[Sonic Blue 85]

You can go either with a 302 8.2 deck ford or dart block, 8.7 deck dart block, 9.2 351 ford or dart block or a 9.5 ford or dart block. If you stick with the 8.2 deck block you you will have less weight in the front end, lower center of gravity, more room around the engine and a lighter crank with smaller main and rod bearings. The smaller rod bearings will not build as much heat and reduce friction. You can build up to around 380 ci. with a 3.4 stroke crank in a 8.2 deck block. Some of the good blocks can be bored to 4.155 and some to 4.180, the larger bore will also help your heads flow more air. The 8.7 dart block is basicaly a 302 block that is stretched, so you still have the 302 rod and main bearings. If you use a 351 based block it would be better to get a block that has cleaveland mains instead of the windsor mains, the cleaveland are smaller. If you use a stock windsor or sportsman block or a good block with windsor mains you can also install bearing spacers and use a crank with cleaveland mains. If you could run more than 383 ci I would definitely say go with a 351 based block, but with that limit I would say it would be a case of how much you are willing to spend. If the displacement is the same a 8.2 deck block will make more power for multiple reasons, but may cost more to build because you will have to spend the money on a good block. You can build a lot more than 383 with a stock 351 or sportsman block, but it will weigh more, be larger, have a smaller bore, more rotating mass and more friction. If you plan on buying a good block the cost will be close to the same, with the 8.2 being little cheaper. Another possible advantage with a 351 based engine is the longer rod if you are turning a lot of rpm, but at the rpm you will be running the longer rods in a 351 based engine will not help you.