combination/setup and intended use of the motor/vehicle is critical to the outcome

many many a 306cid SB Fords outrunning 400 plus cid SB Chevy's and vice versa

 

True, a good set up in a light well hooking car will out run a lot of things. I was looking at some of the different Ford head set ups, good gawd they can get really sick. I think every one who street races a fox body says they just have a "306" in it, lol.

 

Well if you're really that strapped for cash don't even do a stroker.... My stock crank 355 with eagle h-beams and SRP pistons went 11.7@119 on motor in a 3550 lb camaro and went 10.40@131 on a 150 shot... And my heads were far from exotic as I got them mail order from racenet.net and I was running a hydraulic roller cam as well... 236/242......... Put all the bolt ons on it and if you build a 355 make sure you put 6" rods in it and it'll run like a raped ape....

FWIW that same motor with a 10 minute DFI tune that was far from optimized put down 422RWHP and 401RWTQ.....

I'm building a 383 right now that I'm hoping will make close to 500RWHP....

But don't count out a properly built 355 with 6" rods... best rod to piston ratio of any SBC and with the right parts especially in the top end will flat out fly....

 

i thought the 383 with 6" rods had the most optimal rod/stroke ratio?

anyway what i was trying to ask was, is the 396 a self destructing motor? the added stroke will cause more side wall loading than a 355 or a 383, but is it enough that after say 60k the walls have had it and the motor needs to be rebuilt?

 

Far as I know the 3.48" stroke 355 has a better rod/piston ratio..... Could be wrong but swear that it's the best....