TimG,
The blocks you refer to are called "tall deck" and have certain advantages if you want to go to very large strokes. Yes they were originally only available in trucks (1T and bigger as I recall). All the aftermarket block guys offer a tall deck block as well as the std deck block. With a tall deck aftermarket thick-wall block, you can build over 700ci. Who would need nitrous or a blower?
My cobra has a 427 just for the purpose of making big high RPM power (>500 HP at the rear wheels - couldn't keep the tires from smoking on the rollers past 500 HP at 6000 RPM - I shift at 7400 RPM). The short stroke keeps me from having so much unusable tourque at lower RPMs and keeps the tires from roasting so much, but allows me to put power out once they are hooked up at speed. Some of the folks here could use some advice in this area. I recently considered doing a 540 (700+ HP), but decided the 427 was a better match for this car.
BTW I don't build the bowties only because they are cheaper; I just know how to get the power from them and I really like the head design over the blue oval. No offense, just my $.02.
I know, I know, better duck because here come the stones
