Knocking 340

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There was people lining up to buy the engine so I put a 25% deposit down on it. 340's are rare in the UK, pre-73's even more scarce. I'm paying $1250 as is. it still turns over smoothly. Its a gamble but one Im willing to take. If there is nothing much wrong then Ive got a $6000 engine (In the UK at least) for $1250 and if its scrap then Im sure there is bits i can salvage for my '73 340.
What's a running one worth over there? I may want to ship one over for sale!
 
What's a running one worth over there? I may want to ship one over for sale!

Not significantly more than in the US. But we have to factor in the shipping, tax and transportation at both ends. This particular engine has been built with the right stuff, to a high specification by a well known Mopar Engine builder and Racer here in the UK. Id say one of three of the most respected Mopar guys in the UK. If he's built it then its been built to a high standard. So its worth more.

Buying an engine blind from the US is quite risky. I bought a 1972 340 off of here a few years ago and it was junk. i had to get at least 2 bores sleeved and almost everything else was scrap.

But if you have a running 340 for sale Id be interested thats for sure. :)
 
What I don't get is why a guy that builds and races is selling a 340 for 1200 , like you say it's a 6000.00 engine over there , why would he not just fix it and run it if it's such a small problem ? he builds engines after all , I just don't get it if I were to sell one of my running 340's i would not give them away like that ,if they were indeed in good condition .
something strange here .
Good luck .
 
something strange here .
Good luck .
I tend to agree with such a thought. However, for the buy-in cost, Ima thinking there is enough value there to jump in. In the end, OP is likely to have a strong running engine for little more than the buy-in plus gaskets; in any case a lot less than $6000. I could be wrong. Hope not.
 
What I don't get is why a guy that builds and races is selling a 340 for 1200

He's not. The guy Im buying from is the guy that had the engine built by a reputable Mopar Engine Builder 7 years ago.

why would he not just fix it and run it if it's such a small problem ?

We, or at least I dont know if its a big or small problem. I'm gonna assume its a big problem and will maybe be pleasantly surprised its a not. The seller has since bought a Stroker Crate Engine from the US.

I spoke to the engine builder yesterday actually. He was gonna buy it back himself, do the work and flip it or stick it on the shelf with his other 340's but I offered more and he was not interested in driving the 350 miles to go pick it up. This is chickenfeed to him. But both the Engine Seller and Engine Builder are both stand-up guys and well known in the rather small Mopar world here in the UK, the Engine Builder especially. So Im now gonna drive the 650 miles to pick the engine up and on the way back drop it off at the Engine builder. He's gonna look it over for me and do as much or as little work on it as I want done.

Annoyingly he said he has 340's built sitting on the shelf. He never advertised as he does not need to sell. Ive been looking for a 340 for a while now. :/
 
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$1250 for a core 340 complete with heads isnt out of the question
 
Now here's a question. Anyone ever tried getting a Small Block in the back of a WK2 Grand Cherokee? :D If I could get it in the trunk it really would save me a lot of hassle instead of hauling a trailer for 2 days and worrying about it getting stolen over night.
 
An old school trick if I remember correctly is while its running and if you know which cylinder is knocking you disconnect spark plug wire . If the knock goes away it's top end but if it stays it's bottom end. Anyone else hear of this ?
 
Anyone ever tried getting a Small Block in the back of a WK2 Grand Cherokee?
I didn't, but it should fit just fine when you have help or a forklift to plug in in your trunk. I bought a 340 engine (disassembled) 22 years ago and brought it home from Switzerland in a Renault 5. :icon_fU: Lifted the block in the trunk myself... good I didn't injure my skinny back.
 
I didn't, but it should fit just fine when you have help or a forklift to plug in in your trunk. I bought a 340 engine (disassembled) 22 years ago and brought it home from Switzerland in a Renault 5. :icon_fU: Lifted the block in the trunk myself... good I didn't injure my skinny back.

A 340 in Switzerland of all places! :D

Im told i'll need to bring my engine hoist to lift it into whatever vehicle Im taking down. thankfully not a Renault 5. :D
 
Now here's a question. Anyone ever tried getting a Small Block in the back of a WK2 Grand Cherokee? :D If I could get it in the trunk it really would save me a lot of hassle instead of hauling a trailer for 2 days and worrying about it getting stolen over night.
Put down the back seat and put in a layer of wood on the floor. Take a couple of old tires to cushion it on the sides.

