 AM »

General rule of thumb is 500# for small block, 600# for big block, 700# for a Hemi. They can be a bit higher or lower depending on accessories.

So, stick on aluminum heads, aluminum water pump, lighten some stuff up and remove some accessories and you can get a big block in to unaltered small block weight territory. However, apply those same changes to a small block and you can get in to featherweight territory.

But, in power per dollar, a big block is still hard to beat. You can get small blocks to absurb for street use power levels, but it does take more $$$ to get them there.

Personally, for simple wow power, a Nascar P engine would take it over small block, big block, or Hemi in my book.

torredcuda · « **Reply #57 on:** August 14, 2010 - 04:46:50 PM »

Quote from: IMNCARN82 on August 13, 2010 - 05:15:02 PM

I LOVE MY 340!! Wish I could go EFI six. My buddies 440 2x4 set up sucks the gas. Bet I get double the mileage.It's in a Charger though too. Always been a big fan of the A engine. The 318 is the best engine ever built (.) Guess it's the sound at 6K goin' for 4 th.

I might be wrong but... Isn't the only MoPaR to win pinks a 70' Duster 408 sprayed? He crushed it!!!

I loved my old cam that started making power around 3500 and was still pulling hard and wanting more at my 6800 shift point.Nothing like the sound of power shifting a screaming small block at almost 7000!

brads70 · « **Reply #58 on:** August 15, 2010 - 10:02:26 AM »

I have a 440 and I gotta admit, it handles horribly! I'd like to drive a 340 car to compare. Last time I drove one was in the 80's and I can't remember that far back!

Mind you I have done nothing in upgrades as far as handling is concerned.Car needs a front end alignment too! I need to spend some money in that department next.I'm sure a big sway bar would really help. ( I did add 1" TB's ) I'm planning a 400 stroker build with aluminum heads in the next couple of years. I have an aluminum rad, and water pump already ,and headers.

I do think the Mopar 340 is the best factory small block ever built, period!.....but with a muscle car...gotta have a big block! If I was REALLY concerned with or expected handling, I would have bought a Viper!

dodj · « **Reply #59 on:** August 15, 2010 - 06:33:34 PM »

Quote from: brads70 on August 15, 2010 - 10:02:26 AM

I have a 440 and I gotta admit, it handles horribly! I'd like to drive a 340 car to compare. Last time I drove one was in the 80's and I can't remember that far back!

Mind you I have done nothing in upgrades as far as handling is concerned.Car needs a front end alignment too! I need to spend some money in that department next.I'm sure a big sway bar would really help.

When I added 1 1/8" front and 3/4" rear sway bars to my 440 Challenger it made a HUGE difference Brad. Put it on your list, you won't be disappointed.

Author Topic: 340 vs 440 (Read 38078 times)

cudadave72

Re: 340 vs 440

Moparal

Re: 340 vs 440

67vertman

Re: 340 vs 440

1970 RT Challenger 1970

Re: 340 vs 440

67vertman

Re: 340 vs 440

1970 RT Challenger 1970

Re: 340 vs 440

HP2

Re: 340 vs 440

72hemi

Re: 340 vs 440

IMNCARN82

Re: 340 vs 440

TreeFrog

Re: 340 vs 440

Tonefiend

Re: 340 vs 440

HP2

Re: 340 vs 440

torredcuda

Re: 340 vs 440

brads70

Re: 340 vs 440

dodj

Re: 340 vs 440