Looking at a possible 496 build up for the summer. Have been eyeing the aluminum Canfields with most of the CNC options they can have, but see they're rect. port. I'd say I'd take the car to the drags a few times, but realistically I'd take the car to the drags maybe 4-6 times a year. I'm invisioning a mild gearing set-up, with an M21 or M20 trans and a 3.31 rear. Know 496 seems like overkill but if I'm starting with a bare 454 block it doesn't make sense to not stroke it. Will rect. ports cause me to loose some lower end with this gearing due to the fact I don't know how often the car will see 5500+? The heads seem great for price and look like they'll flow great anyway. I'm thinking the 496 is going to make enough low-end just for the fact it's a 496 so maybe rect. ports would be OK. I'm planning low compression though (87 street, 89 racing WOT) so would oval ports be a better idea? Thanks for any input.

You will have sooo much lower end, it's not really an issue on the street.

You can get the Canfields with fairly small (for rect) ports. 310 cc's I believe. Big ovals are around 290, so would the difference be that great on a 496? I hope not, because I'm going this route myself, or maybe AFR 305's from Mike (wolfplace). I'm hoping the increased torque of the stroker and the improved breathing at higher RPM's will give me a good compromise between street and track. Kirk

Maybe rectangles will help be a bit more streetable yet in the future since the car will stay in my family my brother and dad could soup it up more, so hopefully I'll have a good median.

I'm running the Merlin 310cc Iron heads (rectangle) on my 10:1,solid roller,496.It seems to come alive immediately and pulls hard all the way.No track times yet,hopeing to get them soon.