Information on a 340 for my 69 dart

[Mattax]

I understand the want for a 340 Dart. I felt the same. Be aware of the differences in timing cover, water pump, pulleys, etc. between earlier (68-69) and 70 and later. 70 and later parts are easier to find. BTW, someone on here has some NOS disc brake master cylinders for a body for sale. They don't show up often.

Imprtant stuff. Good to bring up.
For some reason of all things being reproduced, pre-70 water pumps are only available in cast iron. (once in blue moon an aluminum one has been spotted but its super rare).
The 68 and 69 radiators are the same.

69 340 could be blue IIRC. Not that you're that down the road yet.

Tires: I still use 215/70r14 for the street. Extra sidewall is a plus considering some of the roads the car travels. 15" rim gives more options and I think you'll be fine

Whether you want power steering and power brakes is a personal decision. when converted to disks I didn't like the power brakes and sold the booster. It does mean getting brake linings that have some 'grab' to them.
Since you have manual steering, I assume you prefer power steering based on experience with the manual. Consider getting a 'cop box', Firm Feel's level 3 or similiar. The standard factory boxes result in very light steering with almost no feel (feedback).

I'm not up your way for work anymore, but love the area. But I'm down in Morristown fairly frequently.
Well that's up for me, but down from where you are.


(if you click on my username, then go to 'about' there is link to my website about my car's development. I'm told its not cell phone friendly. One day I'll update it)

 

[nutz]

Like I said I'm a couple of years out so now I know what I'm looking for if something pops up
I don't really have a strict budget
And haft the fun is the find
The budget goes up when I sell off some of my other projects
I just don't want to buy the wrong stuff

 

[nutz]

Being its not a real 340 car I'm ok with reproduction stuff

 

[plumkrazee70]

Sleeves and line bore ...not were i want to start

I get tha, but multiple times in this thread folks are saying they are not around for good prices. Just saying I got one that is.

 

[toolmanmike]

I get tha, but multiple times in this thread folks are saying they are not around for good prices. Just saying I got one that is.

But this isn't a Parts wanted thread is it?

 

[plumkrazee70]

But this isn't a Parts wanted thread is it?

I guess not. Might want to go through and quote the other folks offering their cores also.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

My shop is in Washington
Next to highway sports
You know Vinnie from central hydraulic he has a sweet 68 340 car

I worked at the Can. Believe I sold vinny parts he took my Porta-power Pump to fix when he was here and I never heard from him after that.

 

[toolmanmike]

I guess not. Might want to go through and quote the other folks offering their cores also.

4 pages and 82 posts. I'll look through them between 3 and 4 in the morning when I don't have anything else to do.

 

[Bennoel 10]

4 pages and 82 posts. I'll look through them between 3 and 4 in the morning when I don't have anything else to do.

W h a t ?? Slacking off. Lol

 

[plumkrazee70]

4 pages and 82 posts. I'll look through them between 3 and 4 in the morning when I don't have anything else to do.

Or just single out the most recent. Nice

 

[nutz]

But this isn't a Parts wanted thread is it?

Not yet just wondering what I'm looking for

 

[nutz]

I worked at the Can. Believe I sold vinny parts he took my Porta-power Pump to fix when he was here and I never heard from him after that.

Yea he has a few sweet car
68 charger,70ish challenger 68 dart dose the Mopar at carlise
Thought he might be in the same loop

 

[Mattax]

Not yet just wondering what I'm looking for

TMM is just gently reminding everyone that for sale and and wanted posts need to be kept in the classified section (or in private messages).

 

[Oldmanmopar]

You have to get up real early .

 

[66fs]

one owner cali car
looks better under then on top ,couldn't believe how easy it was to replace the rear springs .. had a repaint has old man dents everywhere
was just going to redo the body and drive it till my kid talked me into making hot
haven't even driven it with the too up yet ...don't like the white interior untill i left it in the sun with the top down

So What do you have right now? 69 Dart Convertable, slant six, manual trans (column shift?), new rear springs, 15 x ? Ralleye Wheels, power steering?, a set of small bolt front disks, spindles, calipers? As for the front timing setup, there are 3 setups including harmonic balancers for V8 engines including 273, 318, or 340 all internally balanced. 64-65 with a passenger side timing tab that attaches to the bottom 2 bolts of the water pump and drivers 1.50" side lower radiator outlet. Then there is the 66-69 timing set up with a slightly different bolt on passenger side timing tab (or 68/69 possibly had a cast in timing marks), cast iron water pump, damper and 1.50" drivers side lower radiator outlet. Third is the 70 up with the .75" longer aluminum water pump and cast in drivers side timing marks and a passenger side 1.75" lower radiator outlet. I never ran a fan shroud, but I have all my radiators recored with a 3 row core. I'd say run your small bolt Kelsey-Hays disc brakes, they were optional from 1965 to 1972. Run a factory 8 3/4 rear with the small bolt pattern, all the pumpkins will work depending on the U-Joint. Factory would have been casting #741 but either of the heavier duty #742 or #489 pumpkin will work. Either sure grip will work well. 3.23 gears would be a good all around set and 3.91 would be good for an 833 Overdrive manual trans. Either a 318 or a 340 will work great as long as you use the good 340/360 heads (1.88 or 2.02 intake valve large port heads) and other factory 340 High Performance goodies. I like manual steering and manual disc brakes. My 68 Barracuda had an original black interior complete with stainless steel "branding irons" in the middle of your back. I grew up in Florida and often did not wear a shirt. They will be recovered in white.

