[olddog]

The old timers rules of thumb that short strokes can rev higher, and that long strokes make better low rpm torque motors came from the limitations of their time. When all you had was factory blocks, factory rods, and often factory cast iron cranks, sure it was a lot easier to rev a short stroke to higher rpm before ugly things happened.

When all you had access to was crappy factory heads that didn't flow well, small bores limited valves size, and small bore/long strokes just plain could not breath at high rpm.

Now even in the old days Chrysler had hemi head engines that flowed better than most. And canted valve heads came around. I remember when the multi-angle valve job made a big difference. Even though cast iron head could be ported back then, it was out of the reach of the hot rod guys. So even in the old days these rules of thumb were not absolute truths, but they did point you down the easier road to travel, that you could afford.

Sure all the technology has changed, and we can easily do what could not be done years ago. Brent is absolutely correct and I understand his frustration with people propagating old myths. However, to understand our history, you have to keep things in perspective.

Even today in a given block family, it is much cheaper to build a high rpm engine if you stay on the short stroke side of what's available for it. Likewise if you go to a long stroke and want it to breath at higher RPMs, you are going to have to shell out more cash for better heads. Even though we can afford to do what only a race team with factory support could have done back then, it still does cost more, but it is affordable today.