340 Value Questions

[WSUTARD]

Hello All, new poster here. I normally hang around the FBBO forums since I have a 69 Coronet. However, it has a 340 instead of a normall B body engine.

Anyway, I just bought this car and the seller was adamant that the engine was "special". As in people have offered him lots of money for it. I took this as a "one that got away" story and didn't really take it into my purchase consideration.

But now that I have it, I figured I would check.

Here are the particulars:
340
Date stamp: 6/22/67, N (night shift?)
Casting Stamp: 2780930-340
No EIN
Serial Number: DW34022450139 (the W and 3 at the beginning seem to be stamped in a different method)
My assumption is that the heads match but I don't feel like checking...lazy I guess.

Anything special about this? Other than, it's an awesome engine!

Originally I thought I really wanted a big block but now I really like how this engine likes to rev and how spirited it is. It's been built up with Keith Black heads, more aggressive cam and upgraded other stuff.

Anyway, thanks for helping.

 

[Mr Gorsky]

D = 1968
W = Windsor Plant
340 = 340
2245 = 20th Sept 1967 build date (not casting date)
0139 = Number of engine built that shift.

 

[Mr Gorsky]

Are you sure there isn't a VIN number on the RH side of the block??

 

[Mr Gorsky]

I found the 340 in my car came out of a '69 Dart GTS.

I emailed the GTS registry with the VIN - http://www.gtsregistry1969.com/ -.....they ignored me.

 

[gtsdude]

68's VIN, if it is stamped with one, not all were, is on the bell housing rail behind driver side head.

 

[68gtxman]

Yes, these engines are special because they were built by the factory to be high performance engines. There were no lo-po 340s made. Beyond this, this engine has gained a sort of cult following due to its legendary performance.

 

[Dartsun]

I bought a 1967 belvedere years back in it came with a 340. After looking further inspection seen it was original to a 69 barracuda. Great engine. Dustin

 

[Dartnut]

It's built for the '68 model year, arguably the best stock 340 build year.

 

[WSUTARD]

68's VIN, if it is stamped with one, not all were, is on the bell housing rail behind driver side head.

Is this a place I will be able to find if the engine is installed? I looked all over the block in the typical locations and didn't find a thing. I did read where blocks made prior to '68 actually did not get EINs. I after looking I assumed this was the case with mine.

This is all great info people. Keep it coming. Love to learn about this stuff now that I am living it.

 

[WSUTARD]

So if I wanted to sell or trade the engine, who/what should I look for? As in what vehicle would benefit the most from this 340? I might consider doing this if it helps someone out with a restore.

 

[Mr Gorsky]

So if I wanted to sell or trade the engine, who/what should I look for? As in what vehicle would benefit the most from this 340? I might consider doing this if it helps someone out with a restore.

As mentioned, you need to find a VIN on the engine.

The owner of that car might be willing to pay a premium. Otherwise, it's a 340 and it's price is dependent on the market in general.

 

[WSUTARD]

Unless the tag is between the transmission and the block my block has no EIN/VIN. I have read that the blocks produced in '67 didn't have EIN/VIN.

 

[RustyRatRod]

They are legendary engines, because they were stuffed in a light, small car and those cars whopped up on a lot of bigger cars with bigger engines.

A 340 in a B body however, was not anything to write home about.

If you can find the partial VIN on the pan rail, if it has one and you can find someone who has the car it belongs to (good luck) it will be MUCH more valuable, IF that person wants it. As is, it's really not worth anymore than a similarly built 318 or 360.

If it has good oil pressure, doesn't smoke or make noise, it's probably worth somewhere around the 2K or so mark.

 

[WSUTARD]

They are legendary engines, because they were stuffed in a light, small car and those cars whopped up on a lot of bigger cars with bigger engines.

A 340 in a B body however, was not anything to write home about.

If you can find the partial VIN on the pan rail, if it has one and you can find someone who has the car it belongs to (good luck) it will be MUCH more valuable, IF that person wants it. As is, it's really not worth anymore than a similarly built 318 or 360.

If it has good oil pressure, doesn't smoke or make noise, it's probably worth somewhere around the 2K or so mark.

Good info Rusty. I really like the engine feel in the car. Has plenty of GoGoJuice when I need it and sounds perfect. I contacted the GTS registry and they seem to think, based on the info available, its highly likely the engine was out of a GTS. They also confirmed that I am more than likely not going to find the VIN as they didn't start doing this till well into 68. The only reason I can think of to take an engine out of a GTS is because the GTS was totaled. So, the likely-hood of finding its original home is almost 0.

Anyway, this is great info to know and has endeared the little engine to me even more.

 

[gtsdude]

My 68 GTS has a 68 340 that has a VIN stamped behind driver side head along the bell housing rail, on 68's the transmission was also stamped on the bell housing right next to the engine VIN stamping. Mine has the same June 67 casting date as yours, but is not numbers matching to my car. You can see it with engine in car, may need to scrape a little to see it, it's stamped into the block, I originally thought mine had no VIN too until I started scrapping paint off. 67 casting is a GTS or CUDA. Back in the day guys swapped motors all the time, joe blow has a fresh 340 with such and such done, swap motors in a day and back on the road with hotter motor. Remember, these were just cars back then.

 

[WSUTARD]

I will check again next time I have it up. Will I see it from the bottom or top? I looked hard on the drivers side by the transmission. Saw nothing.

 

[gtsdude]

From the top behind driver side head where trans meets the block, here is a pick from 68 383, gives you an idea how they stamped them

 

[gtsdude]

Here is a small block pic without matching trans

 

[WSUTARD]

From the top behind driver side head where trans meets the block, here is a pick from 68 383, gives you an idea how they stamped them

View attachment 1714950839

Great info, I found it! Had to wipe all the crap off, stick my phone in there and snapped a pic!

Looks like: 8B392511

Now, does that say what kind of vehicle it came out of?

 

[gtsdude]

It does not but it's either a GTS dart or a CUDA, only cars with 340 in 68.

 

[WSUTARD]

Cool. Too bad that transmission doesn't have a matching number on the housing. My car is a Frankenstein as it is.