The MOPAR power myth?
I grew up with "MOPAR makes power."
When I got my first one i figured I would keep it all Ma, but now I just don't know.
The rear ends ain't great, so swap a 8 3/4 or 9" or 60.
Trans, ehhh.... Also just ok...
Let's be honest the bottom end, oiling, geometry, and heads are ehh....not the best...
The cost is stupid, so what the hell....
I'm 8K Into my 512 and it's not done. Aint even seen the machine shop yet....
Why?
Cost per HP just don't add up.
The dark side is calling....
You're building a big block, what geometry issue are you talking? I see where you're coming from, but you have to remember that mopar engines are for thinkers, brand x is for drinkers that litter cheap beer cans all over tour shop, track, yard and meanwhile talk about how superior their x mill is... but the only thing they can tell you about it is ..was built by so n so and big buck race motor.
I'll let you think about that.
Go look at the fast chevies/Ford's and none have a factory head with half also after market blocks. Only sbf worth building is a 347/408 stroker, chevies can't fit much inside so go get a taller block...now fix the valve angle, have a look at the good sbc heads sometime and watch them copy mopar valve angles bla bla bla. No secret.
Chevies set trends, yes, like buying all new connecting rods, heads. You have to know more about these things, history. If you have ever machined a 350,454 for instance....you would know how bad they are. You have to literally straighten and untwist the sbc rods, the blocks from some cast batches certain years more than should are know to pin hole in the cylinders, the heads of many #' s were cracking. Chevrolet powered racers were needing to replace everything to compete or not break. So you they redesigned blocks, changed deck height, beefed up cranks, valley girdles, rods,valve geometry, heads, rocker stud hardware etc.
Your big block needs an oil mod , could still use the LY rods if preped right, but why for the price "thanks to chevies needing them at such large scale that if they just cast them a little longer they will machine out to fit any sbm,c,f,bb, etc" good big block heads shouldn't be any big wow to get a hold of.
But hey... go hop on the short bus if it's "easier" for ya.