what is it about excessive cubes??

Huh, no, it is an 88, carb.
The 318 I built for it, has a 260 ISKY cam, ported, some goodies, balanced.... I just need to put it in.
I had a 273 in a 71 3/4 ton for a while, got way better MPG than the 360 I took out, and would pull, as long as you were in first gear.