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Cliff maybe some semantics apples to apples vs back to back.I think you are missing a big point-many combinations folks run are not optimized as they have some bias they want-existing parts, stock appearing, more street than strip. Then we have theoretical issues/benefits that may or not play out in the real world. Harold Brookshire one of the best cam designers would probably like less exhaust duration than most of the guys use-and most haven't even tried something different. Most of the Pontiac world doesn't even try different ratio rockers on different side-yet look at the SS guys and EMC Pontiac motors-more on the intake. Different convertor and gears in your own car you have mentioned would pick it up-yet you like it more a driver. How many guys tried to copy Jim Hand's 64 heads on a pump gas 455,Wolverine cam, stock intake, Q jet and barely were in the 13s?

Again back to rear world track back to back testing-the adapter and a square nore on a factory intake picked up 0.25 seconds and 3-4 mph getting the car in the 11s for the first time. Yes the air flow wasn't ideal, but it pciked the car up. The next greatest pick up was a really loose big end slippage 5000 stall convertor and fresh tranny that picked up 0.75 seconds getting the car in the high 10s. An inefficient convertor msot wopuld say but the car picked up and 60 ft'd 1.51s on a 9" slick.

Theory vs real world.

This motor Harry tested came with a mismatched intake that did OK but a different intake picked it up. It did show a bigger intake does not hurt performance too.