[Excaliber]

"Used the parts we had available", I guess that means the best parts available for that engine within the time frame (60's) the motor represents? As opposed to modern 'replica' heads, cam, etc from Dove or who ever.

Lets assume the Tunnel Port heads on the 427, darn good heads right out of the box and with a little tweaking even better, were in fact iron 'period correct' heads? Could these heads support 600 plus horse? I totally believe they can! So what about the cam profile? It would be interesting to see the specs on that cam. As the tunnel port heads easily support 7000 plus rpm Ford made a flat tappet cam that would indeed support that rpm range 'back in the day'! 12 or 12.5 to C.R. was typical for a well built side oiler. Pump gas? Todays 'pump gas' or 'back in the day' pump gas when 100 octane was readily available? Yes, I believe that 'stock' side oiler could in fact produce 600 plus horse! As to the 700 h.p. of the Hemi, I don't know as I don't have any direct personal comparison to go by. BUT, it does NOT surprise me! Hemi's RULED NASCAR in that time frame!

But I DO have personal knowledge of MY side oiler as delivered when I bought my ERA. The engine and the car came with a LOT of documentation and history, including hand written notes from as early as 1984!

High riser STOCK iron heads and matching Ford OEM alloy 2X4 intake with twin 660 carbs. 12.5 to 1 Ford pistons swinging on a 428 crank. Dynoed at 667 flywheel horse power. The ONLY difference between what you COULD have built in 1965 and what WAS built in 1986 was the solid roller cam! All other parts were 'stock' as you could have run in 1965. This was a 7000 rpm motor. No other 'special' parts or 'special' work outside of blue printing and balancing (which WOULD be typical of any well built motor, now or then). While the High Riser heads are good, they aren't as good as the Tunnel Ports, which would have made even more power!

As to the L88, again, I have no personal knowledge for a comparison. WERE these engines 'ringers'? I wonder, maybe, but maybe they were just carefully built utilizing all the best components and MATCHING the components correctly makes a HUGE difference in the final performance.