[markjohnson]

That's an interesting link that Eric posted and I'd love to see what the 454-468 version would be capable of! I know that it's the correct sum of parts that gets you down the Dragstrip faster than the next guy but if I had to pick one the "magic" part in that comination, it would have to be that Comp Cams XR274R Solid Roller. I've actually had my eye on that very camshaft for an upcoming project and it looks very promising. I've built and owned MANY Big Block Chevys and I've had 9.00 Comp. Pump Gas/Oval Port/Solid Roller motors that would just flat out embarass my 12.5 Comp. Race Gas/Rectangle Port/Solid Flat Tappet Motors. I had the good fortune to talk BBC's with John Lingenfelter quite a bit in the back in the Nineties and he's the reason I'm sold on Oval Ports for applications under 496 CID and .650 Lift camshafts. Your 396 CID would be very happy with a set set of oval port heads with the big 2.19/1.88 valves fitted to them with some nice bowl port work and a Performer RPM Intake Manifold. Don't worry about trying to kill of low-end power with those giant Rectangular ports on such a small CID engine. Make all the power you can.....and then worry about getting it to hook. That's the fun part!