Dan;
A number of years ago Ford had a 351-W crate motor rated at 350 hp at the flywheel,they used a camshaft that had approx. .490 lift,do not remember the duration........When I built my engine in 1995,I used their specs,well, most of them anyway.....My enigne uses a 1972 or 1974 (can't remember which) junkyard block I bought for 50 bucks,with the heads (still using the same block/heads/crank),484 lift cam, Crane hydraulic flat tappet,have "set" the valves once in 22,000 miles and they really did not need it,10.4 to 1 compression and some headwork including 1.90/1.60 valves,it has never been dynoed,but looking at my specs and the Ford 350 hp crate motor,I would guess my motor should be at 350 hp.....Been in the car since 1995,about 22,000 miles now,40 or so 1/4 drag stip passes,probably 500 miles of open track running,idles at 800 rpms all day runs 180 degrees of water temp on or off the track,uses NO
oil and fires right up every time I hit the key......Stock crank and rods,ARP rod bolts,flat top pistons,would not change a thing,very streetable and very reliable....
I'd say a stock 351-W block is good for 500+ hp any day,when you get towards 600 hp,then I'd be looking at aftermarket crank/rods and forged everything else........
David