340 ballance

340mopar said
The bigger pistons and rods is why you can't just use a 318 cast crank to make it internal balance. As you stated the 318 crank is lighter so it matches the lighter pistons and rods. If it was as easy as putting a 318 cast crank in to make it internal then Mopar would have done it. A 340 cast crank and balancer are special and can't be swapped for other cast cranks or balancers unless some balancing work is done. I have a '73 340 that I put a '65 poly 318 crank in and it required some metal to be added to the counterweights because the poly 318 pistons and rods are lighter than the 340 stuff. I even used the lighter SIR rods and still had to add metal.

Chuck

you are correct that the balance is different, however i have installed a 71 318 cast crank and rods in a 340, with HEAVY trw forged pistons in a low buck 340 circle track motor and it has survived over 1500 laps turning 6000 -6300 rpm twice a lap. I checked a rod bearing after about 600 laps when i brloke a valve and had to replace a piston it still looked great..so i just stuck the piston on the old rod an stuck it together with a different set of heads.
I would not suggest this for an engine you worry about, but when i did it it was either that or not race..as for your early 318 crank in a 340, im confused about this beacuase i always thought the 318 forged crank was the same as a 340 forged.