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

Is what I'm saying is 448Scamp still has a cobbled up scrap iron core shifted block. Type of guy that puts $7,000 into a block with core shifted and align bored. Then won't check every lobe on the camshaft to make sure it's all within spec then takes his core shifted block and gets it zero decked instead of square decked. Then does valve train geometry on one cylinder of this core shifted block. Not even realizing that the geometry might not be correct for all cylinders because of the core shift. Then gets forged pistons and runs a tight .006 on a core shifted block. That when it warms up the hot spots in the cylinders start going out of round and then his forged pistons expand and they start dragging in the bores. Then the weakened main bearing spun align bored block that has its integrity compromised and has been stressed starts vibrating around while the high pressure oil pump is putting out enough pressure that it's pushing the oil through faster than its lubricating the internals.

Don't worry I used to think like you and your machinist before. And then I learned the RIGHT WAY to build a engine. But I have been in your shoes been there done that got the t-shirt.