cudaracer, I know you're stoked on this 318 build, but HP2 has a very valid point and you ignore it at your financial and engine-life peril. What is it that you're seeking here? Horsepower, uniqueness, or what? I get your point about being able to put a combination together, but at the end of the day, without trying to be offensive, you're going to an amazing amount of work, effort and expense to basically re-invent the wheel. Just out of idle curiosity, why not just build a 360? or 340, or any of the other combos that are cheaper and have more bang for the buck than where you're going? In the final analysis, it's your engine and your dough, but you DID ask for comment. For what it's worth, here in the frozen north, I recently priced a stroker Eagle kit for a 340 that had the 5140 SIR rods, good bolts, rings, bearings (main and rod), cast steel crank and forged 9.7:1 pistons for $1100 before taxes. you can also buy it with a balancer, flex plate and balanced for a few hundred more. Just sayin' 
Thank you for the reply, and taking the time to try and help my stubborn self.
I hope you can take a few more moments to read what I say below, and follow up with any more new or same advice, from any and all.
Going the 340 route seems extreme to me, because of the following reasons to ME:
1. Cost for a complete short block
2. Minimal gains relative to 318 with same hardware
3. High revving 340 makes less sense in an automatic 904, then it does in a 4 speed manual, that is, well, more fun to rev.
4. Did I mention cost
Going the 360 route seems slightly less silly, mostly because of slightly less cost, but I still need new pan, motor mounts, balancers, etc.
Additionally for both these paths, I have nowhere to store my 318 block, which I would like to keep.
Now I know we can dissect every choice, cost for cost going either route, but at the end of the day, all I really need to do is add new pistons for my 318 because of low CR. It is an original block with 84K miles, that runs great with good compression. That’s it. And keeping the original has some merit to me. Additionally, not seeking a max HP path, allows another check in the 318 box. But of course while I got it out, I will want to rework it, which I would do with ANY used 340/360 block I receive, that I also have to spend money to purchase in the first place. And again, the storage of block issue. Wife hates the idea of a block laying around our new garage.
So, with all that processing in my mind, I see that I can now also add the stroker crank (3.58”) to the build, which will require balancing to ANY new pistons I get, plus slightly reworked original rods. I am targeting 370hp and 410 ftlbs with that setup and keeping my existing upper end, which consists of 308 cast 360ci heads, 66cc chambers (which nets me 9.5:1 with a flat top) and 0.477/0.488” cam.
I also like that I am at 348ci, which sounds like a bored 340, and I have more torque than a 340, something I need more than high rpm hp. I also have a lighter rotating assy (smaller bore pistons) than a 360, so there is some rev factor in there, right?
Keep the advice coming.
I am not fixed on this path, but it seems best in my circumstances.
Thanks.
