Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Jeremiah
The only reason i can think of, is the pistons sit at a larger angle outwards from the center of the engine, comparatively speaking to a chevy 350
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Both 350s use a 90 degree angle between the cylinder banks - as do most V8s since this provides a natural dynamic balance (note that weird V8 configurations like the 60 deg V8 used in the second gen Taurus SHO need balance shafts).
There are a number of things that limit peak RPM. Bottom end strength (4 bolt mains vs. 2 bolt, for example), bearing speed (Olds motors have larger diameter main and rod bearings, which increases the linear speed for a given RPM), reciprocating mass, rod strength, valvetrain float, and head port flow. You can certainly build an SBO that matches an SBC for power at a given RPM. AJ Foyt ran a 350 Olds (NOT a diesel block, by the way) in a Cutlass in NASCAR in the mid 1970s. That's why CJ Batten developed those aftermarket heads in the first place.