318 Build suggestions

Yes but at what cost...at what cost...(In a Peter Griffin voice:))
The only cost difference in building a 318 vs a 340 is pistons. Where you achieve the 400 HP is a matter of what camshaft is used. There is a lack of torque due to the smaller CID of the engine. In order to match a larger engine, step up 1 gear ratio. 4.10’s - 4.30’s.

The way AJ would have you believe, you’ll need an extra 1,000 rpm’s to do it. It could not be farther than the truth. Total hogwash. If it so with your engine, you did something wrong!