I have to chuckle a bit at this talk of "high rpm" use with the stock 360-2 cam(.410/.410, 203/203, 109.5lsa)....... When the factory hp rating has it peaking at 4000rpm.

which is why I want to upgrade a bit. Not sure where the 4:10's will put us for RPM on that 1/3 mile track but we're sure gonna find out real soon. right now we just need to get out there & worry about being competitive later.

Well at 6000rpm and with 27" tire I get 117 mph... Might need 2nd and 3rd a lot

Crane 278 cam is about as far as I would go for a stock set up. And that doesn't mean that it would be best as far as torque goes. The old .490 solid would be best.

Kind of agree, nothing over .280. I don't think you will hit more than 70 mph. I would go small till you get a good shortblock and some 5.50ish gears, try not to ruin your eq heads just to go racing, keep rpm down.

Since you can't really increase lift, would narrowing the LSA help any? If this were me, I'd run it by Jim at Racer Brown.

From what I remember the 7 1/4 doesn`t have c clip axles.

Correct 7-1/4 does not have c-clips, 8-1/4 does.

^^^ Then I was mistaken on the C clips (its been sitting for 2 years since I brought it home) which is how far behind I am/distracted on things. Thanks for the excellent suggestions/advice guys & I think now I am just gonna toss it in as is just to get up & running (truck pan/pickup needed changing & the silent T chain had a ton of play) & work on the other newly machined 360 which on mockup has SERIOUS VP issues!.