Upgrading a stock 340 - 1973 Cuda

[Glow Worm]

My 73 Cuda, as far as I know, has the original, unmolested 340 engine in it.  The car has approximately 58, 500 miles on it.  I would like to try to get a few more horsepower out of it.
A very good friend of mine told me that putting different heads, intake and cam will help, but unless I am willing to change the pistons, and do some other upgrades I will be throwing money down the toilet.  He says the engine has low compression because "the pistons are buried in the cylinders."  I'm not a mechanic, but I do understand that.
My initial thoughts were to buy an Edelbrock top end kit and just go with what I got, but after talking about it, I'm thinking I should go with the entire rebuild.

What could I expect if I just went with the top end kit?  I need to have the engine bay painted and I want to do the transmission too while everything is out of the car.

Any thoughts?  Suggestions?

[73_Cuda_4_Me]

What do you want to do with the 73? What gearing in rear? Open rear or limited slip? Just depends on what you want to do and how much you want to spend... 

 

[cudabob496]

you can put free-er flowing heads on there, with a smaller combustion chamber, that will increase compression ratio, and power
pretty signficantly.

[moper]

You're friends are talking about the compression height of the pistons vs the deck height of a non-blueprinted block. In the later-than-'71 engines the pistons are shorter. So the actual measured compression is closer to 7.8:1 than the 8.5:1 they advertise. It's not a big deal. The 340s still capable, but you want to make sure you don't over cam it. Stay conservative (under 225 degrees at .050) and you will get some power without serious work. I don't feel that new heads are worth the investment without addressing the pistons. But a cam, intake, and headers will ceratinly go along way to a wider smile.

[YO7_A66]

 My 1970 340 started out as a stock rebuild (OE) when I bought it 14 years ago. I too wanted something more out of it so I started swapping out parts over the years. I swapped out ignitions, carbs, intakes, cams, intakes, HP exhaust manifolds to TTi headers, stock 2-1/4" exhaust system to a 2.5" X-pipe system. After all of the parts swapping that I have done, the biggest "Seat Of The Pants" feel did not come from any of these engine parts.
 The biggest "SOTP" changes were swapping from 3:23 gears to 3:91's, and swapping from the stock torque converter to a 10" 3500 unit. 

 

[cudabob496]

heads are supposed to be the #1 place to go for added power

[cudabob496]

here's an easy 50 hp:

free flowing 2.5 inch exhaust with X-pipe, Walker super-turbo mufflers
headers
cold air induction
K&N air filter
tune-up, including carb


then to be quick on street, 2800 stall converter, and around 3.70 rear gears.