My 422 smallblock build

The "seem smaller" scenario doesn't hold water. Numbers are numbers you cant bend physic's.
the same cam in 2 motors, 1 a 273 and another a 416 would behave completely different. the 273 would be more 'peaky' whereas the 416 would be much more streetable. that's what is meant by 'seem' smaller not an actual change to the cam.
neil.