How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? - Moparts Forums

Register Log In Moparts Forums Moparts Question and Answer How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360?

Print Thread

How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? #1020595 06/26/11 12:45 PM 06/26/11 12:45 PM
Joined: May 2011 Posts: 220 Aurora, CO jbeintherockies OP enthusiast
jbeintherockies OP enthusiast Joined: May 2011 Posts: 220 Aurora, CO	I though I already posted this question, but I can't find it. Maybe it got deleted? Anyway, I simply want to know how I can visually tell the different LA engines from one another (not disassembled)? If someone tells me they have a 340 in their car that I am thinking about buying, how can I tell it is a 340 versus a 318 or 273 or 360? Also, how can I tell a carburated magnum engine versus the LA engines? All of these questions apply to an engine residing in a car. Thank you in advance.

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: jbeintherockies] #1020596 06/26/11 12:56 PM 06/26/11 12:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows? 1_WILD_RT Management Trainee
1_WILD_RT Management Trainee Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows?	Drivers side of block theres a fairly large cast in number... In that number you will see the engine displacement....Also on the front face of the block, just below the drivers cylinder head you'll find a series of stamped numbers... The displacement will be stamped there too... "The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: jbeintherockies] #1020597 06/26/11 12:58 PM 06/26/11 12:58 PM
Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 773 Crofton, Ky. R rattler super stock
rattler super stock R Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 773 Crofton, Ky.	If you don't mind crawling under the car, the engine size and build date are cast on the side of the block just above the freeze plugs. I forget which side. 1957 Dodge truck, Snakeskin Green with a little stroker motor. 1964 Plymouth Savoy wagon ( my new project)

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #1020598 06/26/11 01:04 PM 06/26/11 01:04 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest M MoparforLife Too Many Posts
MoparforLife Too Many Posts M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest	340 was always a 4 barrel. 360 2 barrel had a much larger Holley 2 barrel than the small 2 barrel that the 318/273 had. 340 only available in A bodies 68/73 or E bodies 70/73.

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: jbeintherockies] #1020599 06/26/11 01:08 PM 06/26/11 01:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 104,346 Garden Grove, CA OzHemi Penguin-hating Ginger
OzHemi Penguin-hating Ginger Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 104,346 Garden Grove, CA	Quote: how can I tell a carburated magnum engine versus the LA engines? LA engine valve cover has 5 bolts, Magnums use 10.

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: OzHemi] #1020600 06/26/11 01:17 PM 06/26/11 01:17 PM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,920 Calgary, Alberta Canada a12rag master
a12rag master Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,920 Calgary, Alberta Canada	Oil pan on 360 has different diameter ends on it. 273/318/340 are both same size. 360 car pan for A, B, E are stamped 392 on the bottom - and where the sump drops down, it is approx. 3" back from the front of the lip of the pan, C body 360 oil pan is stamped different number (think it may be 789 ???) and distance from sump to front lip is approx. 1.5" . . . . 360 truck oil pan is rear sump. I just got schooled in this after getting a 360 rebuilt and having to locate a pan for it ! As others have stated, have to look on the side of the block to see the casting numbers (i.e. displacement size) . . . Cheers Mark

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: OzHemi] #1020601 06/26/11 01:54 PM 06/26/11 01:54 PM
Joined: May 2011 Posts: 220 Aurora, CO jbeintherockies OP enthusiast
jbeintherockies OP enthusiast Joined: May 2011 Posts: 220 Aurora, CO	Quote: Quote: how can I tell a carburated magnum engine versus the LA engines? LA engine valve cover has 5 bolts, Magnums use 10. What about the magnum engine blocks? Do they also have the displacement cast into it? Also, I was told the magnum engine blocks (I think they started in 91 correct?) have better oiling and cooling passages. Is this true? How do they compare to the older 360 blocks in terms of strength? This question goes out to everyone.

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: jbeintherockies] #1020602 06/26/11 02:01 PM 06/26/11 02:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,419 Kalispell Mt. H HotRodDave I Live Here
HotRodDave I Live Here H Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,419 Kalispell Mt.	Magnum block have a crank sensor mount at the rear of the block on the passenger side kind of near the top of the bell housing. Yes they have cast into the side a number and in there will be either 318 or 360. Water passages are the same and oiling is a little different, they oil the rockers from the pushrod instead of through the shaft. To tell if it has magnu heads look for the verticle intake bolts instead of nearly horizontal ones on an LA. However, that can be changed through re-drilling and so can the valve covers, simply by putting 5 bolt covers on magnu heads because the 5 holes still line up with 5 of the ten on a magnum. I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: jbeintherockies] #1020603 06/26/11 02:05 PM 06/26/11 02:05 PM
Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,822 Colorado D denfireguy top fuel
denfireguy top fuel D Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,822 Colorado	Quote: Quote: Quote: how can I tell a carburated magnum engine versus the LA engines? LA engine valve cover has 5 bolts, Magnums use 10. What about the magnum engine blocks? Do they also have the displacement cast into it? Also, I was told the magnum engine blocks (I think they started in 91 correct?) have better oiling and cooling passages. Is this true? How do they compare to the older 360 blocks in terms of strength? This question goes out to everyone. Biggest advantage is the roller cam. Less worry about no zinc in modern oil. My 318 is now a 5.2L for that reason. BTW we are fairly close to each other in Aurora. Craig 2014 Ram 1500 Laramie, 73 Cuda Previous mopars: 62 Valiant, 65 Fury III, 68 Fury III, 72 Satellite, 74 Satellite, 89 Acclaim, 98 Caravan, 2003 Durango Only previous Non-Mopar: Schwinn Tornado

