360 or 340?

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MoparMark67

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I have a 67 Dart that I am thinking of swapping motors out. If I were to find a 340 would that be a better choice than the 360?

Which do you guys recommend?

Common sense tells me the 360, but I don't know...I'm new to Mopar.

Thanks everyone!

-Mark
 
This is a question that had been asked a million times. I say if you have a 340 build it, but for the money and availability just get a 360.
 
340 are cool, short stroke, rare, expensive, harder to find parts for, but way COOL

360 are more plentiful, longer stroke, cheaper, easier to find, oh yea and they kick *** in an A-body
 
Short stroke/big bore is probably the best way to small block power.

If you consider it, the 340 was designed as a high performance engine while the 360 was basically a truck engine. If everything was built the same, a 360 will make more torque and will attain peak HP earlier in the usable rpm range while the 340 can rev to 7K plus if built right. A 340 may not make as much torque but will be pretty close.

I always vote for the 340 because of the short stroke and large bore. Think of the Chebby 327/302, Ferd 302/351, all legendary performance engines with a short stroke/large bore combination. Over square engines rule.
 
360...longer stroke more torque..with TODAY'S parts ..cheaper and faster.

Can rev to 7K if build right...
 
either .

360 makes a lil more torque.

340 is bet suited to rev higher-steel crank,floating pins, smaller main bearing=less bearing speed for the oiling to keep up with, but the oiling system cuts that off around 7500rpm.

but really bearing speed is no issue with mopar, only when you run a pontiac/buick/olds do you see it ...

either one, both are good.

only difference is piston price [speaking for stock stock only!]

once you stroker, sam price.
 
rmchrgr said:
Short stroke/big bore is probably the best way to small block power.

If you consider it, the 340 was designed as a high performance engine while the 360 was basically a truck engine. If everything was built the same, a 360 will make more torque and will attain peak HP earlier in the usable rpm range while the 340 can rev to 7K plus if built right. A 340 may not make as much torque but will be pretty close.

I always vote for the 340 because of the short stroke and large bore. Think of the Chebby 327/302, Ferd 302/351, all legendary performance engines with a short stroke/large bore combination. Over square engines rule.
Click to expand...

Well I have a 318 now. 340 is hard to come by like people have mentioned and parts are harder as well. I'm trying to figure out what I should build.

Any advice would be great. Maybe the 318? lol. So it's looking like the 360. I have a 727 Trans with a small block case. So I would like to hang onto the transmission and just stick with the small blocks.


-Mark
 
Saying the 360 was not a performance motor is like saying Jenna Jameson never made a **** movie. Dumbest thing I ever heard. Starting in 1974, the 360 was outfitted with everything that the 340 had in the early 70s. The good heads, the 340 cam, the Thermoquad and even the good HP exhaust manifolds. Anyone with a factory 360 Duster will tell you real quick the 360 would smoke an equally equipped 340's butt all day long. It was available in the E58 trim even into the later years, not only in the police units for which that motor was introduced, but could also be ordered in any civilian vehicle with the 360 as an option. Also the Little Express Trucks in 1978 were the fastest production vehicle available for that year, even beating out the Corvette. This is well documented. A truck beat a Corvette. Sound low performance to you? The 360 was indeed a high performance engine. The old adage "there's no substitute for cubic inches" could never be more correct. The 360 only suffered from poor marketing due to ever increasing government regulation and stiffer penalties from insurance companies. It was an almost unknown fact that you could order up the 360 in the 340 trim. Even with the 8.5 compresson, they would scream. Same compression as the 340 in 1973 but with 20 more cubes. Do the math.
 
MoparMark67 said:
Well I have a 318 now. 340 is hard to come by like people have mentioned and parts are harder as well. I'm trying to figure out what I should build.

Any advice would be great. Maybe the 318? lol.

-Mark
Click to expand...