If you are going to wreck, throw the Jeep sideways..... anything but head-on with that 500 lb missile in the back seat!
 
Put down the back seat and put in a layer of wood on the floor. Take a couple of old tires to cushion it on the sides.

If you are going to wreck, throw the Jeep sideways..... anything but head-on with that 500 lb missile in the back seat!

Thats a very good point! and good idea regarding wood and tyres. Some tyres is also good thinking. Some Cargo straps wont go a miss either.
 
i'put down a sheet of 3/4 "plywood on the floor with a few 4x4 to keep it stable with some old tires as well , some these new trucks have plastic floors like my buddies pathfinder , had to use plywood on the floor with some 4x4 blocks and tires to keep the engine from moving to much . got my 440 home no problem
Good luck with your 340 i'd most probably buy for that price as well .
 
I've carried engines on an old tire, but prefer the sled.
Made it so the weight is on the pan rails and just enough room to slide wood (2x4 or 2 x6) under to help move it.
The roof line of the cargo area is the disadvantage of loading and unloading - unless you have fork lift.
(An SJ not a Grand Cherokee but you get the idea)
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A 340 in Switzerland of all places! :D

Im told i'll need to bring my engine hoist to lift it into whatever vehicle Im taking down. thankfully not a Renault 5. :D
The little woman and I went to Scotland last year and say several american muscle cars on the road ridiculing a 65 Dart.
 
I've carried engines on an old tire, but prefer the sled.
Made it so the weight is on the pan rails and just enough room to slide wood (2x4 or 2 x6) under to help move it.
The roof line of the cargo area is the disadvantage of loading and unloading - unless you have fork lift.
(An SJ not a Grand Cherokee but you get the idea)
View attachment 1715539559

View attachment 1715539558

Love it! Unfortunately I dont have a spare engine to mock up against. Ply, Tyres and 2x4 it is. :D
 
The little woman and I went to Scotland last year and say several american muscle cars on the road ridiculing a 65 Dart.

I live in Scotland. :D You did not happen to be in Kirriemuir did you? Seen a '65 Dart there on what looked like European Plates. Could not find the owner though. :(
 
I live in Scotland. :D You did not happen to be in Kirriemuir did you? Seen a '65 Dart there on what looked like European Plates. Could not find the owner though. :(
Scotland what beautiful place. I would/may live there in the future.
I believe we were just outside of Inverness when I saw the old Dart.
 
So the 340 is back with the Engine Builder. he's gonna tear it down and have a look to see whats what. He has a dyno so potentially I'll get it on there before it comes back to me.

I have a little update on the re-build specs, but not much. KB Pistons 40th over. Has a Comp Cam, but as of yet Im not sure which one. Stock X Heads, Ive a brand new Firecore Dizzy for it and as Im tight on the budget I picked up a brand new Holly 750 4160 for cheap thats whats gonna go on it just now. The engine builder does not wanna mess around trying to tune a used carb and I cant guarantee the 670 Street Avenger I have on my other 340 will be good enough for him.

Anyone willing to take a stab at hoe much HP and Torque I could expect out of it? :D
 
So the 340 is back with the Engine Builder. he's gonna tear it down and have a look to see whats what. He has a dyno so potentially I'll get it on there before it comes back to me.

I have a little update on the re-build specs, but not much. KB Pistons 40th over. Has a Comp Cam, but as of yet Im not sure which one. Stock X Heads, Ive a brand new Firecore Dizzy for it and as Im tight on the budget I picked up a brand new Holly 750 4160 for cheap thats whats gonna go on it just now. The engine builder does not wanna mess around trying to tune a used carb and I cant guarantee the 670 Street Avenger I have on my other 340 will be good enough for him.

Anyone willing to take a stab at hoe much HP and Torque I could expect out of it? :D
To get a rough figure on the HP you will need to have the calculated compression ratio and cam spec's.
Will the engine be stroked? Any head work?
They are members on here that are dam good with power calculations.
Me not so much.
 
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My engine rebuilder had a dyno. I paid him the extra $500 to dyno it just to erase any future questions about it's horsepower. Glad I did. The other benefit is that it is now broken in, the timing is set, carb is good. Just install in car and fire it up.
 
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