I didn't read all the bickering in pages 2-8 (just skimmed it)...but to the OP's question, here my example of a good running non offset head combo:
My car is not the fastest, but it works well....it has gone 10.1 at 130.5 mph with my small carb in decent air....normally runs low 10.3's in the summer heat. This is in my ~3250-3200 lbs 67 Barracuda (not positive on the weight since I have not weighed it in a few years). I think it could do ~132-133mph with better air and the big carb.
The combo:
360 block, Scat 4" steel crank, Scat I-beams, forged Icon pistons, 13:1 compression, e85, Stage II ported Edelbrock heads by Ryan Johnson, 57cc chamber, Victor intake, home made 750 e85 carb (also have a 950 e85 carb for it), 1 3/4 Headman Hustlers,
Hughes solid cam 264/268 @ 0.05 with ~0.620 lift (if I recall correctly), 8" converter
727, TA valve body, 8 3/4, spool, 35 spline axels with 4.10 gears, Hooiser DR 275/60/15's + the full Caltracs setup and 3" Dynomax race bullets.
