[Barry_R]

I actually prefer the 5.315 rod 347 combination. The extra rod length is near to meaningless. And I have several 331s running out there that do just fine as well.

I actually do not like the oil rings perforating the pin bore. What is considered an acceptable degree of oil control in a hot rod would be considered totally unacceptable in any OEM application. Most performance guys will never know since they change the oil every time the wind changes direction. Add to that the fact that the ring groove spacers are nowhere near as well made as the rings nor the pistons - it's an uncontrolled and un-necesary variable - you can often readily feel the difference in ring drag when turning the engine over on the stand.

The oft quoted carb formula is inherently flawed. Back when carb companies used SAE standards instead of making up cool sounding number, the carbs were rated at 1.5" of vacuum drop below the plates. You NEED some sort of reference restriction in order to derive a rating - but the values arrived at reflect a restriction in airflow into the engine - exactly the opposite of what you want.