440cid LA

You're right, you don't know about the W5's they already flow 305 at .650 with a 2.02 valve. You are right about bore size, side loading short and long rods and all that, at least that's the general theoretical consencus but in application I think it matters little if any. Certainly not to the point where it would wear out in a year, something else is wrong there.

If you want some reading on this a recent Hot Rod magazine issue did a test on short stroke big bore engines vs the same size long stroke small bore engine. What did they find you ask? The engine doesn't know the big bore short stroke combo is supposed to be better. I think they got a difference of 8 horsepower.