If a 350 needs 92.4 sq in of area at 5500 and a 454 is 1.3 times as large as a 350, then 92.4 times 1.3 would mean the 454 requires 120.12 sq in at 5500 rpm's to pass the same volume of air per cubic inch. 14 x 3 would be 131.94 sq in, so it looks like Mr. Severson had it nailed all along.