[Mark O'Neal]

Substitute 11:1 compression and iron heads with big stroke on pump gas, and you're screwed!

Sure, but if you substitute 11.0:1 compression and iron heads on a 347 your screwed too. (on pump gas)

A little common sense is required when you're laying out the combination, but there is nothing difficult about it.

I've seen a LOT of really expensive stroker engines that won't take a reasonable amount of timing advance and blow all that potential power right out the tailpipe.

Well, by definition the advance wasn't reasonable (for that combination). It is a sure thing that an iron headed 11.0:1 motor won't accept more cylinder pressure, regardless of how you develop it.

tuning one of these things on pump gas is often IMPOSSIBLE unless the engine was built low compression with the right heads, the right cam timing, etc.

The most basic component of an engine is designing it for the application. We all would like the power that you get with Top Fuel motors, but have to design around the intended, more reasonable, use.

You have to blame the designer/tuner for these problems. A motor is stupid. We are, supposedly, intellectually superior to the engine we are building.

Your 572 is very detonation resistant probably because of those Blue Thunder heads; they are designed extremely well. You also probably didn't build the thing 11:1.

It was 10.0:1, and why would I use 11.0:1? Also I got the numbers backwards. It was 630 HP and 678 ft lbs @ 4,800. It was in MM&FF (I think). Also the aluminum heads are a factor, as is the cam design.

I can build you an engine of any cubic inch spec you want, and make it a problem motor. I can also build you an engine of any cubic inch spec you want with excellent manners.

It's the parts we pick.