360 or 340?

[1wild&crazyguy]

Just another data point on costs.

The machine shop I used for my 360 build charges;

$25 each for cleaning, magnifluxing, resizing and installing new bolts plus the price of the bolts for rod reconditioning (ARP Bolts are $60 for a total of $260). They suggested I take a look at new rods from Eagle or Scat. I wound up going with the Eagle SIR rods and saved about $25 and wound up with a stronger rod with floating pins and ARP cap screws.

To have my crank cleaned, magnifluxed, ground 0.010" under size and polished cost $225.

To have my Block cleaned, magnifluxed, square decked, bored 0.030" over with finish honing with deck plates, new cam bearings installed and painted was $800.

Balancing of the rotating assembly was $250, this is a must with the SIR rods and KB107 pistons because they are so much lighter.

I didn't have any machine work done on the heads, they came from a low mileage Durango that spun a bearing under warranty.

holy sht!

why so expensive??

whats weird too is that It costs $600-800 for block work here... but even still only costs $9-$12 a rod for resize.
The pistons are removed, then they hit the solvent tank, then the cap and rod both have .003 removed on the cap facer/grinder, new bolts pressed, then they hit the sunnen rod hone machine and are checked there as well.
It's easy.
To polish a crank costs $45
A balance around here is anywhere from $125-$200 depends on type/metal amount

 

[jrlegacy23]

I agree with a lot of the people here. If you have a 340 and a 360, build the 340. If you have neither and have to buy one, go buy a 360. They are similar engines and built with the same parts are near equal. It is kind of like the GM guys comparing a 305 to 307.

 

[rrvolare]

In your situation , NO replacement for displacment = 360.. BUT i live and breath "340's" , nothing like a Factory 340 Dart , Duster displaying the 340 badges on the hood or quarter panel ..... 340 ![/B]

 

[dgc333]

holy sht!

why so expensive??

whats weird too is that It costs $600-800 for block work here... but even still only costs $9-$12 a rod for resize.
The pistons are removed, then they hit the solvent tank, then the cap and rod both have .003 removed on the cap facer/grinder, new bolts pressed, then they hit the sunnen rod hone machine and are checked there as well.
It's easy.
To polish a crank costs $45
A balance around here is anywhere from $125-$200 depends on type/metal amount

The shop I used also magnifluxes them before starting and mkes sure they are straight and weight matches when done.

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

The shop I used also magnifluxes them before starting and mkes sure they are straight and weight matches when done.

They mag'em too.

certain rods don't bend and twist, those that do...for instance a 350 in a rebuild, get the straightness check. These funky rods like mentioned show their issue on the piston/rod bearing itself usually.

the signs of a bent/twisted rod show to experienced machinists.
And it's know to these same machinists that certain makes require checking.


the weight equalization is done during the balance however, unless you ask for it before, as in your not having that shop do all the work. In the balance process they're lightened to the lightest rod in the bunch

 

[crash]

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

the motor you see in my pic is a 360 block with 340 J heads works good.

 

[rumblefish360]

holy sht!

why so expensive??

whats weird too is that It costs $600-800 for block work here... but even still only costs $9-$12 a rod for resize.
The pistons are removed, then they hit the solvent tank, then the cap and rod both have .003 removed on the cap facer/grinder, new bolts pressed, then they hit the sunnen rod hone machine and are checked there as well.
It's easy.
To polish a crank costs $45
A balance around here is anywhere from $125-$200 depends on type/metal amount

The shop I used also magnifluxes them before starting and mkes sure they are straight and weight matches when done.

Ahhhhhhhhhh, the great variations of price and locations.

 

[RPM 440]

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.

That's just wrong and pipe dreaming because someone couldn't get what they wanted. The 360s didn't SCREAM like the 340s from the factory at all. They were a low rev with a decent torque truck style engine. The little red express engines where different because they didn't have to conform to same passenger vehicle standards until government cought on hence their short life and had a more 340 spec cam heads tricks .I have owned several 360 powered A and B bodies through the years and 2 340s. A 71 duster 340 4 speed with 3:55s and a 72 340 3 speed with 3:91s. The 72 would spank the 71 even though on paper it shouldn't. 360 power just died down quickly and in no way felt anything like the same animal. So the proof is in the driver seat. Not on paper or what the guy on the next stool tells ya.

 

[Cranky]

That's just wrong and pipe dreaming because someone couldn't get what they wanted. The 360s didn't SCREAM like the 340s from the factory at all. They were a low rev with a decent torque truck style engine. The little red express engines where different because they didn't have to conform to same passenger vehicle standards until government cought on hence their short life and had a more 340 spec cam heads tricks .I have owned several 360 powered A and B bodies through the years and 2 340s. A 71 duster 340 4 speed with 3:55s and a 72 340 3 speed with 3:91s. The 72 would spank the 71 even though on paper it shouldn't. 360 power just died down quickly and in no way felt anything like the same animal. So the proof is in the driver seat. Not on paper or what the guy on the next stool tells ya.

I had an E58 360 in a pickup....it would easily walk away from a 72 340 Challenger I had.

