What would you do?

 

I have always heard, go with the cubic inches. The 340 is a high performance engine and thats the only way it came. I'd opt for that and it will bolt in right where the 273 came out. Then offer to sell the 273 on E-Bay or if its original, keep it. But its your choice and either one is a keeper. Good luck.

 

Where do you think i could get one?

 

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.

 

i agree...it took me quite a bit of hunting to find a 340 block...it seems that there are two types of 340s for sale..

1. junk blocks. they have cylinder scoring, if not worse...hell, i have one with a hole in the number 8 cylinder wall...these are the only "cheap 340s" you can get without some patient hunting..

2. already built blocks. it sounds nice, right? unfortunately, many 340 block owners have built them up with the best parts, and youre going to pay dearly for them...

the 273 can be built to be very strong, but its not cheap, and the 340 would be the better choice..if you can find one for a reasonable price.