Value of a 340

Value of a 340

  • Gotta have a 340

    Votes: 244 57.1%

  • Forget the 340, give me a 360 anytime

    Votes: 88 20.6%

  • Forget both the 340 & 360, big block all the way

    Votes: 54 12.6%

  • Forget all of the above - keeping my slant/273/318

    Votes: 41 9.6%
  • Total voters
    427
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This is quite the dellima isn't it? My car is an original 340 and it's due for a rebuild. My buddy is trying to talk me into a 360 but I just can't seem to put it into my original 340 car, even though it's not factory correct in all areas. For me I guess it has to be a 340.
 
superchargeddrt said:
This is quite the dellima isn't it? My car is an original 340 and it's due for a rebuild. My buddy is trying to talk me into a 360 but I just can't seem to put it into my original 340 car, even though it's not factory correct in all areas. For me I guess it has to be a 340.
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If I were in your shoes, I would choose the 340 as well. I'm putting a 408 stroker in my 68 Dart. That makes a the 360 the logical choice for me though. I would have to say your friend is nuts for wanting to put a 360 in an original 340 car when it still has a 340.
 
340's have the performance reputation because they were from the performance era. The 360 replaced the 340 as a "smog motor" and was choked back due to the emission requirments. However, if you take the 360 heads and open up the intake valves from 1.88" to 2.02" and up the compression to 9.2 to 9.5 to one. They will run just as good or better than the 340 especially with the longer stroke. Basically, you are putting the performance parts back on and getting rid of the smog parts.
 
Sly Fox Racing said:
If I were in your shoes, I would choose the 340 as well. I'm putting a 408 stroker in my 68 Dart. That makes a the 360 the logical choice for me though. I would have to say your friend is nuts for wanting to put a 360 in an original 340 car when it still has a 340.
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That's what I was thinking. I realize that I could just store the original engine and build a stroker and looking at it know one would know. However I would know and it would drive me nuts LOL.
 
krazykuda said:
340's have the performance reputation because they were from the performance era. The 360 replaced the 340 as a "smog motor" and was choked back due to the emission requirments. However, if you take the 360 heads and open up the intake valves from 1.88" to 2.02" and up the compression to 9.2 to 9.5 to one. They will run just as good or better than the 340 especially with the longer stroke. Basically, you are putting the performance parts back on and getting rid of the smog parts.
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They are the same engine. 360 just has a bigger crank with longer stroke. Chrysler knew they were going to lose the horsepower of the 340 with emission regulations. They tried to replace the horsepower with torque by making the 360.
 
I also believe your car will be worth more on resale with 340 even if it is not original
 
I sold a windowed block for $100, PAW used to sell sleeved 340 blocks back to std bore for not that much. Anyone got an old PAW catalog around? Would love to look at one of those again. 340 value, all in the buyer. I believe you have nothing monetary unless you sell it.
 
Threads like this are breeding grounds for debate.
Basically in N/A form /6 and 273 are too small for any serious hp level. I'll add 318 to the list so 318/340/360 all relatively will have similar potential especially in the street range of 250-450 hp. The powerbands will be about 300 rpm apart and the gear needs will be a step apart for each. It comes down to preference. Above 400 hp I'd be seriously thinking about going big block or stroker.
 
My dad sold my 340 powered '65 Barracuda to a kid that hit a tree too! Im glad I didnt see it, I got the letter in boot camp. My 340 was 68 spec too, correct mani's and all and I would regularly beat a local 340 Duster, that old man was pissed whenever I played with him as he gave up about 300 lbs. As for building another 340? Nah, I would do a 360 stroker. I've owned 3 340's.
 
I paid $1,400 for a rebuildable 68 340 which I am going to put into my 66 barracuda. I hope it will be worth what I am about to put into it.
 
when you hear a song do you prefer the original or another version which may be as good?
would you want oak furniture or Stronger more Durable plywood with oak veneer?
would you rather have a mint original part or a new reproduction part?
usually the original is worth more to most..but not everybody!
 
I just picked up a running 360 yesterday. What are they worth? I hope I did ok.
 

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I had a local guy come over to my house to buy up some parts that I had and was not going to use. While he was there he noticed the fresh 71 340 motor that was sitting on the stand. He asked about it and I told him everything that was in it and what was done to it. He then asked if I was going to use it or sell it and if I wanted to sell it he was interested. I told him that I would do no better than $3000.00 but that I have not decided yet what I was going to do with it. He gave me his number and asked me to call him first if I decided to sell. This motor is fresh and has not been run yet, and I thought $3000.00 was a fair price so did he.
Bob
 

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Every time I pop the hood and see that Hemi orange 340, I can't help but smile. I'm reminded of how long I've waited, how hard I've worked, and how much I've learned to get to this point. This old Dart is special to me and I knew it deserved a special engine, that's why I had to have a 340. There's just something magical about a 340 that a 318 or 360 will never have, IMO.

I stumbled upon a date correct 340 for my car for $600. I got a freshly machined late '72 340 block w/ main caps, new cam bearings, brass core plugs, a good crankshaft, a new set of pistons, a windage tray, and an oil pan. It was just sitting in someone's shop and I saw it and asked to buy it. I already had a set of 360/340 J heads that I gave $20 for too. I've seen bare blocks for sale with a $500 price tag so I think I got a good deal.

I never would have been able to afford a $1,500 long block that needed rebuilding. College student budget problems. :banghead:

I like my 340 though. It sounds good, it's powerful, and it's just a cool old motor with a great history behind it.
 
About 15 years ago Hensleys in Tennessee were taking 318 blocks sonic testing them and punching them out to 4 in .
Jim F
 
I bought my 1969 barracuda with a 340, 3 years ago, and I love it.
 

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Chrysler built the all around ultimate smallblock the 340. The 340 A body system is one that has stood on its own since it was built. You can certainly reinvent the wheel with another engine/ system but it is consistent.
 
Wow! This thread is still going after 6 years! So are they worth more now than back when I started this thread.
 
I know mine is. Back when you first started this thread my 340 was sitting in the back of some ladies garage waiting to be discovered, now everything inside is new and ready to go. When I am done with the Scamp I will find the right car to put it in.
Bob
 
IMO, with 340's not growing on trees, save them for the resto-guys needing them in original 340 cars.

Otherwise, use a 360/408 combo. For the original post, you can build a 408 for the $4k asking price of a rebuilt 340.
 
HemiMark said:
1. gotta have a 340 yes I have 5
2. forget the 340 give me a 360 yes I have one 360
3. forget both 340 and 360 big block all the way yes, I have a 400, 426 hemi, 440
4. Forget all of the above - keeping my slant/273/318 I have a slant!

I cant vote I love them all! 8)
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I did vote, but feel the same, except for the 360. Sold all 360 stuff except the last few parts. I'll go big block before running a 360. 340's were just a great package from the factory, especially the 71 4 speed in a Duster. You can make them all run but the 340 was great to begin with.
 
There are a few 340's for sale in my area right now. One complete for $1900.00, one complete for $550.00 and one block and mains only for $850.00. Then I spoke with a guy I buy some a body parts that pulled one running out a a 340/4 sp rotted out a body and was asking $4500.00 for it with trans and pedals. I haven't spoken to him in a month or so to see if he sold it. I did buy the sure grip 8 3/4, leaf springs and torsion bars out of that car. The body went to scrap for like $40.00 after he parted what was good off of it.
 
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