 

[nutz]

Great info thanks
Yes 6 cylinder 3 on the tree manual steering .replaced the rear springs
and put a set of small pattern 15" rallies got a new rs quarter and rf fender going to drive it this season then body over next winter
So my kid wants it to be a muscle car ...13 and just started getting into cars lucky for me he's got the hands
I always wanted a 340 car but I like the oe look ..so want to make it look right ...like it came from the factory its not a numbers car so I'm ok with a 70 block or intake ect.if it looks the same
Power steering a must
Bought a box but thats it
I also bought a floor shift column for the switch but good thing cause I'll need it
And the disks I had for years thinking I find a ride for them
I also seen a couple of 833s come up ...so that's an over drive ?
Whats the non overdrive?
Need to match the trans to the rear

 

[1WildRT]

Great info thanks
Yes 6 cylinder 3 on the tree manual steering .replaced the rear springs
and put a set of small pattern 15" rallies got a new rs quarter and rf fender going to drive it this season then body over next winter
So my kid wants it to be a muscle car ...13 and just started getting into cars lucky for me he's got the hands
I always wanted a 340 car but I like the oe look ..so want to make it look right ...like it came from the factory its not a numbers car so I'm ok with a 70 block or intake ect.if it looks the same
Power steering a must
Bought a box but thats it
I also bought a floor shift column for the switch but good thing cause I'll need it
And the disks I had for years thinking I find a ride for them
I also seen a couple of 833s come up ...so that's an over drive ?
Whats the non overdrive?
Need to match the trans to the rear

O/D came later, Aspen/Volare & trucks... Some of the late Darts & Dusters too I think... Never really paid that much attention to them, It's a pretty big step from 2nd to O/D

 

[66fs]

Great info thanks
Yes 6 cylinder 3 on the tree manual steering .replaced the rear springs
and put a set of small pattern 15" rallies got a new rs quarter and rf fender going to drive it this season then body over next winter
So my kid wants it to be a muscle car ...13 and just started getting into cars lucky for me he's got the hands
I always wanted a 340 car but I like the oe look ..so want to make it look right ...like it came from the factory its not a numbers car so I'm ok with a 70 block or intake ect.if it looks the same
Power steering a must
Bought a box but thats it
I also bought a floor shift column for the switch but good thing cause I'll need it
And the disks I had for years thinking I find a ride for them
I also seen a couple of 833s come up ...so that's an over drive ?
Whats the non overdrive?
Need to match the trans to the rear

I always liked the OE look. There was a reason we loved these cars. I used to go down the path of getting the best heads, cam, brakes, handling, or combination. What a waste of time and money. Like a 69 Dart GT 340 wasn't fast, couldn't handle, or stop fast enough. What a Joke. I worked with a lady who I let drive my 66 Formula S Barracuda with a 273 and a 4 speed. Not long afterward she sold her old car and bought something else. Her husband made a point at the company Christmas Party, that American cars were very fast, but they did not handle well. I didn't say anything, but thought to myself how could import cars sell themselves being slower and most people like him would not know to make a car handle anyway. The Barracuda took stock class in SCCA in 1966.

For power steering I'd look at Borgeson but it is smaller and lighter. BAC Steering Box Conversion Kit - Small Sector 62-72 - Bergman Auto Craft If you want OEM I have used Firm Feel for power and manual boxes and can highly recommend them. They can rebuild yours. Yours should be a small sector to fit your pitman arm. Firm Feel Steering Box Rebuilds A-Body

On the 833 the standard 4 speed has a 1:1 final ratio. There are different ratios for the lower gears but 4th gear id 1:1. Unless you are racing, which I do not do, there isn't much difference between them. On the O/D the first gear is lower than most of the standard boxes and the final gear is usually .73. Having an 8 3/4 rear we used to swap gears (about and hour) to match how we were going to drive. 3.23 for all around, 2.76 for highway cruising and mpg, 3.91 and higher for performance and racing. So 3.91 x .73 = 2.85. I would swap the O/D gears in an early cast iron main case which was stronger and so I could swap it out for a standard 4 speed if I wanted without the special O/D bellhousing and other stuff.

 

[nutz]

I'm ok with rebuilding anything so if I find a good deal on a 833 ill jump on it and 323...
Think I'm going man disks just so I don't have to deal with the power booster
As of handling i drove a lot of Chevy ford ect and always thought dodge handled the best

 

[cosgig]

I say since you have time and are just starting your search, patience will yield a 340, they are not that rare. Generally speaking, the 68 340 came with 2 different camshafts, one for automatics, one for the manual cars, with a slightly better profile. The 69 and later cars all came with the automatic grind. The famous “purple” small block camshaft is patterned after the 68 340 manual grind, I would probably run that with some adjustable rockers from an early A body, since all early V8’s have them and they are relatively easy to find as well. I have a 68 and a 71 340 here, the 71 has the exact setup as mentioned above, with “J” heads and Keith Black hypereutecric pistons. The 68 is my work in progress. I also have access to 2 more 340’s, so they’re not really that hard to find. If you want a 340, one will come your way, I’m sure of that!

 

[nutz]

There is a 69 on face book i might buy
A day a set of 73 340 exhaust manifolds
Are they the same ?
What is different about intakes

 

[nutz]

They are from a cuda

 

[toolmanmike]

There is a 69 on face book i might buy
A day a set of 73 340 exhaust manifolds
Are they the same ?
What is different about intakes

Difference between a 69 and a 73? Yes, a lot of differences. The exhaust manifolds are different, the intakes as well. (AFB to Thermoquad) The heads had smaller valves. The pistons, less compression and the cam had weaker specs.

 

[nutz]

Ok thanks ill stay away from them

 

[toolmanmike]

Ok thanks ill stay away from them

They are still a solid engine but you have to build then right. I had a couple in 73 Challengers. They ran well but weren't screamers like the earlier engines were.