The whole key to building a motor is to get the motor to be in harmony with it's intended use.
Most guys fall into the trap of "bigger more badderass"... and that's fine if a guy is drag racing...but not so fine if 98% of the time the car is going to fetch groceries and kids.
Over the years I've learned to really focus on the car/motor combination. Rudy was a prime example. They love to use the car - they cruise the car in every car show that has one... those are slow parade laps. A car with a huge rumpity cam and carbs that are too large - fouling spark plugs and just generally running nasty... NO THANKS.... They don't want to have to slide into neutral every time they come to a stop... they don't want to have to constantly "clear out" the motor.. So their motor sounds good and certainly sounds strong and loud... but it really purrs and the bottom end torque is what makes it fun... and that's all about the combination.
Large head ports are fun for bragging rights - but suck for bottom end torque... ditto big ass cams... or carbs that have no airflow (they work on airflow!) and feel sluggish and don't tune up well (they have poor signal). Get the COMBO right and you have a motor that is fun as hell - powerful where it needs to be - and you'll love driving the car.
That goes for regardless of who is building it or it's a crate motor.
Rick built the motor in the Nomad. Heavy 4000# car... 2800 stall convertor... 700r4 tranny - 3:70 rear - short tires. Intended use - long distance drives with the A/C blowing cold and the stereo thumping...
408 Cubic inch Dart Little M block - 8 stack EFI.... and the heads??? 180CC Dart's....
I'm like NO FRIGGIN WAY DUDE!!! Those heads belong on a 327.... UGH!
BEST MOTOR I'VE EVER HAD! Shook the windows and set off car alarms... set in traffic all day and never look at the gauge... 550 foot pounds of torque at 4600 RPMS.... Ran out of air at 5600 RPMS (525 HP is all). Guess where it spent most of it's time... CRUISING AROUND... stomp the pedal and light the tires - all in all done. I was on the streets! Not at the drag strip - no need for 7000 rpms... That motor had lots of miles on it - never once added a quart of oil... never changed the spark plugs... and it was a rocket. My point is - it was a perfect combo for THAT car.
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