340 rebuild, help / recomendations

[scotty]

I recently bought a 340 engine to upgrade my 318 powered B body, I was hoping to clean it up and install it.......but with the sump off I can feel a bit of play on a couple of the big ends, oh joy....I dont really have the confidence to take on this job by myself, so the best I can hope for is to find someone local ish to undertake a rebuild, I live in north Essex....any help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated....

[MilesnMiles]

Oh boy! You have so many choices here.

My build
High comp Mahle forged Pistons
XE268 comp cam
Indy X heads by IMM
Air gap
TTI headers
Speed Demon carb
Loads of fun, probably about 370hp or so.
Look at some 340 menus and you can build a reliable pocket rocket with that 340.

[John]

Cha ching!!!!

There was of course the known running 440 up for sale

[scotty]

Yes John, I have wondered long and hard about the big block/ small block thing, but I decided I am not really a drag racer, I just like a bit of a hoon around and decided keep to the lighter weight option.....pass the tissues...

[Carl]

I have just rebuilt my 340 stroker there might be some help on my thread

http://www.moparuk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=47147

[shovelheadrob]

First work out your budget, then your goals, if the 2 are compatible pull the motor apart & measure & inspect everything before buying a load of performance parts. Stripping & rebuilding is easy enough as long as you take your time & are meticulous about it, there are plenty of people here who can advise & possibly assist if needed, for what you want the 340 would be better than going BB, but you might have to upgrade your trans.

[scotty]

I read Carl's thread..........oh God......

[MilesnMiles]

Carl had problems that weren't of his own making. You have total charge of your own motor. Enjoy the process. Look at my build I listed. Easy, won't break the bank or the motor especially if you use your existing heads.

[Scooby]

Speak to Anton on here APD Automotive he will advise or do what you need .
Rich

[Dave999]

i'd put the sump on

fill it with diesel or paraffin
Bananarama! all out

turn it over
sump off


I'd do the big end bearings checking for scoring, if none get on with it

undo big end
loop a nylon chord round the rod
tap the studs till the cap pops off
make two little stud covers from making tape or rubber tube
knock the rod down the bore a little way

move crank round
retrieve other bearing half
new bearing in
assembly lube
top half in cap
yank piston/rod back up or pull up by hand depends totally on ring tension
wind crank slowly round and guide rod onto it

cap goes on so that cap number sits next to rod number


just buy the same part number as on the back of the ones you take out

clean it

sump on
prime it with new clean oil
and run it.

I did many years of happy daily driving this way as a teenager/student

any top end issue makes itself known within 50 miles (smoke/steam/smoke and steam) if you didn't see it run or compression test

and you can do everything top end with it in the car apart from rings and hone unless you are very unlucky

you can even have a positive effect by putting in just a new cap half of the mains (easier to do if you have a pile of cast-off bits and remnants from previous disasters.... most of us will have a half used set of bearings in a box somewhere, none of us should but I'm willing to bet most do )

its the wrong way to do things but 90% of the time works satisfactorily

we all take many things to bits and rebuild for no good reason other than knowing.

Dave

[scotty]

Thanks Dave, and to every one for there input, I spoke to Anton this morning and he recommended the same, I wouldn't say the crank looked that bad but is not mint ether, so I will run it down to London for an expert appraisal...S

[yabadaba]

Hi Scotty,

HNY to you.
Hope the 340 works out for you, its a wonderful engine indeed!
I have built several over the years, NICE BIT OF KIT!!!
Best wishes yabacca.