O-ring instead of paper gaskets, yeah pretty much most newer motors do that. Intake ports on the heads, well, there are so many different aftermarket heads for SBC's, I didn't consider port shape to be a big difference in engine design. A SBC running dart "buick" heads is still a SBC. Valves, who runs factory valves anyhow? Are there any big design changes, crossbolted main caps, revised cam location or bearing journal sizes, bolt patterns, (following is speculation) I am guessing no distributor so there is probubly no place to put one, so what drives the
oil pump? Revised oiling system, non-siamesed exhaust ports? I am curious, I haven't looked at any of the newer stuff in a while, wonder what changes the general made to the most popular engine ever.