I shifted a reworked 73 340 (cast crank) at 6700 with a bell and trunnion 833 in the late 80's with a stock damper...Not knowing any better. When we freshened the short block she needed the piston pin bores oversized from the abuse...Badger cast pistons no less!
In fact one of my fondest memories is street racing a 327 Chevelle who pulled a rod cap trying to match my 2-3 gear shift timing...
All of us started somewhere