I agree with you when it comes to $$$ . It's not that the block gets butchered it is however an absolute fact that a useable 340 block is alot more $$$ than a useable 360 block-FACT. Case in point --Had a customer come in with a completely blown up 416/340 and wanted me to make it right. OK--check the block--cracked at the bottom of the cylinder(I probably made a thread about this one) Report my findings to the customer and he tells me the budget and wants TF 190's and 500+hp. He also tells me he absolutely wants a 4340 forged crank and he has 3x 360 blocks to choose from. I tell him perfect-journal overlap makes a stronger crank and he can drop down to a Scat 9000 series crank and basically have his cake and eat it too type deal. He comes back a week later with a $1500 340 block and states "A 416 runs som much harder than a 408" He also states he wants that forged crank no IFS ANDS or BUTS. I tell him he just ate $3k out of his budget and now the cylinder heads are off the table and he is OK with that. I'm like WTF? Because I see 360 blocks with the larger mains as a win/win/win in a stroker application. Alot cheaper(just as strong crank) I've made almost 650hp with the SCAT 9000 4.000" , bigger stiffer main diameter, common much cheaper block, not as much shame if the engine fails, slightly more piston/ring options due to the 4.03-4.06" range, etc.. <<< might even be a couple points I'm missing. J.Rob