If you have built a 340, I want to hear from you...

[Guest]

I have picked up a Buick 340-4 motor that has been sitting for about 6 years in a dry garage. It ran before it was tucked away.<P>I want to freshen it up before I drop it in my 66 skylark. I intend to make this a streetable motor, and will eventually run a minor nitrous kit to it.<P>What can I do with this motor? What is available (performance wise), and where... If you have any experience in building and/or racing with this motor PLEASE HELP!<P>T/Y

[YellowLark]

Best thing you can do on this site is to search both this board and the General board using "Search" and use "340" as the search item.<P>A guy on another site has just built a 340 to be 400+ horsepower. But that is a rare and expensive undertaking.<P>As it was only made in 66-67, there are not a lot of aftermarket parts for it.<P>Most folks who want a really fast '66 Skylark will swap a Buick 455 into it.<P>I don't race my car, so the 340 is fast enough for me. For your reference, a magazine timed the 340-4 at 16.7 seconds and 81 mph for the 1/4 mile.<p>[ 01-28-2002: Message edited by: YellowLark ]

[Guest]

I did do a search on the 340, and there were a few posts that will help a lot... I was just seeing if anyone could give me some specifics.<P>The 455 is a good idea, however it is expensive. I picked up a good 340 for $100.. where could I find a good 455 for double or triple that?<P>I don't understand these times, you said that a 340-4 ran a 16.7 in the quarter.. but my 300-2/TH350 beats the pants off my friend's hybrid civic (which runs 15.00's all day at the track, and faster on the street due to better traction).<P>Thanks for the info!!

[Guest]

But hey! if ANYONE knows of a pre-emissions 455 F/S for cheap, let me know!!!<P>Mind you I do not want to run race fuel/ add additives.<P>t/y

[Guest]

I build a lot of small buicks e-mail your questions at JIMMIEB@ns.net. I build a very streetable 340 that runs hard. easy too.

[YellowLark]

Some more notes:<P>(1) The track times I mentioned were published in a May/June 1967 issue of Car Life (a popular mag back then), which did a test on a 1967 GS-340.<P>(2) The original 1965-67 300 and 340 engines came with ST300 transmissions in the A-bodies, not the TH350 you mentioned you have.<BR>Maybe that's why your car is faster than stock.<P>(3) The 340-4 needs a racing fuel mixture, even for street use. I've had mine many years, tried everything, and talk with other 340 owners at shows. That 10.25:1 engine will ping with today's 93 octane gas. <P>(4) JimmieB is the man for further advice.