The 318 can be made to work. Everyone will tell you to find a 360 since they grow on trees and guys apparently pay you to take them away. I myself got a 360 short block for $75. Guess it's sorta true... I have a couple 340 blocks too, which were definitely not as cheap as the 360.

However, I'd consider a 318 if you can spend the money in the right places - quality machine work, good headers, new pistons to gain compression and either a set of RHS or Engine Quest heads. Cam in the 225-235@.050 range, gears and converter if auto will be a good street machine combo.
 
I agree on building the little 318, same stroke as the 340, just smaller bore. With the right parts, as mentioned, it would be one bad ride for the streets. Plenty of potential.
 
StrokerScamp said:
Saying the 360 was not a performance motor is like saying Jenna Jameson never made a **** movie. Dumbest thing I ever heard. Starting in 1974, the 360 was outfitted with everything that the 340 had in the early 70s. The good heads, the 340 cam, the Thermoquad and even the good HP exhaust manifolds. Anyone with a factory 360 Duster will tell you real quick the 360 would smoke an equally equipped 340's butt all day long. It was available in the E58 trim even into the later years, not only in the police units for which that motor was introduced, but could also be ordered in any civilian vehicle with the 360 as an option. Also the Little Express Trucks in 1978 were the fastest production vehicle available for that year, even beating out the Corvette. This is well documented. A truck beat a Corvette. Sound low performance to you? The 360 was indeed a high performance engine. The old adage "there's no substitute for cubic inches" could never be more correct. The 360 only suffered from poor marketing due to ever increasing government regulation and stiffer penalties from insurance companies. It was an almost unknown fact that you could order up the 360 in the 340 trim. Even with the 8.5 compresson, they would scream. Same compression as the 340 in 1973 but with 20 more cubes. Do the math.
Click to expand...

I disagree. 360 = truck motor. I can't imagine the E58 package in let's say a '79 Cordoba or something screaming to 6,500 rpm, sorry. The LRE truck may have been the fastest at that particular point but that was during a time when everything across the board was completely anemic. Even the 'Vette was like 180hp or something and was kinda heavy at 3,500+. 360 compression was never offered above 8.7:1 or so, even in 'hi-po' cop cars - the 340 was always over 9 to 1. So the 360 got some 340 parts but ended up with less hp. And hey looky there, the 360 was ever offered with a forged crank. Wonder why.

And BTW, you're nuts if you don't think a factory 340 car ('cept maybe a giant-*** 340 B-body) wouldn't SMOKE a factory 360 car. I don't think anything with a 360 was ever advertised as having anywhere near 275hp (insurance company corrected 325hp) from the factory.

As far as the OP, I still maintain that you should go with a shorter stroke engine because of it's inherently better architecture for performance. While the 360 is still an over square design, the stroke approaches being under square. Perfect example of an under square engine is the slant 6. Go figure.
 
360 is better, 340 is better...blah, blah, blah. The 360 was considered a "performance" engine, but think about it; it was a DIFFERENT ERA. You're comparing apples to oranges. I prefer the extra stroke...because I LIKE stroke.

Speaking of stroke...Keep the 318 block, add a cast 4.00" crank (now let's get that debate started...hahahahaha!) SCAT I beam rods, and a dish piston. You'd have a bolt together "little" 390-ish small block! The monetary difference will be minimal.
 
it really comes down to budget, ability, and use,
speed is just a matter of money
how fast do you want to go?
 
rmchrgr said:
I disagree. 360 = truck motor. I can't imagine the E58 package in let's say a '79 Cordoba or something screaming to 6,500 rpm, sorry. The LRE truck may have been the fastest at that particular point but that was during a time when everything across the board was completely anemic. Even the 'Vette was like 180hp or something and was kinda heavy at 3,500+. 360 compression was never offered above 8.7:1 or so, even in 'hi-po' cop cars - the 340 was always over 9 to 1. So the 360 got some 340 parts but ended up with less hp. And hey looky there, the 360 was ever offered with a forged crank. Wonder why.

