help looking at a 1972 340

[Jocigar]

Hi All,

I found a complete 340 from 1972, 'running when pulled'. 

Its two hours away and sitting on a tire.

@ $1k thinking of picking it up for future use in something, the dart or maybe a cuda.

With limited access, what would you look for?  guess I should get a HF compression tester, no way of knowing if cracked block I would think.   what heads should be on it?

My first cuda had a 340; 1973 w/ 4spd... that thing ripped up the road as I recall

thanks !

[Crocha617]

Where are you located? I have a running 72 340 Engine sitting on a tire in my garage that I don't need also.

[gzig5]

I don't think you can compression check without a starter connected to the flywheel to cranks it over 5-6 revs.  Doubtful if it is sitting on a tire.  I would ask them to remove the intake and pull the heads so the cylinders can be looked at.  Sometimes the wrist pin can move and score/ruin a cylinder to where it needs a sleeve and you want to avoid that.  Maybe pull the pan and look at a couple main bearings, but heads off would be my first choice.

[7212Mopar]

Running when pulled but when was it pulled? Does it rotate smoothly? creamy oil? check spark plugs etc. get a boroscope video cam inside via the spark plug holes. Has it been rebuild? It is going to be a gamble. I think easier to buy a bare block.

[Jocigar]

Where are you located? I have a running 72 340 Engine sitting on a tire in my garage that I don't need also.

Facebook marketplace, Close to UCONN in CT

[RUNCHARGER]

Tough call: $1k is pretty much either hear it run or measure bore and crankshaft and have it crack checked territory. Honestly 340's are a great little engine but everybody builds strokers if they want something to haul the mail these days and you can build a stroker with a $100 360 block. 72, 340 heads aren't the way to cook these days either. It would be different if you had a 72, 340 body and wanted the correct engine for it.

[Jocigar]

Thanks Runcharger,  I was just tossing around the idea because most 340s are in pieces and seem hard to find.

My daughters 67 dart would do fine with a 318 and mild cam when we up-grade the slant 6.

I have a 71 G code barracuda a longgggg way from being restored that would do nicely with a 340 ..eventually,  but then again I already have late 60s 383 and 440 motors sitting around to rebuild.