Choosing the right stroke for a 340

The popular 4.00 stroke has zero issues with interference except with a stock style connecting rod at the bottom of the cylinders. This is also the case with other stroker kits that have exceeded the normal 4.00 stroke.

The rod is ether not to use the OE style connecting rod and/or grind the bottom of the cylinders for clearance for the connecting rods. This grinding is normal and does not cause any issues.

The ability of an engine to “Rev” is not limited to the size of the stroke but more so the thickness of your wallet since there are 500 CID pro stock engines with a greater size stroke and larger piston reving well past 8500 rpm.


Not exactly. A Pro Stock engine has a bore that ranges from 4.600 to almost 4.700 and the stroke is adjusted for the size of the bore. So...with a 4.600 bore the stroke will be right at 3.75. If you end up at a 4.700 bore you’ll be at a 3.600 stroke to stay under 500 inches. So for what they are, the Pro Stock engine uses a very short stroke and a big bore.