Big Block Engine Builds

I think if your '66 weighs 3200 with a cage and you in it you need a diet..lol. I read the heavy weight Dart was 2800 for '66. The motor with aluminum wont be much heavier than a 273, and the cage and connectors shouldnt add more than 100lbs. My 8pt for an E body was 81lbs from Competition Engineering. The 500 from a 400 block is a good package, but depending on rod choices, you may need an external oil pickup. You better have studs in any case. I dont think I'd go for bigger, unless it is the 4.25 stroke crank with the short rod. I'm not a fan of oil support rings (where the oil ring crosses the pin bore on the piston), and Diamond and Ross both make use of them for the 4.15 stroke and 6.76 rod , and the 4.25/6.76 combos. I also think the extra stroke will make the Dart almost undrivable on street slicks. The 400 B block is the strongest, and the 470 is a nice package. Bigger gets more expensive, and while it will put a smile on your face, you're paying a lot for tire wear...lol. As far as a cam..What gearing, tire size, and convertor range were you thinking? Most setups tend to make nice flat torque and good hp in the 3800-6K range. A tight 3500 convertor, and milder gearing would be the slick way, IMO. That body is very tire limited, so targeting a peak hp of say 6200 means you'll want to run a gear around 3.73 with 26" tires. That puts your high gear cruise at around 3300 at 65.