I like and respect Smokey, a lot (may he RIP), he even worked with Fords a little and was a true innovator but, he did say, in one of his books, that he thought that the reason you could get more HP from a higher rod/stroke ratio, was because there was a longer dwell time, at TDC, building more pressure, for the down stroke.

Personally, I think, if there is more HP for the longer rod, it's because of less pressure on the piston to cylinder wall contact and less friction.

I know the rod length to stroke ratio has been around since, at least the '20's (probably before the turn of the 19th century) but, I look at it as a maximum angle.

A 317 Linc (3.5/7.062) has a 2.018/1 ratio, the angle is 14.35 degree, Jays 4.75/ 6.625 combo 1.395/1 and that angle is 21 deg.

What I look at for longevity is what NASCAR runs and that's  16.5 - 17 deg (9,300 rpm/500 mi) and for what will reliably work, I look a sprint cars 19.5 deg. and try to keep in those areas, striving for the lower angle and longer rod. Also, you can't deny that the sprint cars basic 1.015 C/H works on bores over 4".

Because what we talk about, is very subjective and opinion based mostly, I would like to see some dyno tests based on those perimeters, the FE would be a good test bed for it but, that old 317/368 Y block Lincoln with it's 10.94 deck height could yield  more info but, at a much higher price.

All Ford aluminum manifolds are performance orientated, by that, I think they would flow a little better. 

After market manifolds are tuned for performance and depending on there design, should increase HP, in the range they where designed to work. That said, not all after market manifolds are designed properly. Do your home work first.

Usually Edelbrock  does there home work, before releasing theirs. A good example is the Victor line for single plane.

I have six Ford '55-'59, both 600 & 800 series tractors, I would like to convert one of them to a 302. Does anyone know of a conversion kit or just a transmission adapter?

I have saved factory Ford stuff for over 56 years and I have part numbers for four 427 rods between '63 and '68. All with 13/32 bolts by the torque specs.

1. C3AZ-6200-C, Presumably the initial LR 4v & 8V

2. C3AZ-6200-F, listed as a Reinforced Cap, 4V & 8V

3. C5AZ-6200-D, a class "C" part, meaning it came out of the National Parts Depot in Livonia, MI.

4. C5AZ-6200-J, same class and rod but, a heavier cap.

I don't have any specs for the 302 TP rods but, I do for the Boss 302. They used the basic 289 rod length of 5.150, with a part number of C9ZZ-6200-B, with 3/8 bolts, 2 7/64 long.

Around 1970, I was at H&M's shop in Long Beach and saw a whole box full of 4 cam, Indy rods ($10 ea), they where 5.315 long, as I remember, so if you were to use those, you would have to have a piston with a C/H of 1.375, with .016 deck clearance.

Before the TP and Boss, the 271 HP rods, where running at least 7500 RPM, in TransAm racing. Hell, I shifted mine at 7000+ many, many times. I had 3 of them, all early 5 bolt blocks.

No one has mentioned this but, the real key, as to whether you can overhaul your engine, is how much taper it has at the top of the ring travel and before you can decide on that, you'll have to measure the cylinders at that point.

For me, .005, is to much. Your ring gap opens about .015 for .005 taper. I wouldn't want more than .030 gap, on a overhaul.

The mains are machined and ground, between centers. Meaning the crank is supported on both ends, only. They are done that way to keep everything on one plane.

If your crank will sags, you need to get rid of it, as it's not very strong and won't survive.

W/o a lathe available, supporting it on #1 and #5 with 2,3& 4 bearing shells removed, would be acceptable and akin to supporting it in V blocks.

It's amazing how hard it was for a 427, to catch and pass a 91 CI engine.

I had a '67 Cortina, I had 6" & 8" magnesium wheels on it but, it got T boned, out side my place, before I could put one of my spare Atlantic engines in it. The '67's didn't come with twin cams but, had the same base 1500cc engine.

I really miss that car.