An aluminum block R 302 (bored to 360) is a much better option! Aluminum block, wit the same OHV design as the LSx....and it would be a ford that would boltup to your tranny.
Chevy isnt inventing anything new really...they are just fine tuning their head/cam package...and now just adding CID.
lets look at something here, before you start bashing Fords design. lets just look at the lowly 2V whos heads only flow 160 CFM vs the LS1 whos heads flow closer to 260CFM. (note general rule is 1 CID added= 1HP)
281 CID 230RWHP
346CID 310RWHP
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65 CID 80RWHP difference
Thats not much of an advantage just in effeciency.
Now lets look at the 01 cobra (so no LS1 guys cry about no 03 camaro..although the 04GTOs got the LS1)
281 270RWHP
346 310RWHP
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65CI 40RWHP difference. And the 01 cobra heads only flow around 230CFM.
Fords DOHC Design isnt crappy...nor is the SOHC design. Our limit is the CID, not engine design.
And just for fun, lets compare the 04 Mach 1 engine to the 06 GTO LS2 engine.
281 280RWHP
366 350RWHP
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85CI 70HP
And the LS7 with its fully ported heads that flow WELL over 300CFM, just for grins.
281 280RWHP
427 445RWHP
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146CI 165HP
Now yes this is bench racing at its finest, and isnt deadly accurate at all, so dont take this as TEH TRUF!.... this just shows a general guidline to engine effeciency. And yes im sure the honda VTAK motors would kill us all....so dont pull that one either because they are 4 bangers and they can rev higher, ect. Totally different engine.
In conclusion, GMs technology really isnt that great...they are just doing what racers have done with the small block chevy for years, and made it more modern. Atleast ford stepped out and did something different...and made a more effecient overall design. Now they just need to add some cubes and factory port the heads and bye bye LS7 LOL like that will ever happen.