Almost ready to start...

Any other late build A bodies with blue 340 engines out there?

Kent,

Many head and block castings (all engines) had splotches of paint on them prior to the engine paint being added, probably denoting some type of machining process or QC inspection process. This is an original paint engine, that pink paint under the orange is the same type as your engine has.

Cool.

BTW, this is how I cleaned up the heads in my kitchen: After scraping off the thick crud with ice cream sticks, I applied a few coats of cooking oil with a tooth brush and wiped off. The cooking oil works pretty good.

Here are a few pics of my 340 from my 1969 Dart. This is a original 10,000 mile engine that was untouched until I took it apart last year. I also have the pink paint on the heads between the exhaust ports.

Passenger side pic. You can really see the engine paint shadowing that the exhaust manifold caused.

Great pics. So the dip stick handle has never been repainted? How about the water pump bolts, any signs of blue paint on the ones that hold the brackets on?

Dip stick handle is original. The original motor was pulled out in 1974 and a red painted 1968 340 slightly built engine was installed for drag racing. Some of the bolts and brackets from the 69 motor were installed on the 68 motor.
Here are a few more pics. The motor is Tourquoise. It looks like he swapped the bypass hose from the 69 motor to the 68 motor as you can see the engine paint still on the hose clamps. Boy, now I wish that I had taken more photos.

Those pics help, dip stick is as expected as is the blue paint on the bolt heads which is what I had expected to see.

Great pictures. What is the VIN# and SPD?

My dad bought a 69 barracuda new. If he remembers right he said his 340 was orange. Is his memory right ?

Not likely, maybe he was recalling the bright red air cleaner "340 Four Barrel" call out.

Running and ready for first test drive... BUT for some reason I have a front brake caliper that will not release

couple more

what exhaust did you choose? Car looks great BTW.

TTI 2.5"... car sounds amazing

An early build 1969 GTS convertible with original red 340.

And your'e SPD is? Should be before September 9th or shortly thereafter...