Power Train advice.

[Rock Binder]

My 345 just slung 2 rods out of the block yesterday while traveling down the interstate. In other words, i do not have an engine anymore. So, im asking for some advice here. I was thinking about going with a small block now that I have an excuse to. Should i just find another 345 to rebuild or should I go with the 350? I do know that parts are cheap and easy to find for the small block, but I want something that was just as reliable as the 345 before it went. There are so many options for trannies and t-cases when I go with the 350, I dont know where to start. Any advice on what will work with what, would be greatly apreciated. Thanks.

[Munchies]

Theres alot of good 345's around here. its bolt in. id go that way. Where did the rods fail? Usually I find its not the engines fault, they have BIG bearings. Hard to throwna forged IH rod.

[TheCopperCowboy]

I'll make you a hell of a deal on a 345 / 700R4 / D300 with adapters, bolted together, ready to go. Even have a brand new AFI in the box for sale. PM me for details. :smokin:

[Rock Binder]

The rod bolts must have been stretched. The bolts broke, the rods came off the journals and out the side of the block. It sucked bad, it felt like losing a loved one:(

[SJscouter]

if you already have a t19wide and a 300 or somthing cool id stay IH.
but if you dont have anything special. you could go 350,sm420 or 456, and there are a ton of opptions for t case, atlas, 203/205, 300.

Mec, is right its cheap and easy to find a 345, and it will bolt right in and you cant beat the low end of a tractor motor.

it can all depend on how much you want to spend too.

[Rock Binder]

Well, before the motor went, I had a 727 tranny in the shop that i was going to spend $600 on to have rebuilt. I was thinking about saving the $600 for something better, maybe a (350/700r4/D300). I was running the stock 345/727/d20, so I didnt have anything special. How hard would it be to go with a manual chevy trans? Which trans has the 6.34:1 first?

[BLK Scout 800]

The sm465 has a 6.56 first and the sm420 has the 7.05 first....

When my 304 was done I went TBI 350/sm465/IH 300 seems to fit good and I lost 300lbs out of the deal....AA sells an adapter for a jeep 20 and that's what I used for the IH300 it was a bolt in....almost :D

I like the 350/700r4/300 that would be sweet just maks sure you get the 4wd auto.
On a side note if you go with the sm465 get the 2wd 35 spline it;s stronger cheaper and AA makes a ton of kits to bolt to it...:flipoff2:

Sorry to hear about the motor good luck...........Josh

[Old Scout]

Theres alot of good 345's around here. its bolt in. id go that way. Where did the rods fail? Usually I find its not the engines fault, they have BIG bearings. Hard to throwna forged IH rod.
:shaking: :shaking: It's real easy with the fucked up IH oiling system. A thrown #1 rod is very common.

[Rock Binder]

Thanks for all of the help. Yeah it was the #1 and#3 rod. The engine only had about 60 thousand on it, must not have used the right rod bolts.