Some more "Dogs" that can be Pit Bulls....

Remember comedian Bill Engvall's hit comedy song-"Here's Your Sign?" ( That said-"I'm Stupid" ). Got a couple emails about the last post from someone who needs a sign. He said I was wrong about some engines not really being "dogs". He pointed out how the 360 Chrysler didn't have anywhere near the performance of the 340 and that the Chevy 400 small-block wasn't anywhere near as good as a 327 or a 350, and the 403 Olds wasn't anywhere near as good as a 350. Here's your sign. I say this-because just like I pointed out about the various GM, Ford, and Chrysler big-blocks-he's comparing apples and oranges for the same reasons!  The 340 from 1968-71 had 10.5:1 compression, a hot cam, and big-port heads with 2.02 / 1.60 valves, and a Carter AVS 4bbl. In '72-73 the compression was dropped to 8.5:1 to run on low-lead fuels which dropped the hp rating from 275 to 240-but they still had everything else-good heads,cam and intake,etc. The 360 was introduced in 1971 in trucks and vans and never had more than 8.5:1 compression,and had small-valve ( 1.88 / 1.50 ) 318 style heads, a lazy cam and 2bbl carburation, and single exhaust!!  In fact-a 4bbl carb was only offered on a few 1974 Dusters and 'Cuda / Challengers, and Charger / Road Runners, and the '78-79 Li'l Red Express pickup. The millions of other 360s in various Dodge cars and trucks and Chrysler / Plymouth vehicles through the '70's all had 2bbl carburation. Again-all other things being equal-heads, cam, intake, exhaust, compression ratio,axle ratio-the 20 extra cubes of the 360 will be worth at least 25 hp and 30 lbs ft of torque. As for the 400 Chevy-same thing. The 275 hp 327 and 300 hp 350s had 10.25:1 compression. and Quadrajet 4bbls. The 350 hp L79 327 and the 370 hp LT1 350s had 11:1 compression, "202" heads, hot cams, and 780 Holley carbs on an aluminum high-rise intake. The 400 Small-block was introduced in 1970 as a "towing" engine in Impalas, station wagons and trucks. It had 9.0:1 compression, "194" heads, a lazy cam and was only available with a 2bbl and single exhausts. In 1971 compression was further lowered to 8.2:1. A 4bbl wasn't even an option until 1976 in the trucks. Every magazine writer whose ever done an article on building a high-performance small-block Chevy will tell you that a 400 will make tons more power and torque than a 350!!  50 extra cubes makes a BIG difference. And now that Dart is selling brand new 400 blocks building one has never been easier. Ditto for the Olds engines. Late '60's and early '70's 350 Olds engines had 10.5:1 compression, and were rated at 310 hp. The high-performance "W31" had larger valve heads,a 308 degree cam, and an aluminum high-rise intake. It was grossly under-rated at 325 hp and was only available with a 4-speed and 3.90:1 or 4.33:1 gears!!  The 403 was GM's "corporate" big-block in the late '70's. It had 7.9:1 compression, a lazy cam, and was only available with an automatic and 2.56:1 gears. A few WS6 Firebirds had 3.23:1 gears. Again-all other things being equal-53 more cubes means more power and torque!  Mastermind