the cylinder heads make the power. more air and fuel in = more power. the displacement just determines the rpm where the power will be made. saying that an AFR 205 is too big for a 302 is a blanket statement and one that may or may not be true depending on the users desired powerband. i dont know that i would go so far to say that a "smaller head" would be faster because it has a more agressive cam. anyone claiming that a milder cam is a bandaid for a bigger head doesnt fully understand valve timing or cross section and its implications. Judson Massingill runs the school of automotive machinists and for a price will explain these concepts.
Ah i understand...Bigger head means it moves the power band up. So assuming you had the right Pistons to clear valves. Then you could run a radical cam that would allow a 302 to Rev. to 8500. Wouldn't be too nice of a street vehicle. but with like a 4.56 gear and high stall Converter it would make it rev. to that 8500 sweet spot faster and awesome track car. Excuse me if im wrong....ive had a few beers and am not done
But now on the other End you could cram the air in with a super charger meaning the motor wouldnt have to rev. so high because the air it would take 8500rpm to move can be crammed in with less RPM.
Im just pretending i was an air molecule with no place to go ....how would i flow? I would flow at really high RPM's at a .750 lift on AFR 205's bolted to a 302 (Race Block of course)