I don't know of a 318 guy that wouldn't take a 340 if they were both priced about the same....
Like I said before, a 340 is now the collector guys engine or a certain class of racing engine. At least that's what the price reflects.
100% if 340 were the price of 318 I'd buy 10/20+ of them :)
I get why people push 360 and don't total disagree, 360 can make pretty good mid range torque numbers 440-465+ lbs-ft there's 408/440 out there barely doing better, plus can make good peak hp and can keep it at reasonable rpms, but doesn't make the 318 not capable performer especially if you want to turn some rpms, to me as long you are ok with 318 cons it's a great platform. If Mustang guy's can call a 302 a torquey engine were gonna be fine with a 350-400 lbs-ft 318.
I wish some one would dyno a stock 5.2l magnum bet it's around 275 hp and 350-370 lbs-ft making a kick *** little engine especially with a mild cam swap that no one talks about.