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

would you agree ?

  • yep, the 318 wins if buying and building for under 3k

    Votes: 48 41.7%

  • Nope, the 340 always has and always will beat the 318

    Votes: 57 49.6%

  • Actually, never thought about it like this... Good Point !

    Votes: 10 8.7%
  • Total voters
    115
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431 or 451 because I already have a crank ready to go. A nice reground forged crank.
I'm contemplating punching my 413 block out and stroking it, of course I will need custom pistons.
 
Nat said:
throw out the budget , what would you build 318, 340 or 360 ?
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I'd start with 340 100% of the time if cost was no object depends on application if it would be 2.94"/3.31"/3.58"/3.79"/4" stroke. Really if cost was of no concern Aluminum Big Blocks for everything :) Out of 318/360 since the choice for most 360 90% of the time, to me if I wanted to build a light handing manual transmission car that makes medium power 300-350hp but at somewhat higher rpm that I could have fun going through the gears while keep speeds reasonable for the street and sound like a race car 273/318 would be my choice for that. Or if I had a 273/318 car that I didn't overly care about power just a mild cam 4bbl duals and tune would do.
 
Do your $ per HP, ft/lb or ET on a "give away" 318 or a purchased 340....still waiting on those numbers. Remember the initial OP's question here. I dont think it was ever asked "whats your favorite motor".
 
pishta said:
Do your $ per HP, ft/lb or ET on a "give away" 318 or a purchased 340....still waiting on those numbers. Remember the initial OP's question here. I dont think it was ever asked "whats your favorite motor".
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The thread is over a month old and 14 pages and you surprise if it goes off topic :)
Dollars to hp 318 vs 340, this threads question basically since a 340 is so expensive you have work with stock 340 parts mainly block and heads, where the 318 is free you can invest that into cheap aluminum aftermarket heads.
 
The last 340 was built 48 years ago. lol Worn out :lol:
The 318 survived until 2002, a fresh roller 318 from pull and save and with the additional money left over and basic massaging is the way I would go. I believe it would be a better engine for 3000 total.
 
6pak said:
The extra stroke of a 360 makes a hella difference.
I’ve heard people that ran a 340, then switched to a comparable 360, and say they will not go back.
My observation, Your milage may vary.
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The answer to a question not asked. Thanks for playing. I never liked a 360 myself. They are fine for you.
 
Not even close. I go too fast with a 273, and I drive on the street all the time. I have had them all, 273 340 and 360, in a 64 and 66 Barracuda, 4 speed cars, with Formula S suspensions. They don't go to the track on a trailer and run a quarter mile at a time... LOL
 
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66fs said:
Not even close. I go too fast with a 273, and I drive on the street all the time. I have had them all in a 64 and 66 Barracuda, 4 speed cars, with Formula S suspensions. They don't go to the track on a trailer and run a quarter mile at a time... LOL
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lol. Ohhhhh ok
 
318willrun said:
some will, I'm not :) Now you can see why threads can't get past the first page on topic..... What could be a fun, and maybe help somebody even make an educated build for their future project usually gets wiped clean by post 21
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I'm 100% with you here - I wish people would stick with the OP's intention of the discussion, instead of trying to (and usually succeeding) skew the discussion from the original point and intent. It's just basic courtesy and good will. of course, opinions are allowed but they are at the expense of the original idea. Now the thread has moved from 318 /340 dollar for dollar build comparo to bringing in 360s/ magnums and 440s !
 
70Hardtop said:
I'm 100% with you here - I wish people would stick with the OP's intention of the discussion, instead of trying to (and usually succeeding) skew the discussion from the original point and intent. It's just basic courtesy and good will. of course, opinions are allowed but they are at the expense of the original idea. Now the thread has moved from 318 /340 dollar for dollar build comparo to bringing in 360s/ magnums and 440s !
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You would be silly not to bring 360’s into this discussion. The cost factor of the 340 goes out the window and free cubic inches walk in to the discussion.
 
318willrun said:
the thread kind of took a turn with "I'm a fan of" and therefore....

I have no special interest of either, as I'm a fan of both 318 and 340 and understand both. I thought it was truly a fair question considering todays prices, is the 318 a better choice if a guy only has 3k to buy and build his engine. Would he go faster at todays prices with the 318 vs 340 and their prices? Very fair question and to me, the 318 hands down wins this race. Doesn't mean I think the 318 is a "better" motor at all. I just think it means the money will go farther making hp vs the 340.
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To me, you get a set of 360 heads, evidently some people are selling them for scrap, use your 318 or buy one, spend the coin on real good machining and a set of pistons. Buy quality parts, custom cam for your combination, maybe some gears. Same goes for any LA engine. No big deal.
 
pittsburghracer said:
You would be silly not to bring 360’s into this discussion. The cost factor of the 340 goes out the window and free cubic inches walk in to the discussion.
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Before I'd go 360, I'd be into a 383. Better everything. That is not the discussion, most of us are pretty sick of 360's being injected into every small block discussion. I sold all my 360's decades ago, kept the heads. Still have the 273's and 340's. I even have a 5.2 Magnum, I am not interested in 360's or 5.9's.
 
