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Battle of the Mopar Small Blocks!
05-19-2008, 02:30 PM
#4
Senior Member
RE: Battle of the Mopar Small Blocks!
If you are talking about performance this poll is unnecessary- it is the 340 hands down. 
The 340 was one of the best engines of the 1960s and 1970s. It had high-flow heads, big ports, a two-level intake manifold, and a six-barrel option (three two-barrel carbs). When it was introduced in 1967, it quickly became known as the "giant killer" by its success on the track against big block cars. The high-winding engine was rated at 275 hp but the NHRA factored it up to 325 hp (Plymouth "cheated" by taking the hp readings at 5,000 instead of 6,000 rpm).
It was more than just 22 cubic inches bigger than the standard-performance 318. It had:
A dual timing chain and windage tray.
Huge 2.02 inch intake valves and 1.60 inch exhaust valves.
A high-rise dual plane intake.
An 850 cfm carburetor (from 1971 to 1973)
A forged steel crank.
High-performance heads.
A revised oil pump with a 90 degree adaptor.
A special cam.
The 340 was one of the best engines of the 1960s and 1970s. It had high-flow heads, big ports, a two-level intake manifold, and a six-barrel option (three two-barrel carbs). When it was introduced in 1967, it quickly became known as the "giant killer" by its success on the track against big block cars. The high-winding engine was rated at 275 hp but the NHRA factored it up to 325 hp (Plymouth "cheated" by taking the hp readings at 5,000 instead of 6,000 rpm).
It was more than just 22 cubic inches bigger than the standard-performance 318. It had:
A dual timing chain and windage tray.
Huge 2.02 inch intake valves and 1.60 inch exhaust valves.
A high-rise dual plane intake.
An 850 cfm carburetor (from 1971 to 1973)
A forged steel crank.
High-performance heads.
A revised oil pump with a 90 degree adaptor.
A special cam.
05-19-2008, 05:19 PM
#6
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RE: Battle of the Mopar Small Blocks!
318: better mileage. Hence, better in the gas shortages of the 1970s and better in the high prices of today.
Really, you can't rate one engine as "better" than the other. It depends on the circumstances.
Really, you can't rate one engine as "better" than the other. It depends on the circumstances.
05-20-2008, 04:05 AM
#7
Senior Member
RE: Battle of the Mopar Small Blocks!
I just put the heads on my 340 last night and may I say its going to be killer I've beefed up the heads, cam, and intake. Added a 670 avenger Holley carb and a 7 quart oil pan. The 340 was never offered in any package except premium. No 2bbl version and always a double roller timing chain with high flow heads. After 71 it did mild down some with cast crank and lower compression. But it still was better than what most had.
Todays Hemis are what I would think of as an evolution of the 340. Dodge offers a small block 440 crate motor now and the hp is at 550. Now thats some serious pony power and with it installed you could just tell them its a 318
I've beefed up the heads, cam, and intake. Added a 670 avenger Holley carb and a 7 quart oil pan. The 340 was never offered in any package except premium. No 2bbl version and always a double roller timing chain with high flow heads. After 71 it did mild down some with cast crank and lower compression. But it still was better than what most had. Todays Hemis are what I would think of as an evolution of the 340. Dodge offers a small block 440 crate motor now and the hp is at 550. Now thats some serious pony power and with it installed you could just tell them its a 318
05-21-2008, 12:33 AM
#9
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RE: Battle of the Mopar Small Blocks!
Let me ask you, tdub, what exactly are you going to do with a 340, assuming you find one? Are you quitting school to be able to pay for it? Is your father so independently wealthy that he can afford to give you something like that to play with? (If he is, I want to be adopted!) Seriously, kid, gas is nearly $4 A GALLON. For MOST of the people I know -- and I mean adults, NOT people not even old enough to get a driver's license, $4 represents most of one hour's work per day. To get a mere 8 gallons, in other words, shoots up most of a day's pay for them -- and 8 gallons ain't gonna take you all that far, no matter what you drive. So how, kid, do you even propose to operate something like that -- assuming, of course, you could afford to get it rebuilt (since you probably lack the tools and knowledge to do it yourself), you even have a car to put it in and a license to drive it, and insurance and money to pay for operations...etc, etc, etc. Seriously, kid, for someone your age, you CANNOT afford a new Challenger. And forget about bothering with ANY old junker from the '60s and '70s. They may have looked cool, but they were pieces of crap the way they were built. Get yourself and early- to mid-'90s Honda or Toyota to drive and play with. You'll be a lot less frustrated than ANYONE who EVER dealt with anything out of the days when your father was young -- myself included. Besides, seriously, how many people out of YOUR era even know, for example, what a 1970 Dodge Challenger is? Damn few. So who you gonna impress? People like me? Hardly. I saw -- and drove -- all those cars when they were new.
05-21-2008, 02:47 AM
#10
Senior Member
RE: Battle of the Mopar Small Blocks!
WOW RoswellGrey thats wrong. With an attitude like that, hotrodding as we know it is dead. I'm going to chaulk it up to a bad day Its a given that the current conditions make it hard no doubt, but with some perseverance and hard work it would be a nice motor to put in a Barracuda. And with Pops help it would be time well spent as Father and Son could spend quality time together. I wish I had a spare 340 to give you tdub, I really do. You might scour the salvage yards in your area or maybe a Mopar guy with a big heart will help a young guy out. As far as gas goes if you a'rnt makeing a car payment, it leaves alot of green to put in the tank
Its a given that the current conditions make it hard no doubt, but with some perseverance and hard work it would be a nice motor to put in a Barracuda. And with Pops help it would be time well spent as Father and Son could spend quality time together. I wish I had a spare 340 to give you tdub, I really do. You might scour the salvage yards in your area or maybe a Mopar guy with a big heart will help a young guy out. As far as gas goes if you a'rnt makeing a car payment, it leaves alot of green to put in the tank