Reply to "Build Your Own 91 octane, 500 HP, 377CID CLEVELAND?"

...Yes!! You are on the Right Track! This is My Opinion and My Opinion ONLY! I also went with the 70-71 Heads. 63.0 CC Chambers. Stay with the Iron Heads! Sure they weigh 'Tons' More, and They Make Tons More HorsePower and Torque. Canted, Huge Valves 2.190, 1.715 Valve size is the Single Most Significant Factor Effecting HP and TorK!! Compression Ratio coming in a Close Second! Don't get talked into Those aftermarket 'Aluminum' Heads! The Valves and Ports are 'Tiny Weenie' by Comparison. What for? 'Low RPM Velocity'!? Do You Plan to 'Race' at 'Low RPM'?? Hell NO!! Your going to be Into the Higher REVS in About 'Two Tenths of a NANOsecond'! It's all About 'Cylinder Filling' or, we call it 'Volumetric Efficientcy', and The Large Valves and Ports Deliver!, When and Where YOU Need It! Have the Heads 'Pocket Polished', Do NOT Polish the Ports as You need them left 'Rough' to Maintain 'Fuel Suspension' and Aid in 'Fuel Atomization'. Have Hardened Valve Seats installed, Only Needed on the Exhausts. Before this was done My Exhaust Seats started to Receed into the Stock, Softer, Seats. You can build over 700 HP with the Iron Heads! It's been done before and there are articles on the subject in the archives. With Your Solid Roller Cam, and Your selected Lift/Dur., You will be at 620 HP and Higher. I went with a More 'Streetable' 560 Lift, 292 Duration, Yes! A 'Flat Tappet' Camshaft, Putting Out 525 HP and 450 lb/ft of Torque! I am Running Dual 450 Holleys on a HIGHLY Modified Weiand Manifold. Engine UNstroked. You gotta hear this thing idle! Just Sweet and Perfect at 900-1000 RPM. Jump on it at 'Cruise' and it's a 'Sledge Hammer to The Backside'!! No Brag, Just Facts! Good-Luck with Your Build! It Sounds Wicked! On More thing!!! For those persons having trouble locating the Correct 351 Cleveland Thermostat! I just installed the Milodon Hi-Flow '180' Degree Part #16401. A few are Now being sold on Ebay. I tested one, in heated water, with a Thermometer, and precisely took measurements; When Open it does it's job of lowering and Blocking off the 'Brass By-Pass Restrictor Plate' to Ensure that Near 100% of the Coolant is pumped to the Radiator! I Took the Cat out Yesterday, I Have a Digital Temp Gauge that read between 177-181 Degrees, Cruising 90-100 MPH on the Freeway. Coming off the Interstate onto local roads it hit a High of 188 Degrees! Yes, Both Fans Running. Be sure and select the 180 Thermostat! 160 is too Cold!!! You will run into problems of fuel not atomizing properly, increased cylinder wall wear, and 'HEAT' IS ENERGY, HORSEPOWER!! The Hotter Engine Makes More HorsePower! It's a simple Fact of Pysics! 'Believe It, Or Don't'!! Anyway, Something to think about, if You Care to 'Listen'. Took Me 40 Years to Learn Most of This...