71 cuda - 340 lost, what`s the best replacement?
#1710998
12/15/14 04:53 PM
12/15/14 04:53 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 25 FL/Europe
Delta
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I recently bought 71 cuda, originally 340 (unfortunattely lost 20+ years ago), not running since. It is 4 speed car, transmission still there. Because of 340 engines are expensive (12k for crate engine), I`m considering to use 408 stroker (360) engine instead, which are around 7k, and they shoudl have more HP. It is my first E-body, have no experience, so here are my questions? 1. will 360 (408) fit without any frame adjustments or adapters to 340 car? 2. will it fit to original 4 speed? 3. any recommendation, where to buy 408 (engine builders, etc...- I found it on Summit and Ebay from ATK) 4. in general, is it smart to use this type of engine? Or would you recommed something totally different? The reason why I want to keep it small block is because of weight and easy handling.
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Re: 71 cuda - 340 lost, what`s the best replacement?
[Re: Delta]
#1711000
12/15/14 06:24 PM
12/15/14 06:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,004 U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
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Quote:
I recently bought 71 cuda, originally 340 (unfortunattely lost 20+ years ago), not running since. It is 4 speed car, transmission still there. Because of 340 engines are expensive (12k for crate engine), I`m considering to use 408 stroker (360) engine instead, which are around 7k, and they shoudl have more HP. It is my first E-body, have no experience, so here are my questions? 1. will 360 (408) fit without any frame adjustments or adapters to 340 car? 2. will it fit to original 4 speed? 3. any recommendation, where to buy 408 (engine builders, etc...- I found it on Summit and Ebay from ATK) 4. in general, is it smart to use this type of engine? Or would you recommed something totally different?
The reason why I want to keep it small block is because of weight and easy handling.
Yes the 360/408 will bolt right in and it will fit the 4 speed. I would not go to Summit or Ebay to buy a crate motor.
Gen 3 hemi would be a great idea but it's not going to be a direct bolt in .
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Re: 71 cuda - 340 lost, what`s the best replacement?
[Re: Delta]
#1711002
12/15/14 07:13 PM
12/15/14 07:13 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada
DPelletier
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I Live Here
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"best" is subjective and depends on your needs/wants/useage and how close to stock you intend the car to be. I have zero interest in having a modern hemi in a classic car, so "best" for me would be a 340, followed closely by a 360 (likely stroked). Dave
1970 Super Bee 440 Six Pack
1974 'Cuda
2008 Ram 3500 Diesel
2006 Ram 3500 Diesel
2004.5 Ram 2500 Diesel
2003 Ram 3500 Diesel
2006 Durango Limited
[url] http://1970superbee.piczo.com [/url]
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Re: 71 cuda - 340 lost, what`s the best replacement?
[Re: Delta]
#1711003
12/15/14 07:26 PM
12/15/14 07:26 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,003 Salem
Grizzly
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Welcome to the board, Delta. You have all the right ideas. The Edelbrock aluminum heads would also compliment your goal to keep it light. For point of reference, running 360's can be had around here for $1000.00 or less, and complete re-build candidates can be had in the $500.00 range. Now, factor your shipping costs plus the cost of re-build and see if that becomes a viable option to source one from here and have it sent to you.
Last edited by Grizzly; 12/15/14 07:36 PM.
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
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Re: 71 cuda - 340 lost, what`s the best replacement?
[Re: Delta]
#1711008
12/15/14 08:26 PM
12/15/14 08:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,516 Las Vegas, NV
6bblgt
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I see orange '71 'Cuda & seats - spoilers & louvers - you mentioned that it's a 340 4-spd car. Likely the top of the 340 food-chain short of a convertible - can you share fender tag info? An iron headed 360/408 can be dressed to appear as stock as an original 340. Its impact on your wallet will be minimal, and its negative impact value/desirability of the 'Cuda would be minimal. sounds like a WIN-WIN!
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Re: 71 cuda - 340 lost, what`s the best replacement?
[Re: d-150]
#1711012
12/15/14 09:19 PM
12/15/14 09:19 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
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jose jones
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Re: 71 cuda - 340 lost, what`s the best replacement?
[Re: Delta]
#1711013
12/15/14 09:28 PM
12/15/14 09:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
dogdays
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The 340 and 360 are the same engine on the outside.
The original 4-speed will mate to the 360, they were available that way when new. The bellhousing (part that goes between the engine and the transmission) is the same for both.
Make sure that you get a flywheel that matches the engine. By that I mean the flywheel will have 130 tooth ring gear, and have the normal MOPAR 6-bolt flange. But 340s and 360s had different balance. And who knows how a stroker is balanced. So, you need to make sure that WHATEVER engine you buy has a harmonic damper and a flywheel that are balanced to the particular engine you are getting.
