[EZ Nova]

I personally have felt this way for a while. BUT I recently seen Mark's comments on this over on TC.

Mark's on here as well, you could PM him and get his insight as he's really good with GM iron ovals, as most know. Do some math, you have 4.155 bore. Minus (2.06+1.72). That only leave you with .375 OVERALL space in the bore. Now take away another .130 for the 2.19 valve, and you have .245. So it does get tight on the "bore-side" of the intake valve. This is the issue with the bigger valve in the small bore 396/402 blocks. Even RFD has a different head for max performance on small bore 4.250+ blocks.

There was a thread over there where Mark told a guy NOT to use even an aftermarket AFR oval head even. Same thing, YES they can flow, but from MY UNDERSTANDING from my guy, is that the flow backs up the one side of the valve on the 4.096-4.155 bore stuff. Unshrouding of the valve plays a major part in making Hp. You not trying to make 650-700Hp here, so don't go through the added cost of valve/labor! PUT those funds towards a good port on what you have. They will support 650+Hp in that form of ported/2.06 valve combo.