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

It's not that expensive. Can be done on a 5.2 magnum block with stock heads. Freshen up the stock crank and rods then freshen up the heads the. Add cam and intake. Easily a $3,000 budget and it will live

Maybe I just assumed, but I thought the premise of the original question about 4 million posts ago was a running LA 318 w/ $3,000 to spend vs a running LA 340 w/ $1,500 to spend. So now, we're allowing a 5.2, but not a 5.9? Why is the goal post moving?