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: MoparforLife] #1020604 06/26/11 03:18 PM 06/26/11 03:18 PM
Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,323 St. Louis, Mo 3 318 Stroker master
318 Stroker master 3 Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,323 St. Louis, Mo	Quote: 340 only available in A bodies 68/74 or E bodies 70/74. Also available in 71-73 B-bodies...

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: denfireguy] #1020605 06/27/11 07:39 PM 06/27/11 07:39 PM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours Supercuda About to go away
Supercuda About to go away Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours	Quote: Biggest advantage is the roller cam. Less worry about no zinc in modern oil. My 318 is now a 5.2L for that reason. BTW we are fairly close to each other in Aurora. Craig Hmm, mid 85 and later 318's and 89-91 360's had roller cams. They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: Supercuda] #1020606 06/28/11 02:33 AM 06/28/11 02:33 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington ScottSmith_Harms Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms Mr Wizzard Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington	Easy, any 60's to early 70's SB has the displacement stamped right on the front of the block. The catch is that you may have to dig off grease and scrape paint to see it and the PS pump can get in the way as well. 6703534-340BlockAssemblyInformation(2).jpg (339 downloads)

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1020607 06/28/11 02:34 AM 06/28/11 02:34 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington ScottSmith_Harms Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms Mr Wizzard Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington	closer look 6703536-340BlockID(3).jpg (395 downloads)

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1020608 06/28/11 12:25 PM 06/28/11 12:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,419 Kalispell Mt. H HotRodDave I Live Here
HotRodDave I Live Here H Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,419 Kalispell Mt.	My 68 273 did not have any thing stamped there and I have seen quite a few other motors in that time period that that had nothing stamped there. Any idea why some don't have nothing there? I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: HotRodDave] #1020609 06/28/11 10:03 PM 06/28/11 10:03 PM
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 6,167 Maryland GO_Fish master
GO_Fish master Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 6,167 Maryland	Quote: My 68 273 did not have any thing stamped there and I have seen quite a few other motors in that time period that that had nothing stamped there. Any idea why some don't have nothing there? Maybe yours was a Warranty block? Marine block? Actually, I've never seen a small block that did not have the stamped numbers on the front of the block. But they are often stamped shallow, or incomplete, full of paint or grease, and its very easy to miss them if you are not specifically looking for it. Scott B. "I'm a self-made man... I started with nothing, and I still have most of it!" 68 360 rusty B'cuda 'vert (GO Fish)13.59@ 98.72 mph 69 340 GTS stock 14.18@ 95.60 mph 01 5.9L Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4 01 3.5L 300M 16.23@ 86.97 mph

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1020610 06/28/11 11:33 PM 06/28/11 11:33 PM
Joined: May 2011 Posts: 220 Aurora, CO jbeintherockies OP enthusiast
jbeintherockies OP enthusiast Joined: May 2011 Posts: 220 Aurora, CO	Quote: closer look That was very helpful. I actually thought it was cast into the drivers (?) side of the block; more like an emboss versus a stamp. Is the CID embossed on the engine blocks also?

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: jbeintherockies] #1020611 06/29/11 09:05 AM 06/29/11 09:05 AM
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 6,167 Maryland GO_Fish master
GO_Fish master Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 6,167 Maryland	yes, the engine size is also cast in large numbers on the driver side of the block. The numbers are about 1" tall if I remember correctly. Unfortunately, they are nearly behind the starter, so they can be real tough to see if you can't get under the car and the block is greasy. Scott B. "I'm a self-made man... I started with nothing, and I still have most of it!" 68 360 rusty B'cuda 'vert (GO Fish)13.59@ 98.72 mph 69 340 GTS stock 14.18@ 95.60 mph 01 5.9L Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4 01 3.5L 300M 16.23@ 86.97 mph

Re: How can I tell a 273 from a 318 from a 340 from a 360? [Re: MoparforLife] #1020612 06/29/11 04:40 PM 06/29/11 04:40 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 4,127 Ramona, CA NicksGarage master
NicksGarage master Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 4,127 Ramona, CA	Quote: 340 was always a 4 barrel. 360 2 barrel had a much larger Holley 2 barrel than the small 2 barrel that the 318/273 had. 340 only available in A bodies 68/73 or E bodies 70/73. 340s were also available in B-bodies. Getting the info off the block is a good start but other parts do get mixed in over the years. I had a '71 340 Demon that had a 318 block swapped into it under the 340 top end. I also got a 340 engine out of an A100 van (not original of course). You gotta look.

Moderated by Al_Alguire, Hotwheelsjr, moparts, not_a_charger, RangerDan440, tboomer

Hop To

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1