The 340 stroker has been to the dyno.......

[Glennster]

Rob7dodge,
  The sound of a V8 screaming as you near 7 grand is a beautiful thing. I never had a muscle car growing up, I had buddies with some screamers. While I opted for the stroker, I can certainly understand the need for RPM"s!!!!!!!!!
  I grew up racing Moto Cross in Indiana and Michigan, we used to enjoy the high RPM's of the 2 strokes.....What a BLAST!!!

[Road_Runner]

My first 68' 340 would twist to 6,800 easy. It was pretty plain, crane 267/292-467/494 max velocity cam, J heads and factory steel crank w/ fact rods.  Some of my buddies, and others with brand X makes would say, man that 340 screams. I'm building this one just to have fun with on a very tight budget.  I think thats why I want to keep that stock 3.31 in stroke to twist and hear and feel the unmistakeable 340 sound and power.
 

Thanks and I agree a high rpm screaming 340 sounds about right!  I'm in the process of decided which way to go with my Roadrunner too, and will either go stroker B motor or stroker Hemi depending on how long I want to wait to gather the funds.  So a high winding small block Barracuda may be just garage mate for the Bird.  I've got a sweet running 318 in it now so there's no hurry getting the 340 together so I can do it right.

Later, Jim

[femtnmax]

Engine masters magazine had a 340/416 build with photo of rod clearancing the block.  The cuts were very small.

[moper]

In order to not clearance the block you need to run an I beam rod with capscrews, not bolts and nuts. H beams and stock rods will hit the block and the cuts are a 1/2 moon about 3/8" deep and 3/4" wide on one side of the block for each rod. Not a weakening of any kind and not visible. I' be more concerned about blowing the numbers block up than cutting on it. If you are taht concerned, get another block.