Stop discarding good 340 engines ! !
I love and appreciate the SBM in all configurations. But having owned a '68 340 that ran like a Bat Out Of Hell when stock, I must say that the mystique of the 340 lives on and the 360 is just a replacement engine for an original 340. My stock 340 ran 13.45 @ 104.5 best and 13.50's all the time in the late '60's and early '70's when I lived in Hot Rod Heaven (SoCal). I have 5 strips to chose from and made over 350 runs on the 340 before I tore it down at 60K. Still had 100% crosshatching on the cylinder walls and the bearings were fine. Stupidity of a kid made me want more power.
I have 3 340's now and keep them ready for when I break one. but never had. My restoration will be done in 2 months or so, so I will take it to the track (Bandimere in CO) and see how it runs now. But that is the last time as Bandimere will close at the end of they year. Sad that progress and people moving into the area demand that drag strips close down. Happened in SoCal way earlier though.