My buddy Bob Kisson, owner of Applied Dyno technology in Eagan,Mn, where I dyno all the engines I do, has found the limit of those blocks. He does a lot of alky tuning for many many tractor and truck pullers, alky funny cars, etc, that use injected alky, on serious blown big blocks, you know, 1500-2200+hp deals. He has a regular truck puller, that they found the limit of a truck block. It was about 1600hp, when it literaly ripped the deck surface off. Years ago, when like Ed said, basicaly all that was used, the 427 tall blocks, I know of a 4.750 crank that went in one. It worked. The motor was a total stone, with its mildly ported 990's, what were all botched, 640hp, and 670 ft/lbs, for a race gas 570. Totaly pathetic, lol. But, it ran. I personaly like the 4.375 shafts in them.
Frank
Advanced Performance
www.get-ap.com