So lets have everyone list some cheap speed parts they have used over the years...would 340 manifolds on a 273 help pick it up? if so i think that could be something worth doing. So lets hear em!

If you've asked this before, you're probably sick of hearing
this but.....$150 junkyard 360

I get the...."stroker crank/put a BB in it" cracks too.

I'm sure there's something cheap you can do to a 273 but,
can't think of money better spent than on a running 360.

A 440 would be the cheapest way to get more power.

Yes a set of 340/360 manifolds will flow more with a nice set of 2 1/2" dynomax super turbo duals cross over and x pipe.
But headers are real cheap?? or do you have the manifolds?
I'm a bb guy but My first car was a 64 273 valiant in 1968 so I have an affection for the 273.

340 manifolds are not cheap. Unless you already own them.

The cheapest speed thing I've done was putting a
good set of adjustable shocks on and dialing in the
chassis.... I've picked up more than .5 just in the
chassis

A set of 3.91 or 4.10 gears would wake thar car up!!!

Next thing would be a 10" torque convertor if it is an automatic.

Get a Thermoquad off a BB from the wreckers and rebuild it yourself.

After that it gets expensive,,,

Good luck,

Arnie

How about a really good tune up. Clean, check and lubricate the distributor, rebuild carb and get the timing curve and jetting dialed in.

Well i didnt mean just for the 273, i meant small things that have been done over the years to help a car out just a little. And my moms car has 340 manifolds on it and they are going to headers soon so ill probally toss those on the 273, as for carb and intake i had an LD340 layin around and my buddy is letting me borrow his 650 demon....yeah i know its too big but it runs better than the 2bbl ever could. The car is on a pretty decent tune. timing is 8*BTDC and it has new points, plug wires, superstock coil...all stuff we had in the garage. As for going the 360 route my dad donated a virgin 71 340 block,crank,J heads,pistons,rods,main caps, and some other stuff, but it needs to be completely rebuilt so itll have to wait.

On a 300hp 360 crate motor the 340 manifolds only made about 5 more hp than the 273 manifolds so I think you will not notice the differance. You could sell the 340 manifolds and get almost enough money for TTIs that made like 25 hp more than the 340 manifolds.

One of my favorite cheap upgrades is a JY thermo-quad in place of a 2bbl, or even in place of a small 4bbl.

Thin head gaskets are a good one. MOost replacements are .040 - .060 thick and investing in steel shim gaskets for a BB or the now discontinued mpoar .028 gaskets for a SB can bump compression a nice bit.

For small blocks I love the change from putting magnums on in place of any other factory head.

High ratio rockers always work good for me on mild cam motors. You can get them for a couple hundred bucks and a pair of valve cover gaskets are all thats required to put them on.

A mopar, or similar electronic ign up grade or even a piece it together your self electronic, works great over points.

For the 904 guys the low gear sets from the mid 80s and later low gear ratios work great, especially on a milder motor.

As for your car, you could sell the 340 and buy a low mile 360 magnum and a rpm air gap intake with the money and make some real nice street power. Trust me you would be very impressed

Old days old ways- Better intake manifold, hotter cam/lifters and headers w/dual exhaust. Hyd cam and lifters are avail new for a great price. Intakes used are all over. Headers for an early A body may not be cheap. But use your 340 manifolds with a good dual exhaust.

N20 - Cheap, tunable, go fast, scatter parts . Now your racing.

the .028 SB head gaskets are available again..

P4120094 or MR Gasket 1121

same gasket..

I don't know about small blocks but I would try more than 8* initial timing.Get that up as high as you can without hot starting issues.Limit the mechanical advance accordingly.OR just buy the mp elec conversion kit and let her rip.
Basic stuff here.Good tuneup,better flowing intake and exhaust.Then you get into rocker arms and camshafts.
Not really cheap but find a chassis dyno and tune it at part and wide open throttle so you can monitor A/F ratio.

haha ill stay away from N20, i was raised with the thought that thats for people who cant build motors, no offense i just dont believe in it....who ever raised u obviously hasn't seen any PRO MOD or 10.5 shootout racing..those guys run TONS on NOS and I'm sure they can build engines..nitrous when used properly can be an inexpensive way to make power.. ..with the options u have i say there is no replacement for displacement...use the biggest engine at your disposal...and get as much comp. as you can.(i.e. mill heads/deck block).u seem to have a good enough collection of parts to make yourself a nice little hot rod.. good luck...........Al

Well not using N20 is a personal choice, nobody in my family has used it and there have been some fast cars and still are some fast ones. Ive toyed with the thought of it but ill just build some fire breathing monster and try to tear up my buddies aluminum headed small block chevy on a 150 shot....ill just set up the suspension and everything since he is on stock suspension and a stock convertor....ill just have to beat him at the line and not look back

Cheep speed parts ,You can allways go chevy