 

[RustyRatRod]

That's just wrong and pipe dreaming because someone couldn't get what they wanted. The 360s didn't SCREAM like the 340s from the factory at all. They were a low rev with a decent torque truck style engine. The little red express engines where different because they didn't have to conform to same passenger vehicle standards until government cought on hence their short life and had a more 340 spec cam heads tricks .I have owned several 360 powered A and B bodies through the years and 2 340s. A 71 duster 340 4 speed with 3:55s and a 72 340 3 speed with 3:91s. The 72 would spank the 71 even though on paper it shouldn't. 360 power just died down quickly and in no way felt anything like the same animal. So the proof is in the driver seat. Not on paper or what the guy on the next stool tells ya.

Obviously you missed "equally equipped".

 

[RustyRatRod]

That's just wrong and pipe dreaming because someone couldn't get what they wanted. The 360s didn't SCREAM like the 340s from the factory at all. They were a low rev with a decent torque truck style engine. The little red express engines where different because they didn't have to conform to same passenger vehicle standards until government cought on hence their short life and had a more 340 spec cam heads tricks .I have owned several 360 powered A and B bodies through the years and 2 340s. A 71 duster 340 4 speed with 3:55s and a 72 340 3 speed with 3:91s. The 72 would spank the 71 even though on paper it shouldn't. 360 power just died down quickly and in no way felt anything like the same animal. So the proof is in the driver seat. Not on paper or what the guy on the next stool tells ya.

I just had to come back and add, if you're coming here to dig up a fifteen year old thread to start an argument, you're not starting off on very good footing.

 

[abodyjoe]

But end of the day it's like wearing a knock off watch. You will always wish it was a real 340 in the back of your mind lol. Good Luck

1970 thinking at its best.

 

[Cranky]

I just had to come back and add, if you're coming here to dig up a fifteen year old thread to start an argument, you're not starting off on very good footing.

I noticed that too.....maybe the newbie is trying to increase his post count

 

[RPM 440]

Sorry guys not trying to break balls. Just my 2 cents as someone who lived in the day. As you can see it took 15 years to catch up. Cheers

 

[RustyRatRod]

Sorry guys not trying to break balls. Just my 2 cents as someone who lived in the day. As you can see it took 15 years to catch up. Cheers

So you think we're all spring chickens? You gotta another thing comin. Built the same, the 360 wins. As "someone who lived in the day" should know, there's no substitute for cubic inches. It's always from people who have next to or nil experience with 360s that this type of nonsense comes from. The "truck motor" mentality. Hogwash.

 

[RustyRatRod]

1970 thinking at its best.

Ignorant thinking at it's best.

 

[RPM 440]

I appreciate your opinion

 

[mygasser]

it doesn't matter what the 'stock' version of either was designed to be as the op is intending to build the motor he chooses. in that case the 360 would be my choice too. as rusty said the 360 can be built to make hp and rev as well as any 340 would. if anyone says it can't they have their head stuck on the sand, lol.
neil.

 

[crackedback]

Comparing one that was built with 10:1 advertised with the other at 8.5ish, yep already off on a bad route.

Gas crisis, emissions started killing everything in 1972-73 era

If I have to spend 200 on a core vs 1K+ for a 340... give me 5 360's.

Put a 4" arm in either and it's a moot point what it started as!

 

[RustyRatRod]

Mopar built 2 "official" factory race engines ( not motors )in the 70s. The 426 Hemi and the 340 AKA baby hemi. Build whatever you want. But end of the day it's like wearing a knock off watch. You will always wish it was a real 340 in the back of your mind lol. Good Luck

The street Hemi was rated at only 10.25 compression. Like all other Mopar engines of the era, they blueprinted lower, likely down into the 9s, due to taller than spec deck heights and larger then spec chambers. Unless you've been under a rock for the last fifty years, you'd find this common knowledge. For factory race engines, I would direct you to the 1962 383 dual quad engines that tore stock eliminator a new one, the Max Wedge 413 and 426 engines with up to 13.5 compression in "stock form" and the race Hemi engine with 12.5 compression. Do you think Dick Landy left his 1970 Hemi Challenger at the rated 10.25 compression? Hardly. Let's not get stupid here.

 

[RustyRatRod]

it doesn't matter what the 'stock' version of either was designed to be as the op is intending to build the motor he chooses. in that case the 360 would be my choice too. as rusty said the 360 can be built to make hp and rev as well as any 340 would. if anyone says it can't they have their head stuck on the sand, lol.
neil.

Exactly. Stuck in the sand and stuck in the past.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I appreciate your opinion

Yours is the opinion. If you'll open your mind and comprehend what's being said, you'll learn something new.

 

[mygasser]

Exactly. Stuck in the sand and stuck in the past.

haha, yes i can just imagine the fingers in the ears while shouting la la la, not listening

 

[RustyRatRod]

haha, yes i can just imagine the fingers in the ears while shouting la la la, not listening

His loss. He has a chance to learn something. We all learned it at some point too.

 

[Cranky]

it doesn't matter what the 'stock' version of either was designed to be as the op is intending to build the motor he chooses. in that case the 360 would be my choice too. as rusty said the 360 can be built to make hp and rev as well as any 340 would. if anyone says it can't they have their head stuck on the sand, lol.
neil.

Acquiring a 360 IS much cheaper and it'll rev fairly quickly. Most would have to put an electronic timer on the tach to see just how much slower it would rev vs the 340 but I bet it isn't much.