what to do..... (kinda long)

[Don B.]

I have 2 sleds here now, both Enticers; I want to make one good one outta 2;
1) 1980 ET 340-ED 6000 miles; my brother bought several years ago; just to let it sit untouched outside for ~8 years or so; elec start (works) I brought home to see what it was "all about"; motor was stuck, I got it freed up fairly easily; has 140-ish# compression, spinning off the elec starter in both holes; carb (choke actually) froze, gotta see if I can free up;
1 bent ski, hood cracked 1 side of hinge, "mossy" option on waterlogged seat, bottom of seat totally rotten( plywood) choke lever busted; tail light housing rotten, busted hinge etc;

Sled #2) I just brought home today as a "parts" sled for #1; (I think its a '79--serial # starts with "8H9") ET 300; no elec start, motor stuck, only 2400 miles; all there but carb, windshield, and seat; but what IS there, is in VERY clean condition; controls all like new; as is the hood I got the engine free on this one as well, w/o much effort at all, 120 on one 125# compression on the other hole on the pull starter;

This was part of a "2-fer" deal I found on CL the guy had 2, 300 Enticers, one runner and this parts sled; the seller was not wanting to seperate; I called him and talked to him 2 nights ago and they were both still available; I called this morning and he had someone on the way; said he'd call when he knew what the other guy would do; I'm ~75 miles away from seller.
I told him that if the guy that was on the way ahead of me only wanted one, I'd take the other, dependent on seeing its condition once I saw it; since I have this one sitting here already, if the remainder I'd need to make 1 "whole" sled, was still there on the parts sled.

With my comments in mind, and the 1st guy only wanting the "runner", no interest/place/way to haul the "parts" sled, the seller went ahead and split them, letting buyer #1 buy just the runner; so I made the trip to see the parts sled, he was clicking pix and swapping texts w/ my son (I was driving and have texting "blocked" on my phone anyway) he asked my son if his wanted price was "fair" for just the one; seller already told me what he'd let the pair go for if bought "that" way; I told my kid to tell him it depended on what we saw when we got there, would answer upon seeing.

well we got there, I asked what he got for the runner, and I countered with a lower price on the parts sled and he accepted; he wound up $50 better on the pair, than the price that he said would take them both....

OK; questions begin; My orig intent, once I saw how nice the 300 is, was to take the 340 engine off and mount it to the 300 body, given the much better shape it is in vs the 340;
once I got the eng unstuck from the 300, a neighbor stopped by (member Tonka 329 from this site) and thought I should try and get them both going; I don't have space for another sled in the offseason, I only have 1 carb between the pair, and if it would run (with that kind of compression I don't see a problem) leave the 300, a 300; and shelve the 340 engine as the spare. Besides by fixing them both I still need everything I needed for the 340 that I did before, I didn't gain anything on that sled. though I have talked to a couple sled junkyards" in the area and both claim to have Enticers sitting around. (no seats though)

I thought of rebuilding the 340's seat for the 300, til Tonka pointed out that the 300 is shorter; the seat won't fit; it needs redone anyway so I think I'll cut the 340's seat down to fit the 300; Igotta make a new plywood base as it is anyway.

Suggestions? Would you (1) put the 340s elec start engine and wiring on the smaller but better shape 300, or (2) take the necessary parts off the 300 chassis and put them onto the 340??
I will have parts available here (once I have 1 good running sled); such as; the track and suspension from the left over sled, at least a driven portion of a clutch, a chin case, a tunnel, gas tank oil reservoir (less cap) hood (very fixable if you can fiberglass)
I plan on keeping all the electronics (CDI box, coil, regulator, etc) and for now at least the left over "long block"; other parts, inquire.
Trades considered, I definitely need a good seat core for whichever sled I put together; there is ~5-1/2" difference in length. also need the hinge etc for the tail light. and a good (rebuildable at least) carb for 1 or the other;
brings up another Q; how much difference between carbs for the 300 vs 340?
any issues in putting the 340 on the 300?

 

[sleddheadd]

I have a carb for an enticer sitting in my garage. i think it is a 340 carb but it may work for the 300?

 

[Don B.]

H'mmm; I'm thinking it would work; I was thinking of putting the one from the 340 onto the 300 and try it to see if it would run. (once I rebuild it and get the choke plunger unstuck) As of now I have 2 sleds I am trying to get one "good" one out of, and really only "need" 1 carb; but I want to save the other engine as a spare and it would be nice to have it complete.....
is your carb "free" (as in not frozen up, not as in "no charge") and complete?

which would you do; get the 300 running as a 300, or transplant the 340 engine onto it?

 

[sleddheadd]

I have never riden the 300 but I had a 340 for a long time and those sleds are a lot of fun! Very zippy and quick off of the line. I am honestly suprised to hear about the 340's blowing up because those things are practically Bulletproof!
I would use the 340 and the 340 clutches/chian drive/gears and put the rest together with the best parts you have of the 2.
The carb I have is Free'd up and in working condition, ready to install.

 

[bgkid2966]

I would probably repair the 340 and then part out the other. It sounds like it will be about the same amount of work for either one. Goodluck!

 

[Don B.]

well; with the lighter weight of the 300 + the bigger displacement of the 340 engine the best of both worlds???? that's what I'm winding up with; the 300 is otherwise in alot better shape chassis wise. I stripped them both down took the 300 to the car wash and cleaned it out, took all the "deluxe" parts from the 340 (elec start, wiring harness, battery tray,etc) and transplanted it along with the 340 engine onto the 300 chassis..... if the 340s were zippy, then the 300 with the larger 340 engine should be even more so..... the suspension all "looks" OK from what I can see, though it don't "drop" when I pick up the tail of the sled; neither sled does. so IDK if anything is froze up or not; the 300 sure spun freely, track, wheels etc!! Now to find a seat for a 300 and wait for another batch of snow.....

 

[Don B.]

I did not touch the driven unit or chain case I left what was on the 300 on the 300 and the drive part (bolted to the engine) that was on the 340 originally still is on the 340...

QUESTION; does anyone know what HP these engines were rated at? How much more does the 340 have vs the 300?