possible engine for my Dart

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bighammer

bighammer

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I found a guy that has a 340 for sale, I would like to get some opinions please....

The engine came out of a wrecked Cuda. It has the numbers cast into the side of the block 2780930-340-3

It was a "runner" obviously, before the crash. The seller agrees to allowing me to return it if it doesnt check out by my mechanic. He wants $1,600 for it.

If I can get by with, say just new main and rod bearings, (seems like that would be prudent to do) what else should I expect to possibly run into? Maybe a cylinder hone?

It has X heads on it too, with the 2.02 valves. He will let me pick which intake I prefer, the stock one or a Edelbrock RPM Performer. He also has a Holley 600 dual feed carb to go with it.

I know some of you will say "rebuild it" before installing it, but it may not be necessary, right? I AM on a budget here!

What thinks you?
 
I agree...price is too steep.

For the same money, you can get a 360 and be over half way through the rebuild of it, just for that 340...with X heads....that would require the same amount of "work".

3.58 stroke stock vs 3.31........4.0 bore vs 4.04

all else is roughly the same,

I vote 360, and save money..gain torque.
 
Get a late 80s/early 90s LA 360 Roller Block, you'll be so far ahead of the game.
 
id give 1600 for my 340 with X heads back,...but ultametly its up to you if its worth it,..how long has it been pulled?? how many soposed miles on it??? how good are you at finding parts,..ordering parts,..returning wrong parts,...can you rebuild this motor if need be? can you build up a 360 from scratch?? can you afford to do ether? i look at any used motor that i cant see an hear run a buildabile core till it ether runs or not,...really like to test drive motor in a car before i pull it out! gonna cost lot more to do ether way than you will belive,..good luck!
 
I have a 340 out of a Challenger that hit a house. I personally wouldn't sell it for $1600, but if it were worth half that I'd be amazed.
 
Interesting... I guess I thought the 340 was a little more rare / valuable. Here is a couple pics I took when I was there:
 

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If you do get it I'd do bearings, gaskets and carb if needed, I paid around 600 for my long block.
 
If I could get that kind of money , I'd sell both of my 340's for that much . Stick with a 360 . Any salvage yard will have 'em for a 1/3 of that price .
 
I think I am starting to get it! I am serious about making the right decision... Likely I will find me a roller LA 360, warm it up a little with intake and carb, maybe cam, headers and dual exhaust. I like the idea of torque!

Thanks again, guys. I know I have been asking a lot of questions the last few weeks. Whatever I decide, I know I will have the advantage of being well informed!
 
Hotlines, I'm not sure I understand the point of your post. But I will say, you will regret not taking the $25k. FWIW, your CL ad is one of those ANNOYING ads that I see once in a while... Your car is NOT FOR SALE, but you like to post it in hopes that you will make people envy what you have, I suppose.?
 
bighammer said:
Interesting... I guess I thought the 340 was a little more rare / valuable. Here is a couple pics I took when I was there:
Click to expand...
Valuable......perhaps to someone restoring a 340 car. But for the rest of us a 360 just makes more sense. I picked one up years ago for $75.00. Considering that you are buying an unknown motor I would much rather spend $75 for a builder than $1600. Building a hot rod, chances are you are going to stoke it any way. Nothing wrong with the x heads.....other than they are old. If I were going with iron heads I would just as soon buy a set of heads from Brian for $1500 than take a set of x heads to a shop and gamble on the casting still being usable....and when all is said and done probably be close to what Brian is getting for a set of new heads. But hey, it is your $$.....and your car.....spend you $$$ how you see fit.....
 
What that looks like is a grungy 71-up short and 68-70 heads.. Not seing any head bolts. Was it apart? You should not have X heads on a factory blue engine. They would be Js or maybe Os. Either way $1600 is stoned. The 340 for my Demon is a complete '73, pan to exh manifolds, with an Edelbrock intake. Was pulled from car running and I got it for $400. If that one was complete, running, air cleaner to pan w/the exh manifolds and a '68-71 I'd say it's worth $1600 to the right person. But not as it sits. I wouldn't even spend $600 on it. It's a core shortblock, core heads, and a $150 used manifold.
 
I would never pay that much money for an engine you know nothing about internally , i would possibly purchase a complete 360,318 ect , sometimes get them really really cheap , even give aways , rebuid one of these .Away to steep it will be a money pit for sure , after you get it checked .
 
$1600 is way too much for basically a core.like stated already there are no head bolts. looks like a pieced together mess to me.. $500 motor there in my opinion. no way would i stick it in anything without rebuilding it first or at least hearing it run.


nothing wrong with a 340 if its something you really want. but it would have to be for the right price and $1600 seems very high for what you would be getting.
 
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