HELP! I bought a mess?

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tuckfxs

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This is my first post with the forum. I have a moderate amount of mechanical experience. Please forgive the length but I want to give the most information I can upfront. I recently purchased a 1967 Barracuda convertible from my uncle who owned it for the last 15 years. He was not very mechanically inclined and just enjoyed cruising it. The engine combination has thus survived the test of time and not chewed itself up but I am not sure what to do with it. It has the original '67 273 short block in it as evidenced by the casting number and the date stamped on the front of the block under the driver's head. He told me the guy who had it before him had put 340 heads and an Ede LD340 intake on it. I am finding on here that that combo should have caused a lot of problems with the 2.02 intake valves making contact with the deck unless the deck was clearanced. I have not pulled the heads yet. I have pulled the valve covers and the casting number of the heads is 341895. Also cast into the passenger head only is the number 360. Larger than all of the other cast numbers. I am assuming then that these heads are the 70-72 360 heads that used the same casting number as the 340 heads. They used the 1.88/1.60 valve sizes. Is this maybe why the heads seem to work with the 273 without interference? Would this be a good assumption? I have the original (confirmed by the casting number) 2bbl intake and carb and a set of 4027593 casting heads claimed to be the original 273 heads. Rockers are missing. Claimed to be on the "340" heads. Casting looks up as 77-83 318 heads. "340" heads have what appears to be the 273 adjustable rockers on them. Goal for the car is a nice weekend cruiser for the wife to drive to the car shows and enjoy and one that I can step on occasionally and have fun with when I drive it. I have my '69 Roadrunner for going out and thrashing.

So the questions:
Are these likely 360 heads?
Did the 70-72 360 heads have adjustable or stamped steel rockers originally?
Assuming this is a '67 273 with 70-72 360 heads (1.88/1.60 valves) and a LD340 Ede intake, is this a combination that is worth rebuilding and retaining?
I have a 2001 360 Magnum core that I am considering trading in for a new long block and doing a Magnum conversion and parting out the mixed engine combo I have. Thoughts on this route?
 
1st question...... if it’s together and running now...... why do you have to change anything?
 
Like you said he wasn't very mechanically inclined so all it took was somebody to say 340 heads and he was in. Now you are confirming that they clearly say 360 on them. My advice would be to definitely make sure the timing chain has been changed. And if it does have adjustable rockers, adjust them. beyond that there's doesn't seem anything wrong with the combination...
 
341895 is not a complete number. 3418915 is 70 340 6 BBL. or 72 340. 3418915 is also the casting number for for 71/72 360.
 
You missed a number in the head casting number, it ends in 915.

Even when used on 340s, they do have 360 cast in them.
 
agree with previous 2 post about casting numbers. I would confirm the block and heads to be what was said by your uncle just so you know what you have. He may just be repeating what he was told. Other than that, if you are happy with it, drive it
 
1st question...... if it’s together and running now...... why do you have to change anything?
Smoking. Everything leaks, BAD. Most disturbing is there is an unmixed coolant leak at the back passenger side of the motor running down the scatter shield on the trans that I can confirm is not coming from the head so must be coming from one of the freeze plugs on the back of the motor under the auto trans bell.
 
341895 is not a complete number. 3418915 is 70 340 6 BBL. or 72 340. 3418915 is also the casting number for for 71/72 360.
Yes, sorry. I fat fingered the keyboard and missed a digit. The casting number is definitely 3418915.
 
Smoking. Everything leaks, BAD. Most disturbing is there is an unmixed coolant leak at the back passenger side of the motor running down the scatter shield on the trans that I can confirm is not coming from the head so must be coming from one of the freeze plugs on the back of the motor under the auto trans bell.
Well, then this pretty much makes it easy. You'll be pulling the motor and sounds like a tear down. That will take the guess work out of all that you have. Welcome by the way! :)
 
Pictures of what I can see without removing the heads.

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Those are the factory “low performance” springs.
340’s used red springs.

Those heads most likely came off a 360-2bbl.

In theory, a 67 273 would have a solid cam.
Do the rockers have some lash?

If you’re pulling the motor anyway, the “what I would do” answer is find a 360 and freshen that instead.

You could have the new motor all done and ready to go before disabling the car.
 
