In 74, the incoming 360-4bbl was rated at the same power as the outgoing 73 340-4bbl. and from my memory with the 74 Sport I once had, I believe it.
But it had 20 cubic inches worth of more torque at the bottom. Something the 340 could never touch.
So I guess your idea of peppy is not the same as mine,
I've had a lot of 340 cars in 50 plus years of driving, and bottom-end peppy is one thing they never had. And that's why, all but one, have had manual transmissions behind them.
Whereas even a 2bbl 360 was more peppy in the daily-driver, bottom-end department.