Lets talk small block stroker cranks

As far as i am aware they come in the following flavors( generally available)
3.79
4.0
4.125
4.250

I used to be a big believer in the more inches the better. I know Ron Silva creatlvely came up with a 501 inch monster a few years back.
But in more recent times i think the 3.79 crank and if possible a big bore make the most effective combination, up to and including W8 heads.
The fact is most of these long arms create more inches than the majority of available heads can handle.
I have only run W5 heads thus far as the best i have used, and even they are marginal with a 4 inch crank.
They also start to get a diminishing return regards side loading, rod ratio and other things with the longer arms. You kinda get to the point do you want to drag race or sit on a tractor and plow a field.
Has anybody on here used 4.125/ 4.250 stuff, how did you like it? Race or street
Curious what the gurus on here( builders) think.
Rod Bloomer still has the 4.25 cranks?
What are you thinking of doing?
I have thought about it and was seriously considering running the 4.25 crank and just let the torque pull me through. But as mentioned below.....
As you already noted, even a W-5 head struggles with a 4 inch stroke. I can make the argument that it isn't good enough (without massive work) to feed 345 inches at 8500.

We need to remember what these heads were designed for. The W-2 was designed for 330-340 inch engines, that were significantly induction limited. The W-5 head was an improvement on the W-2 and that's about all of that.

I've said before that a W-2 based engine, with today's cam and valve train with a reasonable RPM of say 7500 shift speed, with a well prepped head can only truly support 360, maybe 370 inches at that RPM. A single 4 hampers it even more, and required more total cam timing and will require more transmission gears with closer splits to keep the engine from falling too far below peak torque on gear changes.

With well prepped W-5 heads and the same configuration, my opinion is 385 inches or so is about all you can feed, relatively well.

That doesn't mean you can't use more inches. It will be down on specific power output, as in HP/CID and requires more cam timing, which obviously will start to peak the torque curve.

If you have enough gears, you can hobble the deal through.

That's my random thoughts on your question.

One last thought...if you use a 3.58 or even a 3.79 stroke crank I'd stick the longest rod in it I could. I'd rather use a 3.58 stroke and a 6.25 rod than be stuck with a 6.125 rod and a 3.79 stroke. When you become induction limited, rod ratio becomes more important.

Thank you thank you thank you!

You have taken the words right out of my mouth!
100%, I agree.
I also figure the head flow/port size/volume, etc....
can only support so much in certain applications and sizes before the limitations show up. Then compromise ones into play. Which leads me to think (or rethink) why go there? Well, I can see why but also question it and ponder the worth and the methods used to obtain more with less.

Yes, it is possible but why when there’s other ways and material to be used. OK! Money limitations are an issue. Throwing away good parts is senseless to a degree. An example could be perfectly good high flowing W5’s on top of a 440 did small block and all out racing effort..... There is a better head for this, but cost could be an issue.

Limitations!