Whats the deal with 340s?

DARTH V8R said
Think again. Unless your a fan of ball/stud valve trains.

Is that much worse than less power? Technically they're pedestal mount stock, many switch to ball/stud for cheap roller rockers.

AJ/FormS said
Did I hear my name again?
There's no way to prove it's a ball. And there's no way to prove it's not flat.
So there!

I had a 7-speed for a while.
The ratios were;3.09-2.41-1.67-1.30-1.00-.78-.55. Scooted pretty good with 4.30s. So there! The truth is 7 was too many. I have a 5er now; 3.09-1.92-1.40-1.00-.78. Juuuust right!

I had a 74DartSport 360 4-spd.I wouldna called it a pig.
I had a 71 Monaco 3602bbl. It did ok.I wouldna called it a pig.
I had a 77 Dodge van,3602bbl. It did ok. I woulda maybe called it a pig on gas.No worse than my old Swinger 340 tho.
I have had 4 of stock 69/70/71,low mileage, 340 cars with 4spds and 3.55s in As. All needed to be wound up some to get moving. I would say that 3.55s was the minimum for 4-speeders.
Stock Teeners pull any old gear; just put 'er in D and stomp it. 'Course zero to sixty can be measured by sundial

The teeners aren't awful, but they're substanically slower to speed and up.

DARTH V8R said
The 360 wasn't the successor to the 340, as the were produced together for 3 years. The 360 replaced the 361 Big Block. All 72-73 340's were 'smog' engines. The 74 360HP was no slouch, especially when coupled with a 4-speed.

That same motor was used like that up to 1980. They also had a 2bbl version of the 360HD, and a 4bbl version of the 318. The 360 did replace the 361 following '79, but it replaced the 360 in 1974, the 400 in '79, and the 440 in '80. 361s were not discontinued in 1971 with the 360's release, 340s did cease production after 1973 when the 360 was offered as its direct replacement across A, B, and E model lines.

Dartswinger70 said
340 was a pre-smog HP small block. The Govt. forced emissions on it and it became a detuned low HP engiune. The successor was the 360, a smog engine, similar to the 400 Chrysler B engine. Yes it is a 4 inch bore, but it never was comparable to a 340 when it came out in the early 70's. The cu in displacement vs Horsepower was a joke in the 70's. That's not saying you cant build up a 360, and the MP Crate 360's are great alternative for someone who wants a new drop in crate motor. The 318 is a good engine, but it was never meant for racing, the 340 was. Yes, 318s are popular now because they are drying up, I remember when people were pulling them to put B or RB engines in their cars, and giving the 318's away. I acquired one or two for free, and delivered to my garage already. Those days are over though.

'71/2 360s were actually decent compression, but the 360s never got good cams or the 4bbl until 1974. 318s are popular not because they are drying up because they are still cheap like that. That's what a 318 LA is worth still.