[Streetwize]

IMO, the big block style torque combined with the lightness of an aluminum head small block is the best of both worlds...you just don't want or need to get "silly" with the combo, it doesn't need a huge cam or super high comprersssion to get it done. A 470-510 hp 408-427 can be built with a good set of heads that flow about ~275cfm on the intakes, 1 7/8" headers and a cam in the mid 230's @.050 in a solid 9.5-10.5:1 shortblock will idle at 850rpm, make massive torque and pull cleanly to about 6200, plenty for a dual purpose motor and you'll have rock solid reliability for a driver.

So you can easily match or exceed the power of an original Street 427 and still have a docile and reliable motor that weighs about the same as an original all-iron 289...Though I love the revs of a 7500 plus smaller cube motor, I love the Thrust of that low end grunt that 427 cubes gives you at any RPM even more; to get that massive "no effort" acceleration combined with the better-balanced handling and braking of a smallblock is really tough to beat IMO.