Story of a swinger 340

-
Dart Frog

Dart Frog

Active Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2025
Messages
35
Reaction score
46
Location
Oregon
I thought I would go over a few of my favorite hot Street setups that I have ran over the last 35 years or so. I'm not a great poster like some on this form but I think this may be interesting to some . These are what most would consider to be old school builds but in their day they were hard chargers. . Number 5 : refreshed 1969 340 factory specs built and assembled by Honolulu speed shop. I believe the year was 1977.
Fresh rebuilt as cast xheads three angle valve job.
Crane fireball 300 camshaft.
Crane double springs.
Crane anti pump up lifters.
Aluminum retainers.
Some really cool stock style rocker arms. that had a dimple for the push rod enlarged.
LD 340 manifold.
AVS carburetor.
This combination was just solid throughout it was a little soft on the bottom end till I advance the camshaft four degrees and then it just kind of had it all. This was a popular combination in the late '70s add a set of 410 gears in a 4-speed and you really had something.
 
I have a Fireball 302 in the 400 in my 75 F250 right now. It pulls like a ***** in heat.
 
Yeah Rusty, I still keep it wrapped in grease rags. Even an old Sprint car driver told me that cam is a good one.
 
Number 4
Same bottom end and I didn't mention that all these combos have 1 and 5/8 headers.
This combo had
Direct connection Street hemi grind hydraulic camshaft.
Stealth weiand intake.
Holly 650 double pumper.
Dual point distributor.
Excel coil. Really I consider build 5 and 4 pretty equal.
 
Last edited:
It's been years since I've heard of aluminum retainers. But I'm willing to bet that either build with the 4.10s and a four speed had explosive mid range power. RIP, Crane Cams. I wish we could buy parts of that quality again.
 
Garrett Ellison said:
It's been years since I've heard of aluminum retainers. But I'm willing to bet that either build with the 4.10s and a four speed had explosive mid range power. RIP, Crane Cams. I wish we could buy parts of that quality again.
Click to expand...
Yes they were so very light it was like the difference between a quarter and a dime with chromoly. Kind of sketchy I guess but I will tell you that thing would wind.
 
Number 3
After a head gasket change a deep gash was found in cylinder 8 from a broken wrist pin keeper which allowed the wrist pin to ride on the cylinder and a rebuild was in order.

A quality rebuild including a 30 overboard and stainless steel valves included in the Xhead rebuild .
KB 243 Pistons.
Chromoly rings.
Iski springs.
Chromoly retainers.
Mopar performance 509 purple camshaft.
Mopar performance electronic distributor. and Chromebox.
850 thermal quad with direct connection race manual tweaking.
M1 single plane manifold.
391 gear ratio with 25-in tires
By this time all reciprocating parts had been balanced to each other and then spun balanced. This combo was as fast as any I've ever had to that point and basically took no prisoners on the street at the time.

IMG_20231101_190118931.jpg
 
Last edited:
I ran this combination for almost 15 years till I finally flatten the cam lobe just about the time they were taken zinc out of oil I don't know if it was related but it couldn't of helped.
 
I really have to sing the praises of that number 3 build. I definitely had my eye in the direct connection engine race manuals when I put that together. A lot of people say that that , 292 purple shaft is too much for the street but in combo with the small primaries of the thermal quad it all comes together. Remember my car was a 4-speed car I don't think it would be so doable with an automatic. Again I installed that cam four degrees advanced and it seemed to be The Sweet spot.

Screenshot_20211019-094758.png
 
Number 2
Time For another cam changed, the fast rate hydraulics now on the scene so it made the decision on which way to go harder. But I had had success with the purple cams lasting and performing so I chose
Cam p4529959 new old stock.
288 advertised duration, 497 lift 108 CL.
1.5 aluminum roller tip rockers.
T A six pack manifold.
Like new 340 six pack Holley carburetors.
Pro Comp as cast heads with competition valve job.
I consider power output very similar between build two and three but I just love the six pack for its looks and Street performance.

IMG_20220115_173530751.jpg
 
Dart Frog said:
Isn't crane blue racer based in Australia now? What's that shipping look like LOL
Click to expand...
I wasn't aware Blue Racer was associated with anyone but the Wolverine line. This'll be the first I've heard of it if it's true.
 
Yes it's true check it out. If you Google blue racer cams the first name comes up is Crane cams
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top