On Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:52:37 -0600, dpb wrote:

A. Baum wrote:
...
have the 340 on blocks out in my garage. That was their best HP motor
IMO.

Outside the 426 Hemi...it did better on a per ci basis than did the 383,
but the 425 out of the 426 was pretty hard to top...

Never had but 383 or the hemi (short time only--it was simply too hot
for ordinary use so didn't keep it but a short year at most) so not a
lot of familiarity w/ the 340.
Both the 340 and the 426 were initially severely under-rated by
Chrysler, horsepower wize. A stock street hemi could pull over 500 HP
on the dyno, and a "275 HP" 340 could pull well over 300 with only
minor tweaking.
Then there was the mighty AAR / TA six-pack. Rated at 290HP and good
for well over 325 back in 1970.