What's needed to go stroker?
Not true that you need big heads and cam just with stock heads and 268 cam you'll make peak around 4000rpm and be done before 5000rpm it be more like a truck engine, but run a 2.94:1 rear gear and you'll still have an usable powerband.
Well yeah........kind of , sort of.
Then you get into the " why would you ? " question.
More inches want more air to make more power.
If you would be satisfied with the same power at lower r.p.m. , then this is an option.
But strokers like duration , and air in and out = h.p.
On the other question , a longer rod requires a custom piston in most cases......" shelf " pistons are available for 3.58 , 3.79 and 4.00 " strokes with either a 6' or 6.123" rod if you shop around. Basically , if someone is offering a kit for a given stroke , they use a fairly common piston.
Going with a longer rod isn't worth the effort or cost in most cases.....especially with longer strokes.
You get into a tight ring package , oil ring supports , piston rock and a host of other issues that significantly reduce engine longevity.