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First off, welcome to the Forums. The good is you have a good intake and rockers to start with.
 
Those are the factory “low performance” springs.
340’s used red springs.

Those heads most likely came off a 360-2bbl.

If you’re pulling the motor anyway, the “what I would do” answer is find a 360 and freshen that instead.
I was kind of thinking the same. As I said in the OP I have a 2001 360 magnum out of my old truck I was considering just getting a refurbished long block for, doing the Magnum swap, and using all of the original externals and dress ups for it to make it appear original. I have been reading that if the 273 needs short block work the pistons are relatively limited in availability and expensive. For what my wife wants it for I kinda looking for info on what I have but also thoughts and opinions on if the combo is a keeper or the Magnum swap would work out better.
 
First off, welcome to the Forums. The good is you have a good intake and rockers to start with.
LOL...too bad my current moderate mechanical ability doesn't include anything in the way of knowledge as to what to do with them.
 
I really appreciate all of the responses. This is great information. Here is an outside the box thought. I have the early 360 heads with 273 adjustable rockers and the LD340 intake. I have a 2001 360 magnum whose short block is good (still has cross hatching on the cylinder walls and great compression prior to disassembly) but the heads are trash (cracked as they tend to do) and the cam is very worn (grooves from the roller lifters worn into the lobes). Is there a way that these parts could be combined together to create a working reliable cruising motor on the cheap?
 
I really appreciate all of the responses. This is great information. Here is an outside the box thought. I have the early 360 heads with 273 adjustable rockers and the LD340 intake. I have a 2001 360 magnum whose short block is good (still has cross hatching on the cylinder walls and great compression prior to disassembly) but the heads are trash (cracked as they tend to do) and the cam is very worn (grooves from the roller lifters worn into the lobes). Is there a way that these parts could be combined together to create a working reliable cruising motor on the cheap?
you'll need to drill the block to oil the heads and you'll need custom pushrods.
 
you'll need to drill the block to oil the heads and you'll need custom pushrods.
Ok so more trouble than likely worth in machine work. So what I am getting from the group for options is:
1) Rebuild the combo I have on the 273
2) Find an older 360 short block and rebuild it with the top end I have for the better heads and adjustable rockers
3) Get a reman magnum long block, do the conversion, and sell what I can that is worth something off of the engine that is currently in the car to recoup some of my cash
 
Ok so more trouble than likely worth in machine work. So what I am getting from the group for options is:
1) Rebuild the combo I have on the 273
2) Find an older 360 short block and rebuild it with the top end I have for the better heads and adjustable rockers
3) Get a reman magnum long block, do the conversion, and sell what I can that is worth something off of the engine that is currently in the car to recoup some of my cash
no matter what direction you go it will be "work" and some $$. You could go magnum heads on the magnum. I dont' know what they get to drill the block for oiling LA heads. Can't imagine it would break the bank.
 
Welcome aboard. Lots of good advice here. As mentioned magnum swaps can be done, but are not a direct swap. With your admitted limited mech skills, I would be tempted to put a running pre magnum 318 in it and swap the intake and adjustable rockers over to it.
Good luck and keep asking questions.
 
I really appreciate all of the responses. This is great information. Here is an outside the box thought. I have the early 360 heads with 273 adjustable rockers and the LD340 intake. I have a 2001 360 magnum whose short block is good (still has cross hatching on the cylinder walls and great compression prior to disassembly) but the heads are trash (cracked as they tend to do) and the cam is very worn (grooves from the roller lifters worn into the lobes). Is there a way that these parts could be combined together to create a working reliable cruising motor on the cheap?

I say use your Magnum short block and flex plate, and get some CH318B Engine quest heads and a solid cam and lifters then use everything else from the LA motors.
Your LD340 will fit those heads and will work great on it.
Then you can learn what those adjustable rockers are about.:D
 
Welcome aboard. Lots of good advice here. As mentioned magnum swaps can be done, but are not a direct swap. With your admitted limited mech skills, I would be tempted to put a running pre magnum 318 in it and swap the intake and adjustable rockers over to it.
Good luck and keep asking questions.

I like this one too, and it's even cheaper to do than what I said. (which is pretty cheap)
 
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