The 340 comes home: A letter to Jen

[Dr.Jass]

Dear Jen,

It's been a long time since we parted ways... a lot of water has passed under the bridge, emotions have cooled, and time has healed many wounds. Memories change--the good gets better, the bad fades away. So much has happened in the past 13 years, I wouldn't know where to start... so I'll just cut to the chase:

I still hate you.

 

[Dr.Jass]

[smilie=e:

 

[Stretch]

crunch!

 

[Dr.Jass]

Here's what an ~8500+RPM shift will get you with 140,000-mile valves.

Jen may be gone, but I can still see her crack clearly...

 

[beeper*71]

Yikes. [smilie=e:

 

[dodgechargerfan]

So that's what "a loud gronking noise" looks like. [smilie=e:

[smilie=2:

 

[greg73cuda]

crap. top & bottom end distruction. that bitch

greg73cuda

 

[Stretch]

Hey but at least she's crazy! [smilie=J:

 

[firefighter3931]

[smilie=2: Rev Limiter !!!

Ron

 

[Stretch]

[smilie=2: Rev Limiter !!!

Ron[/quote]

Yah it's got one. Looks like shes limited to about 8500.

 

[Dr.Jass]

Just like you so often did, Jen, Mother Mopar lied to me... not all 340s had windage trays.

Not only was it not there, but note the lack of required piggyback bolts...

 

[Dr.Jass]

A few other interesting details... not only was this automatic-trans crankshaft drilled and reamed for a 4-speed, it's already got a pilot bushing in it.

Remember the horror stories of assembly-line guys tossin' cigarette butts in the valve covers to conceal their against-the-rules smoking? This is the third engine I've found evidence in. Amazing how well preserved a cigarette butt looks after 32 years in drain oil... and I used to huff the equivalent of exhuast through one 30-50 times a day. [smilie=e:

 

[Dr.Jass]

The numbers matched the last 8 of the car: WH23H3A201396

Another surprise was the late casting date of the engine: 02/08/73. Not so late, exactly, but the build date of the car was 03/14. My other '73 340 block (that one from a Hamtramck car) was cast in late September of 1971.

 

[Plum Crazy]

Yikes!! The carnage, the the the, oh damn I can't look anymore![smilie=e:

 

[6pkrunner]

So I see you have the optional 1972 Fury package added to that 340.

 

[giowest]

So I see you have the optional 1972 Fury package added to that 340.

Was this an extra charge or a freebie? [smilie=e:

 

[73roadrunner]

[smilie=e: one can only wonder where Jen is today. probally on her 3rd marriage with 5 kids, one she named Pierre in honor of her first love! [smilie=e: Yes.......she'll buy a new yellow Daytona Charger and try to bring back fond memories of her youth. And deep down she knows she touched a man's life forever! [smilie=b:

 

[Matt43]

Dude I knew once blew up a slant-6. I said "how the hell'd ya do that??" He'd run it out of oil an threw a rod right through the side of the block, left a dent in the hood too.

 

[71GTX]

[smilie=2: [smilie=a: [smilie=bunny.gif]

 

[restoman]

Egads!
It does say a lot about an engine with that many miles on it and yet able to go to 8000 R's and still keep the bottom end intact.
Too bad it died from the effort.
Da*n valves.