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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RustyRatRod said:
I didn't miss it. I got it.....MY point was that there are always exceptions.

And I've said he was right before in this thread.....using the narrow parameters he laid out. If you use a funnel, there's only one place what's put in it can go. LOL

I completely agree with nothing and a 3K dollar cash outlay, the 318 will very likely come out on top. I've agreed early on and I still do.

I simply don't like being constrained in little boxes......because life is not that way.
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To throw in all of life's variables would make the conversation pointless. I mean, I COULD find a 440 magnum complete and in great shape for 50 bucks at the widow's sale..... That's why I funneled it to specific: Has the 318 become the BETTER choice than the 340 in todays market prices?? 30 years ago the answer would have been NEVER! But today ????? I say yes, the 318 is a better choice than the 340 with a restricted budget.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I didn't miss it. I got it.....MY point was that there are always exceptions.

And I've said he was right before in this thread.....using the narrow parameters he laid out. If you use a funnel, there's only one place what's put in it can go. LOL

I completely agree with nothing and a 3K dollar cash outlay, the 318 will very likely come out on top. I've agreed early on and I still do.

I simply don't like being constrained in little boxes......because life is not that way.
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They do that because at the onset they were going to gang up and argue with anyone who didn't say "the 318"...
 
318willrun said:
To throw in all of life's variables would make the conversation pointless. I mean, I COULD find a 440 magnum complete and in great shape for 50 bucks at the widow's sale..... That's why I funneled it to specific: Has the 318 become the BETTER choice than the 340 in todays market prices?? 30 years ago the answer would have been NEVER! But today ????? I say yes, the 318 is a better choice than the 340 with a restricted budget.
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And I'm in agreement. But even still, most will choose a 360. I wouldn't, simply because I would actually WANT to build a hot 318. ....but I have a hot slant 6, so I'm sick like that.
 
RustyRatRod said:
And I'm in agreement. But even still, most will choose a 360. I wouldn't, simply because I would actually WANT to build a hot 318. ....but I have a hot slant 6, so I'm sick like that.
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I believe anyone who has serious power making and racing on their mind will go 340-360LA or 5.9 magnum. Why? they will be thinking of the end result, and money will be no issue, dumping coin into a 318 that you know eventually you will pickup a 360 is wasted money in the end. Mopar Performance used to sell Crate engines for a reasonable price. not sure what they are up to now, but point is, save your money and get a drop in crate engine making 360 HP to start. There was an old saying that working guys I know used to say " I cant afford to spend money on junk" meaning you buy good and you buy what you want, that way you wont be buying it again later.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Yeah......I know. lol It's alright though. I'm really on their side.
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LOL... And I love all small block mopars equally, taking them for what they are. I remember when (and I did) a guy just went and bought a 340. I once bought a low mileage 340 in "ready to run" condition for 125 bucks. No joke. I put it in a '70 Duster. In those days, it wasn't a discussion, 340 was the obvious choice, even with a 600 dollar budget. But, collector value of the 340 has shot through the roof. I'm a realist and love all mopar small blocks. I do get a kick out of "340 only guys" that can't throw realism into the equation.
 
318willrun said:
so when the next young man shows up with his 318 4 door dart, says he wants to build some performance on it and has 2500... maybe 3k to spend on the engine.... is it common sense to advise buying a 340 instead??? Many here offer that advice. My question is would that get him the most performance for his money?? Talking in a 1/4 mile race. Obviously the 360 option is golden here but some still advise the 340. At todays prices, should he pay 1500 for a core 340?? Or should that 1500 buy a set of Promaxx heads for the 318 ??? I love 340's, and have owned a few. But at todays prices, I don't think they fit the bill of a low end budget.
  • Or, we could offer up the age old "you can't play until you can pay" advice, which ALWAYS helps the hobby grow... Son, in 10 years of savings, you get to play..... :rolleyes:
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Not at all, but if you're a kid with 3k to spend on a engine and you don't spend $1-300 on a 360 core perhaps you need to take up checkers instead. Nope, that takes comprehension and reasoning so checkers would be out too, sorry. Maybe flipping cow patties would be a better suited hobby.

I know where there are two 360 cores at now, one out of a mid 80's truck for $100 and the other one is in a mid 70's one ton motor home for probably about the same money. If LA versions are seem hard to find magnums aren't.
 
Hey be careful..I'm a 340 only guy, there are a few of us left!
For me a '69 360 GTS is just wrong on so many levels
It's a character flaw!.
 
justinp61 said:
Not at all, but if you're a kid with 3k to spend on a engine and you don't spend $1-300 on a 360 core perhaps you need to take up checkers instead. Nope, that takes comprehension and reasoning so checkers would be out too, sorry. Maybe flipping cow patties would be a better suited hobby.

I know where there are two 360 cores at now, one out of a mid 80's truck for $100 and the other one is in a mid 70's one ton motor home for probably about the same money. If LA versions are seem hard to find magnums aren't.
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As I stated form the git go, 360 is the choice of reason. It's why I left it out. But I cannot believe that some folks cannot, will not, and will scream and holler all the way to the nutty farm before they can admit, come to grips, that on a 3k budget, the 318 is actually the faster engine to buy and build vs 340 at fair market value. And that is ONLY due to the fact of collector prices on the 340's.
 
ir3333 said:
Hey be careful..I'm a 340 only guy, there are a few of us left!
For me a '69 360 GTS is just wrong on so many levels
It's a character flaw!.
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That depends if you change the emblems on the car...I ran a 318 with the 340 scoops on my 70 swinger..it is an original 340 car that was the "interim" motor at the tine, Dyno max mufflers and 2 1/2 inch exhaust. Old fellers would come up and say "is that a 340? ...that engine sounds good...:)
 
318willrun said:
As I stated form the git go, 360 is the choice of reason. It's why I left it out. But I cannot believe that some folks cannot, will not, and will scream and holler all the way to the electric chair before they can admit, come to grips, that on a 3k budget, the 318 is actually the faster engine to buy and build vs 340 at fair market value. And that is ONLY due to the fact of collector prices on the 340's.
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I completely get it, really. But it leaves out any inkling of common sense. Why do you think (most) guys prefer a 440 over a 383?

