Thanks - this clears it out. Are the 427 SO blocks the only FE blocks not to have the grooves in the cam tunnel journals in the block ?

And presumable 427 SO blocks have 2 oil holes in the cam bearings / saddles in the block for valvetrain lubrication? Only 2 & 4 ?

We are rebuilding a 1963 427 topoiler and figuring out the cam/ oiling system. It will be a fairly mild flat tappet cam.Why do some FE cams have grooved cam journals in journals 2 & 4 and some cams don´t ?

I also have some corresponding dyno data. 465" Engine with the EMC heads, and also out-of-the-box TFS heads.

Only disappointing part of the TFS heads is they hit a wall around 6200-6300


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Nice ! Mike can you give more information, ie compression, cam intake etc.

Thanks for your input. I have now sorted out the shortblock and ordered the parts, it will be a 462 ( 4.16 / 4.25) ci with a Scat cast crank, I beams and Mahle 20cc pistons with 1.0 1.0 and 2.0 mm rings.
My target is a street torque monster with 6000-6200 redline.530-560 horses. Fairlane´s engine compartment - 1 3/4" custom headers do have  quite a sharp turn exiting the head.C6 and 2.75 highway gears.
Static compression ratio with 20 cc piston, 0 deck and 0.040" head gasket will be 10.6 - this more or less dictates the use of aluminum heads as this is a street motor for my Fairlane with a decent camshaft( hydraulic roller around 233 /238 @0.050", around ,0.600 lift- have not decided yet) ,dynamic compression must be kept under 8.5 with premium pump gas.I had 8.1 DCR in my previous motor, 390 with C6AE-R heads and that was on the edge of detonation. Think 8.5 with aluminum head and good modern chamber would be ok.
Initially have been thinking of those TFS heads but availability seems to be limited,therefore have also been thinking of iron Ford heads as an option. But as mentioned, placed the order with Mahle 20 cc heads which will give a true 10.6 compression.