And BTW, you're nuts if you don't think a factory 340 car ('cept maybe a giant-*** 340 B-body) wouldn't SMOKE a factory 360 car. I don't think anything with a 360 was ever advertised as having anywhere near 275hp (insurance company corrected 325hp) from the factory.

As far as the OP, I still maintain that you should go with a shorter stroke engine because of it's inherently better architecture for performance. While the 360 is still an over square design, the stroke approaches being under square. Perfect example of an under square engine is the slant 6. Go figure.
Click to expand...

Well..one problem..these cars are no longer FACTORY.....
360 does not need steel crank....been spinning over 7K for years now...never have broken a OEM cast crank....broke a couple factory forged rods...
 
dusterdoug said:
Speaking of stroke...Keep the 318 block, add a cast 4.00" crank (now let's get that debate started...hahahahaha!) SCAT I beam rods, and a dish piston. You'd have a bolt together "little" 390-ish small block! The monetary difference will be minimal.
Click to expand...

Power-to-price is probably the best way to go, except get a 360 block for as cheap as possible and stroke that which would result in a 408ci because the pistons for the 318 stroker are quite a bit more money than the 408, and also there are way more choices with the 408.. Im building a 396ci 318 stroker right now and the pistons alone were close to 450-500 bucks. To each is ones own I guess.

I do love 318s though.
 
Shop around for those 318 to 390 stroker pistons...there are deals out there..found a set on ebay a few weeks ago for 300 bucks.
 
I have not heard of a factory 360 going 11.88 @110 in an A body there maybe some I have an 340 demon that has gone 11.88 @ 110 as E/S CAR IN NHRA STOCK ELM. that being said with today gas I belive for a street car the 360 or a mild 318 may be the better way to go if it is a drag race only car and you are going the stroker rought then the 340 block is has been said here before the only subtute for cubis in. is cubic money that is my $.02 worth
 
F/SA James Findell, Zimmerman MN, '74 Duster 10.894 -0.956

taken from US Nationals qualfiy today...74 360 Duster...looks like he has a full second on ya...and be a F/SA probably carrying more weight too...

E/SA Danny Black, Avon IN, '71 Demon 10.850 ......there is a high compression 340 2.02 heads....running .045 faster then the low compression small valve 360.....I bet the 71 Demon is lighter then the 74 Duster...

.ok... Factory cars....
 
rmchrgr said:
I disagree. 360 = truck motor. I can't imagine the E58 package in let's say a '79 Cordoba or something screaming to 6,500 rpm, sorry. The LRE truck may have been the fastest at that particular point but that was during a time when everything across the board was completely anemic. Even the 'Vette was like 180hp or something and was kinda heavy at 3,500+. 360 compression was never offered above 8.7:1 or so, even in 'hi-po' cop cars - the 340 was always over 9 to 1. So the 360 got some 340 parts but ended up with less hp. And hey looky there, the 360 was ever offered with a forged crank. Wonder why.

And BTW, you're nuts if you don't think a factory 340 car ('cept maybe a giant-*** 340 B-body) wouldn't SMOKE a factory 360 car. I don't think anything with a 360 was ever advertised as having anywhere near 275hp (insurance company corrected 325hp) from the factory.

As far as the OP, I still maintain that you should go with a shorter stroke engine because of it's inherently better architecture for performance. While the 360 is still an over square design, the stroke approaches being under square. Perfect example of an under square engine is the slant 6. Go figure.
Click to expand...

I said "all things equal". that means the only to compare would be comparing the '74 360 HP with the 73 340. the 360 will be the clear winner every time. They will easily rev to 6500. What have you been smokin?
 
The Best Bang For the Buck is a 360. They can all run good, I've seen good running 318's, 340's, 360's and Ive seen " strokers "that are dogs.
 
Whatever you can find will work. The 360 will be cheaper overall and make more streetable power. I have 2 340s but 4 360s, one is slated for my '65 because of the torque.
 
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