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I remember the car mags questioning the 275 hp rating. Most estimated a stock 340 pumped out over 300. Some thought the lower advertised rating might be for insurance purposes. A 70 340 Duster embarrassed many Ford and GM muscle cars.

 

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Ahhhh.....
View attachment 11091

Another of Dad’s grilles.

 

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So .. in the 80's I had 70ish dodge dart .. my gear head freind at that time said it was a 318 wide block... I'm not sure.
But that car was not slow.. I can say

A 318 in an "A" body was a nice running car.
Don't know what they meant by "wide block".
318, 340 and 360 were small blocks based on the 273 since maybe the 67 model year..

 

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I assume they’re referring to the older poly 318 also.
The 340 was a light weight powerhouse and combined with the lighter Duster made a great $3k street machine.
Dad tried a 360 2bbl in a 71 Sport Fury. It was a decent engine in a big car but just didn’t have the ooomph a 383 2bbl had. Plus the 360 used oil for some reason.

 

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We had 318s in a 70 Coronet and 71 Satellite. The same years my uncle had a Monte Carlo then a Chevelle with 350 2bbls.
Being H.S. kids my cousin and i often "compared" acceleration of dads' cars. The 318s could match or beat the 350 off the line then he would pull ahead somewhere in second gear. Don't know what axles were in the cars but dad often ordered 318s with a quicker rear end.

 

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Correct, but not offered in A bodies. 318 LA and later small blocks were based on the 273.