For a clutch the flywheel will have a 10.5" pressure plate bolt pattern, and you can use the bigger clutch, they called it 10.95" to differentiate it from the larger flywheel that took either an 11" or 12" clutch. Centerforce Dual Friction would be my choice.
If you can afford aluminum heads they would help take weight off the front end, that would be good. Then also you could run 10.5:1 compression with your available pump gasoline. It should be very easy to make 500 hp with such an engine, if you want that much. If you wanted only 400hp, a 360 would do quite well.
I would suggest finding a builder on the East Coast to build an engine for you. I am suspicious of mass-produced high performance engines.
I hope someone here can give a reference or two.
Whatever you do, ask here before you buy. Or send me a pm, I love to spend other people's money.
Good Luck!
R.
The good news is that you only have to sort this out once.
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Re: 71 cuda - 340 lost, what`s the best replacement?
[Re: dogdays]
#1711016
12/15/14 10:03 PM
12/15/14 10:03 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 25 FL/Europe
Delta
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Thanks all for advices! This is exactly, what I need to know. I have no problems to get all parts from US, I frequently ship containers with all the stuff here. Once the engine and all the other accessories is specified, it will be an "easy" job. I wouth rather have the engine built in US, because of much more experience. I want to get it running and make it mechanicaly like new first and enjoy driving, let the total resto for next years. If anybody here can help me with complete specification of everything, engine builder, I would appreciate that. PS. this is actually not my first mopar project, but my previos was rather easy, because of it was complete, all original and running, (but still it took 3 years to finish - therefore I want to drive first before deep restoration ) Quote:
The 340 and 360 are the same engine on the outside.
The original 4-speed will mate to the 360, they were available that way when new. The bellhousing (part that goes between the engine and the transmission) is the same for both.
Make sure that you get a flywheel that matches the engine. By that I mean the flywheel will have 130 tooth ring gear, and have the normal MOPAR 6-bolt flange. But 340s and 360s had different balance. And who knows how a stroker is balanced. So, you need to make sure that WHATEVER engine you buy has a harmonic damper and a flywheel that are balanced to the particular engine you are getting.
For a clutch the flywheel will have a 10.5" pressure plate bolt pattern, and you can use the bigger clutch, they called it 10.95" to differentiate it from the larger flywheel that took either an 11" or 12" clutch. Centerforce Dual Friction would be my choice.
If you can afford aluminum heads they would help take weight off the front end, that would be good. Then also you could run 10.5:1 compression with your available pump gasoline. It should be very easy to make 500 hp with such an engine, if you want that much. If you wanted only 400hp, a 360 would do quite well.
I would suggest finding a builder on the East Coast to build an engine for you. I am suspicious of mass-produced high performance engines.
I hope someone here can give a reference or two.
Whatever you do, ask here before you buy. Or send me a pm, I love to spend other people's money.
Good Luck!
R.
The good news is that you only have to sort this out once.
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Re: 71 cuda - 340 lost, what`s the best replacement?
[Re: Delta]
#1711017
12/15/14 11:52 PM
12/15/14 11:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms
Mr Wizzard
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Mr Wizzard
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That's a rare/special car, weather you decide to install a close replacement now (or not) I would still recommend procuring the best/most accurate replacement you can find even if you keep it under the bench and decide to install something else. 1971 340's also have some one year only parts that you should also try to locate while you can (short list of larger items below). 1971 4972s Carter Thermo-Quad Carburetor DR1114429 Idle Stop Solenoid 1970-1971 340 Air Cleaner 1970-71 Valve covers 1970-71 340 Oil Pan (294 stamped into the bottom) 1971 intake manifold- Casting # 3512100 Exhaust manifolds, casting #3418621 Drivers Side & #3418623 Passenger Side (the hard part is finding both with casting dates prior to your cars SPD) You can learn more about correct parts details ( Here ). As far as a replacement 340 block goes your choices are pretty straight forward, most opinions will vary but the following are my personal choice list, my most to least favorite in order: 1. Find the original numbers matching block (long shot but nothing else will be 100% "correct" ) 2. 340 block, warranty replacement or service block. I like these because the casting date doesn't matter so much and it won't have another cars VIN sequence number on it. 3. 340 block from another car which has an assembly date before and close to your cars scheduled production date. 4. 340 block from another 1971 model year car (any date) 5. 340 block, any year casting you can find 6. 340 block, new Mopar replacement "Resto 340" block 7. 360 block, any year
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