How NOT to build an economical or powerful 'teen

RAMM wrote: Mopar cam flat tappet hydraulic .430" .450" 110

That is the Mopar Performance P4452759 dual pattern cam, which is the largest cam you can install in a Mopar small block and still pass California smog. (I determined this by experimentation.) This engine reminds me of a 360 I built once with the same cam in order to pass smog. You can't pass smog with pistons at zero deck; too much NOx. I'll bet the owner is smarter than you are giving him credit for. I'll bet he built the engine for a vehicle subject to the smog laws.