The 340 is the biggest POS V8 Chrysler ever made.
If you want to bench-race historical data from road tests performed two generations ago, that's fine. I just don't see how you can look at a 14+ second 340 Duster and somehow use that to argue that it's not a POS. You'll be laughed at with anybody who knows anything about cars made after 1990.
Was the 340 impressive in its day? Sure. So was the '32 Ford V8, so was the '49 Rocket 88, so was the Tesla Model S. I don't see you worshiping those cars and any of those could be argued to be a bigger deal in their own time.
IMO what makes engines like the 340 great is what could be done with them back then and what can be done with them now and how they feel to drive. The fact that this motor that came out 50 years ago can run with the best (when properly built) is all the proof that you need.
Also, I can tell that you don't know your *** from your elbow about turbocharged 4cyl engines but do your research before you make a fool out of yourself. Plenty of guys are running in the 10s and a few in the 9s with those bloated EcoBoost S550 Mustangs.
It is understandable that after 50 years most everyone here talks about what the 340 could be,not what it was. As a factory new street car, it was considered to be a very quick car. Most people did not own or drive them, but drove 318 furys or 283 Impalas. Also, all the nostalgia and pumped up stories about built race cars is just that. stories. Most people did not have the money or Interest is modifiying them, as they were all pretty quick. The fad of owning them came and went very quickly.
Also, keep in mind the whole deal with wanting these cars was concentrated in a four year period, not long historically. By 1972 forward, most people didn't care about the muscle cars, and they were resold for very little. Then, the 1973 fuel crisis hit, and the muscle car market died. I had a friend that owned a beautiful little red Express type Ram short box with a 400, and traded it even up for a new Pinto!(1975)
I remember buying a 1970 roadrunner 440 six barrel in 1976 for $800 Bucks.48k miles, so it was somebodys daily driver.
About the most the average racer did to the cars was slicks and headers,if that.
Most everybody drove them to work, or school, rain or shine, snow and ice. so the whole deal about everybody racing all the time is not true.
