on a 3k budget, neither one of us have an engine, and we both have to pay fair market value, I'll will get my 318 and build it and I bet I go faster than the 340 you paid 1500 bucks to get a core... you'll have 1500 to get it going, let alone any performance parts. I'll get one of these great free 318's around here on FABO and then I'll have 3k to spend on performance parts. I'll have aluminum heads, .030 pistons, a healthy cam, and your 340 is in a world of hurt :D