Cley, you are really fortunate that the rod went where it did - only a pan to replace. A few degrees up and the block would have been ruined.
You say you used a HV oil pump but I assume still using the standard capacity pan? I have some understanding that this is not wise - often the pump will suck out too much oil that sometimes can't be drained back in time. I would always use a higher capacity pan (at least 1.5 extra Quarts) with a HV pump. It would be ok for most driving but doesn't give much margin for safety. I am using a 318 'A' engine pan and pickup (Poly engine) on my 340. They are about 1.8 extra quarts over the LA engine pan. They bolt straight on but you need the poly gasket set though.
As for the 318 trash-talk - I really don't understand this thinking - firstly there is not a great deal of difference between a 318 and 340. There is a lot more differences between a 360 and the other LA engines - the externally balanced (mostly) all cast crank, so you need to use the special torque converter or modify a standard one; and use a 360-only damper plus with different rear main so a different pan is needed. I think also the engine mounts were different in some way. The 318 right from the day it was sold was a "nothing special" by the factory. But it had strong rods, many had the forged cranks, the strong factory shaft mounted rockers and so much potential. In 1968 it had over 9:1 CR, but small valves, average flow, under exhausted and under-cammed, it was just created as an average engine. But it doesn't take a great deal of effort to get them lighting a fire under your A**. You only have to fix up those factory-given disadvantages of compression (in the later ones) and flow, worked/flowed heads or aluminium after-market, a nice cam, twin system and headers, 4 BBL and a 60 over bore starts to get it closer to the 4" of the 360 and you can easily get 120+ extra HP from the humble 318. And because they are so common, the initial purchase price is often very low, or even nothing, as in the case of the OP's situation. They are still a Mopar engine, strong, well designed and with all the awesome potential that entails.
You say you used a HV oil pump but I assume still using the standard capacity pan? I have some understanding that this is not wise - often the pump will suck out too much oil that sometimes can't be drained back in time. I would always use a higher capacity pan (at least 1.5 extra Quarts) with a HV pump. It would be ok for most driving but doesn't give much margin for safety. I am using a 318 'A' engine pan and pickup (Poly engine) on my 340. They are about 1.8 extra quarts over the LA engine pan. They bolt straight on but you need the poly gasket set though.
As for the 318 trash-talk - I really don't understand this thinking - firstly there is not a great deal of difference between a 318 and 340. There is a lot more differences between a 360 and the other LA engines - the externally balanced (mostly) all cast crank, so you need to use the special torque converter or modify a standard one; and use a 360-only damper plus with different rear main so a different pan is needed. I think also the engine mounts were different in some way. The 318 right from the day it was sold was a "nothing special" by the factory. But it had strong rods, many had the forged cranks, the strong factory shaft mounted rockers and so much potential. In 1968 it had over 9:1 CR, but small valves, average flow, under exhausted and under-cammed, it was just created as an average engine. But it doesn't take a great deal of effort to get them lighting a fire under your A**. You only have to fix up those factory-given disadvantages of compression (in the later ones) and flow, worked/flowed heads or aluminium after-market, a nice cam, twin system and headers, 4 BBL and a 60 over bore starts to get it closer to the 4" of the 360 and you can easily get 120+ extra HP from the humble 318. And because they are so common, the initial purchase price is often very low, or even nothing, as in the case of the OP's situation. They are still a Mopar engine, strong, well designed and with all the awesome potential that entails.
