Don't forget the pressed-in rocker arm studs that pulled out of the cylinder heads if anything much stronger than a stock single valve spring was used. I've installed dozens of 1/8" spring steel roll pins through the edge of the stud bosses to solve that problem, long before screw in studs and guide plates were invented.
I'm in the early stages of building a SBC engine that's going to have a roller cam, a gear drive, a rev kit, a 3 11/16" bore, and a 2 7/8" stroke. I'm using NASCAR-recycled Carrillo tool steel connecting rods with Honda-sized rod bearings and a destroked 283 crankshaft. It should run 8K+ RPM all day long. I'll be running it in an Excalibur kit car that weighs in at less than 2,000 lbs.
Jerry
