Today, dollar for dollar, is the 318 faster than the 340 ???

Completely understood. I really meant for this to be a reality check as to what has happened in our hobby. The price that the collectors/restorers, and even racers have placed on a 340 has rocketed. Not that it's a bad thing. But it puts in perspective that the lower end builder is probably not going to be shopping for a 340. It was my whole point, using the "boat anchor" 318 as the source for the foundation of the topic. Obviously, some took that as a "threat" or "hate", or "disrespect" towards their beloved and that couldn't be further from the truth. And nothing more disrespectful to some than to line up a common 318 to the beloved. The 340 always has been and always will be one of my favorite small blocks produced by any manufacture during that era of time.
Well, once again, you left out the 360, which was produced from 71 till 93, far outpacing the number of 340s out there. A REAL budget hotrodder is gonna choose the equally cheap 360 core...not a 318. It's a skewed argument, with unrealistic limitations on what's available in ANY wrecking yard.