If there was one 340 left in the world, there were zero 360's and 318's were sitting piled in every garage, then yes the 318 is the way to go for a 3k budget. But's that far from the real world.

In your scenario I'd tell the kid to look for a 360 core while continuing to save his lunch money. If he's going to be a true gear head he'll be much happier in the long run. Because when the bug bites he'll want to upgrade, maybe a larger cam or headers , better heads. The 360 is just easier to get the power out of. and why shoot your self in the foot from the start?

If he just wants to have a old car to drive around, it doesn't matter what powers it.
 
back on topic I seem to think the price of things has gone up, and its almost impossible to do things on the cheap. I have been buying parts on FABO and I am willing to gander 40-50% of some of the cost is shipping. Not complaining what I'm saying is, being cheap is virtually impossible. I wouldn't chance Chinese heads, id buy used Edelbrocks first but that's just me. I don't need the headaches that foreign parts bring. If the teener guys say they can make power cheap, Id like to se it, how much power 300 HP? and what did it cost? what was involved? machine work wise? can your average guy successfully hog out their ports or are they going to eff up a couple of heads before they get it right?
 
justinp61 said:
I completely get it, really. But it leaves out any inkling of common sense. Why do you think (most) guys prefer a 440 over a 383?

If there was one 340 left in the world, there were zero 360's and 318's were sitting piled in every garage, then yes the 318 is the way to go for a 3k budget. But's that far from the real world.

In your scenario I'd tell the kid to look for a 360 core while continuing to save his lunch money. If he's going to be a true gear head he'll be much happier in the long run. Because when the bug bites he'll want to upgrade, maybe a larger cam or headers , better heads. The 360 is just easier to get the power out of. and why shoot your self in the foot from the start?

If he just wants to have a old car to drive around, it doesn't matter what powers it.
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but...... some still advise finding a 340 here on FABO. That's why I used the scenario.
 
[QUOTE=, "Dartswinger70 That depends if you change the emblems on the car...I ran a 318 with the 340 scoops on my 70 swinger..

Oh My...how did you sleep at night!
 
it was a temporary situation, actually the 318 ran good. My recipe was stock heads, summit cam, set of Hedman hedders, and a 600 Holley on an Edelbrock peformer intake. 4 speed with 3:91 gears. I actually have nothing against a 318.
 
I'd be looking for a 400 block. lol if I'm replacing a 318
 
Dartswinger70 said:
What if you have both (318/340) "sitting around" collecting dust and insect nests....the cost is the same across both, gasket set, timing set, cam, oil pump, rings, blah blah blah machine work...etc. then which, all things considered one would you build? (yes there are folks who have multiple engines siting around in their garage).
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If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle
 
MrJLR said:
If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle
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So... correct me if I'm wrong, you don't think there are people out there with a 318 in one corner of their garage and two 340s in the other? and you guys call yourselves hot rodders? Right now, the "temporary 318" that I speak of is sitting in one corner, I have one 340 in my car, and my other 340 is being assembled on the stand. truth. You might say I could use another car :)

Not bragging, but when I got into Mopars... no one wanted them things were had on the cheap. A Mopar was bought new rode hard put away wet, most of them didn't run when you bought them and every body panel had a dent in it. They weren't "gold" like now, in fact I remember when people were like "why do you drive that POS...? and the car would look good, and people still though they were crap. Mopar got no love... people dint like working on them, Chevy guys couldn't figure them out( I don't know why)
 
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318willrun said:
but...... some still advise finding a 340 here on FABO. That's why I used the scenario.
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I like 340's too and have a short block sitting next to my 360 block that was used for the 408 that I ran. The 340 is 0.030" over, Diamond flat top pistons and Eagle rods. A hone, rings, bearings and it's ready to go.

This will ruffle some feathers, but IMHO, stock stroke, dollar for dollar, equal parts and machine work a 360 will make more power. This and $1.75 will buy you a cup of coffee in some places.
 
Dartswinger70 said:
it was a temporary situation, actually the 318 ran good. My recipe was stock heads, summit cam, set of Hedman hedders, and a 600 Holley on an Edelbrock peformer intake. 4 speed with 3:91 gears. I actually have nothing against a 318.
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I'm just messin' with ya. There were a number of gorgeous cars at our Cruz nite last night..an orange '69 Mach I, a 69 COPO style Camaro, 427 AC Cobra, '33 Ford 3 window among others. I like all of them, but the 340 is special to me because of memories from the 60's.
And i knew of a few 318's than ran hard. There was a 57 283 Chev Nomad called "Midnight Oil" that was very fast at our drag strip in 1968.
 
The 340 was a best bang for the buck engine back in the day. A 70 340 swinger with minimal options was under 3 grand new. One of the reasons why it is so popular and well remembered. They were "fast out of the box" and could be tweaked to do more very quickly and efficiently.
 
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Young man with 318 4dr Dart, should spend $300.00 and get a 5.2, add carb, intake, and headers. Put the rest toward college.
 
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