RE: Drop a 340 in for $1400 or mod the 273
They are becoming quite rare these days and hard to find. Look on E-Bay or your local auto parts traded. But if you can't find a 340, the 273 will not be a bad choice. All the HP 340 parts will bolt on the 273. And I believe the 273 has a forged crank and the rods are the same as the 340. You could use the money you save from buying the 340 to put aluminum heads on the 273 and headers and exhaust. Also a nice 340 aluminum intake (air-gap) being the intake of choice. A nice edelbrock 4-barrel carb and a nice Mopar camshaft with lifters. That 273 would be a real high winder and what kind of trans do you have? Also if you choose to use 340 heads of any kind you will have to have the block notched. Its not a big deal for any machine shop to do. Nothing wrong with a 273... its the little older brother of the 340. Oil pans and pumps, distributor, and all bolt ons are the same as the 340. Good luck.