[Jay S]

Lol, I have kind of found it is a little late to provide much helpful advise on engine internals once the heads are bolted on..

I think I underestimated the power potential of a small valve head some. I got to thinking I remember Dennis Jenson ( SD455DJ) posted some dyno pulls for a 400 with small valve heads a while back. Pure stock type built, tight quench, upper 70s cc small valve head with 45* valve, summit 2801, 214/224 @.050” cam, log manifolds. 383 HP @5300 and 455 tq@3500. You can see there would be no need to jump up to the bigger 224/234 cam. FWIW..Personally, most my experience has shown heads with 45* valves can usually tolerate more compression than the 30* intake heads, especially on smaller valve set ups. If KRE did 45* seats, it will help the XE some. Hopefully the engine has the bigger cc’s than in the 70s.