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The problem I have with this thread is the built in bias of the basic comparison. A running 318 compared to a non running 340. The running motor has to win out.
For this comparison to be fair both motors should be freshened up. Then you make your comparison.
In other words the question should be, Can you make a 318 faster than a 340 for the $1500 you paid for the 340 core?
I think the answer is still yes, but at least now the comparison is fair.
 
66fs said:
Before I'd go 360, I'd be into a 383. Better everything. That is not the discussion, most of us are pretty sick of 360's being injected into every small block discussion. I sold all my 360's decades ago, kept the heads. Still have the 273's and 340's. I even have a 5.2 Magnum, I am not interested in 360's or 5.9's.
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keep one thing in mind. You didn’t start this post so honestly it doesn’t matter what you are interested in. If we limit our thinking we limit our success.
 
pittsburghracer said:
keep one thing in mind. You didn’t start this post so honestly it doesn’t matter what you are interested in. If we limit our thinking we limit our success.
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That is not the discussion, most of us are pretty sick of 360's being injected into every small block discussion. I'm not the only one. I never limit myself, 360 only.
 
Funny reading the pissing contest.......
My $.02 is all small block Mopars are well engineered and every different CID can be made to perform very well.
I happen to like the 318 for personal reasons. ....they go way back to my youth. Build them, stroke them, it's just a small block Mopar and they are all freakin awesome.
And, 318s are plentiful and cheap.....
@RustyRatRod said, (and I agree), you dont see the Ford and Chevy guys crapping on their own engines. ..

Jeff
 
No the question is dollar for dollar, not 318 vs 340 in output, that's a given. Someone gives you a budget of 3000 and you need to build a max effort 318, same goes for a 340. Getting a 340 is gonna be 33-40% your budget. take what you end up with and run the formula. HP/$
 
IfItsGotWheels said:
The problem I have with this thread is the built in bias of the basic comparison. A running 318 compared to a non running 340. The running motor has to win out.
For this comparison to be fair both motors should be freshened up. Then you make your comparison.
In other words the question should be, Can you make a 318 faster than a 340 for the $1500 you paid for the 340 core?
I think the answer is still yes, but at least now the comparison is fair.
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The problem you found in this thread was inspired by many threads here on FABO. Many say "I have a *** limit budget, and I want to spiff up the stock 318. Many times it is said "find yourself a 340"....... So if this is realistic advice that people are giving, then it's a realistic question of which is actually the faster motor on that limited budget. Besides, many have claimed recently in 318 threads that they have good running 318's they pulled and are now taking up space and they would give them away free for the hauling..... So thus the "free good running 318 vs a core 340". For those that suggest the 340, is it really a better choice for 3k or less ???
 
Agreed! Way to often the words of “Dump the teen and get a 340” are used without care or concern. I think it is mostly due to a low reading comprehension if they even read the thread at all. In conjunction, the OE post er looking for basic help on a hop up of there engine is t getting the help. You “THINK” your helping them but your not with there limited budget or just the simple desire to work with what they have. And the “Just grab a 5.9” isn’t as cheap as purchase and dump in and go ether. Close, but no cigar.

There is not a damn good reason at all to throw away a good running 318 in favor of a $700-$1,000 340 block that needs work starting with basic machine work. Then there is the cylinder wall check. Is it even worth a boring? Or can it get away with a honing?

With a engine that is already running good and shows good on a compression check, why not just go from there?
 
LOL, and shipping an engine is what I’d never do unless it’s coming from a brand new build from Blue Print Engines, PRH, IQ52, & the like.
 
A 318 'will run' or is that .. can run?

First hand experience.

Flashback - It's 1973

I got a new 73 340 Sport
Buddy Skip B. buys a purple 71 318 Duster with X heads, manifold, Holley and headers. Cam?

He beat me in the 1/4 by a car and a half.
 
70 Buster 340 said:
A 318 'will run' or is that .. can run?

First hand experience.

Flashback - It's 1973

I got a new 73 340 Sport
Buddy Skip B. buys a purple 71 318 Duster with X heads, manifold, Holley and headers. Cam?

He beat me in the 1/4 by a car and a half.
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A 71 beefed up teen against a 73 stock 340? Sure. The teen comes out on top every time. The 72-73 340's ran good but not impressive compared to the earlier 340's.
 
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