I'm considering buying a combo I have found...Bowtie block, Ross pistons, dimple rods and MY 4.00 stroke crank.
I don't really have the money in my budget for aluminum heads(would really like to try the 305 Canfields with this combo) at the moment so, I'm wondering if a set of #049's or #781's will work with a 509 or will they be too small?
By the way, I'm considering Harolds 502A4 cam for this motor.

That's exactly what I'm planning on doing eventually...put ovals on a 509 or 522 shortblock. You can simply drop your power band down to say 6500 rpm and they'll be fine...unless your planning a max effort 800+ hp deal.

Originally posted by SILVERSS454:
Are oval ports too small for a 509? I have Dart ovals on my 540 so I don't think there to small.

With a little work they can work nicely. My friends pump gas 502 made 625 hp with 049 ovals. They have a bowl job and bigger valves. At a little over 6000 the manifold pressure started to build, the machinist said the head was the restriction as everything else on the motor was good for more power. My guess is a nice set of heads like a 305 canfield could be worth 50-75 hp on a motor like my friends.

Last year a BB Nova won the 0 to 100 and 100 to 0 shoot off against some awesome other cars that had much better braking, and did it with Ovals on a 468. They won with stock factory disk/ drum I might add, so they didn't win it in the braking part of the contest. Therefore those ovals do work, and where they work is TQ, repeat TQ.
I am not a BB guy, I continue to toss money at my SB, to make BB power, but from my limited reading on the subject, 10secBu is correct, they will make tons of TQ, and some HP as well, but all down lower in the rev range.

Seems like your recipricating would eventually love the rev range of the new AFR, or Brodix heads, or like you say the Canfields.

Originally posted by 68chevelle533:
With a little work they can work nicely. My friends pump gas 502 made 625 hp with 049 ovals. They have a bowl job and bigger valves. At a little over 6000 the manifold pressure started to build, the machinist said the head was the restriction as everything else on the motor was good for more power. My guess is a nice set of heads like a 305 canfield could be worth 50-75 hp on a motor like my friends. Mike, what cam was your friend running in his 502?
Just wondering if I am on target with the 502A4 that I mentioned in the original post?
Good to hear that the GM factory ovals will in fact handle the extra displacement. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Originally posted by Grandpa's SS:
Last year a BB Nova won the 0 to 100 and 100 to 0 shoot off against some awesome other cars that had much better braking, and did it with Ovals on a 468. They won with stock factory disk/ drum I might add, so they didn't win it in the braking part of the contest. Do tell more about this competition and what other cars were in it. Also would like to know what the Nova's time was, and what kind of tires it had.

He runs a Lunati hydraulic roller with 253/261 @50 and the lift is around 610". He has a worked Dart Oval and a 2inch header. The nice thing about the oval on a big motor, is even with a long duration (for the street) cam it still makes good torque. He runs a tight converter and it still 60s well.

Hi Mike, You've got to be talking about Rafel, from Houston, with the Camaro. It runs real good. Someone must have done a very good job of porting those heads and adding the big valves. It just goes to show what can be done with hard work and lots of testing. Low tens is pretty impressive on the motor. I think he hit the cam and gear thing just about perfect.

Hey Harold, You are right, I was speaking of Rafels car. I agree he has hit on a good combination, but alot of the cars performance is in also in the details. He has dropped a half second since I have known he with the same basic combo. As far as the heads go, the guy who did the work for him is suppose to be good, but Rafel claims that nothing special was done to them. Rafel and I live in the same area, so I have first hand experence. The car is nothing short of amazing to ride in.

Hi Mike, Most of the horsepower is within 1/4 inch of the valve seat according to a friend of mine who did pro stock motorcycle engines. I'd sure like to know more about velocity as i think that's the key to getting big power. How are you coming along on your 533" motor?

Hi Harold, Your friend is probably right. That is probably the biggest bottleneck for the port. Thanks for asking about the 533. It is coming along slowly but surely (never as fast as one would hope). I am shooting to be posting some numbers this spring.