Hot Rod Magazine published a story in 1997,"The Engine Chevy Housld Have Built," about a Chevy engine that used a bored 400 block, 307/327 crank, longer rods from(gasp!) a Ford six cylinder, AFR 56cc heads, JE pistons with the pin located higher up the skirt, Crane cam, roller rockers, etc.

The engine was not a stroker and measured 352ci but because it dwelled longer on the compression stroke, the engine was more efficient thus burning more of the gasses and could stand a much higher compression ratio.

I hope I am not going down a thread beaten into the ground but I have some questions from those of you who appear much smarter than I am (actually all of you seem smarter than me) about the engine. Has anyone here built one of these? Can 305 heads be used?(I think they have 58cc chambers)Is the engine reliable?

The article claimed some prodigious horsepower/torque figures yet used two bolt mains.

I would appreciate any answers and advice. I would like to build this engine in a leisurely fashion since I am restoring a '53 Chevy pickup and currently rebuilding a 350 to put in it.

Starlight Coupe(I am a big '53 Studebaker fan)